HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
Wolverhampton continued their impressive start to the 2021 season with a 50-40 victory against Premiership new-boys Sheffield Tigers on Monday night at Monmore Green. Picture: STEVE FEENEY
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE "I don't feel that the switch to No.4 made much of a difference. You still have to race against the same guys, and I rode as a heat leader for Peterborough in 2019 so nothing like that fazes me. The difference between tonight [June 7] and my last meeting here is massive. I've now got the speed I was lacking and there's still a lot more to come from me." Aces star Charles Wright hit form with paid-14 in Monday's home in over Ipswich "“ but he says the Belle Vue fans have yet to see the best of him! NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Mon June 21 NEXT AWAY: King's Lynn, Thur June 24
IPSWICH "At the moment we are in a tough situation and we are working day and night to try and fix that. The season is coming thick and fast and there are several race nights with all six teams racing, we can't rely on being patched up like that and it is a very tough situation at the moment." Witches co-promoter Chris Louis hints the club could look to dip into the transfer market to provide some respite to a difficult injury position. NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Thur June 10 NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Mon June 21
KING'S LYNN "Every change has been made with both the club and the rider in mind, we are continuing to do what we can to keep us in the hunt for the top four after a rocky start. Ricky is a good character and I know he's pleased to be lining up for King's Lynn." Stars boss Peter Schroeck reflects on the decision to bring in Ricky Wells, hot on the heels of Richard Lawson and Connor Mountain, with the Stars making wholesale changes in the early weeks of the campaign. NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Thur June 17 NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Mon June 21 *TEAM CHANGES: Ricky Wells (4.00) replaces Lewis Bridger (4.28) Connor Mountain (4*) replaces Ryan Kinsley (3*)
PETERBOROUGH "It really was a great reaction to the disappointment of last Monday here and it was a real true team performance at that as well. From 1-7, everyone chipped in with some great points, topped off by the skipper getting a paid maximum." Panthers boss Rob Lyon reacts to an emphatic home win over his old club King's Lynn, with captain Scott Nicholls rolling back the years to score a paid maximum. NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Mon June 14 NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Thur June 10
SHEFFIELD "I'm not riding as much as the other guys, I made a decision not to ride abroad because of my eight-month old son and I didn't want to leave him but I'm open to more bookings for sure." Great Britain is best for Troy Batchelor, who has enjoyed his best results of the season so far with 12-point returns in the Tigers' recent home and away matches with Wolverhampton. NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Thur June 24 NEXT AWAY: King's Lynn, Thur June 17
WOLVERHAMPTON "I'm delighted with the result because Sheffield are a very good side. We knew it would be tough and they stayed with us for the most part but it's another three points on the board and I'm pleased with that." Wolves boss Peter Adams was satisfied with a hard-working home performance against Sheffield on Monday, in a meeting where his side were without captain Rory Schlein after his crash at Glasgow last week. NEXT HOME: King's Lynn, Mon June 21 NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Mon June 14
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BERWICK "To say I am gutted is an understatement. We fully deserved something from this match. It was a proper team performance, and we were very, very unlucky." Bandits boss Gary Flint also represented the view of most neutrals in believing the Bandits had been unfortunate to leave Leicester with nothing after defeating the reigning champions at home 24 hours earlier. NEXT HOME: Redcar, Sat June 12 NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues June 8
BIRMINGHAM "It was great to get back out there in front of the Birmingham fans. They always give great support and I was glad to give them two race wins to cheer about. We've made a good start to the season as a team I think, and there's definitely even more to come from all of us." Brummies skipper Chris Harris urges home fans to keep the faith after track issues made for a difficult opening night of the season at Perry Barr last week. NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Wed June 9 NEXT AWAY: Plymouth, Tues June 22
EASTBOURNE "For me, getting out of the starts was key and also trying to "˜read' the track as best we could. I have a great team behind me. Kyle Cummings has been amazing for me and is setting up the bike up perfectly." Eagles star Tom Brennan gave credit to his back-up team after top-scoring with 13 points in the Eagles' KO Cup win over Kent. NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Sat June 12 NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Fri June 25
EDINBURGH "We got off to a good start and we maintained it, I was a bit disappointed with my ending but at the end of the day we won as a team and that's great." Josh Pickering stood in as Monarchs skipper in the absence of Sam Masters and helped side make KO Cup progress with a win at Newcastle last Sunday. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Fri June 11 NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sat June 12
GLASGOW "I still feel like there's a few things to work on. I don't feel a million miles away but it's going to take a few more laps. We'll keep making progress and pushing forward." Tigers No.1 Craig Cook scored a dominant maximum in the home win over Poole "“ but believes things can still improve as the racing calendar becomes busier over the coming weeks. NEXT HOME: Redcar, Fri June 11 NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues June 8
KENT "It was an absolutely amazing weekend, I gained so much experience and learnt loads during the whole weekend. It was tough to come in mid meeting but was awesome to get some racing." Kings youngster Dan Gilkes played his part in Great Britain's bronze medal performance in last weekend's European Under-19 Pairs Championship in Poland. NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Tues June 8 NEXT AWAY: Redcar, Fri June 25
LEICESTER "We aren't firing on all cylinders, I know that, and I think everybody watching the meeting today would have known that. Berwick will certainly feel they deserved a point and they rode well enough to get it, whilst for us there were some encouraging signs and also one or two concerning ones too." Lions boss Stewart Dickson saw his side collect four points from weekend home and away matches against Berwick "“ but knows things were too close for comfort in the home win over the Bandits. NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe (KOC), Sat June 12 NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Fri June 11
NEWCASTLE "We are badly missing Ben and unfortunately our No.1 replacements haven't delivered the sort of points Ben would have scored, so taking that into account the lads have put the effort in, and while we didn't make the next round of the cup, there's a lot to build on as our League programme gets ever closer." Diamonds boss Nigel Hinchliffe wasn't downhearted after KO Cup exit to Edinburgh, and is now hoping for good news over the fitness of the injured Ben Barker. NEXT HOME: British U21 semi-final, Sun June 13 NEXT AWAY: Scunthorpe, Fri June 11
PLYMOUTH "Garry's record speaks for itself, and it is a real coup to get him on board." Gladiators promoter Mark Phillips is delighted to tempt Garry May into the team manager's role at the Coliseum, May having become available following the sad news that Somerset have ceased racing operations at the Oaktree Arena. NEXT HOME: Berwick, Tues June 8 NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues June 15
POOLE "I think Matt (Ford) knows me well and put me at number two for a reason. Of course it is tough to go out with the two number ones without having a real feel for the track but I am really enjoying the challenge, and like I said, it would be great to open with a 5-1, just to set the meeting up." Pirates newcomer Zane Keleher is targeting a fast start to home-track action when the Pirates finally get underway at Wimborne Road against Berwick this week. NEXT HOME: Berwick, Wed June 9 NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, Wed June 16
REDCAR The Bears will be without Jordan Stewart for around six weeks after he suffered multiple injuries in last week's abandoned KO Cup tie at Birmingham. They face a busy weekend of league matches with home and away clashes against Glasgow as well as a trip to Berwick. NEXT HOME: Glasow, Sat June 13 NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Fri June 11
SCUNTHORPE "This was my seventh meeting in all countries this season and it's the first meeting I've been happy with. I've had mechanical problems all over the place in them and that leads to a lack of confidence. It's been the toughest start to a season that I can remember." Scorpions star Tero Aarnio was relieved to hit double-figures with 10+1 in last week's hard-fought home victory over Eastbourne. NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Fri June 11 NEXT AWAY: Leicester (KOC), Sat June 12
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES"¦
ARMADALE "You can't blame the track as it is the same for all the riders but some were struggling more than others. We just need to mark this down for experience and move into the next one." Devils boss Alan Budzynski hopes his riders treat their defeat at Newcastle last Sunday as part of the learning process, after three members of the team failed to score at Brough Park. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Sat June 19 NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sat July 31
BELLE VUE "I think we will only improve from here. There's a lot we still have to prove as the season goes on but I think if we can keep this up, we will have an amazing year." Colts youngster Sam McGurk is aiming high after the team produced an impressive performance to defeat Berwick last time out at the National Speedway Stadium. NEXT HOME: Kent, Fri July 2 NEXT AWAY: Armadale, Sat June 19
BERWICK "We are pleased to take a draw and a valuable two points which puts us five points clear at the top, but disappointed as it could easily have been all three from a victory." Mixed emotions for Bullets boss Gary Flint after Sunday's trip to Leicester, although a 45-45 draw still meant five points from the weekend for the table-toppers. NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Sat June 19 NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Sun July 4
EASTBOURNE "There was great team spirit in the pits. People were moving around, helping each other. There was good communication between races." Co-promoter Lee Kilby is pleased with what he has seen both on and off-track in the Seagulls' early fixtures, which included a 45-45 draw at Kent on Bank Holiday Monday. NEXT HOME: Kent, Sat June 19 NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Sun June 20
KENT "The neutrals will say it's a fair result, one or two riders had some early season teething troubles and the youngsters will need track time to come good." Royals boss John Sampford expects his side to improve with more track time, after they were held to a draw in their home opener against Eastbourne last week. NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Tue July 27 NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sat June 19
LEICESTER "Dan and Joe did a great job to get us in the position, and it was just one of those unfortunate things. It was a great meeting, and I was really pleased with the way we fought back a number of times from being behind, so we'll take the point and move on." Lion Cubs boss Dave Howard accepted a draw from Sunday's home clash with Berwick, although the Thompson twins came agonisingly close to snatching victory in Heat 15 before having to be content with a 3-3. NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, Wed June 16 NEXT AWAY: Newcastle, Sun June 20 *TEAM CHANGE: Mickie Simpson (3.00) replaces Jamie Halder (4.63)
MILDENHALL "It's hard to express how pleased the four of us are after today, it has been a very stressful time building up to today's meeting, but what we have just seen makes all the hard work worthwhile. Major thanks go to our fabulous track staff and officials who organised everything to the minute, from temperature testing riders, to organising the outside pit areas to the car park attendants and much much more, everyone played an important part, it was truly a team effort today." A successful re-opening for the Fen Tigers with co-owner Phil Kirk's delight multiplied by home star Jordan Jenkins winning the British Under-21 semi-final at West Row, and Sam Bebee also reaching the Final. NEXT HOME: Eastbourne, Sun June 20 NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Wed June 16
NEWCASTLE The Gems were emphatic 55-33 winners over Armadale in their opening home NDL fixture with Max Clegg scoring a maximum, and now prepare for their trip to leaders Berwick a week on Saturday. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Sun June 20 NEXT AWAY: Berwick, Sat June 19
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
TUESDAY JUNE 8: CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Glasgow 6.30, Plymouth v Berwick 7pm
WEDNESDAY JUNE 9: CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Glasgow 7.30, Poole v Berwick 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 10: PREMIERSHIP: Ipswich v Peterborough 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 11: CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30, Glasgow v Redcar 7.30, Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 12: CHAMPIONSHIP: Berwick v Redcar 7pm, Eastbourne v Edinburgh 7.30 CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Scunthorpe 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 13: BRITISH UNDER-21 SEMI-FINAL: Newcastle 4pm CHAMPIONSHIP: Redcar v Glasgow 5pm BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2: Redcar (500cc/250cc) (follows Champ fixture)
MONDAY JUNE 14: PREMIERSHIP: Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 15: CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Plymouth 6.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 16: CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Poole 7.30 NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Leicester v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 17: PREMIERSHIP: King's Lynn v Sheffield 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 19: GRAND PRIX QUALIFIER: Glasgow 7pm CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester v Redcar 7pm NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Armadale v Belle Vue TBC, Berwick v Newcastle 7pm, Eastbourne v Kent 7.30
SUNDAY JUNE 20: CHAMPIONSHIP: Newcastle v Leicester 4pm, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 3pm NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Eastbourne 3pm, Newcastle v Leicester (follows Champ fixture) BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1: Scunthorpe (125cc/150cc) (follows Champ fixture)
MONDAY JUNE 21: PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Sheffield 7.30, Peterborough v Ipswich 7.30, Wolverhampton v King's Lynn 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 22: CHAMPIONSHIP: Kent v Leicester 6.30, Plymouth v Birmingham 7pm
