HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES
BELLE VUE "Knowing we've qualified for the Supporters' Cup Final is very satisfying, especially at this time of year. It's a good indicator we're moving in the right direction so hopefully we can finish the job." Aces star Ricky Wells says their success in the Northern group of the PSC augurs well for the season ahead at Premiership level. NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Mon Apr 29 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Thur May 2 (7.30)
KING'S LYNN "I'm proud of Kasper Andersen, what a performance! We just need to get him going around our own track now and I'm really pleased for the lad. He was great." Stars boss Peter Schroeck had praise for the club's Danish youngster after his double-figure display helped them secure a draw from their Premiership opener at Peterborough. NEXT HOME: Swindon (PSC), Mon Apr 29 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Mon May 6 (7.30)
IPSWICH "Every rider can look at points they dropped other than Jake (Allen) who did a very good solid job at reserve. I think it is clear that some riders would have expected to score more points but next time we go there we will be in good stead as we learnt a lot tonight." Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins says Monday's PSC defeat at Swindon will be good experience for his riders when they return to the Abbey Stadium in league competition later in the season. NEXT HOME: Swindon (PSC), Thur Apr 25 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton, Mon Apr 29 (7.30)
PETERBOROUGH "It was great to see so many people here and there was a great atmosphere. As a manager I guess I should be pleased, but I still feel a little disappointment because we could have won. I'd like to thank all the Peterborough fans for their support, we'll kick on from here." Panthers boss Carl Johnson salutes a huge Alwalton crowd on Easter Monday, who witnessed a local derby thriller against King's Lynn ending in a 45-45 draw. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Thur May 9 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Mon Apr 29 (7.30)
POOLE "You need your number one to be scoring heavily and at the moment he is not doing that, which is a concern as it's putting added pressure on the rest of the team. But I'm confident Jack will turn things around. He has huge support and, most importantly, believes in himself." Pirates co-promoter Danny Ford gives his backing to Australian star Jack Holder as he strives for top form at the start of a season in which the club have lost their opening two home matches. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, Thur May 2 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Belle Vue, Mon May 6 (12pm)
SWINDON "We saw some terrific racing again tonight and some of the lines the boys are discovering on this new track is creating a whole different spectacle here at the Abbey Stadium. We used to be known for the famous Abbey roar and that is on its way back again because we're seeing some amazing racing and tussles that are going right down to the wire - long may it continue!" Robins co-promoter Lee Kilby says the early signs from the club's heavily modified track have been encouraging, with good racing in the opening two meetings against Poole and Ipswich. NEXT HOME: Peterborough, Mon May 6 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Ipswich (PSC), Thur Apr 25 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON "It was pretty tough at Belle Vue earlier. I usually like the bigger tracks but it took me time to sort it out there. So it's pretty cool to get back to Monmore and get the win for the team. I probably wasn't expecting these points at this stage but it's a good start." Wolves newcomer Luke Becker scored a stunning paid-14 at home to Belle Vue as the Monmore men made it one win from their Easter clashes with the Aces. NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Mon Apr 29 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Mon May 20 (7.30)
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES
BERWICK The Bandits are building up to a big weekend as they host the British Under-21 Final at Shielfield Park on Saturday "“ where Robert Lambert will be gunning for a hat-trick of titles having triumphed at the same venue last year as well as at Poole in 2017, whilst youngster Leon Flint carries the home hopes. NEXT HOME: British U21 Final, Sat Apr 27 (7pm) NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh (CS), Fri May 3 (7.30)
BIRMINGHAM "None of the fixtures have been easy so far and it's a shame the results have turned out the way they have. But we're getting some of our most difficult fixtures out of the way and there's still a lot more to come from us as a team." Brummies captain James Shanes is keeping positive despite as his side search for their first win since their elevation to the Championship over the winter. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Wed Apr 24 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Sheffield, Sun May 5 (4pm)
EASTBOURNE "Birmingham are a solid team. They are always good for the second and third places and that's what they were doing to start with. In the second-half of the meeting we were really good and I am really pleased with a 25-point lead." Eagles co-boss Will Pottinger said it was a job well done by his side to put themselves in the driving seat at the halfway stage of their KO Cup tie with Birmingham, having won 57-32 at Arlington on Good Friday. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Sun May 5 (3.30) NEXT AWAY: Somerset (CS), Wed Apr 24 (7.30)
EDINBURGH "It was obviously good to get these couple of wins. I had broken down in my second race after making the gate in that one as well, but I burnt out the clutch and the bike just went slower and slower. But we got there in the end." Monarchs star Justin Sedgmen was encouraged by two wins in the second half of the meeting to help his side pull clear of Newcastle at Armadale on Good Friday. NEXT HOME: Glasgow (CS), Fri Apr 26 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Glasgow (CS), Sun Apr 28 (3pm)
GLASGOW The Tigers are back in action this weekend after a fortnight's break with the Championship Shield matches against Edinburgh possibly set to prove pivotal to the final outcome of their group. NEXT HOME: Edinburgh (CS), Sun Apr 28 (3pm) NEXT AWAY: Edinburgh (CS), Fri Apr 26 (7.30)
LEICESTER "Obviously I'm very pleased with what the boys have achieved but we have to keep our feet on the ground, as does everyone at the club. Let's enjoy winning our Championship Shield section but we have won nothing yet, trophies aren't handed out in April and there's a long way to go starting with league business on Wednesday night at Birmingham." Lions boss Stewart Dickson urges caution in the camp after a highly successful start to the season which has seen them already qualify for the semi-finals of the Championship Shield. NEXT HOME: Newcastle, Sat Apr 27 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Birmingham, Wed Apr 24 (7.30)
NEWCASTLE "We were prepared for a tight battle and that's just what we got from start to finish with some really hard racing towards the latter section of the match on a night when little, if anything went our way, including decisions which made our night a painful one, especially for Thomas Jorgensen who was far from feeling top class after his series of falls." Diamonds boss George English felt his side had done well in the face of adversity to get the better of Edinburgh at home, 48 hours after being beaten at Armadale. NEXT HOME: Glasgow (CS), Sun May 5 (6.30) NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Sat Apr 27 (7.30)
REDCAR The Bears slipped to their first home defeat of the season against Leicester on Good Friday, and also saw Tom Bacon withdrawn from the meeting after a crash in Heat 1. NEXT HOME: Somerset (KOC), Fri May 10 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Somerset (KOC), Wed May 8 (7.30)
SCUNTHORPE "We know how good our top four are around Scunthorpe, but the difference this season is that they've got support. Our two reserves scored 9 paid 10 and outscored Sheffield's reserves, while Danny Ayres has settled in quickly and but for his fall while challenging for a paid win in Heat 8, he could have ended up with paid 11." Scorpions boss Dave Peet hailed the all-round effort in the Good Friday win over Sheffield, and believes the team are in the right configuration to challenge in the Championship this year. NEXT HOME: Redcar (CS), Fri Apr 26 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Redcar (CS), Fri May 3 (7.30)
SOMERSET "I told them to put the Eastbourne result behind them and go out and do the business and that is precisely what they did. Nico was awesome and I had the belief that he and Rory (Schlein) could do it in that last heat." Rebels boss Garry May said last week's win at Birmingham was the perfect reaction to a heavy defeat at Eastbourne, with Nico Covatti scoring a paid maximum on his old home track. NEXT HOME: Eastbourne (CS), Wed Apr 24 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Redcar (KOC), Fri May 10 (7.30)
SHEFFIELD "We got caught out. You look down the score card and everybody did their bit but Leicester were just that bit better on the day than we were. There is a bit of time of now, our next meeting for the team isn't for a fortnight so we have time to regroup, sort ourselves out and hopefully come back a better team." Tigers boss Simon Stead offered no excuses after his side went down to three defeats over the Easter weekend, including at home to Leicester, to end their involvement in the Championship Shield. NEXT HOME: Top Gun Individual, Sun Apr 28 (4pm) NEXT AWAY: Glasgow (KOC), Fri May 10 (7.30)
NATIONAL LEAGUE INS AND OUTS"¦
$ denotes rider also racing in Championship. Moves between clubs listed in the case of clubs in the same league.
BELLE VUE: Leon Flint$ 8.55, Kyle Bickley$ 8.39, Danny Phillips$ 6.75, Ben Woodhull 4.86, Paul Bowen 3.36, Jordan Palin 2.00, Ben Rathbone 2.00. IN: Flint (from Birmingham), Phillips (from Coventry), Palin, Rathbone. OUT: Jack Smith, Tom Perry (to Stoke), Joe Lawlor.
CRADLEY: Awaiting confirmation of ratified line-up.
ISLE OF WIGHT: Georgie Wood$ 9.28, Ben Morley$ 9.13, Ryan Terry-Daley 5.22, Chris Danno Verge 4.83, Chris Widman 3.32, Connor King 2.00, Chad Wirtzfeld 2.00. IN: Wood (from Eastbourne), Terry-Daley (from Plymouth), King, Wirtzfeld. OUT: Alfie Bowtell, Scott Campos (to Plymouth), Jamie Bursill (to Plymouth), Shaun Tedham.
KENT: Drew Kemp$ 9.15, Anders Rowe$ 7.26, Jordan Jenkins 7.04, Alex Spooner 4.50, Rob Ledwith 3.50, Dan Gilkes 2.00, Nathan Ablitt 2.00. IN: Kemp (from Mildenhall), Jenkins (from Mildenhall), Ledwith, Gilkes, Ablitt. OUT: Jack Thomas, Nathan Stoneman (to Plymouth), Paul Hurry, Taylor Hampshire, William O'Keefe.
LEICESTER: Awaiting confirmation of ratified line-up.
MILDENHALL: Danny Ayres$ 8.90, Jason Edwards 6.73, David Wallinger 6.13, Sam Bebee 4.62, Charlie Brooks 4.53, Macauley Leek 3.00, Elliot Kelly 2.00. IN: Edwards (from Eastbourne), Wallinger (from Stoke), Brooks (from Eastbourne), Leek (from Plymouth), Kelly. OUT: Drew Kemp (to Kent), Josh Bailey, Ryan Kinsley, Jordan Jenkins (to Kent), Matt Marson.
PLYMOUTH: Ben Wilson 8.35, Nathan Stoneman 7.61, Scott Campos 6.28, Richard Andrews 5.92, Adam Extance 3.77, Jamie Bursill 2.00, Adam Sheppard 2.00. IN: Wilson (from Buxton), Stoneman (from Kent), Campos (from Isle of Wight), Extance (from Stoke), Bursill (from Isle of Wight), Sheppard. OUT: Ellis Perks (to Leicester), Henry Atkins, Tim Webster, Ryan Terry-Daley (to Isle of Wight), Kelsey Dugard (to Leicester), Macauley Leek (to Mildenhall).
STOKE: Tom Perry 8.06, Luke Chessell 6.80, Connor Coles 6.53, Luke Priest 4.99, Shelby Rutherford 3.44, Joe Alcock 3.00, Corban Pavitt 2.83. IN: Perry (from Belle Vue), Chessell, Coles (from Buxton), Priest, Rutherford, Pavitt (from Buxton). OUT: Max Clegg (to Cradley), Tony Atkin, Rob Shuttleworth, David Wallinger (to Mildenhall), Adam Extance (to Plymouth), Paul Burnett.
FIXTURES at NL tracks this week"¦
ISLE OF WIGHT v Mildenhall (NT), Thurs Apr 25 (7pm) PLYMOUTH v Mildenhall (NT), Fri Apr 26 (7.15) MILDENHALL v Isle of Wight (NT), Sun Apr 28 (3pm)
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
WEDNESDAY APRIL 24: CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Leicester 7.30 CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Somerset v Eastbourne 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 25: PREMIERSHIP SUPPORTERS' CUP: Ipswich v Swindon 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Mildenhall 7pm
FRIDAY APRIL 26: CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30, Scunthorpe v Redcar 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Plymouth v Mildenhall 7.15
SATURDAY APRIL 27: BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Berwick 7pm CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester v Newcastle 7.30
SUNDAY APRIL 28: CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Glasgow v Edinburgh 5pm NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3pm TOP GUN INDIVIDUAL: Sheffield 4pm
MONDAY APRIL 29: PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v Ipswich 7.30 PREMIERSHIP SUPPORTERS' CUP: King's Lynn v Swindon 7.30
WEDNESDAY MAY 1: CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Birmingham v Eastbourne 7.30 20TH ANIVERSARY MEETING: Somerset v Poole 7.30
THURSDAY MAY 2: PREMIERSHIP: Poole v Belle Vue 7.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7pm
FRIDAY MAY 3: CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Edinburgh v Berwick 7.30, Glasgow v Newcastle 7.30, Redcar v Scunthorpe 7.30
SATURDAY MAY 4: CHAMPIONSHIP: Leicester v Eastbourne 7.30 CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pm 3TT: Stoke v Buxton v Crewe 7pm
SUNDAY MAY 5: CHAMPIONSHIP: Eastbourne v Leicester 3.30, Sheffield v Birmingham 4pm CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD: Newcastle v Glasgow 6.30 NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Plymouth 3pm
MONDAY MAY 6: PREMIERSHIP: Belle Vue v Poole 12pm, Ipswich v King's Lynn 2.15, Swindon v Peterborough 7.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cradley v Mildenhall 8pm TUNNEL TROPHY: Kent v Thurrock Hammers 4pm BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich (follows Premiership match)
WEDNESDAY MAY 8: CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham v Berwick 7.30 CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP 1st round 1st leg: Somerset v Redcar 7.30