Main Man

Stoke 'Hartshill Cycles' Spitfires 22 Buxton Jr Hitman 8 Spitfires 22 Cameron Hoskins 3, 3, 3 Fx =9 Ben Hewitt 2*, 3, 3 =8+1 Scooter Webster 1, 2*, 2* = 5+2 David Holt R/R Jr Hitmen 8 Sam Darroch 1, 1, 2=4 Bradley Seal 2, 1(15m) =3 Luke Whitehead 0, F, 1=1 Layne Cupitt F, F=0 Heat details: 1. Hoskins, Hewitt, Darroch Cupitt (F) AWD 5-1 2. Hoskins, Seal, Webster, Whitehead, 69.7 9-3 3. (rerun) Hewitt, Webster, Seal (T15m) Whitehead (F) AWD 14-4 4. Hoskins, Webster, Darroch, Cupitt (F) AWD 19-5 5. Hewitt, Darroch, Whitehead, Hoskins (F) AWD 22-8 6. Not run due to curfew. Cam Hoskins and Ben Hewitt showed they knew the best way round Stoke with a fantastic showing from both riders, good support from Scooter Webster meant the Spitfires were run away winners despite missing number 1 David Holt who rode 7 rides in the preceeding NL meeting. Buxton suffered a number of unlucky falls which meant the meeting didn't get as close as it perhaps should have been. Both Seal and Cupitt having bad nights, Bradley managing to go through the tapes and punished 15m in heat 3, and Cupitt falling in both his rides the second causing extensive damage to his bike. Due to the number of falls heat 6 couldn't be run as the curfew had been reached, so the referee closed the meeting. Like

Coventry Training School /Practice Cancelled this Sunday (Aug 17th) Regrettably Sunday’s Training School/ Practice (which was fully booked) will now not take place. With the recent wet weather and a busy schedule of Elite League Speedway action on Friday and Monday at Brandon plus car racing on Saturday the decision has been made early. Organiser Laurence Rogers is naturally disappointed but fully understands the Stadium’s situation, “ The riders will be as disappointed as me I am sure. This was due to be our first school this year and was fully booked with many new faces lined up to ride. Our next school is on Sunday August 31st and that one is already over half booked as is the one on Sunday September 14th.” “Riders wishing to book for these can text 07801429304 or e-mail : laurencerogers@blueyonder.co.uk with their name, contact details, age, cc of bike and riding experience so they can be allocated to correct groups.”

Coventry Training School /Practice Cancelled this Sunday (Aug 17th) Regrettably Sunday’s Training School/ Practice (which was fully booked) will now not take place. With the recent wet weather and a busy schedule of Elite League Speedway action on Friday and Monday at Brandon plus car racing on Saturday the decision has been made early. Organiser Laurence Rogers is naturally disappointed but fully understands the Stadium’s situation, “ The riders will be as disappointed as me I am sure. This was due to be our first school this year and was fully booked with many new faces lined up to ride. Our next school is on Sunday August 31st and that one is already over half booked as is the one on Sunday September 14th.” “Riders wishing to book for these can text 07801429304 or e-mail : laurencerogers@blueyonder.co.uk with their name, contact details, age, cc of bike and riding experience so they can be allocated to correct groups.”

COVENTRY have announced details of a special admission offer ahead of two massive home matches this weekend. The Buildbase Bees face Eastbourne at Brandon on Friday and then Swindon on Monday, with both opposition teams being direct rivals for a top-four finish and a place in the Elite League play-offs. Supporters attending Friday’s clash with the Eagles should retain their re-admission tickets, and upon production of those tickets on Monday admission for the Robins match will be available for just £10. This applies to both adults and concessions. Team news for the Friday match sees former Coventry rider Rory Schlein step in as a guest for Michael Jepsen Jensen, who is unavailable due to a clashing Danish fixture, and as the match at Brandon is a re-arrangement Bees are entitled to a facility to cover for him. They will operate the rider-replacement facility for skipper Chris Harris, who is making the trip to Latvia for the weekend Grand Prix, but all members of the top five including No.1 Hans Andersen will be entitled to an extra ride. Kyle Howarth makes his return to Elite League racing after his ankle injury after a comeback in the last fortnight for Workington, and club asset Joe Jacobs steps in at reserve for Jason Garrity, who is racing for Rye House. Jepsen Jensen returns for the trip to Arlington on Saturday, and Bees expect to be at full strength for the visit of Swindon on Monday. Finally, the club can advise supporters in advance that as both the Eastbourne and Swindon matches were rained-off earlier in the season, we will be using the original programmes supplemented by a four-page insert on both occasions to include the racecard and various club updates, and as a gesture of goodwill these will be on sale for £2 rather than the regular £2.50. Promoter Mick Horton said: “This is a huge weekend for the club. We’ve been starved of Elite League racing over the last few weeks but it’s a very busy month or so ahead now, and it’s very important that we pick up points. “I understand racing several meetings in a short space of time is not ideal, and I hope supporters will appreciate what we have put in place to hopefully make things a little more affordable. “It is frustrating to not have our full side available on Friday but there is very little we can do about it because these matches have to be raced, and I am still confident that the side we have should be able to defeat Eastbourne. “We’re pleased to welcome Rory and JJ in to guest for us, and with an all-round effort from the riders we can certainly get the result.” *£10 adult & concession admission for Coventry v Swindon on Monday is available only upon production of a re-admission ticket from Friday’s Coventry v Eastbourne fixture.

thank you for your concern tsc1 but we have a very good turn out booked and as far as we are concerned it is all systems go >>>>>> the dirt deflector question .....can you message me or e-mail : laurencerogers@blueyonder.co.uk and will discuss it. I realise about the fence etc but this should be all sorted.

CUBS FIRST WIN ON THE ROAD LONG EATON 16 TIGER CUBS 19 The Tiger Cubs recorded their first win away from home with a well deserved victory against a spirited Long Eaton Invaders team at Leicester last night. The Cubs got off to the worst possible start with Alex Wilson taking an uncharacteristic fall at the tricky 3rd/4th bend and Sean Phillips correctly pulling over when he found his front wheel spindle working loose to gift the Invaders a first heat 5-0. However the Cubs hit straight back in an eventful Heat 2. Michael Neale, guesting for the Cubs in place of the unavailable Ben Holloway, gated ahead of Cameron Hoskins with Dan Miles making a brilliant gate in third in front of Luke Whitehead who came in as a very late replacement for the home team. Hoskins then lost the back end in turn 2 of the second lap and did a 360 before falling gently to the floor. Miles and Whitehead passed Hoskins who remounted and set off in pursuit. The next two and a half laps were nail-biting as Dan rode faultlessly to hold off Whitehead who was snapping at his back wheel with Hoskins closing at a rate of knots on the pair of them. Going into turn 3 of the last lap there wasn't a whisker between the three of them and Whitehead appeared to have bravely blasted past Miles as they emerged from turn 4 but Dan was not to be outdone and kept the gas on full right to the line to take the referee's verdict by inches at the chequered flag. An absolutely brilliant race and the resulting 5-1 to the Cubs brought us right back into the match and got all the lads buzzing, sensing the possibility of a victory. Heat 3 pitched together first-time winners Layne Cupitt and Michael Neale against each other and it appeared that Cupitt would take the honours as he made the jump out of the gate and led for the first couple of laps but then slid off and handed the Cubs a 4-2 heat advantage. After that disastrous start the Cubs were now one point ahead and with Alex and Sean taking the minor placings behind Cam Hoskins in the next they kept their slender lead going into the final two heats. A 4-2 to the Invaders meant the Cubs were trailing by 1 point going into the final race which saw a repeat of the the tantalising Cupitt/Neale confrontation. This time it was Michael who made the gate and settled into a great rhythm to keep Layne at bay, and with Sean close behind in third the heat advantage was enough to hand the Cubs victory. When Layne's engine blew on lap 3 it was only the margin of victory that changed. A great team effort by all the Cubs and a great advert for MDL racing with the Invaders also playing their part in a very exciting meeting. LONG EATON INVADERS 16 Layne Cupitt 3,F,R, = 3 Sam Darroch 2+1,2,1, = 5+1 Luke Whitehead 1,0,1, = 2 Cameron Hoskins 0,3,3, = 6 SHEFFIELD TIGER CUBS 19 Sean Phillips R,1+1,2+1, = 3+2 Alex Wilson F,2,2, = 4 Michael Neale 3,3,3, = 9 (max) Dan Miles 2+1,1,0 = 3+1 Heat1 - Cupitt, Darroch, Phillips®, Wilson(F), - 5-0 (5-0) Heat2 - Neale, Miles, Whitehead, Hoskins(F,rem) - 1-5 (6-5) Heat3 - Neale, Darroch, Miles, Cupitt(F) - 2-4 (8-9) Heat4 - Hoskins, Wilson, Phillips, Whitehead, - 3-3 (11-12) Heat5 - Hoskins, Wilson, Darroch, Miles, - 4-2 (15-14) Heat6 - Neale, Phillips, Whitehead, Cupitt® - 1-5 (16-19)

Meeting OFF ---no new date as yet

COVENTRY Storm will be going for their first item of silverware when Brandon hosts the Buildbase National League Fours on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm). The meeting is one of the biggest on the calendar in the third tier of the sport, as eight of the nine National League clubs will be represented, and several coach-loads of visiting supporters are expected. The City Gearboxes Storm are amongst the favourites for an event which features 24 races, starting with two semi-finals with the top two from each progressing to the eight-heat Final. The Storm are in the same group as a powerhouse Cradley line-up who go into the meeting as defending holders, and with four riders who are all averaging over eight-and-a-half in the National League. But the Heathens suffered their only defeat of the league campaign so far at Brandon on Easter Monday, and the Storm quartet of Oliver Greenwood, James Sarjeant, Stefan Nielsen and Dan Greenwood are hoping for a repeat performance. The group is completed by Kent and Buxton, and whilst the Kings are hampered by the injury absence of Simon Lambert, the Hitmen are boosted by the inclusion of Liam Carr who missed their recent league visit to Brandon. In the other group, 2012 winners Mildenhall include Coventry asset Joe Jacobs although British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates is out after a crash on Thursday; and the Fen Tigers’ opposition is provided by King’s Lynn, Devon and Stoke. The two groups run concurrently, with Heat 1 of Group B following Heat 1 of Group A and so on, and there will then be a short interval before the Final. Admission is £15 for all adults, with under-16s free of charge, and gates open at 1pm. Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “This promises to be one heck of a meeting and with a good, tough line-up as well. “We’ve had a chat with the boys about our line-up and gate positions and what we’re going to do, we feel we can win it and it should be a cracking meeting. “I would also like to thank John Clarke at Buildbase for his meeting sponsorship, and Gary and Lorraine Drinkwater at City Gearboxes for backing the Storm boys. “Also, a big thank you to Jamie Golby for the loan of two gazebos to be used as pit areas, with 32 riders plus two reserves to fit in!” GROUP A: BUXTON: Liam Carr, Tom Woolley, Tony Atkin, Adam Extance. CRADLEY: Max Clegg, Steve Worrall, Tom Perry, Paul Starke. COVENTRY: Oliver Greenwood, James Sarjeant, Stefan Nielsen, Dan Greenwood. KENT: Ben Morley, Aaron Baseby, David Mason, Benji Compton. GROUP B: MILDENHALL: Dan Halsey, Joe Jacobs, Connor Coles, Brendan Johnson. DEVON: Tim Webster, Matt Bates, Richard Andrews, Luke Chessell. KING’S LYNN: Darren Mallett, Marc Owen, James Cockle, Scott Campos. STOKE: Jon Armstrong, Ben Hopwood, Lee Payne, Chris Widman.

That was one of dates given !

A DRAW AFTER FOUR TIGER CUBS 12 BUXTON JUNIOR HITMEN 12 A horrendous-looking crash in the main meeting caused a lengthy delay leaving little time for the MDL match with the curfew looming. However with co-operation from all sides four races were completed and a result achieved. Heat 1 saw the normally-reliable Tom Bacon flip his bike over from the start but thankfully he was soon stomping back across the centre green, more than a little annoyed with himself. The re-run was won comfortably by Layne Cupitt to share the points (3-3) and that set the trend for the remaining races with each one resulting in wins for the Cubs but with the Junior Hitmen packing in for the minor places. Ben Holloway (pictured), in his first meeting for the Cubs since his return from injury, was particularly impressive with two comfortable wins including a rare defeat of Cupitt in Heat 4, and was well supported by the ever-improving Alex Wilson who notched up a win and a second place. Layne Cupitt led the Junior Hitmen from the front with his team-mates all chipping in with vital points to keep the scores level. It's never satisfactory not to complete all six races, and no doubt both teams will believe that they could have clinched victory in the last two races, but, based on the first four heats, a draw was probably a fair result. SHEFFIELD TIGER CUBS 12 Sean Phillips 1+1,F, = 1+1 Alex Wilson 2,3, = 5 Ben Holloway 3,3, = 6 Dan Miles 0,0, = 0 BUXTON JUNIOR HITMEN 12 Layne Cupitt 3,2, = 5 Tom Bacon F,1+1, = 1+1 Scooter Webster 1+1,2 = 3+1 Bradley Seal 2,1+1, = 3+1 Heat 1 - Cupitt, Wilson, Phillips, Brown (F) - 3-3 (3-3) 68.9 Heat 2 - Holloway, Seal, Webster, Miles - 3-3 (6-6) 68.1 Heat 3 - Wilson, Webster, Seal, Phillips (F) - 3-3 (9-9) Awarded Heat 4 - Holloway, Cupitt, Bacon, Miles - 3-3 (12-12) 68.4 Lik

have 9 spaces left for August 17th.

COVENTRY Storm's away match at Devon on Saturday has been postponed. A statement from the Plymouth promotion reads as follows: THE Saturday afternoon double header with the Devon Demons in National League action against Coventry and Stoke has been postponed because of a planning issue. An official statement from the promotion says: “Devon Demons Speedway regrets to announce that, due to a technical issue regarding the Planning Consent at St Boniface Arena, it is not possible to stage speedway racing at the venue this Saturday afternoon August 9. “The matches against Coventry and Stoke are therefore postponed. “Plymouth Speedway wish to assure both their supporters and speedway fans in general that the situation is purely about this meeting and all other matches at Plymouth, both in the Premier League and National League, are unaffected.” There is no meeting at Brandon this Friday (Aug 8) but Coventry stage the Buildbase National League Fours, involving eight teams, on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm).

Within hours of announcing the schools we have had an amazing response and for the initial one on Sun Aug 17th there are still a few spaces remaining ,,,,,so get booking!! Sorry that we do not have any hire bikes etc as we have had a few enquiries for this. It is for riders with heir own equipment and open to all classes of speedway bikes

MDL SUN AUG 3rd Buxton 11 (Reece Downes 3r 8 , Luke Whitehead 3r 3, Dan Miles 3r 0) Castleford 23 ( Tom Bacon 3r 8, Sam Darroch 4r 7+2, Andy Blackburn 3r 6, Layne Cupitt 2r 2+1( Stoke 14 ( Lawrence Fielding 3r 5, Sam ward 3r 4+1, Tom Bacon 3r 3+_1, Paul Bowen 3r 2) Belle Vue ( Michael Neale 3r 9, David Holt 3r 7+2, Connor Fletcher 3r 3, Ben Holloway 3r 3) Ht 1 : Neale Holt Bacon Ward 1-5 1-5 69.2 2 : Holloway Fielding Fletcher Bowen(f/x) 2-4 3-9 Awarded 3 : R/R -- Ward Bacon Fletcher Holloway (x) 5-1 8-10 70.6 4 : Neale Holt Fielding Bowen (f/rm) 1-5 9-15 68.8 5 : Neale Fielding Fletcher Bacon (f/x) 2-4 11-19 Awarded 6 : Holt Bowen Ward Holloway 3-3 14-22 68.1

Coventry Speedway Training School dates : Due to the re-arranged Bees v Leicester EL clash for Sun Aug 31st the Training School has to be cancelled.

THE draw has been made for the Buildbase National League Fours at Coventry on Sunday August 10 (2.30pm). Eight NL clubs compete in the popular event with Cradley defending the title they won under their previous Dudley name at Stoke last season. A 24-race programme is in prospect at Brandon with the teams split into two groups of four, competing over eight heats, and the top two teams in each group then progress to the eight-heat Final. Admission prices for the meeting, sponsored by Buildbase, are £15 for adults, with all children under the age of 16 free. Programmes £2. Gates open at 1pm with Heat 1 scheduled for 2.30pm. GROUP 1: Buxton, Cradley, Coventry, Kent. GROUP 2: Mildenhall, Devon, King’s Lynn, Stoke.

Match not going ahead as track staff need to work on air fence etc ahead of Sky match on Monday 28th. No new date yet.

COVENTRY Storm have moved to fill the gap created by Luke Crang’s injury with the signing of experienced National League racer Luke Priest. Crang faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines with a broken shoulder-blade, and with several fixtures coming up over the coming weeks the City Gearboxes Storm have brought in a new face rather than rely on the rider-replacement facility. 29-year-old Priest captained Stoke last season and finished with an unreflective sub-five point average – not helped by the fact that the Potters failed to complete their fixtures. That average, however, enables him to slot into the Storm team initially at reserve, where subject to BSPA approval he will make his debut in Friday’s double-header against Buxton and King’s Lynn. With no team place forthcoming over the winter, despite being linked with several clubs, Priest spent an extended spell in Australia, but having recently returned to the UK he is excited to get his chance with the Storm. He said: “I’ve been back in the country for just over a month, and this is a really good move for me. “I’ve got to make the most of being at reserve, some people might see it as a backward step but it’s a good opportunity to score some big points for the club. “My equipment is top-notch and I feel good in myself, so although inevitably I’m not going to go out and win every race I’m confident and I like riding at Coventry. I understand the play-offs are a possibility, we’re still in the KO Cup, and it’s great to be part of a winning team!” Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “Luke and I go back a long way, he’s a rider who gives 100 per cent and he’s always been a great team man. He’s champing at the bit to get going for us. “I’m absolutely amazed that nobody included him on his average this year, and when we got the news of Luke Crang’s injury we really felt rider-replacement wouldn’t give us enough, especially with the number of fixtures coming up. “I’d like to thank my good friend Peter Mole and his colleagues at Luke’s parent club Sheffield, who were very good and helpful. “I’ve discussed it with Crangy, who doesn’t know exactly how long he’ll be out for, and he understands that we have to do the best we can – he wants us to win the League. I really feel sorry for him having got his bikes all sorted again, he’s gutted about the injury but I’m sure he’ll be back.”

and good racing!!

Buxton Hitmen 15 1. Scooter Webster 1, 2, 1+ (4+1) 2. Bradley Seal 0, F/Ex, 2 (2) 3. Tom Bacon 2, 2, 2 (6) 4. Sam Darroch 1+, 1, 1 (3) Milton Keynes Knights 20 1. Connor Mountain 3, 3, 3 (9) 2. David Holt 2+, 3, 3, 3 (11+1) 3. Rider Replacement 4. Sam Ward F/Ex (0) Heat 1: Mountain, Holt, Webster, Seal: 1 - 5, 58.5 Heat 2: Holt, Bacon, Darroch, Ward (F/Ex): 3 - 3 (4-8), 61.1 Heat 3: Mountain, Webster, (Ward and Seal F/Ex); 3 - 3 (9 - 11), Awarded Heat 4: Holt, Bacon, Darroch: 3 - 3 (9 - 14), 60.6 Heat 5: Holt, Seal, Darroch: 3 - 3 (12 - 17), 61.3 Heat 6: Mountain, Bacon, Webster: 3 - 3 (15 - 20), 59.3 Mechanical gremlins threatened the meeting with both Sam Chapman and Jez Pestell having to withdraw from the meeting. We'd like to pass on big thanks to Connor Mountain and Sam Ward for agreeing to replace them at the last minute. Unfortunately Sam's meeting came to an abrupt halt when he locked up in heat one and was forced to withdraw from the meeting with an arm injury. With Shaun Tedham unable to make it the meeting this left Connor Mountain and David Holt to ensure that the meeting with ahead with just one Knight riding from heat three. David finished with a paid maximum from four rides and Connor won all three of his rides giving the Knights the advantage and the meeting victory.

COVENTRY will be staging a double-header of National League action next Friday (July 25). A bumper 30-heat schedule of racing will commence at the earlier time of 7pm with the re-arranged second leg of the City Gearboxes Storm’s KO Cup second leg tie against Buxton. Aggregate victory for the Storm, who won the first leg at the Hi-Edge Raceway last month, will set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with local rivals Cradley. The clash with the Hitmen will be followed by the league encounter with King’s Lynn as the Storm bid to enhance their position in the play-off zone. Admission for the double header will be £15.

COVENTRY are pleased to announce they will honour Birmingham Speedway season tickets for the remainder of the regular Elite League season. The Perry Barr club has regrettably closed for 2014 after attempts to ensure they could continue racing proved unsuccessful, and Coventry wish to give the loyal Brummies fans at least some consolation and value for their financial outlay over the winter. The Buildbase Bees have nine home fixtures remaining, and Brummies season ticket holders will be welcomed with free admission for those meetings. Our next Elite League meeting is this Friday (July 18) against Belle Vue. Match programmes (and admission to play-off meetings if appropriate) will be chargeable at the usual prices. To take advantage of this offer, please send an e-mail to info@coventrybees.co with your name, address, category of season ticket and your season ticket number. These details will be collated and a list placed at the Bees’ usual season-ticket entrance so that your name can be ticked off when you arrive at Brandon.

COVENTRY are pleased to announce they will honour Birmingham Speedway season tickets for the remainder of the regular Elite League season. The Perry Barr club has regrettably closed for 2014 after attempts to ensure they could continue racing proved unsuccessful, and Coventry wish to give the loyal Brummies fans at least some consolation and value for their financial outlay over the winter. The Buildbase Bees have nine home fixtures remaining, and Brummies season ticket holders will be welcomed with free admission for those meetings. Our next Elite League meeting is this Friday (July 18) against Belle Vue. Match programmes (and admission to play-off meetings if appropriate) will be chargeable at the usual prices. To take advantage of this offer, please send an e-mail to info@coventrybees.co with your name, address, category of season ticket and your season ticket number. These details will be collated and a list placed at the Bees’ usual season-ticket entrance so that your name can be ticked off when you arrive at Brandon.

COVENTRY are pleased to announce they will honour Birmingham Speedway season tickets for the remainder of the regular Elite League season. The Perry Barr club has regrettably closed for 2014 after attempts to ensure they could continue racing proved unsuccessful, and Coventry wish to give the loyal Brummies fans at least some consolation and value for their financial outlay over the winter. The Buildbase Bees have nine home fixtures remaining, and Brummies season ticket holders will be welcomed with free admission for those meetings. Our next Elite League meeting is this Friday (July 18) against Belle Vue. Match programmes (and admission to play-off meetings if appropriate) will be chargeable at the usual prices. To take advantage of this offer, please send an e-mail to info@coventrybees.co with your name, address, category of season ticket and your season ticket number. These details will be collated and a list placed at the Bees’ usual season-ticket entrance so that your name can be ticked off when you arrive at Brandon.

MDL Kings Lynn v Milton Keynes MDL nhall gation into the Kings Lynnresult reinstated: After a thorough investigation into the Kings Lynn v Milton Keynes clash that was abandoned after a four rider pile up in heat 4 the result has been reinstated by the SCB as Kings Lynn 11 Milton Keynes 12. There was minor confusion as to whether heat 4 had been awarded by the referee Ronnie Allan but it has been revealed that it had been and this was announced. Therefore this MDL match will now not have to be re-staged and the points amended in the league table.