HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
Peterborough gained the slight upper-hand in the Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final at Wolverhampton on Monday night in tricky track conditions racing to a 46-44 first leg win. They take that two-point advantage into next Monday's return fixture at the East of England Arena. Picture: STEVE FEENEY
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE "We have enjoyed some excellent meetings against Sheffield this season and are thrilled to be facing them once again, this time in the play-offs. This is a crucial time for the club as we look to end a nearly 30-year wait for a league title, and we would urge fans to turn out in force to support our boys." Aces CEO Adrian Smith is looking forward to a Roses clash in the Premiership play-off semi-finals as the Aces prepare to face their old rivals Sheffield. NEXT HOME: Sheffield, Thur Oct 7, Play-Off Semi-Final NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Thur Sept 30, Play-Off Semi-Final
KING'S LYNN "It's been a tough year at King's Lynn and next year I hope we can make the play-offs to reward the fans and the promotion. We showed signs of improvement at times this season but we couldn't carry it through so we have to improve going forward." Long-serving Stars man Lewis Kerr knows the club will be pleased to put a troubled campaign behind them and look forward to achieving far more in 2022.
PETERBOROUGH "It was backs to the wall with Tofty unfortunately crashing out, and a couple of refereeing decisions went against us as well, but the boys were superb again. I'm proud of them all. They took it to Wolves, and to get a result when faced with that sort of scenario was tremendous." Panthers boss Rob Lyon was delighted to emerge from Wolverhampton with a two-point lead in Monday's play-off semi-final, with the tie to be decided at the East of England Arena next week. NEXT HOME: Wolverhampton, Mon Oct 4, Play-Off Semi-Final NEXT AWAY: TBC
SHEFFIELD "It's set up nicely, we can use tonight as valuable preparation but I also expect King's Lynn to be a different proposition in 2022. It's nice to see new blood in the sport like Alex (Brady) their manager and I look forward to locking horns with him next year." Tigers boss Simon Stead was happy with his side's display in their 61-29 win over King's Lynn in their final league fixture before the play-offs. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Thur Sept 30, Play-Off Semi-Final NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Thur Oct 7, Play-Off Semi-Final
WOLVERHAMPTON "We did very well to battle back and get level with them and we were in a position towards the end where we could've taken an advantage to Peterborough, which would have been nice - but it's not the be all and end all. There's no arguing what a good side they are, they seem to have high quality in every race. They're at the top of their game and they're riding well - but next Monday is another day." Wolves boss Peter Adams was keen to stress their play-off semi-final against Peterborough is only at the halfway stage after going down to a narrow defeat in the home leg. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: Peterborough, Mon Oct 4, Play-Off Semi-Final
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BIRMINGHAM "It's a fantastic race track when conditions are right, we've proved that time and again this season and it would be dreadful for the sport if it were to be lost. The fans are loyal and stick behind us through thick and thin and it's a great night out. Now we need to see someone take it on and keep the enthusiasm we all have for the club." Brummies star James Shanes is hoping a deal can be done to keep the club racing following the news that current owners David and Peter Mason are to leave at the end of the season. NEXT HOME: Edinburgh (KOC), Wed Sept 29 NEXT AWAY: TBC
EDINBURGH The Monarchs have been confirmed as fifth-place finishers in the Championship table and are now building up to this weekend's play-off quarter-final tie with Redcar. NEXT HOME: Redcar, Fri Oct 1, Play-Off Quarter-Final NEXT AWAY: Birmingham (KOC), Wed Sept 29
GLASGOW "We are probably settling down now after a few changes to the team in the middle of the season. I think we have each other's backs as a team and today everybody delivered, we beat a great team." Tigers star Sam Jensen said last Sunday's win over play-off rivals Leicester was a big statement of intent, with the club now awaiting the results of the quarter-finals before discovering who they will face in the last four. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
LEICESTER "It's make or break time for our season over the next week and we will need the backing of our brilliant fans. If things go well we can have a minimum of four more meetings or, if things go against us it could be season over after Saturday. We are treading a thin line here and we need to be ready for it." Lions boss Stewart Dickson starts the build-up to a massive week for the club who are still chasing honours in both the league and the KO Cup, with two crunch ties set to be decided over the coming days. NEXT HOME: Scunthorpe, Sat Oct 2, Play-Off Quarter-Final NEXT AWAY: Poole (KOC), Wed Sept 29
NEWCASTLE "No concrete offer has come forward, but we've been looking at my other two businesses and looked hard and deep into things, and I will not walk away, and I will keep Newcastle running in 2022 for the memory and influence of Dave Tattum. We do have new backing and I've learned a lot in the last 18 months which will only benefit the future of the club." Diamonds owner Rob Grant has performed a dramatic U-turn and says he will still be involved in bringing the club back to the tapes next season.
POOLE "We are all excited about having topped the league but we have won nothing yet this season and our goal is to add to our proud collection of trophies. We will have some tough meetings to come if we are to achieve that, starting with the visit of the Lions." Pirates promoter Danny Ford is all set for a crunch month of racing as they look to convert top spot in the league table into the Championship title "“ as well as looking to keep up their progress in the KO Cup. NEXT HOME: Leicester (KOC), Wed Sept 29 NEXT AWAY: TBC
REDCAR "I think I've proved over the course of the season that I can mix it with the best at Championship level this season and tonight we rode well as a team. I was always looking for my team-mate in the Final and we are happy to come out on top." Redcar star Kasper Andersen secured victory in last week's Julie Lewis Memorial event at the Media Prima Arena, and will now turn his attentions to this week's play-off clashes with Edinburgh. NEXT HOME: Edinburgh, Sun Oct 3, Play-Off Quarter-Final NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh, Fri Oct 1, Play-Off Quarter-Final
SCUNTHORPE "I suspect very few people outside Scunthorpe will expect us to beat Leicester on aggregate, but we have every chance. It all starts from zero when Heat 1 gets underway at the Eddie Wright Raceway at 7.30pm on Friday night. The previous form between the two sides will count for nothing and our aim will be to score 91 points over the two legs." Scorpions promoter Rob Godfrey says past form counts for nothing as the Scorpions prepare for their play-off showdown with a Leicester side who have already won twice at the Eddie Wright Raceway this season. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Fri Oct 1, Play-Off Quarter-Final NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Sat Oct 2, Play-Off Quarter-Final
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE UPCOMING FIXTURES"¦
ARMADALE "It was a hard meeting! I seemed to have a Thompson twin, either one or both, in every race! Good close racing though. I think that rain in the early stages helped a little bit because we had similar conditions last week. I just left a gap in my first race and Joe Thompson passed me, otherwise I'd have scored a maximum." Devils star Danny Phillips put in another impressive display as the Armadale side overcame Leicester in last Friday's NDL action. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Oct 12
BELLE VUE NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Oct 26
BERWICK NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Sept 28
KENT NEXT HOME: Berwick, Tues Sept 28
LEICESTER "I thought the meeting went pretty well. I struggled with the set-up tonight and struggled with the track a bit, but scored as many points as I could and tried as hard as I could." Cubs youngster Ben Trigger reflected on another valuable learning experience in last Saturday's 45-45 draw with Kent at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Oct 5
MILDENHALL NEXT AWAY: Kent, Tues Oct 19
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28: NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Berwick 6.30
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 29: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Birmingham v Edinburgh 7.30 CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Poole v Leicester 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Sheffield v Belle Vue 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Scunthorpe v Leicester 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 2: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Leicester v Scunthorpe 7pm
SUNDAY OCTOBER 3: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Q/F 2nd leg: Redcar v Edinburgh 6.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 4: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Peterborough v Wolverhampton 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 5: NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Leicester 6.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 7: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Sheffield 7.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 11: PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: TBC v TBC 7.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 12: NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Kent v Armadale 6.30
