HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
And it's goodbye to the Arena-Essex Raceway as Lakeside Hammers fans invade the track following Friday's last ever meeting at the stadium. Picture: SPEEDWAYSTAR.net
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE "The KOC is a two-legged affair though and 14 points is quite retrievable. We had a full debrief after the meeting to address a few things and we'll be back stronger for the home stint. Aces boss Mark Lemon is still confident of making progress to the KO Cup Final despite a 52-38 first-leg defeat at Somerset. NEXT HOME: Somerset (KOC), Wed Sept 19 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Swindon, Thur Sept 27 (7.30)
KING'S LYNN "Robert got himself up off the floor with a knock and a completely destroyed bike and epitomised the whole team spirit once again; we don't give up, we don't lie down and roll over, we fight until the very end. We're already in the play-offs, now we're in the Knockout Cup Final "“ what a fantastic season we're having!" Stars boss Dale Allitt hailed his side after Monday's narrow KO Cup semi-final win over Swindon as his side continues their pursuit of the double. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue (POSF), Mon Sept 24 (7.30)
LEICESTER NEXT HOME: NLRC, Sun Sept 30 (2.30pm)
POOLE "Once again the boys showed their fighting qualities and refused to give up, and it was that kind of determination that got us into the play-off places in the first place. Hopefully it will also get us into the Grand Final." Pirates promoter Matt Ford was satisfied with his side's efforts in the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Somerset, as they head back to Wimborne Road with just a two-point deficit. NEXT HOME: Somerset (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (7.30)
SOMERSET "Of course we would have liked more points to play with, but as I said before it is important to go into every meeting wanting to win it and that will have to be the case at Poole on October 1." Rebels boss Garry May knows attack will be the best form of defence when the Rebels head to Poole for the second leg of their play-off semi-final holding a narrow 46-44 advantage. NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue (KOC), Wed Sept 19 (7.30)
SWINDON "It would have been nice to reach a Cup Final but that just sums up our season though I guess, and again it was obviously something that just wasn't meant to be." Robins boss Alun Rossiter suffered further frustration with a narrow KO Cup exit to King's Lynn, with the Abbey club now having just their re-arranged league clash with Belle Vue to complete the season. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Thur Sept 27 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON NEXT HOME: NGK Spark Plugs Olympique, Mon Oct 15 (7.30)
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BERWICK The Bandits completed their Championship campaign agonisingly short of the play-off places, with away wins at Edinburgh and Ipswich on successive nights taking them to just one point adrift of the top four after a strong season for the Shielfield Park side. NEXT HOME: Bordernapolis, Sat Sept 29 (7pm)
EDINBURGH "We're disappointed of course. We just didn't adapt quickly enough to the different conditions. We improved a lot in the second half of the match but it was too late." The Monarchs saw their play-off hopes shattered by defeat at home to Berwick on Friday "“ and were further frustrated when fourth-placed Lakeside lost at home to Peterborough 24 hours later, leaving the Armadale side three points adrift and with a superior race points difference. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
GLASGOW "We're absolutely elated and over the moon. Even though tonight was gutsy, I still think the performance against Edinburgh was our best of the season - the Edinburgh management said to me on the way out on Tuesday that we'd win at Ipswich because we're the form team now. There's method in that thinking - we have got a bit of form now and I'm just delighted and proud of the boys." Tigers boss Cami Brown wants to keep things going, with a play-off place secured thanks to a crucial away win at Ipswich last Thursday. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
IPSWICH "It is a shame when it comes to the end of the season but we have to put this one away and learn from it. I will learn from it again and I will come back next season. That is speedway, we can turn it around. We are planning and talking about options for next year and ways to look." Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins says work is already underway to make 2019 a better year for the Foxhall club after they fell short of their play-off target from another injury-hit campaign. NEXT HOME: 16-Lap Classic, Thur Oct 11 (7.30)
LAKESIDE "I thought all the lads settled in well as a team for the first meeting against Newcastle and overall there were plenty of encouraging signs to take forward for the remainder of the year. Yes we were of course disappointed to lose the Peterborough meeting, but they came into it fresh whereas we had already done 15 races and had Adam (Ellis) soldiering on with a shoulder problem and of course we were already without Kyle (Newman)." Boss Will Pottinger took encouragement from the Hammers' first outing at their new Hoddesdon base, with a Championship play-off place secured and several important meetings to come. NEXT HOME: Peterborough (KOC), Sun Sept 23 (2pm) (at Rye House) NEXT AWAY: Peterborough (KOC), Sun Sept 23 (7pm)
NEWCASTLE "Of course if we go to Workington in the Cup and win by eleven or more, then we might have to re-open our season to go forth into battle in that competition against Edinburgh!" Diamonds boss George English knows the Brough Park season may well have come to an end with a 49-41 win over the Comets"¦ but a big KO Cup performance at Derwent Park this week could just change that! NEXT HOME: NEXT AWAY: Workington (KOC), Fri Sept 21 (7.30)
PETERBOROUGH "We wanted to finish top of the league, I feel we deserve to be top, and although we've not won anything yet we've put ourselves in a much better position than we were in last night. The Workington match had a massive effect on us. We were disappointed with the performances of certain riders and the team in general, and we wanted to put that right as soon as possible." Panthers boss Carl Johnson hailed his side for their win against Lakeside at Rye House on Saturday which ensured top spot in the table after they have led the way for much of the campaign. NEXT HOME: Lakeside (KOC), Sun Sept 23 (7pm) NEXT AWAY: Lakeside (KOC), Sun Sept 23 (2pm) (at Rye House)
REDCAR NEXT HOME: Teesside Silver Helmet, Thur Sept 20 (7.30)
SCUNTHORPE The Scorpions are awaiting their opponents in the KO Cup semi-finals and expect to stage their home leg against Peterborough or Lakeside on September 28 or October 5 "“ but prior to that they return to Championship Shied business at Workington this weekend with the sides locked at 45-45 from the first leg. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: Workington (CS), Sat Sept 22 (7pm)
WORKINGTON "I am so very proud of the way they all rode tonight in what were far from perfect conditions due to a heavy shower a couple of hours before the meeting. But they all simply got on with it, and credit to Peterborough too; who rode through the meeting without any complaints." The Comets beat the weather as well as leaders Peterborough to secure their place in the Championship play-offs, meaning Tony Jackson's side fight on in three competitions heading into the closing weeks of the season. NEXT HOME: Newcastle (KOC), Fri Sept 21 NEXT AWAY: TBC
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE COLTS "Obviously we're gutted to have lost on the night. It's likely we won't be racing again this year and it would have been nice to wrap things up with a win. But you can't win them all and we know that." Colts reserve Paul Bowne summed up the disappointment following the KO Cup exit to Mildenhall which effectively ends their campaign.
BIRMINGHAM "When the weather starts going against you, on top of all the injuries we've suffered this season, you really do start fearing that it's just not meant to be. If we could have got four points at Buxton we'd still have had a great chance of making the play-offs - and all we had to do was complete five more races." Brummies boss Laurence Rogers feels the fates are conspiring against his side after their abandonment at Hi-Edge now leaves them outside the play-off positions approaching the cut-off date. NEXT HOME: NEXT AWAY: Mildenhall, Sun Sept 23 (3pm)
BUXTON "Corban Pavitt rode really well and it shows how he has come on this season from that start or the year, and although disappointed not to get a point tonight I'm really pleased by everyone's efforts tonight." Hitmen boss Joshua Moss said his side had put everything into their match against Coventry at Leicester on Monday, when they went down 51-39 after a battling display. NEXT HOME: Plymouth + Kent, Sun Sept 23 (3pm) NEXT AWAY: TBC
COVENTRY "Today's just been one of those days, and I haven't been impressed by it. It was a combination of things, and a phrase I've used before is "˜if you don't prepare properly, you're just preparing to lose.' We just have to re-group, move on, and hopefully we'll still make the play-offs." Bees boss Martyn Macdonald wasn't happy after Monday's double-header at Leicester which saw them take three points for a win against Buxton "“ but defeat to Mildenhall means their play-off place is by no means guaranteed. NEXT HOME: NEXT AWAY:
EASTBOURNE "There has been a huge improvement, thanks to Georgie Wood. He came out with me on track and showed me what I should be doing when you come up to the start line. His advice has definitely helped." Eagles reserve youngster Charlie Brooks paid tribute to his team-mate after enjoying his best performance of the season during Saturday's double-header against Stoke and the Isle of Wight. NEXT HOME: Mildenhall, Sat Sept 22 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Kent (KOC), Mon Sept 24 (6.30)
ISLE OF WIGHT "We knew this would be another testing match for the side. Overall this wasn't a bad performance and we were helped by the terrific contribution of our two guests." Co-promoter Martin Widman said his side had worked hard to score 33 points at Eastbourne on Saturday in their final match of the campaign.
KENT The Kings are preparing to face old rivals Eastbourne in the KO Cup semi-finals with the first leg taking place at Central Park next Monday. NEXT HOME: Eastbourne (KOC), Mon Sept 24 (6.30) NEXT AWAY: Buxton, Sun Sept 23 (3pm)
MILDENHALL "I'm really pleased for the lads, they have worked so hard to get to where we are and fully deserve their success. It is a shame that we have lost Josh for the remainder of the season, but after three concussions he needs to rest and make a full recovery from his recent crash before looking to come back." The Fen Tigers have secured the National Trophy but are set to go into their crunch league and KO Cup deciders without both Danny Ayres and Josh Bailey after recent crashes. NEXT HOME: Birmingham, Sun Sept 23 (3pm) NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne, Sat Sept 22 (7.30)
PLYMOUTH The Devils rounded off their home league campaign with a 48-42 win over Stoke last Friday, and now prepare to host a GB Young Lions Select at the St Boniface Arena this week. NEXT HOME: GB Young Lions, Fri Sept 21 (7.15) NEXT AWAY: Stoke, Sat Sept 22 (7pm)
STOKE "Max (Clegg) is riding really well as is David Wallinger and Paul Burnett and the others are chipping in those vital points that are getting something out of those meetings, because if they hadn't scored them we'd have come away with nothing, and the guests have played a pivotal role also." Potters boss Malcolm Vasey was pleased with recent performances including points gained from trips to Coventry and Plymouth, before a thumping defeat at Eastbourne on Saturday. NEXT HOME: Plymouth, Sat Sept 22 (7pm) NEXT AWAY: TBC
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19: PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Somerset 7.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20: TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Workington v Newcastle 7.30 CHALLENGE: Plymouth v GB Young Lions 7.15
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22: CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD S/F 2nd leg: Workington v Scunthorpe 7pm TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Mildenhall 7.30, Stoke v Plymouth 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st leg: Lakeside v Peterborough (at Rye House) 2pm, 2nd leg: Peterborough v Lakeside 7pm TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Plymouth 3pm, Buxton v Kent (follows previous fixture)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F 1st leg: Belle Vue v King's Lynn 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Kent v Eastbourne 6.30
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27: PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29: CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD S/F 1st leg: Lakeside v Peterborough (at Rye House) 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Eastbourne v Kent 7.30 BORDERNAPOLIS: Berwick 7pm
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30: NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester 2.30 CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD S/F 2nd leg: Peterborough v Lakeside 5pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 1: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: King's Lynn v Belle Vue 7.30, Poole v Somerset 7.30