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2014 LEAGUE TITLE AWARDED TO MILTON KEYNES KNIGHTS Following the unfortunate cancellation of the 2014 MDL Play-Off Final between Milton Keynes and Rye House at Mildenhall after Raiders Rob Watts looped and injured his back as he was doing a practice start , non stop efforts have been made to re-arrange the final. Both clubs and the MDL Co-ordinators, Dale Allitt and Laurence Rogers , have approached all clubs still running fixtures within a defined geographical area, but despite all their efforts no alternative venue has been achieved. Allitt announced , “With the full agreement of both clubs the co-ordinators have made the decision that the 2014 Championship will be awarded to Milton Keynes as the side ahead in the final league table.” “If the MDL is run in 2015 , subject to the agreement of the competing sides , there would be no play offs and the league run on traditional league championship formula of the top team at the end of the season crowned as winners. “

with a public meeting about planning for houses at Brandon next week lots happening ....here is an e-petition link : http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/70559

as it stands several potential venues have been approached to run the meeting but so far no success ..which is a great pity as this meeting has been superb the last 2 years . I am still on the case !!

The MDL Play Off Final on Sunday between MK Knights and Rye House Raiders unfortunately had to be postponed due to lack of ambulance cover. Rob Watts unfortunately looped on his way round to start of heat 1 doing a practice start and was taken to hospital. We are awaiting news as to whether the tie can be run at another venue. L

COVENTRY Storm need to pull back a five-point first leg deficit when they host Kent in the National League play-off semi-final at Brandon on Friday (7.30pm). The City Gearboxes Storm restricted the Kings to a 49-44 win at Central Park last week and the tie is therefore well-poised for the return fixture with a place in the Final at stake. A repeat of Kent’s last visit to Brandon would prove ideal for the Storm, as Coventry won that match 54-39 back in early May with skipper James Sarjeant scoring 15 points – which would have been the full 18 but for a last-bend mechanical failure. And with injuries having disrupted the second half of the season, last year’s No.1 is back to hopefully help them through as club asset Joe Jacobs deputises for Oliver Greenwood, who is out with ligament damage after a crash last Friday. The Storm had hoped to return to a full seven-man team as Stefan Nielsen was a possible starter after six weeks out with a fractured arm – but unfortunately after a midweek practice he has had to take the decision that he will be unable to ride. The rider-replacement facility will therefore be in operation again against a Kings side led by two 9.00+ riders in Simon Lambert and Ben Morley, whilst reserve Danny Ayres scored ten last week at Central Park. Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “Five points down is do-able, and the aim is to pull those points back as early in the meeting as possible. “We’ll be using rider-replacement again, because what Stefan didn’t want to do was come back, not last one race and then leave us in short supply. “Fingers crossed Ollie will be back in action soon, but JJ (Jacobs) is looking forward to being back in a Storm race-jacket and helping his parent club through to the Final.” Admission is just £10 for adults, with all children free, for what promises to be a highly entertaining meeting between two well-matched sides. CITY GEARBOXES STORM (from): Dan Greenwood, Joe Jacobs, Martin Knuckey, Luke Priest, James Sarjeant, Ryan Terry-Daley, Stefan Nielsen r/r. KENT (from): Danny Ayres, Aaron Baseby, Benji Compton, Jason Garrad, Simon Lambert, David Mason, Ben Morley.

MDL ---KO CUP SEMI-FINAL + LEAGUE STOKE 28 COVENTRY 6 STOKE : 1. CAM HOSKINS 3 3 1 = 7 2. SAM WARD 2’ 2’ 3 = 7+2 3. SHAUN TEDHAM 3 3 3 = 9 4. BEN HEWITT 1 2' 2’ = 5+2 COVENTRY : 1. R/R 2. ADAM SHEPPARD F N N = 0 3. LAYNE CUPPITT 2 F/X F 2 = 4 4. DANYON HUME F 0 1 1 = 2 HT 1 : HOSKINS WARD HUME (FELL) SHEPPARD (F/X) 5-0 5-0 2 : TEDHAM CUPPITT HEWITT HUME 4-2 9-2 3: HOSKINS WARD HUME CUPPITT(F/X) 5-1 14-3 4: TEDHAM HEWITT CUPPITT(FELL) 5-0 19-3 5: WARD HEWITT HUME 5-1 24-4 6: TEDHAM CUPPITT HOSKINS 4-2 28-6 STOKE PROGRESSED TO THE MDL KO CUP FINAL WITH A RESOUNDING WIN OVER THE LUCKLESS COVENTRY MERCIA-VIKINGS. THE MEETING WAS ALSO USED FOR LEAGUE POINTS . THE CITY GEARBOXES VIKINGS WERE HIT BY THE WITHDRAWAL OF NUMBER ONE RYAN TERRY-DALEY AND THEN LOST ADAM SHEPPARD WHEN HE CRASHED IN HEAT ONE SUFFERING A BADLY LACERATED FINGER ALSO LOSING A NAIL. ROOKIE DAYNON HUME AND LAYNE CUPPITT , WHO HAD RIDDEN IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE MATCH AS WELL, TRIED THEIR BEST BUT HAD NO ANSWER TO THE HOME SIDE.

The result of this meeting reverts to the original score as investigation with the SCB proves that Lewis Griggs is licensed and eligible so his points are re-instated.

The 2014 MDL Play-Off Final will be between Milton Keynes Knights and Rye House Raiders. Due to fixture unavailability the contest will be held over one leg at Mildenhall on Sunday October 5th. The NL K O Cup finalists will be known by the weekend as Stoke host Coventry in the semi-final 2nd leg , which will also count for league points. Coventry hold a 12 point first leg lead with the winners meeting Kings Lynn in the Final.

awaiting confirmation but could be 4th or 11th The 2014 Midland Development League Riders’ Championship looks set for a new venue with Leicester unable to offer a date this year after two successful stagings of the event in 2012 and 2013. There were talks that Peterborough as a neutral venue might host it but they too now cannot offer a date so the league co-ordinators have approached Len Silver to see if he would stage it at Rye House. Subject to the costings being discussed Len announced to his crowd on Saturday that they were considering holding the MDLRC . Dates of either Saturday October 4th or 11th have been pencilled in and confirmation is awaited. With the riders at this level not receiving points money or travel costs the organisers have ensured they do not go away empty handed with each race sponsored to enable every rider to be given a voucher to be spent on the spares van. Joint league co-ordinator Laurence Rogers outlines what is planned, “ We are looking for race sponsors at just £50 plus if a meeting sponsor is interested we can discuss with them what this would entail. Any firms or fans willing to sponsor a race or whatever can e-mail me at : laurencerogers@blueyonder.co.uk or text me on 07801429304 .” “I already have sponsored body colours courtesy of my old Newport promoter Nick Mallett although we had to replace one as last year’s winner Shaun Tedham’s went missing!” “The rider’s methanol is being provided and sponsored by Dave Roscoe again so a big thank you to him. The trophies for the 1, 2 and 3 are again hand made by Mick Chapman Trophies of Ashord , Kent are totally superb.” “We have had two brilliant meetings at Leicester and I am sorry we can’t have a third this year but I am sure Uncle Len will be a great host for us.” Each of the 10 clubs will have representation with one from each team with the final six spots going to the MDL in positions 1st to 6th a second rider and the meeting reserves from the teams in 7th and 8th place.

Due to the extra fixtures and with the stadium staging the World Stock Car Finals the following weekend and work to be done for this I have had to cancel the training school on Sun Sept 14th ...sorry one and all and we had almost a full booking list. Watch out for details of schools in conjunction with our sister track Peterborough soon.

Jamie Couzins DID ride but his bike was wrecked when Adam Sheppard came off ....IF Rye House had only 2 riders the match could not have started. revised result :Rye House v Coventry-Mercia (MDL) - 6th September 2014 RYE HOUSE 18 1. Danny Ayres 3-3-3-3-N = 12 2. Rob Watts 1-1-2-N-2 = 6 3. Jamie Couzins F/N N N = 0 4. Rider Replacement COVENTRY-MERCIA 16 1. Danno Verge 2-3-3 = 8 2. Danyan Hume 0-F-2 = 2 3. Adam Sheppard FD-FD-RS = 0 4. Ellis Perks 2-2-1*-1 = 6+1 1. Ayres, Verge, Watts, Hume 4-2, 4-2 2. Ayres, Perks, Sheppard (FD) Couzins (f/N) 3-2, 7-4 3. Ayres, Perks, Watts, Sheppard (FD) 4-2, 11-6 4. Verge, Watts, Hume (Fell) 2-3, 13-9 5. Ayres, Hume, Perks, Watts (NS) 3-3, 16-12 6. Verge, Watts, Perks, Ayres (NS) 2-4, 18-16

Castleford put in their best performance of the season tonight at Sheffield speedway, racing their home meeting against play off contenders Rye House Raiders.Every team member contributing significantly to the Kings overall score whilst Rye House relied heavily on Danny Ayres to score the bulk of their points. Alex Wilson had an unfortunate night and it became apparent with the smoke from his bike it was about to blow the engine which it subsequently did ending his nights racing early and reducing Rye House to three riders.Heat 5 saw Rye House rider Layne Cupitt hit the deck a feat repeated by his partner Rob Watts,the race was stopped with Cupitt Excluded as the primary cause of the stoppage and Watts also excluded for not being under power when the race was stopped. Scorers; Castleford (26): Reece Downes 7, Tom Bacon 5+3, Adam Portwood© 7+1, Andy Blackburn 7+2 Rye House (9): Danny Ayres 6, Watts 2, Layne Cupitt 1, Alex Wilson 0 Heat details; heat 1 Ayres Downes Bacon Watts 3-3 heat 2 Portwood Blackburn Cupitt Wilson (ret) 5-1 = 8-4 heat 3 Downes Bacon Watts Cupitt (f) 5-1 = 13-5 heat 4 Portwood Blackburn Watts Ayres (ret) 5-1 = 18-6 heat 5 Blackburn Bacon Cupitt (fx) Watts (x not under power) 5-0 = 23-6 heat 6 Ayres Downes Portwood Cupitt (ns) 3-3 = 26-9

COVENTRY Storm’s National League play-off place is safe after Cradley’s win at King’s Lynn on Wednesday. The City Gearboxes Storm are currently second in the table on 31 points with three matches remaining, two of which take place on Sunday when they visit Buxton and Stoke. Their trip to Devon will not take place before the cut-off, but that is also the case for fellow contenders Mildenhall, Stoke and King’s Lynn. Stoke can only reach 29 points by winning their home matches against King’s Lynn and Coventry, and although Kent and Mildenhall could go ahead of the Storm they would do so by taking further points off King’s Lynn, who therefore would be unable to themselves add sufficiently to their current 22-point total. As league leaders, Cradley will have first choice of semi-final opponents, and the Storm are the only team to have beaten the Heathens so far this season.

it is on ...sent team yesterday and had theirs

Belle Vue 17 Coventry 19 MDL …Monday Sept 1st Belle Vue COLTS 17 CITY GEARBOXES Coventry Mercia-Vikings 19 COLTS : 1. Sam Darroch F 0 0 =0 2. Michael Neale 3 3 R = 6 3. Tom Woolley 3 2 3 = 8 4. Andy Mellish 1 f/x 2 = 3 VIKINGS : 1. Shaun Tedham 2 2 3 2 = 9 2. Scooter Webster 1’ 0 1 1 = 3+1 3. Layne Cupitt R/R 4. Paul Bowen 2 1’ 3 1’ = 7+2 Ht 1 : Neale Tedham Webster Darroch (fell) 3-3 3-3 2: Woolley Bowen Mellish Webster 4-2 7-5 3 : Neale Tedham Bowen Darroch 3-3 10-8 4 : Tedham Woolley Webster Mellish (f/x) 2-4 12-12 5 : Bowen Mellish Webster Neale (ret) 2-4 14-16 6 : Woolley Tedham Bowen Darroch 3-3 17-19

The KO CUP home match for Coventry has been run (24-12) and had the rain not intervened the Stoke v Coventry clash last Sat was for cup + league the Rye House v Kings Lynn clashes are for league and cup as well

MK Knights 19 1. Sam Chapman 3, 3, 2 (8) 2. Niall Strudwick 2+, 0,0 (2+1) 3. Jez Pestell F/Ex, 1+, 1+ (2+2) 4. Shaun Tedham 2, 2, 3 (7) Rye House Raiders 16 1. Danny Ayres R/EF, 3, 3 (6) 2. Rob Watts 1, 0, 1+ (2+1) 3. Tom Bacon 3, 2, 2 (7) 4. Alex Wilson Ex, 1+, 0 (1+1) Heat 1: Chapman, Strudwick, Watts, (Ayres Retired), Time: 65.4, 5-1 Heat 2: Bacon, Tedham, (Pestell F/Ex, Wilson Ex not under power when race stopped), Time: 55.4, 2-3 (7-4) Heat 3: Chapman, Bacon, Wilson, Strudwick, Time: 64.4, 3-3 (10-7) Heat 4: Ayres, Tedham, Pestell, Watts, Time: 61.9 3-3 (13-10) Heat 5: Tedham, Wilson, Watts, Strudwick (F / RM), Time 64.9 3-3 (16-13) Heat 6: Ayers, Chapman, Pestell, Bacon, Time: 61.7, 3-3 (19-16)

MK Knights 22 1. Jez Pestell 2+, F/Ex, DNS (2+1) 2. Shaun Tedham 3, 3, 2 (8) 3. Connor Mountain 3, 3, 3 (9) 4. Niall Strudwick 2+, 0, 1+, Ex (3+2) Castleford Kings 12 1. Adam Portwood R, 2, F/Ex (2) 2. Tom Bacon 1, 1, 3 (5) 3. Martin Pearce 1, DNS, 2 (3) 4. Danyon Hume F/Ex, 2, F/Ex (2) Heat 1: Tedham, Pestell, Bacon, (Portwood R), Time: 55.3, 5-1 Heat 2: Mountain, Strudwick, Pearce, (Hume F/Ex), Awarded, 5-1 (10-2) Heat 3: Tedham, Hume, (Pestell F/Ex, Pearce DNS), Awarded, 3-2 (13-4) Heat 4: Mountain, Portwood, Bacon, Strudwick, Time: 55.1, 3-3 (16-7) Heat 5: Bacon, Tedham, Strudwick, (Hume F/Ex), Time: 56.0, 3-3 (19-10) Heat 6: Mountain, Pearce, (Portwood F/Ex, Strudwick Ex, not under power), Time 56.0, 3-2 (22-12)‎

MDL Thurs 28th Aug --Sheffield 15 Belle Vue 21 Full details to follow

Must admit lost track of who holds it!!

It has been agreed by the SCB that the cut-off date for the 2014 MDL will be extended from Aug 31st to Sun 21st Sept to allow all clubs to complete their fixtures. Hopefully this will assist those hit by postponements etc.

COVENTRY Storm are looking to move to the brink of the National League play-offs with a double win at Brandon on Friday (7pm). The City Gearboxes Storm face Buxton and then Devon in a packed night of 30 races, and a maximum of six league points is very much the target. Should that be achieved, the Storm will move to 31 points and probably back into second position, and more importantly give themselves a 12-point cushion over the chasing pack. A busy night is in prospect for the riders, as the Storm have to operate the rider-replacement facility for the injured Stefan Nielsen, who will be out for at least four weeks with a fractured arm. Nielsen is third in the averages so all team members with the exception of No.1 Oliver Greenwood are entitled to share his outings. Buxton include the two riders who scored double figures in their recent KO Cup defeat against the Storm, Tony Atkin and Adam Extance, although captain Liam Carr is on the sidelines with serious knee ligament damage. Devon have been hit by a spate of retirements and injuries this season but bring in reigning British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates to guest at No.1. Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “It seems an age since we had any track action, but with a double-header the boys will soon be back in the swing of things. “With the lull in fixtures, Kent have overtaken us in the league table, but with maximum points we can regain that position and help towards qualification for the play-offs.” The action gets underway at the earlier time of 7pm, and admission is £15 for adults to cover both meetings, with all children free of charge. The Storm riders will also be participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after the meeting, and supporters are invited to donate £1 to charity in a raffle which will see the winners get to pour the buckets. CITY GEARBOXES STORM (from): Dan Greenwood, Oliver Greenwood, Martin Knuckey, Stefan Nielsen r/r, Luke Priest, James Sarejant, Ryan Terry-Daley. No.8: Conor Dwyer (v Buxton) and Ellis Perks (v Devon). BUXTON (from): Tony Atkin, Ryan Blacklock, Liam Carr r/r, Adam Extance, Stefan Farnaby, Tom Woolley, TBC. DEVON (from): Josh Bates, Sam Chapman, Luke Chessell, Conor Dwyer, Tyler Govier, James Shanes r/r, Adam Sheppard.

PRESS RELEASE from Milton Keynes KNIGHTS Speedway : 22 years after the doors closed on speedway at Milton Keynes , fans of the Knights can be encouraged that moves are afoot to revive the sport in the town. The Knights have kept the team name alive in the last few years running a Milton Keynes side in the Midland Development League being based at Rye House previously and Mildenhall in 2014. The side were crowned MDL champions in 2012 and are currently top of the 2014 league. The sport ran from 1978 to 1988 at The Groveway before moving to Elfield Park in 1989 until the final meeting in 1992. Now suitable land has been sourced in the area for speedway to return and a Promoter and backers are in place. The BSPA have met the prospective promotion and an in-principle agreement is in place to see a return of the sport to Milton Keynes in 2015.

COVENTRY Storm now face two big days of action as they look to secure their place in the National League play-offs. The City Gearboxes Storm are back in action at Brandon on Friday for a double-header against Buxton and Devon (7pm start). Six points from those meetings would go a long way towards securing a top four spot, but should more be required then Sunday September 7 will provide two more opportunities! The Storm were always due to visit Buxton on that afternoon at 3pm, but one of their outstanding meetings against Stoke has now been re-arranged for 7pm – so the Storm will race at Buxton before making the trip from the Hi-Edge Raceway to Loomer Road for their second match of the day. There is no re-arranged date as yet for the trip to Devon, with several of the other play-off contenders also awaiting a date to visit the St Boniface Arena.

City Gearboxes Coventry v MK Knights --OFF