HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
The victorious Leicester team with their supporters after Saturday's dramatic Championship Play-Off semi-final aggregate win against Redcar. The Lions will now face Glasgow over two legs in the shoot-out for the title. Picture: STEVE DIXON
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
IPSWICH "At the end of the day it is 0-0 at the start of the meeting and we have got to do what we did to Poole when we are at home and run them close away. It will be a really good meeting against Swindon." Witches star Jake Allen is expected to be a key man in the Premiership Grand Final at reserve against Swindon "“ and he is predicting another thriller, following their semi-final success over Poole. NEXT HOME: Swindon, Prem Grand Final, Tues Oct 15 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Swindon, Prem Grand Final, Thur Oct 17 (7.30)
KING'S LYNN "It is important for me to have a good end to the season. I have really got going for Lynn in the second half of the season which is good and hopefully it puts me in the picture for 2020." Stars vice-captain Lewis Kerr is targeting a return next season when they will look to return to play-off contention after fading from the picture this year. NEXT HOME: GB v Denmark, Wed Oct 23 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Poole (PSC), TBC
PETERBOROUGH "We started off ok but then we got a couple of injuries, and it hasn't been easy at all. But it's just been one of those seasons that you can't do too much about unfortunately." British Champion Charles Wright was one of the success stories of a tough return to top-flight racing for the Panthers, who round off their campaign at Wolverhampton on Sunday. NEXT AWAY: Wolverhampton (PSC), Sun Oct 20 (4pm)
POOLE "Although the club still remains for sale, we are only prepared to do that should the right offer be made and it is the intentions of the current management team to still be running the club in 2020 with my son Dan taking a more hands-on role and becoming far more involved in a move that I feel certain will benefit the club." Pirates promoter Matt Ford confirms it should be business as usual next season at Wimborne Road, albeit with slight changes behind the scenes. NEXT HOME: King's Lynn (PSC), TBC
SWINDON "It's been a fantastic season so far, we've already won the Supporters' Cup and now it would be nice to do the double. We've never done the double so far so that would be fantastic for our history, and if the boys keep riding like they are, I can't see any reason why we can't do it." Robins boss Alun Rossiter is targeting the best season in the club's history "“ if they can overcome Ipswich in the Premiership Grand Final this week. NEXT HOME: Ipswich, Prem Grand Final, Thur Oct 17 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Ipswich, Prem Grand Final, Tues Oct 15 (7.30)
WOLVERHAMPTON "We have absolutely no excuses and no complaints. They were the much better team over both legs, particularly here at Swindon though, and we couldn't keep pace with them." Wolves boss Peter Adams gave an honest assessment of a chastening play-off semi-final defeat to Swindon, where his side went down by a 36-point aggregate margin after losing the opener at home in wet conditions. NEXT HOME: Peterborough (PSC), Sun Oct 20 (4pm)
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES...
GLASGOW "It's the one I think everyone wanted to see, so let's bring it on and see what happens. I think it will just take one team to have a little bit more form than the other, and that would be the deciding factor." Tigers boss Cami Brown expects a blockbusting Grand Final encounter with Leicester this week as the sides chase the Championship title. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Champ Grand Final, Fri Oct 18 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Leicester, Champ Grand Final, Sat Oct 19 (7.30)
LEICESTER "The meeting had absolutely everything, and I think that's what the play-offs bring. I've never had riders asking me so often what the score was, because normally they're concentrating on their own jobs, but they all knew how important and close it was." Lions boss Stewart Dickson saw his side overcome Redcar in a tension-packed semi-final at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena last Saturday, with the aggregate result going right down to the last race. NEXT HOME: Glasgow, Champ Grand Final, Sat Oct 19 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Champ Grand Final, Fri Oct 18 (7.30)
NEWCASTLE "Redcar have had a superb season and they are rightly the favourites however that suits us down to the ground. Two-horse races often end up with a surprise result, we are more than capable of producing a fine performance and coming out on top." Diamonds boss George English is ready for the challenge of trying to overcome a 12-point deficit in the second leg of the KO Cup Final against Redcar on Sunday. NEXT HOME: Redcar, KO Cup Final, Sun Oct 20 (6.30)
REDCAR The Bears suffered heartbreak in the Championship play-offs as they lost out to Leicester by just two points in the semi-final, but still have the chance for silverware when they visit Newcastle in the KO Cup on Sunday. NEXT HOME: Teesside Silver Helmet, Fri Oct 25 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Newcastle, KO Cup Final, Sun Oct 20 (7.30)
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE "The boys can be proud of themselves this year and we still have the KOC Grand Final, so while we bow out of the play-offs we can still win a trophy." Colts co-boss Graham Goodwin hopes his side can gain reward for their efforts this season when they face Leicester in the KO Cup Final, following their play-off exit to Kent. NEXT HOME: Leicester, KO Cup Final, Fri Oct 25 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Leicester, KO Cup Final, Wed Oct 23 (6.30)
CRADLEY The Heathens have confirmed the line-up for their season finale, with the likes of Ben Morley, Tom Perry and Nathan Stoneman joining the top home riders in the FAST Golden Hammer on October 28. NEXT HOME: FAST Golden Hammer, Mon Oct 28 (7.30)
KENT The Kings will now host the second leg of the National League Grand Final after bad weather on Monday forced the postponement of the scheduled opener against Leicester at Central Park. NEXT HOME: Leicester, NL Grand Final, Mon Oct 21 (6.30) NEXT AWAY: Leicester, NL Grand Final, Wed Oct 16 (7.30)
LEICESTER "Every rider wearing the Leicester colours in 2019 has made massive progress and climbed several rungs of that metaphorical ladder. These Lion Cubs now have earned total respect from other league members this year and have proven to have very sharp teeth in competition." Co-promoter Neil Machin pays tribute to the development of the club's National League riders as they prepare to contest two big Finals over the next seven days. NEXT HOME: Kent, NL Grand Final, Wed Oct 16 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Kent, NL Grand Final, Mon Oct 21 (6.30)
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
TUESDAY OCTOBER 15: PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Ipswich v Swindon 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16: NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Leicester v Kent 7.30
THURSDAY OCTOBER 17: PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Swindon v Ipswich 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 18: CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg: Glasgow v Leicester 7.30
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19: CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Leicester v Glasgow 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 20: PREMIERSHIP SUPPORTERS' CUP: Wolverhampton v Peterborough 4pm CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30 NATIONAL LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Scunthorpe 5pm BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 7: Wolverhampton (follows PSC fixture)
MONDAY OCTOBER 21: NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Kent v Leicester 6.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23: NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Leicester v Belle Vue 7.30 GREAT BRITAIN GLOBAL CHALLENGE: Great Britain v Denmark (at King's Lynn) 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25: NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30 TEESSIDE SILVER HELMET: Redcar 7.30
SUNDAY OCTOBER 27: 90th ANNIVERSARY: Newcastle 6.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 28: FAST GOLDEN HAMMER: Cradley 7.30
