WELCOME to the latest edition of our weekly bulletins keeping you in touch with news, views and fixtures from the tracks up and down the country.
BIG EVENT LATEST
SOMERSET duo Magnus Zetterstrom and Emil Kramer will start the Premier League Pairs Championship on their own track as favourites on June 29.
But Kramer insists they're only a mistake away from going out of the competition - and anything can happen on what promises to be a dramatic night of racing at the Oak Tree Arena 24-hours before the British Grand Prix in Cardiff.
Said Kramer: "It may be an obvious thing to say, but anything can happen on the night, and with the unique scoring system we have in the Pairs you have got to be able to weigh up the situation on track, winning the race is no good if your partner doesn’t get any points.
"The other factor with the Pairs, as we found to our cost last year at Glasgo! w, is the fact you usually have an opportunity to get over a bad race in the group stages, but with the semi-finals and final being one off races, you cannot afford to have a bad race or any bad luck, one shed chain, a puncture and you are out!”
PREMIER LEAGUE BEST PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP: GROUP A: Somerset (Magnus Zetterstrom and Emil Kramer), Glasgow (Shane Parker and George Stancl), Isle of Wight (Chris Holder and Jason Bunyan), Sheffield (Andre Compton and Ricky Ashworth), Rye House (Steve Boxall and Chris Neath). GROUP B: Birmingham (Jason Lyons and Ulrich Ostergaard), King's Lynn (Daniel Nermark and Tomas Topinka), Newcastle (Christian Henry and Josef Franc), Redcar (Gary Havelock and James Grieves), Workington (James Wright and Kauko Nieminen).
ARENA ESSEX-LAKESIDE have signed former Oxford rider Lubos Tomicek as an asset of the club and released ! Wolves loanee Christian Hefenbrock.
Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook said: "Lubos comes to us on his start of year average, which is a figure he had doubled before Oxford's scores were expunged from the records. We expect him to carry on that good form and see him as a long term signing and asset of the club.
"It was tough to leave out Christian and under the right circumstances he would be welcome back as a Hammer but all the tracks we have left to visit, except Wolves, are not suited to his style and we already have enough home track specialists in our team."
RYAN Fisher is to seek a berth in the Premier League after coming to a mutual agreement with the Belle Vue management to leave the Aces.
Owner David Gordon said: "He was reaching desperation point and it wasn't doing him any good in terms of confidence and financially. Ryan is a very capable rider but we think it is a wise decision for him to ride in a lower league.
"I must stress that it was a very amic! able meeting between us and Ryan and it was a joint decision, but he will leave with immediate effect and we are now actively seeking a replacement."
COVENTRY co-boss Peter Oakes remains committed to his position at Brandon having taken up the role of Director of Speedway at Oxford - who are set to re-launch in the Conference League under the ownership of Allen Trump.
Oakes said: "I had a long discussion with Colin Pratt when I had been offered the position at Oxford, and I wanted to speak to him face-to-face before I accepted it - and Colin was totally supportive of what I'm doing.
"But in reality when you look at the fixture lists it's very rare that there would be an occasion where Oxford would be racing, home or away, on the same day as Coventry."
EASTBOURNE owner Bob Brimson admits that the club may have to face up to the possible loss of David Norris for the rest of the season after the experienced Eagle suffered further concussion on Saturday.
Brimson said: "He has given it everything this year, but neither Dave or I want him to have one bang on the head too many. No Eagles fan would forgive me for letting him go out and risk something more permanent.
"We will monitor his situation and explore what we can do for the team going forward, but everything will be done in consultation with Dave every step of the way."
IPSWICH captain Chris Louis is pleased to be able to welcome Jesper B Jensen back to the club as a replacement for the injured Mark Loram.
Louis said: "It is unfair to compare Jesper with Mark, but we are confident Jesper will come in and do a great heat-leader's job.
"The rest of our team is making progress and we are more than happy to keep the side intact. But if we feel the right moves forward are not being made we have the capacity to make further changes."
PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales reacted to the Panthers' win at Eastbourne on Saturday by saying that defeat had not been an option.
Swales said: "It was the perfect response after what happened at Swindon on Thursday, but it was also an absolute must.
"I'm very happy to have got a first victory down here as a team manager and it means Swindon is now the only place I have never won at."
POOLE have added Rye House youngster Steve Boxall to their squad as they bid to cover for the absence of broken collarbone victim Troy Batchelor.
Co-promoter Matt Ford said: "We feel that with Troy now expected to be out for a few weeks we just could not take a gamble by using the number 8 option with so many vital league matches ahead of us.
"We have spoken to Troy about the situation and he fully understands the position that we could blow our chances if we do nothing. Steve is a promising young lad and we are pleased to have him aboard."
READING co-promoter Jim Lynch has confirmed that the Bulldogs will definitely see out their Elite League fixtures with a change in the club's ownership imminent.
Lynch said: "The change of ownership is progressing very well and will be completed in time for our scheduled away Elite League match at Lakeside on Wednesday evening.
"As a result we can confirm to the Lakeside promotion and the supporters that we will definitely be fulfilling that fixture. We will also be fulfilling all our remaining fixtures of the season after that."
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter was pleased to see Danish star Charlie Gjedde return to form as the Robins ran up a 63-27 Knockout Cup win over Peterborough.
Rossiter said: "Everyone contributed and it was nice to see Charlie, after the criticism he took, bounce back and ride superbly.
"He looked his old self with that little bit of swagger and it will do his confidence the world of good. We know Charlie can do it and he certainly showed us tonight."
WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten was apologetic when reflecting on the 8pm cancellation of Monday's meeting - even though it was out of his hands and, literally, nothing to do with him.
"Every effort was made to try and get the meeting on, but sadly it wasn't the case and we all know the outcome," said Van Straaten.
"Yes, we could have called it off earlier in the day but every effort was made to provide a meeting for the Sky Sports cameras. I would like to apologise to supporters for the inconvenience and remind people that re-admission tickets from Monday are valid for the rest of the season.
"Now I just hope the weather is kind to us when we welcome the reigning world champion, Jason Crump, and his Poole Pirates in what should be a terrific meeting next Monday."
PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST
BERWICK stage one of the biggest meetings in the club's history this Saturday as they celebrate 40 years of the sport in the town.
Promoter Peter Waite said: "There'll be memories to be rekindled for anyone who has ever supported Berwick in its whole history with the huge list of ride! rs coming from all our seasons.
"This is a celebration of Bandits nostalgia to beat them all. It's the meeting not to miss under any circumstances so I suggest getting to Shielfield early on Saturday."
FORMER Birmingham star Alan Grahame is working closely with popular reserve Ben Powell in a bid to improve the rider's mechanical set up.
Grahame said: "Ben's got some ability and a lot of determination, and he deserves to succeed. He's suffered a lot of expense this season but he's responded well to my advice and I'm enjoying the fact that I'm in the pits working alongside him."
EDINBURGH star Theo Pijper marked his return to the Monarchs' No.1 race-jacket with a faultless 15-point maximum in the home win over Newport.
Pijper said: "To score a maximum is always good. I made some decent starts but it was hard to ride the track because it was pretty wet. All the boys chipped in with something and that's what we all like to see."
GLASGOW will race their re-arranged Premier Trophy semi-final against King's Lynn on July 2 having been granted an extension to the June 15 cut-off date for the competition.
Co-promoter Stewart Dickson said: "It would have meant home meetings on Monday 11th , Thursday 14th, and Sunday 17th June - which would have crippled our business asking our supporters to pay to three home matches in less than a week.
"We are thankful to the BSPA in giving both ourselves and Kings Lynn an extension to the cut-off date and allowing the meeting to run on 2 July."
ISLE OF WIGHT chairman Martin Newnham felt the club's televised ten-year Premier League celebration against King's Lynn had been a tremendous success - with the exception of the result, as the Stars snatched victory in the last heat.
Newnham said: "Naturally we are disappointed but credit to our opponents and, judging by the comments we have received so far, we did the Island proud in front of the cameras both in terms of the match it! self and the overall package we put together."
KING'S LYNN bid to catch up on their home meetings this week after a series of rain-offs with two matches at the Norfolk Arena - against Newport on Wednesday and old rivals Rye House on Friday.
Co-promoter Jonathan Chapman said: "Rye don't have the best record around ours, but they are coming with a team that looks to be more suited to our race track than ever before. They have a real trump card with (Robbie) Kessler at reserve - it should be a cracking meeting."
MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton is hoping to improve the track conditions at West Row in order for them to be more to the home riders' liking.
Horton said: "We haven't had the grippy surface we want for the past couple of meetings. We are certainly working on it, and without going into detail it's a problem with machinery at the circuit. I'm certainly not panicking about the make-up of the team at this stage."
NEWCASTLE held on to their unbeaten home Premier League record - but were taken right to the wire by King's Lynn as the two sides fought out a thrilling draw at Brough Park.
Diamonds boss George English said: "We made two or three crucial mistakes that cost us victory, but at least we didn't lose to King's Lynn - not many teams can say that this season."
NEWPORT are hoping that captain Tony Atkin will be fit to return to action this weekend after suffering a leg injury - which fortunately turned out not to be broken - at Edinburgh last week.
Promoter Tim Stone said: "Tony went to hospital and they confirmed there was no break, although he had a deep cut and the leg was very swollen. But hopefully he'll be back with us at Mildenhall on Saturday."
REDCAR owner Chris Van Straaten says the club are waiting for a decision from the injured Daniel Giffard - who has had his broken collarbone plated - before assessing their next move.
Van Straaten said: "We'll have to wait and see whether Dan opts to ride with the metalwork in place or wait for it to be removed - if it's the latter then we are looking at losing him for the majority of the rest of the season."
RECENT Rye House signing Robbie Kessler is hoping to hold down his place at Hoddesdon - as the Rockets are his third club of the season!
Kessler said: "I had a few not-so-good meetings with Stoke, but I was really shocked when I got dropped.
"My time at Redcar was good, but I accept that the management had to be fair to Matthieu Tresarrieu when he was fit again - he only lost his place because of injury. I had a good time there, but now I'm here and I hope to stay a bit longer!"
SHEFFIELD co-promoter David Hoggart is keen for the Tigers to take the aggregate point from Thursday's clash with Birmingham - who are run by his friends Graham and Denise Drury.
Hoggart said: "We went down by five-points at Perry Barr when the Sky cameras were there but certain things went against us which left us very angry. Hopefully now we can win by more than five and put another three points on the board."
SOMERSET skipper Magnus Zetterstrom praised the team ethic in the Rebels camp after a fourth straight away win in the Premier League at Glasgow on Sunday.
Zetterstrom said: "The team is riding just like that, as a team. Everyone does their bit and I think it was definitely a case of us wanting it more on Sunday. This is the sort of fighting spirit and belief we have in the Somerset camp this year."
STOKE manager John Adams feels that recent signings Claus Vissing and Lee Complin are having a major influence in the Potters' recent improved results.
Adams said: "Both of them are racers through and through, and the way they are quickly sizing up the away tracks is impressive. Without question there is much more confidence throughout the side now."
WORKINGTON star Carl Stonehewer says his recent comeback to the sport after nearly two years out has been a success.
Stonehewer! said: "I always said if I was going to do it then I was going to do it properly. I wasn't prepared to just turn up and ride the bike for the sake of it, I wanted to get back to the best form I possibly could. There's still more to come."
FIXTURE PICTURE
TUESDAY JUNE 19: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Stoke 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 20: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Arena Essex-Lakeside v Reading 7.30, Poole v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Isle of Wight 7.30, King's Lynn v Newport 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 21: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Arena Essex-Lakeside 7.30, Peterborough v Coventry 7.30, Swindon v Poole 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Edinburgh 7.30, Sheffield v Birmingham 7.45
FRIDAY JUNE 22: PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, King's Lynn v Rye House 7.30, Somerset v Workington 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Plymouth v Cleveland 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 23: PREMIER LEAGUE: Rye House v Sheffield 7pm, Stoke v King's Lynn 7.30, Mildenhall v Newport 7pm, Workington v Birmingham 7pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Cleveland 7.15 40TH ANNVERSARY SPECIAL: Berwick 7pm
SUNDAY JUNE 24: PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Birmingham 4pm, Newcastle v Rye House 6.30, Newport v Mildenhall 4pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Scunthorpe v Sittingbourne 3pm CHALLENGE: Buxton v Wimbledon 3pm
MONDAY JUNE 25: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Eastbourne 7.30, Coventry v Swindon 7.30, Reading v Peterborough 7.30, Wolverhampton v Poole 7.30
TUESDAY JUNE 26: PREMIER LEAGUE KOC: Isle of Wight v Rye House 7.30
WEDNESDAY JUNE 27: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Birmingham v Somerset 7.30, King's Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Stoke v Buxton 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 28: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Ipswich v Swindon 7.30, Peterborough v Eastbourne 7.30 PREMIER LEAGUE: Sheffield v Workington 7.45 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Cleveland v Stoke 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 29: PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS, Somerset 7.30 CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Weymouth v Boston 7.30
SATURDAY JUNE 30: BRITISH GRAND PRIX, Cardiff 7pm
SUNDAY JULY 1: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Peterborough 6pm PREMIER LEAGUE: Mildenhall v Glasgow 4.30, Rye House v Redcar 2pm, Rye House v Workington (follows Redcar fixture), Stoke v Berwick 7.30 WELSH OPEN: Newport 1pm CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Boston v Weymouth 6pm, Sittingbourne v Plymouth 12pm
MONDAY JULY 2: SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Ipswich 7.30, Eastbourne v Arena Essex-Lakeside 7.30 ELITE LEAGUE KOC: Peterborough v Swindon 7.30 PREMIER TROPHY SEMI-FINAL: Glasgow v King's Lynn 7.30 BBC WM SHIELD: Wolverhampton v Birmingham 7.30
TUESDAY JULY 3: PREMIER LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Edinburgh 7.30
22/05/13 1930 Birmingham v Wolverhampton (EL) 23/05/13 1930 Swindon v Birmingham (EL) 23/05/13 1930 Ipswich v Plymouth (LC) 23/05/13 1945 Sheffield v Dudley (Ozchem Trophy) 24/05/13 2000 Lakeside v Coventry (EL) 24/05/13 1930 Edinburgh v Scunthorpe (PL) 24/05/13 1915 Plymouth v Leicester (PL) 25/05/13 1930 Eastbourne v Swindon (EL) 25/05/13 1930 Leicester v Plymouth (PL) 25/05/13 1900 Workington v Glasgow (PL) 25/05/13 1900 Stoke v Mildenhall (NT) 26/05/13 1830 Newcastle v Scunthorpe (PL) 26/05/13 1500 Glasgow v Edinburgh (LC) 26/05/13 1600 Rye House v Plymouth (LC) 26/05/13 1630 Mildenhall v Coventry (NLKOC) 26/05/13 1500 Buxton v Kent (NT) 27/05/13 1930 Coventry v Peterborough (EL) 27/05/13 1300 Peterborough v Coventry (EL) 27/05/13 1930 Poole v King's Lynn (EL) 27/05/13 1930 Wolverhampton v Birmingham (EL) 27/05/13 1500 Scunthorpe v Somerset (PL) 27/05/13 1500 Kent v Mildenhall (NT) 27/05/13 1630 Scunthorpe Saints Select v Milton Keynes (Ch) 28/05/13 1930 Dudley v Buxton (NLKOC) 28/05/13 1900 Isle of Wight v Kent (NLKOC) 29/05/13 1930 King's Lynn v Peterborough (EL) 29/05/13 1930 Somerset v Scunthorpe (PL) 30/05/13 1930 Swindon v Poole (EL) 30/05/13 1945 Sheffield v Leicester (PL) 30/05/13 1930 GB v Australia, Ipswich (Test Match) 30/05/13 1930 Redcar v Dudley (Julie Lewis Memorial) 31/05/13 1930 Premier League Pairs, Somerset 31/05/13 2000 Coventry v Stoke (NL) 01/06/13 1700 British Grand Prix, Cardiff 02/06/13 1630 Mildenhall v Kent (NT) 02/06/13 1600 Kauko Nieminen Testimonial, Leicester 03/06/13 1930 Belle Vue v Eastbourne (EL) 03/06/13 1930 Peterborough v Wolverhampton (EL) 03/06/13 1830 Kent v King's Lynn (NL) 04/06/13 1900 Isle of Wight v Stoke (NT) 05/06/13 1930 Birmingham v Belle Vue (EL) 05/06/13 1930 King's Lynn v Buxton (NL)
LATEST RESULTS...
WEDNESDAY MAY 22:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE Poole v Lakeside - OFF
NATIONAL LEAGUE King's Lynn v Isle of Wight - OFF
TUESDAY MAY 21:
PREMIER LEAGUE
Berwick 41 )Matthew Wethers 11+1) Newcastle 49 (Richie Worrall 15) Premier League points: Berwick 0 Newcastle 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dudley 56 (Lewis Blackbird 15) King's Lynn 36 (Lewis Rose 14+1) National League points: Dudley 3 King's Lynn 0
NATIONAL TROPHY
Isle of Wight 58 (Adam Ellis 15) Mildenhall 34 (Stefan Nielsen 13) National Trophy points: Isle of Wight 3 Mildenhall 0
MONDAY MAY 20:
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE Belle Vue 43 (Magnus Zetterstrom 13) Lakeside 50 (Davey Watt 13+1) Elite League points: Belle Vue 0, Lakeside 4
NATIONAL TROPHY Kent v Stoke - OFF
SUNDAY MAY 19:
PREMIER LEAGUE Glasgow 40 – Joe Screen 11+1 Leicester 49 – Magnus Karlsson 14 Premier League points: Glasgow 0 Leicester 4
NATIONAL TROPHY Mildenhall 47 – Jon Armstrong 13+1 Isle of Wight 42 – Adam Ellis 12+2 National Trophy points: Mildenhall 2 Isle of Wight 1 BRONZE HELMET: Tom Perry beat Stefan Nielsen
DAVID HOWE TESTIMONIAL, Scunthorpe 1 Josh Auty (Scunthope/Birmingham) 2 Morten Risager (Ipswich) 3 Ashley Birks (Scunthorpe/Swindon) SATURDAY MAY 18:
PREMIER LEAGUE Leicester 53 – Magnus Karlsson 14+1 Workington 40 – Cameron Heeps 12+2 Premier League points: Leicester 3 Workington 0
Plymouth 42 – Mark Lemon 12+1 Edinburgh 51 – Craig Cook 13+1 Premier League points: Plymouth 0 Edinburgh 4
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2, Rye House 500cc 1 Nathan Greaves 2 Reece Downes 3 Michael Neale 4 Kelsey Dugard
250cc 1 Lewis Whitmore 2 Callum Walker 3 Luke Woodhull 4 Zach Wajknecht
