BRITISH SPEEDWAY AUGUST 20, 2023
(SPEEDWAY 1)
TIGERS ON THE RAMPAGE
GLASGOW completed a rapid weekend double over Berwick with a 53-36 win at Shielfield Park.
The Tigers are up to third in the Cab Direct Championship having added five points in the space of just over 24 hours, following their emphatic home victory over the Bandits.
Benjamin Basso (12+1) and Marcin Nowak (11+2) led the way with skipper Tom Brennan adding 10, whilst Berwick captain Leon Flint notched 13.
But the Bandits suffered a further blow when reserve Connor Coles crashed out in Heat 12, and was taken to hospital with collarbone and upper arm injuries.
Brennan said: “Berwick is always a tough place to go but we managed to get a grip on the meeting early on. I’m over the moon with the result.
“All the boys really got stuck in and everyone did their bit. That’s the most pleasing aspect about our team, so many riders can win races.”
Berwick boss Kevin Little said: “Obviously our thoughts are with Connor who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“He really was worth much more than his final points tally and I would say that there were two or three other Bandits in the same category.
“Glasgow are an excellent side and one where virtually every rider enjoys racing at Shielfield. After the disaster of Ashfield, it was a much more committed performance from the Bandits and one where the final points tally doesn’t really tell the true story.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
IPSWICH star Jason Doyle was the winner of the FIM Grand Prix Challenge in Gislaved on Saturday.
Doyle tied for first place with Martin Vaculik on 13 points and then defeated the Slovakian in a run-off, with both riders confirming their 2024 Grand Prix place.
The third qualifying spot went to Poland’s Szymon Wozniak, with new King’s Lynn signing Robert Lambert finishing fourth after a controversial third ride exclusion when he was ruled to have caused Piotr Pawlicki to crash.
Lambert is still well placed to secure a place in next year’s GP series, whilst Wolverhampton’s Luke Becker also impressed with nine points.
Doyle said: “I really wanted to stay in the GPs, even if I didn’t get the results this year. At the moment, I am still in fourth place, so I am feeling okay. But this takes the pressure off, knowing I will be back for next year.
“We have three more GPs to go and at the moment, I am feeling a lot more confident with the engines I am riding. That puts a lot less pressure on myself and the team.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
POOLE switch to a rare Sunday meeting today (5pm) in the Cab Direct Championship when they face Edinburgh.
The Pirates can go back to the top of the table with a fifth straight victory, but team manager Neil Middleditch is urging his side to take nothing for granted.
Joe Thompson makes his official debut having guested for the injured Adam Roynon in the win over Redcar on Wednesday.
Middleditch said: “I will be repeating the message that we have to treat them with the same respect as we have done with all clubs this season.
“I have said time and time again, because I am so long-in-the-tooth in this sport that there are no easy meetings. Points have to be earned and you can ‘t take anything for granted, whatever the form book says.
“You’ve got to take one meeting at a time and I have been in this game too long to underestimate any teams at all. They know it is Fortress Wimborne Road so they will come here wanting to knock us off our perch.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
KENT stage a double header at Iwade today (Sunday) with NDL play-off challengers Mildenhall and Oxford both providing the opposition.
The Fen Tigers are first up as they look to regain ground following their recent home defeat to Leicester, whilst the Chargers moved back into the top two with their big win over Workington on Wednesday.
The home side are still without injured duo Jack Kingston and Rhys Naylor, with Matt Marson guesting and rider replacement in operation.
Manager Jamie Willis said: “We go into Sunday knowing that we can potentially climb further up the table. However, we know we are in for a battle as both Mildenhall and Oxford are chasing a play-off place.
“After our recent performance at home, we are confident of claiming all five points on offer, we are riding better than when we last entertained Mildenhall back in April.”
Mildenhall reserve Josh Warren is still out with concussion, and his place is taken by recently released Kent rider Sam Woolley.
Fen Tigers manager Jason Gardner said: “It’s an absolutely vital meeting on Sunday and the team will be determined to bounce back from the defeat to Leicester and start a winning run again.
“Having won at Kent in the KO Cup without our talisman skipper, Lee Complin l can see no reason why we can’t get another away win and keep the pressure on Leicester and Oxford. There’s no question we are still in the mix for a play-off spot, and Sunday’s our chance to make our rivals know that.”
Oxford travel at full strength, and boss Peter Schroeck said: “It’s getting to crunch time now with the play-offs closing in and half the division still in with a realistic chance of reaching the Grand Final.
“We’ve got to target points on the road and a win here would stand us in really good stead ahead of Berwick’s visit to Sandy Lane next week. “That’s what we’re aiming for and I have no doubt it’s within our capabilities to come away with a result.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BRITISH 250cc Champion William Cairns has qualified for Sunday’s European 250cc Final in Riga after an eventful semi-final.
Cairns rode superbly to win three out of his four completed races to amass a total of 11 points, which included an exclusion for a fall when leading eventual winner Kacper Mania from Poland after hitting a soft patch and the bike reared skywards.
Cairns was also involved in a three-rider pile-up in his fifth heat, but was then brave enough to dust himself down and win the re-run, which meant he finished second overall in the first semi-final. Mania won the meeting with a maximum of 15 points, Cairns was second on 11 points and Denmark’s Mikkel Andersen finished third.
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY AUGUST 20:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Poole v Edinburgh 5pm
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent (37) v Mildenhall (53) 12pm, Kent v Oxford (follows previous fixture)
MONDAY AUGUST 21:
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R2: Belle Vue v King’s Lynn 7.30, Wolverhampton (43) v Ipswich (47) 7.30
SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP R1: Peterborough (23) v Sheffield (37) 7.30
TUESDAY AUGUST 22:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth (35) v Glasgow (55) 7pm
HUNTER MADDOX: USAC SPRINT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR