UNDERA PARK - 4th FEB
SOLO NEWS - 5 February, 2012
By Peter White
A great night of s solo racing at Undera park with 2 track records were broken:-
Solo – Chris Holder – 55.63 – 4/2/12, Old TR – Lee Adams – 57.01 – 28/11/92;
350 Solo – Max Fricke – 57.62 – 4/2/12, Old TR – Brayden Elliott – 67.75 – 16/01/10.
The winners of the teams event:-
Jake Anderson/Joey Ringwood – 28 – 1st
Chris Holder / Jackson Milne – 24 – 2nd
Dakota North / Tom Armstrong – 24 – 3rd
Justin Sedgeman / Jaye Herne – 22 – 4th
Mark Jones / Jason Stewart – 22 – 5th
James Holder / Bob Stoneham – 15 – 6th
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BRITISH BRIEFS
UK NEWS - 5 February, 2012
By BSPA Press Office
HANS Andersen will defend his Brandonapolis title at Coventry on March 16.
The new Swindon skipper was the last winner of the prestigious event in 2010, and will face several of his 2012 Grand Prix rivals in the Brandon season-opener, with another ex-Coventry man Lee Richardson also a recent addition to the line-up. The meeting will run over 20 qualifying heats with the top two riders going straight to the Final and the next four racing off for the last two places.
Co-promoter Colin Pratt said: “I always believe you should keep to a consistent format where possible, so we will run it the same way as last time, and with 22 races it should be a great night of action.
“We were pleased to get confirmation from Hans as it’s always good to have the defending Champion in the field, and I’m sure Lee will be a contender as well with all of his experience of the circuit.”
JASON Lyons has announced his retirement from the sport after a distinguished 22-year career in British speedway.
The Australian, who spent the majority of his career with Belle Vue, will have a Farewell meeting at Birmingham – where he enjoyed four successful seasons from 2007-10 – on August 23, and is set for further surgery on the broken leg he suffered at Glasgow last year.
Lyons said: “It’s sad the way I’m finishing with speedway but I’ve had 22 great years. That’s half my life and I’ve met a lot of good people in that time. I’ve played hard and lived hard.
“My plan is to come back at the end of February and sell up. I’d like a job, perhaps as a mechanic for someone, to keep me busy during the season.”
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BRITISH BRIEFS
UK NEWS - 4 February, 2012
By BSPA Press Office
IPSWICH, King’s Lynn, Lakeside, Mildenhall, Peterborough and Rye House will compete in the reformed Anglian Junior League this season.
Matches will take place over six heats with four-man teams generally after each track’s home meetings, although Lakeside plan to stage their junior action before the main event.
BSPA Vice-Chairman and Lakeside promoter Jon Cook said: “It’s tough for riders to break into league racing and this venture will fill the gap between training and National League, and give those riders a competitive environment in which to develop.
“Leagues of this kind already operate in the Midlands and Northern sectors and it’s the aim of the BSPA to increase activities of this kind as we work towards an organised programme to take young Brits from their first tentative laps right the way through to the National team.”
SKIPPER Kevin Doolan is tipping his Ipswich side for big things in the 2012 Premier League.
The Witches had a strong first season back at that level last year but missed out on major silverware – but the experienced Australian believes Foxhall supporters are in for a memorable campaign.
Doolan said: “I think we have by far the most exciting team in the league for 2012. The talent, character and determination in our team is massive. The young kids will be very exciting to watch.
“We know from last year that Taylor (Poole) is already a fans’ favourite at Foxhall and many will have seen Cameron (Heeps) light up the track at Mildenhall. Both have huge potential to score above their averages as they continue to learn their craft on the Foxhall track and also continue to learn about themselves and their equipment.“
SHANE Parker’s Farewell meeting at Sheffield on March 18 has attracted a further series of top names.
GB star Tai Woffinden and fellow Elite League heat-leaders Rory Schlein, Peter Karlsson and Niels-Kristian Iversen have been added to a line-up which already includes World Champion Greg Hancock, Maciej Janowski, Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Davey Watt, Freddie Lindgren and Scott Nicholls.
Parker said: “I'm over the moon with the line-up so far and the way things are going. There's not a lot I can say about the latest four because quite simply everyone already knows they are four world-class riders.
“Initially, I thought the New Zealand Grand Prix at the end of March might work against me in terms of putting a good field together but it's actually working in my favour because everyone I ask seems keen to have a ride."
CHRIS Harris, Great Britain’s only representative in the 2012 Grand Prix series, is the latest star name to appear in Swindon’s Bob Kilby Memorial Trophy on Sunday, March 18.
Harris, who has returned to Coventry for the new season, joins triple World Champion Nicki Pedersen in the field along with a host of ex-Robins including Matej Zagar, Lee Richardson and Nicolai Klindt.
Robins co-promoter Gary Patchett said: “Everyone is buzzing about this, the opening meeting of the season, and the addition of ‘Bomber’ Harris is an exciting one.
“He always gives it his all and he is a rider I have always admired. I believe he could be up there challenging for the trophy on March 18.”
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BRITISH BRIEFS
UK NEWS - 3 February, 2012
By BSPA Press Office
AMERICAN star Ryan Fisher will return to the Premier League this season after agreeing terms with Plymouth.
The Devils have moved quickly after their proposed signing of Ricky Ashworth fell through, and Fisher joins after finishing last year as captain of top-flight Coventry.
Plymouth promoter Mike Bowden said: “It will mean that we have a very strong top end with Fisher joining skipper Ben Barker and new signing Steve Boxall.
“I have to say that, unlike some other riders, Ryan was no trouble to deal with and I believe he will be a far greater asset to Plymouth than Ricky Ashworth would have been.”
STEVE Worrall will be back to lead Scunthorpe’s National League team this season.
The 20-year-old averaged just under nine for the title-winning Saints last year, and will add top-end firepower to a youthful team – whilst also racing at Premier League level on loan to Newcastle.
Saints boss Stuart Parnaby said: “I’m delighted that Steve is back – I really wanted him in the team. He’s capable of banging in 12 to 15 points each meeting, and that takes a lot of pressure off the younger members of our team.
“The likes of Oliver Greenwood, Danny Phillips and Max Clegg can look at what Steve has achieved in the last two years, and take some inspiration at what is possible.”
KING’S Lynn have completed the line-up for their National League team with Scott Campos returning for a fourth season with the Young Stars.
Campos has signed on a 5.27 average and will start the campaign at reserve with Tom Stokes, whilst the club have also declared newcomer Lewis Rose as their No.8 as he makes the transition from motocross.
Team boss Dale Allitt said: “I think we have plenty to look forward to this year with the Young Stars, I feel we have a very capable team which will be a match for anyone and it is great to see these lads who have improved year on year now ready for the next step of the ladder.
“Both Lewis Kerr and Jake Knight are not far away at all from the Premier league in my opinion, while we have a team full of riders who can significantly increase their starting averages.”
IAN Thomas, one of the most charismatic and successful showmen in Speedway, will be remembered at the last-ever Telford Ice meetings on Sunday, February 26.
Thomas, who had a reputation as one of the sport’s true entertainers, died almost a year ago and the winner of the British Open Ice title will lift the Ian Thomas Memorial Trophy. He co-promoted the Telford meetings with Graham Drury over a 24-year period.
Drury said: “One thing Ian emphasised as a promoter was value for money and entertainment. He taught me a lot of things over a number of years. His loss was felt by everyone who knew him and we believe naming the trophy after him for the British Open title is a nice touch.
“We have spoken to Ian’s family and there will also be a minute’s applause to remember him before the afternoon meetings in memory of Ian.”
THE British Speedway Promoters’ Association are pleased to confirm the release of the 2012 Premier League fixture list, as well as this year’s major events schedule.
The Premier League season will start with the new League Cup competition, whilst the league programme itself will culminate in play-off competitions involving 12 of the 14 clubs – with the top six battling for the title.
Dates and venues have also been confirmed for the SpeedwayGB Events series – formerly known as the Super7even series.
Co-ordinator David Hoggart said: “For 2012 we have reduced the key events to six by resting the Elite League Pairs. In recent seasons it has been difficult for commuting riders to fit the Pairs into their hectic schedules, and this has affected the quality of the field despite some great racing and brilliant TV images. The re-introduction of the Pairs will remain under annual review.”
The six key events for 2012 follow the traditional pattern, with four returning to their successful staging venues of last year. The Premier League Fours reverts to Peterborough with the British Under-21 Championship moving to Dudley.
The highlight of the series, the British Final, will again be at Wolverhampton with the Elite League Riders Championship returning to Swindon. The Premier League's top events, the PL Pairs and the PLRC, return to Somerset and Sheffield respectively.
Hoggart said: “It's no secret that I wanted to re-establish the PL Fours at Peterborough. Unfortunately, we could not resume there in 2011 and Leicester did a fantastic job for us.
“Rick Frost and Julie Mahoney have worked closely with the Showground authorities to make this happen, it's a great opportunity and I am very much looking forward to returning in July.”
Speedway GB Events
British U21 Final Dudley Tuesday April 24
PL Fours Peterborough Sunday July 15
British Final Wolverhampton Monday August 6
PL Pairs Somerset Friday August 24
PLRC Sheffield September 23
ELRC Swindon Saturday October 13
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BRITISH BRIEFS
UK NEWS - 2 February, 2012
By BSPA Press Office
BERWICK have completed the shock signing of Ricky Ashworth – after the former Premier League Riders’ Champion’s switch to Plymouth fell through.
The Bandits were alerted to Ashworth’s failure to agree terms with the Devils and moved quickly to bring the Sheffield asset to Shielfield Park as a replacement for the injured Kozza Smith.
Manager Ian Rae said: “When Sheffield got in touch on Sunday to say that Ricky was not going to Plymouth I obviously questioned the validity but was assured it was true. A rider of Ricky's ability is too good to overlook bearing in mind our current circumstances and we commenced negotiations on Monday.
“Whatever the problem was in Devon – and that would be none of our business – I can state that Ricky was very understanding of our situation and of our budgets, and we had no trouble in coming to terms.”
Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart added: “When Ricky called me on Sunday to say he had failed to agree terms with Plymouth and had declined their offer of a team place for 2012, I had to think on my feet. I had already tried several clubs when we were unable to accommodate him this year and I didn't want to see the lad out of work.”
FORMER Peterborough skipper Nicki Pedersen is to make a surprise return to the Showground for the club’s opening meeting of the season.
Pedersen has joined up with Panthers legend Ryan Sullivan and World Champion Greg Hancock in the opposition ranks for the March 19 meeting, as he steps up his preparations for the start of the Grand Prix series.
He said: “I've chosen to do as many meetings as possible in the UK before the first GP, so I can test my equipment and myself as much possible and to see where we are in terms of being ready before we go to New Zealand.
“It's also good to get back to Peterborough because it's a big and fast track, in order to get the physical sensation and technique of racing a fast track into your body, in preparation for the big 415m Western Springs track in New Zealand.”
WOLVERHAMPTON star Freddie Lindgren has joined Nicki Pedersen in the line-up for his ex-team mate Magnus Karlsson’s Testimonial at Leicester.
It will be Lindgren’s first appearance at Beaumont Park as the Lions start the new season on March 17 with the meeting to celebrate Karlsson’s ten years in British Speedway.
Lindgren, who rode alongside Karlsson at Wolves, said: “I’ve known Magnus for quite a bit now, he’s a great guy and I hope he has a good meeting.
“He’s done well, it was hard for him to follow his brothers who were such great riders but he has done well. I was honoured to get the call to ride in his meeting.”
RYE House boss John Sampford expects Australian teenager Tyson Nelson to make significant strides in his second season of Premier League racing.
Sampford is targeting a heat-leader berth for Nelson, who has invested heavily in new equipment and has also landed a doubling-up berth with Elite League Birmingham.
He recovered from mechanical problems to post a string of double-figure scores in the closing stages of last season, and the Rockets are hopeful that he can build on that form.
Sampford said: “If Nelson lives up to our expectations then the whole team will take on a much more powerful look and, judging from his financial outlay, the boy certainly intends that to happen.”
DUDLEY and Mildenhall have confirmed dates for the National Shield as they prepare to contest the third tier’s first major silverware of the season.
The Fen Tigers, who lifted the KO Cup in 2011, will host the first leg on Easter Sunday (April 8) with the return against the Heathens, who are the current Shield holders, at Monmore Green on April 17.
Mildenhall co-promoter Michael Lee said: “It'll be great to welcome the Heathens back to West Row as, of course, they were the first visitors last season as we launched the 'new era' of Mildenhall Speedway. That turned into a day never to be forgotten, and I am sure everyone can still remember our then skipper James Brundle clinching the win for us in a brilliant final heat.”
Dudley also face local rivals Stoke in the Staffordshire Cup before the league commences, and boss Will Pottinger said: “In my book both Stoke and Mildenhall are up there as the strongest teams on paper. That means we are in for a really tough start and it will be a thorough examination of our team credentials.”
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BRITISH BRIEFS
UK NEWS - 1 February, 2012
By BSPA Press Office
MARTIN Smolinski is hoping his Elite League return with Birmingham will help kick-start his bid to reach the Grand Prix series.
The former Coventry star has only had one brief spell in the UK since racing for the Bees in 2005-07, but was introduced as the Brummies’ latest signing on Friday as the club unveiled a new sponsorship deal with leading city motor dealer Toyota World.
Smolinski, a three-time German Champion, believes success at Perry Barr can also boost his individual aspirations.
He said: “I am delighted to take the all-important No.2 position for the Brummies and hope to have a great season both here and at home to ensure I qualify for the Grand Prix season in 2013.”
NEW Sheffield signing Joe Haines is desperate to get his career back on track in 2012.
Haines admits his move to Owlerton represents a chance to rebuild his confidence after a torrid season last year following a serious winter crash in Australia.
He said: “Last season was tough for me after I had crashed in Australia, and I never really got going.
“This is a new challenge for me and I’m excited about my move to Sheffield. I’m desperate to make it a success and it’s an important year for me on a personal level.”
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BRITISH BRIEFS
UK NEWS - 31 January, 2012
By BSPA Press Office
SOMERSET promoter Debbie Hancock says the Rebels’ Australian youngsters should take the positives from their displays in their Under-21 Final over the weekend.
Sam Masters scored a 15-point maximum in the qualifying races only to be disqualified after a crash in the Final, whilst Alex Davies dropped just one point but had to be content with third place overall.
Hancock said: “I know that both Alex and Sam will be disappointed with the final outcome, probably more so Sam given his exclusion in the Final, but in the cold light of day they both put in excellent performances in dropping just a single point between them, and that being when they met, from their qualifying races so it augurs well for the new season.
“As importantly, though, they have both come through the meeting unscathed so it means everyone will be fit and raring to go when we stage our Press and Practice Day on March 16.”
LEICESTER have appointed a new track curator with Gareth Chrabaszcz taking over duties from Glyn Taylor this season.
Chrabaszcz followed in his father’s footsteps in track preparation and was responsible for Birmingham’s Perry Barr circuit since their return to the sport in 2007.
He said: “I have been to take a look at the track and met the people who I will be working with.
“Their enthusiasm and team spirit is infectious and I aim to work closely with the riders and (manager) Jason Attwood to ensure that their requirements are taken into account so that I am able to create a surface that they feel comfortable to race on.”
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