HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
Action from last Wednesday's Belle Vue v Somerset Premiership KO Cup semi-final, 2nd leg. Heat 13 at the National Speedway Stadium once again produced another contender for race of the season. Picture: EDDIE GARVEY
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE "In a way it takes the pressure off us for the second leg. The weight of expectation is on their shoulders now but we're not about to hold back. We've got everything to gain from next Monday." Defiant Aces star Steve Worrall insists their play-off semi-final tie with King's Lynn is not over yet after a 41-49 home defeat on Monday. NEXT HOME: NEXT AWAY: Swindon, Thur Sept 27 (7.30)
KING'S LYNN "I think the track grade after Heat 8 did us a bit of a favour, it gave us that time to adjust things because the surface was slicker than we thought it would be. We had to adapt because we were outmuscled early on but that was certainly not the case in the second half of the meeting. We fought tooth and nail to claw it back bit by bit." Stars boss Dale Allitt hailed a stunning second-half comeback from his side to go from 16-26 down to 49-41 up in the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Belle Vue. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: TBC
LEICESTER NEXT HOME: NLRC, Sun Sept 30 (2.30pm)
POOLE "It's never over until it's over and certainly Somerset have given us some tough nights on our own track already this season. But we've given ourselves a great chance and one thing I do know is the meeting on October 1 is going to be a cracker with it so finely poised." Pirates promoter Matt Ford expects another tight encounter at Wimborne Road on Monday with his side just two points down going into the second leg of their play-off semi-final. NEXT HOME: Somerset (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (7.30) NEXT AWAY:
SOMERSET "This is a great result and we can now look forward to our first ever top flight cup final and a match-up with King's Lynn. We did the job we came to do and it was another good meeting." Garry May's Rebels are still battling on two fronts having overcome Belle Vue in the semi-final to reach the KO Cup Final. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: Poole (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (7.30)
SWINDON "Like everyone else, I've been through false dawns but can only work on the information supplied to me and I do believe there is genuine light at the end of the tunnel." Robins owner Terry Russell confirms work to shorten the Abbey Stadium circuit ahead of the new stadium development is set to take place this winter. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Thur Sept 27 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON "As ever we're assembling a competitive field and with the unique handicap system that's used, it's always an entertaining meeting no matter what." Promoter Chris Van Straaten is planning for the club's season finale, the Olympique, with Chris Harris, Nick Morris, Steve Worrall and Nicolai Klindt amongst the confirmed starters. NEXT HOME: NGK Spark Plugs Olympique, Mon Oct 15 (7.30)
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
BERWICK The Bandits will bring down the curtain on a successful season with the Bordernapolis on Sunday, with top-flight regulars Josh Grajczonek, Sam Masters and Kyle Howarth amongst the line-up along with current Berwick stars. NEXT HOME: Bordernapolis, Sat Sept 29 (7pm)
EDINBURGH "The riders' job now is to regroup and get themselves ready for the Cup semi; it is up to them to show what they are made of. I feel with our normal home form that in any two-legged tie we always have a very good chance, and we will be going all out to win." Monarchs promoter John Campbell says his side must set aside their disappointment of failing to reach the Championship play-offs as they go into KO Cup action against Workington this weekend. NEXT HOME: Workington (KOC), Fri Sept 28 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Workington (KOC), Sat Sept 29 (7pm)
GLASGOW "I said at the start of the season when we faced some criticism that the trophies are won in September and October, and we're still firmly in the running for the biggest one of all." Tigers boss Cami Brown can't wait to get into action against Workington in the play-off semi-finals. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
IPSWICH "Unfortunately, due to the Premiership and Championship play-offs and Knockout Cup meetings still to be held and the specialist nature of the 16-lap event, it was proving impossible to produce a quality line-up." The Witches confirm their 2018 season is over after shelving plans to stage their 16-Lap Classic next month.
LAKESIDE "It's not un-doable by any means, but we do have a bit of a mountain to climb in the second leg. But if we learn lessons from it and put them into practice over the next two weekends, then it will still have been a worthwhile exercise." Hammers boss Will Pottinger saw his side go down 38-52 at Peterborough in the KO Cup "“ the first of three successive trips to the East of England Arena in three different competitions! NEXT HOME: Peterborough (CS), Sat Sept 29 (7pm) (at Rye House) NEXT AWAY: Peterborough (CS), Sun Sept 30 (5pm)
NEWCASTLE "Disappointing doesn't even scratch the surface tonight as circumstances dictated we had to field a side which was going to struggle, and to end on a damp squib like this was never in the script." The Diamonds' season ended with a heavy defeat at Workington in the KO Cup with a weakened team, to the disappointment of boss George English.
PETERBOROUGH "We were solid all the way through and I was really pleased with the way everyone rode, with only three last places all night. We always say don't run last places and you'll be there or thereabouts, and then you'll rack up the heat advantages in the races you do win." Solidarity was the key for the Panthers, who executed the gameplan of boss Carl Johnson in a 52-38 KO Cup win over Lakeside at the East of England Arena on Sunday. NEXT HOME: Lakeside (CS), Sun Sept 30 (5pm) NEXT AWAY: Lakeside (CS), Sat Sept 29 (7pm) (at Rye House)
REDCAR "It gets increasingly difficult to put a line-up together for an individual meeting, and I feel this has a lot of quality as well as riders who our fans know well." Bears promoter Kevin Keay is looking forward to bringing the curtain down on the 2018 season for the club with the Teesside Silver Helmet this Thursday, after the event was postponed due to the weather last week. NEXT HOME: Teesside Silver Helmet, Thur Sept 27 (7.30)
SCUNTHORPE "He's now done further damage to the ankle. He's gone off to have a MRI scan on it, but bearing on mind that we're right towards the end of the season, it could well be the last that we see of Josh Auty in 2018, which would be a great shame because he's been in great form for us this year." Scorpions boss Dave Peet fears Josh Auty's season could be over after a crash at Workington last weekend, which would put him out of their forthcoming KO Cup semi-final against Peterborough or Lakeside. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
WORKINGTON "To reach the Championship Shield Final is an excellent achievement and, after six group matches and two semi-final fixtures we are still unbeaten in this competition this year. But, all that counts for nothing when the final takes place as everything is re-set to zero." The Comets got past Scunthorpe to reach their first Final since 2010, and continue to be active in both the KO Cup and Championship play-offs meaning a busy end to the season for Tony Jackson's side. NEXT HOME: Edinburgh (KOC), Sat Sept 29 (7pm) NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh (KOC), Fri Sept 28 (7.30)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES"¦
BIRMINGHAM "The amazing amount of bad luck has run from day one right to the very final day. From injuries to riders to rain-offs, you name it and it's gone against us at some point this year. To finish the season with none of the riders who we started with back in March really is unbelievable." Brummies boss Laurence Rogers bemoans the club's misfortune in 2018 as they narrowly missed out on a place in the National League play-offs. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
BUXTON "It was great to get our first win of the season against Plymouth with all the lads chipping in with points, and Tom Woolley getting a paid maximum along with Ben Wilson and Connor Coles scoring double figures also." Relief for the Hitmen and manager Joshua Moss as they got off the mark in the National League with a 51-39 win over Plymouth on Sunday. NEXT HOME: TBC
COVENTRY "It's a remarkable achievement. I don't think anyone would deny us the play-off spot, we deserved it and to beat Birmingham home and away in the league justifies our place." Bees promoter Mick Horton was delighted to see his side confirmed in the top four ahead of the play-offs despite hugely testing times for the club off-track in recent years. NEXT HOME: Eastbourne (POSF), Sun Oct 7 (4pm) NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne (POSF), Sat Oct 6 (7.30)
EASTBOURNE "We made a great start to the meeting. It gave us confidence for when the going got tough later on. Obviously, this is only the half-way stage of the semi-final but we have given ourselves a fabulous chance to go through to the Final." The Eagles maintained their terrific KO Cup record with a 45-45 draw in the first leg of their semi-final at Kent on Monday. NEXT HOME: Kent (KOC), Sat Sept 29 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Coventry (POSF), Sun Oct 7 (4pm)
KENT The Kings face a make-or-break weekend with matches in the KO Cup and the play-offs against Eastbourne and Mildenhall, with the scores tied at 45-45 after the first leg of the Cup semi-final. NEXT HOME: Mildenhall (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (6.30) NEXT AWAY: Eastbourne (KOC), Sat Sept 29 (7.30)
MILDENHALL The Fen Tigers will have to wait to complete their bid for a clean sweep of league wins this season, after last weekend's away trip to Eastbourne and home match against Birmingham were both rained-off. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: Kent (POSF), Mon Oct 1 (6.30)
PLYMOUTH The Devils lost out 51-39 at Buxton on Sunday and will now wrap up their home season at the St Boniface Arena with a three-team tournament on Friday. NEXT HOME: Three Team Tournament, Fri Sept 28 (7.15) NEXT AWAY: TBC
STOKE The Potters' home clash with Plymouth last weekend was postponed due to the weather, and dates are now required for their final four league matches. NEXT HOME: TBC NEXT AWAY: TBC
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27: PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30 TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30 THREE-TEAM TOURNAMENT: Plymouth 7.15
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP S/F 2nd leg: Workington v Edinburgh 7pm 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 1pm 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 NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Kent v Mildenhall 6.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Lakeside v Peterborough (at Rye House) 7pm NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 1st leg: Eastbourne v Coventry 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Peterborough v Lakeside 5pm NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL 2nd leg: Coventry v Eastbourne 4pm BEN FUND BONANZA: Redcar 2pm
MONDAY OCTOBER 8: THE LAURELS: Kent 6.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 15: NGK SPARK PLUGS OLYMPIQUE: Wolverhampton 7.30