HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
The victorious Ipswich Witches after their remarkable Premiership Play-Off semi-final triumph against Poole on Saturday. Picture: PHIL HILTON
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
IPSWICH “When you see an atmosphere like that, I have been talking to the boys and saying to the press about how much it means to the town, I think they realise now what it means to the club and the supporters. I am delighted for them and we have some amazing track staff here who work year after year, they are so reliable and so hardworking. That was for them, we are one big team and I am delighted to be a part of that team and have a final to be a part of.” Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins was proud of the efforts throughout the entire club after his side toppled champions Poole to reach the Premiership Grand Final. NEXT HOME: Swindon/Wolverhampton, Prem Grand Final, Thur Oct 10 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Swindon/Wolverhampton, Prem Grand Final, Mon Oct 14 (7.30)
KING’S LYNN “We might catch them on the back foot a little bit after their defeat to Ipswich in the play-offs so; hopefully we can take advantage and have a decent meeting down there.” The Stars round off their campaign at Poole next week in the Premiership Supporters’ Cup, with boss Peter Schroeck hoping to end on a high. NEXT AWAY: Poole (PSC), Wed Oct 8 (7.30)
PETERBOROUGH “It was a brilliant night for myself. I couldn’t be happier scoring five points, I’ll take that any day against these sort of riders who are the best in the world. Everything went to plan on the night. “It will be a day I will never forget and hopefully I will be able to do it again.” British Champion Charles Wright reflects on a fantastic experience as the Wild Card at the British Grand Prix last month following his national title success. NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton (PSC), Sun Oct 13 (4pm)
POOLE “Obviously Saturday’s result against Ipswich wasn’t the one we wanted and it was a disappointing end to the season. But it’s important to remember we did finish top of the league and the boys really put in some great performances over the course of the season, providing great entertainment along the way.” Pirates promoter Matt Ford attempts to look on the bright side after their shock play-off exit at the hands of Ipswich at Foxhall last Saturday. NEXT HOME: King’s Lynn (PSC), Wed Oct 8 (7.30)
SWINDON “I sincerely hope nothing drastic happens and we have a situation which makes it hard to employ riders like Doyley in this league. He’s box office and there’s no need to do it. We are very happy with Jason here at Swindon and we would like to have him back in the side next season.” Robins owner Terry Russell makes it clear that he wishes for club captain Jason Doyle to be back to lead the side again next season. NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Prem Play-Off, Thur Oct 3 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Prem Play-Off, Mon Oct 7 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON “At the end of the day, this is what we’ve been fighting for all season and while we’re glad to be in the play-offs, we won’t be happy unless we win them. We’ve got the form, we’ve been battling to get the results and now it’s time to take things up another level.” Wolves star Jacob Thorssell is confident in his side’s ability to overcome Swindon when they go into play-off semi-final action over the coming days. NEXT HOME: Swindon, Prem Play-Off, Mon Oct 7 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Swindon, Prem Play-Off, Thur Oct 3 (7.30)
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES…
BIRMINGHAM “We’ve really enjoyed the entertainment served up by the riders and we’ll definitely be looking at building another team to entertain the supporters again next season.” The Brummies signed off for 2019 with a defeat at Eastbourne last weekend, but boss Laurence Rogers is already looking forward to brighter times next season.
EASTBOURNE “We all went want to race, we all want to win and earn money but there is a point in the year when the weather will not be getting more favourable, so you have to take the opportunity to get the meeting over and done with when you can.” Eagles star Kyle Newman says there was a sensible attitude all-round in ensuring last Saturday’s season-ending clash with Birmingham was raced through to a result.
EDINBURGH The Monarchs will make another attempt to complete their league programme by hosting Newcastle at Armadale this Friday. NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Fri Oct 4 (7.30)
GLASGOW “It would be fantastic to give those wonderful fans another trophy. It’s my dream to be involved with getting a league title for the Glasgow Tigers and the Facenna family, who have put so much into this club.” Tigers boss Cami Brown has high hopes for the Championship play-offs, which get underway this week after a weather delay with his side facing Somerset in the semi-finals. NEXT HOME: Somerset, Champ play-off, Tue Oct 1 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Somerset, Champ play-off, Wed Oct 2 (7.30)
LEICESTER “All of the four play-off teams are strong, and having topped the table we’re now the ones with something to lose – but we feel strong over two legs against anyone.” Lions boss Stewart Dickson is all set for the Championship play-off battle with Redcar, with the first leg of their semi-final now set for this Friday on Teesside. NEXT HOME: Redcar, Champ play-off, TBC (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Champ play-off, Fri Oct 4 (7.30)
NEWCASTLE The Diamonds head back to Edinburgh on Friday to complete their Championship campaign and then turn their attentions to a KO Cup Final battle with local rivals Redcar. NEXT HOME: Redcar KO Cup Final, Sun Oct 13 (6.30) NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Fri Oct 4 (7.30)
REDCAR The Bears’ play-off semi-final with Leicester has been re-arranged and they will now host the first leg at the Media Prima Arena this Friday. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Champ play-off, Fri Oct 4 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Redcar, KO Cup Final, Sun Oct 13 (6.30)
SOMERSET “Nothing changes in our approach, like I said last week, we are going there looking to try and win it. It is going to be a busy couple of days, but that’s an occupational hazard in this game.” Rebels boss Garry May is ready for the most important two days in their season as they take on Glasgow in the Championship play-off semi-finals. NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Champ play-off, Wed Oct 2 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Champ play-off, Tue Oct 1 (7.30)
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES…
BELLE VUE “We’ve had an amazing season and we want to share our success so far with the fans. We know we are capable of bringing home the league title and it’s going to be a fantastic night of racing for sure.” Colts captain Kyle Bickley is hoping for a big turn-out to back the side in their vital play-off semi-final with Kent this week. NEXT HOME: Kent, NL play-off, Thur Oct 3 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Kent, NL play-off, Mon Oct 7 (6.30)
CRADLEY “It’s not ideal having to stage the semi-final in Birmingham because Cradley fans have a trickier journey, so we felt it was only right to reduce admission. We know how hard the task is going to be to get the better of a wonderful team in Leicester, they didn’t finish top of the table by fluke.” Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson hopes his side can revel in their underdogs tag as they face Leicester in the play-offs, with the first leg at the ‘neutral’ venue of Birmingham. NEXT HOME: Leicester (at Birmingham), NL play-off, Wed Oct 2 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Leicester, NL play-off, Sat Oct 5 (5.30)
KENT Bad weather forced the Kings to put back their home play-off semi-final against Leicester, which will now take place on Monday October 7. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, NL play-off, Mon Oct 7 (6.30) NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, NL play-off, Thur Oct 3 (7.30)
LEICESTER The Lion Cubs stage a double-header at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena this Saturday at the earlier time of 5.30pm, as they look to book their places in both the National League Grand Final and the KO Cup Final. NEXT HOME: Cradley, NL play-off, Sat Oct 5 (5.30)/Stoke, KO Cup (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Cradley (at Birmingham), NL play-off, Wed Oct 2 (7.30)
STOKE “We have had some brilliant riders over the years and it would be great to see some of them come home and have a great knees-up and send the club out in style. We had a great turn-out for our last meeting and it would be good to see plenty more turning up on the evening, and once we know the numbers we can then announce a date and the venue.” Potters promoter Dave Tattum is making plans for the club’s end-of-era event as the curtain falls on over 40 years of racing at Loomer Road. NEXT AWAY: Leicester (KOC), Sat Oct 5 (7.30)
FIXTURE PICTURE…
TUESDAY OCTOBER 1: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Somerset 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Somerset v Glasgow 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Cradley v Leicester 7.30 (at Birmingham)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 3: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Swindon v Wolverhampton 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Belle Vue v Kent 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 4: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Redcar v Leicester 7.30 CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Newcastle 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 5: NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester v Cradley 5.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Stoke (follows previous fixture)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 6: NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe 6pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 7: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Wolverhampton v Swindon 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Kent v Belle Vue 6.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9: PREMIERSHIP SUPPORTERS’ CUP: Poole v King’s Lynn 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 10: PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Swindon/Wolverhampton 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 11: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Redcar v Newcastle 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 12: NORTHERN JUNIOR LEAGUE RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh 6pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 13: PREMIERSHIP SUPPORTERS’ CUP: Wolverhampton v Peterborough 4pm CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30 BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 7: Wolverhampton (follows PSC fixture)
MONDAY OCTOBER 14: PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Swindon/Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 20: 90TH ANNIVERSARY: Newcastle 6.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 21: NGK SPARK PLUGS OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25: TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 28: FAST GOLDEN HAMMER: Cradley 7.30
BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL, Berwick 1 Dan Bewley (Belle Vue) 15 2 Leon Flint (Berwick/Armadale) 14 3 Anders Rowe (Swindon/Somerset) 13
Abandoned - Curfew - Result declared after heat 20
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17:
FIM MONSTER ENERGY SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS - FINAL, Lublin, Poland 1 RUSSIA 23 (Emil Sayfutdinov 15, Artem Laguta 8) 2 POLAND 23 (Barosz Zmarzlik 15, Szymon Wozniak 8) 3 DENMARK 19 (Leon Madsen 10, Marcus Birkemose 5, Anders Thomsen 4) 4 SWEDEN 19 (Fredrik Lindgren 14, Oilver Berntzon 5) 5 AUSTRALIA 17 (Max Fricke 12, Jason Doyle 5, Jaimon Lidsey 0) 6 GREAT BRITAIN 12 (Robert Lambert 6, Dan Bewley 6, Drew Kemp 0) 7 CZECH REPUBLIC 11 (Vacliv Milik 11, Eduard Krcmar 0, Petr Chlupac 0) Abandoned after 14 Heats - Result stands (Russia crowned 2020 FIM Speedway of Nations Champions)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 16:
FIM MONSTER ENERGY SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS - FINAL, 1st leg, Lublin, Poland OFF - Track Waterlogged The Final will now be a one-legged event (Saturday October 17)
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5, Belle Vue 500cc (a) 1 Dan Thompson 2 Harry McGurk 3 Jake Mulford 4 Elliot Kelly Dan Thompson is 500cc Champion
500cc (b - support class) 1 Danny Smith 2 Alex Goldsbrough 3 Sam Peters 4 Katie Gordon
250cc 1 Luke Harrison 2 Max James 3 Cameron Taylor 4 Ashton Vale Luke Harrison is 250cc Champion
125cc (a) 1 Sonny Springer 2 Ace Pijper 3 William Cairns 4 Ben Trigger Sonny Springer is 125cc Champion
125cc (b - support class) 1 Stene Pijper 2 Oliver Bovingdon 3 Owen Booth 4 Caydin Martin
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 POLISH GRAND PRIX, Torun 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 20 2 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 18 3 Artem Laguta (Rus) 16 4 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 14
FINAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 8 of 8) 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 133 2 Tai Woffinden (GB) 117 - after run-off 3 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 117 4 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 107 Bartosz Zmarzlik crowned 2020 World Champion
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 7 POLISH GRAND PRIX, Torun 1 Max Fricke (Aus) 20 2 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 18 3 Tai Woffinden (GB) 16 4 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 14
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 7 of 8) 1 Bartosz Zmarslik (Pol) 113 2 Tai Woffinden (GB) 105 3 Fredrik Lindgren 103 4 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 89
CALEDONIAN RIDERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
1. William Lawson
2. Kyle Bickley
3. Leon Flint
4. Elliot Kelly
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29:
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHALLENGE
Plymouth Select v Leicester Select - OFF
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28:
BRITISH FINAL, Belle Vue 1 Rory Schlein (Wolverhampton/Somerset) 2 Richard Lawson (Sheffield/Eastbourne) 3 Jason Crump (Ipswich) 4 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Poole)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26:
BRITISH FINAL, Ipswich - OFF Re-staging date: Monday September 28 @ BELLE VUE
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24:
CHALLENGE
Belle Vue Select 49 – Dan Bewley 13+1
ATPI All Stars 41 – Rory Schlein 11+1
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22:
CHALLENGE
Plymouth Select 51 – Henry Atkins 18
British Young Lions 39 – Dan Thompson 10
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21:
BRITISH UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP, Scunthorpe 1 Drew Kemp (Ipswich/Eastbourne) 15 2 Dan Gilkes (Kent) 14 3 Jordan Palin (Scunthorpe/Belle Vue) 10 (after run-off)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4, Edinburgh
500cc 1 Joe Thompson 2 Dan Thompson 3 Harry McGurk 4 Archie Freeman
250cc 1 Max James 2 Ashton Vale (Two riders only in Final)
125cc (a) 1 Max Perry 2 William Cairns 3 Sonny Springer 4 Ben Trigger
125cc (b) – Support class 1 Stene Pijper 2 Owen Booth 3 Rebecca Weston 4 Harry Fletcher
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6 CZECH REPUBLIC GRAND PRIX, Prague 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (POL) 20
2 Tai Woffinden (GB) 18
3 Jason Doyle (Aus) 16 4 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 14
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 6 of 8) 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 99 2 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 92 3 Tai Woffinden (GB) 89 4 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 71
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5 CZECH REPUBLIC GRAND PRIX, Prague 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 20 2 Tai Woffinden (GB) 18 3 Martin Vaculik (Slk) 16 4 Emil Sayfutdinov (Rus) 14
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 5 of 8) 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 79 2 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 78 3 Tai Woffinden (GB) 71 4 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 62
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 4 POLISH GRAND PRIX, Gorzow 1 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 20 2 Leon Madsen (Den) 18 3 Jason Doyle (Aus) 16 4 Emil Sayfutdnov (Rus) 14
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 4 of 8) 1 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 66 2 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 59 3 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 57 4 Tai Woffinden (GB) 53
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3 POLISH GRAND PRIX, Gorzow 1 Bartosz Zamarzlik (Pol) 20 2 Jason Doyle (Aus) 18 3 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 16 4 Leon Madsen (Den) 14
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 3 of 8) 1 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 48 2 Bartisz Zmarzlik (Pol) 47 3 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 46 4 Tai Woffinden (GB) 43
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE CHALLENGE Leicester Select v Scunthorpe Select - OFF
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8:
THREE TEAM TOURNAMENT, Plymouth
Eastbourne 31 – Tom Brennan 10, Jason Edwards 10
Isle of Wight 30 – Ben Morley 13
Plymouth 28- Alfie Bowtell 12
MONDAY AUGUST 31:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE CHALLENGE Scunthorpe Select 53 (Jordan Palin 14+1) Leicester Select 61 (Dan Thompson 13+1)
SUNDAY AUGUST 30:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 3, King’s Lynn 500cc 1 Joe Thompson 2 Harry McGurk 3 Elliot Kelly 4 Dan Thompson
250cc 1 Luke Harrison 2 Max James 3 Ashton Vale 4 Jody Scott
125cc (a) 1 Sonny Springer 2 Billy Budd 3 Jamie Etherington 4 Jack Shimelt
125cc (b - support class) 1 Rico Joyce 2 Becky Weston 3 Caydin Martin
SATURDAY AUGUST 29:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 POLISH GRAND PRIX, Wroclaw 1 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 20 2 Tai Woffinden (GB) 18 3 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Pol) 16 4 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 14
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 2 of 8) 1 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 38 2 Artem Laguta (Rus) 32 3 Tai Woffinden (GB) 32 4 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 30
FRIDAY AUGUST 28:
FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 POLISH GRAND PRIX, Wroclaw 1 Artem Laguta (Rus) 20 2 Maciej Janowski (Pol) 18 3 Fredrik Lindgren (Swe) 16 4 Tai Woffinden (GB) 14
SATURDAY AUGUST 22:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 2, Leicester 500cc 1 Dan Thompson 2 Joe Thompson 3 Elliot Kelly 4 Harry McGurk
250cc 1 Luke Harrison 2 Max James 3 Ashton Vale 4 Cameron Taylor
125cc (a) 1 Max Perry 2 Sonny Springer 3 Ben Trigger 4 Ace Pijper
125cc (b) - support class 1 Charlie Wood 2 Caydin Martin 3 Rico Joyce 4 Owen Booth
SUNDAY AUGUST 9:
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 1, Scunthorpe 500cc 1 Jordan Palin 2 Dan Thompson 3 Archie Freeman 4 Joe Thompson
250cc 1 Max James 2 Luke Harrison 3 Ashton Vale 4 William Hocaniuk
125cc (class A) 1 William Cairns 2 Sonny Springer 3 Ben Trigger 4 Max Perry
125cc (class B - support class) 1 Billy Budd 2 Stene Pijper 3 Jake Lee 4 Owen Booth
SUNDAY MARCH 15:
50TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, Peterborough - OFF
SATURDAY MARCH 14:
BEN FUND BONANZA, Scunthorpe 1 Danny King (Ipswich/Poole) 2 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Poole) 3 Josh Auty (Scunthorpe) 4 Lewis Kerr (King’s Lynn/Eastbourne)
