HERE'S our latest soundbytes and fixtures from around the tracks up and down the country.
THE BITE-SIZED BULLETIN
PIC OF THE WEEK...
Swindon Robins celebrate their second SGB Premiership title victory in three years after defeating Ipswich Witches 111-68 on aggregate in the Grand Final. Picture: LES AUBREY
PREMIERSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
IPSWICH "Overall, I think everyone will be in agreement, it has been a great season and thoroughly enjoyable for the supporters. We have given you some great moments and it has been a pleasure for me working with everybody. We were written off in our first season back in the Premiership and we got to the play-off Final. We will now work to go one better next season." Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins says the heavy Grand Final defeat to Swindon shouldn't overshadow a highly positive first year back in the top-flight for the club.
KING'S LYNN "When you get a call to race for your country, that makes it feel a bit more worthwhile. It's obviously a very proud moment for me and the family. I'm delighted that Jessie, my son Cooper and daughter Elodie will see me race for my country." Stars favourite Lewis Kerr says his international call-up for GB this week against Denmark at the Adrian Flux Arena is a proud moment, and reward after tough times and serious injuries in past years. NEXT HOME: GB v Denmark, Wed Oct 23 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Poole (PSC), TBC
PETERBOROUGH "I think the team we had out tonight could probably have caused a little bit of an upset, and we could have gone home with a win, but it wasn't to be and we can't affect what happens with the weather." The Panthers' season-ending Supporters' Cup clash at Wolverhampton last Sunday was abandoned after two races due to persistent rain, and boss Carl Johnson had no complaints with the decision.
POOLE "Taking all the comments on-board and looking at the cost implications we have decided to seek registration to the Championship. We will have to wait until the November AGM before we can definitely say that we will be in the Championship but that is our preference and, judging by the comments received, one that will be backed by a large core of our support." Pirates promoter Matt Ford confirms the surprise decision to seek a move into the Championship next year after a succession of top-flight titles in the last two decades. NEXT HOME: King's Lynn (PSC), TBC
SWINDON "I'm so proud of these boys. We had to make some changes earlier in the season, which were for the better, but the team spirit and camaraderie has been absolutely amazing. I tip my hat to the riders because they're the guys that did it. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it "“ they're the ones who have done it for the club." Robins boss Alun Rossiter was in emotional mood after completing a second league title in three years with Grand Final victory over Ipswich "“ the first time they had sealed their success in front of their home crowd.
CHAMPIONSHIP SOUNDBYTES"¦
GLASGOW "We had no luck at all and there were a few dubious refereeing decisions that didn't go our way. Their guest, Richard Lawson, was also exceptional for them, but it might not work out like that for them on Tuesday so we'll have to see how it goes." Tigers boss Cami Brown is still optimistic about his side's chances of taking the league title when they look to overturn a 12-point deficit against Leicester at Ashfield on Tuesday. NEXT HOME: Leicester, Champ Grand Final, Tue Oct 22 (7.30)
LEICESTER "We just need to go up there and battle as hard as we can for every point, just as both teams did on Saturday. Glasgow are a top team, and I would have taken 12 points to go up there with before the first leg." Lions boss Stewart Dickson says a 51-39 win over Glasgow was a satisfactory outcome for his side from the first leg of the Grand Final, as they look to secure the title in the return fixture on Tuesday. NEXT AWAY: Glasgow, Champ Grand Final, Tue Oct 22 (7.30)
NEWCASTLE "This is becoming extremely frustrating and worrying with the end of the season rapidly looming upon us, and it's also proving a hugely costly time for us as come next week it will be six weeks since our last home meeting. So next week, be it Sunday or Monday the weather has got to be our friend and allow us to conclude the season with our most important match of the year." Diamonds boss George English has once again been forced to re-arrange the home leg of the KO Cup Final against Redcar, with the Bears 12-points up from the opener. NEXT HOME: Redcar, KO Cup Final, Sun Oct 27 (6.30)
REDCAR The Bears face a busy weekend to end the season with the annual Teesside Silver Helmet taking centre stage at the Media Prima Arena on Friday, before they go for silverware in the KO Cup Final at Newcastle on Sunday. NEXT HOME: Teesside Silver Helmet, Fri Oct 25 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Newcastle, KO Cup Final, Sun Oct 27 (7.30)
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUNDBYTES"¦
BELLE VUE The Colts still have two big matches to come this season despite their play-off exit, as they contest the KO Cup Final against Leicester over two legs this week. NEXT HOME: Leicester, KO Cup Final, Fri Oct 25 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Leicester, KO Cup Final, Wed Oct 23 (6.30)
CRADLEY "Tom has been great for us this season and I've been very impressed with him. We are working on other riders as some have been ruled out with the rearrangement of Kent v Leicester for the same night." Heathens boss Will Pottinger confirms team regular Tom Spencer has been promoted into the main line-up for the season-ending FAST Golden Hammer at Monmore next Monday. NEXT HOME: FAST Golden Hammer, Mon Oct 28 (7.30)
KENT The Kings face a major 28-point deficit in the twice re-arranged Grand Final home leg against Leicester, having endured a tough night in the opener at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena last week. NEXT HOME: Leicester, NL Grand Final, Mon Oct 28 (6.30)
LEICESTER "It was a great night for me, but it wasn't just me that rode well "“ the whole team went out there and got the job done. To get the win we did was amazing, and it's one step closer to bringing that trophy back home." Skipper Danyon Hume kept his side on course for a league and Cup double with a six-ride paid maximum in the first leg of the National League Grand Final against Kent, which the Cubs won 59-31. NEXT HOME: Belle Vue, NL KOC Final, Wed Oct 23 (7.30) NEXT AWAY: Kent, NL Grand Final, Mon Oct 28 (6.30)
PLYMOUTH "It's a very exciting line up and the winner will be decided by a Final consisting of six laps which will add to the variation on the format." Gladiators owner Mark Phillips confirms one more meeting this season, with the Colin Hill Memorial to be staged on Thursday with several higher-league riders making the trip to the Coliseum. NEXT HOME: Colin Hill Memorial, Thur Oct 24 (7pm)
FIXTURE PICTURE"¦
TUESDAY OCTOBER 22: CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Glasgow v Leicester 7.30
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
THURSDAY OCTOBER 24: COLIN HILL MEMORIAL: Plymouth 7pm
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: CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Newcastle v Redcar 6.30
MONDAY OCTOBER 28: NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Kent v Leicester 6.30 FAST GOLDEN HAMMER: Cradley 7.30
