crescent girl Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 From Berwick Website tonight: LEAGUE CHAMPS IN TOWN Berwick’s speedway Bandits haven’t lost on a Saturday night since May 4th, but face a stern test this weekend as reigning Premier League champions Scunthorpe Scorpions arrive at Shielfield Park. The border club will line up without injured Danish favourite Nicki Barrett, who faces a couple more weeks on the sidelines following his painful shoulder dislocation, suffered as Nicki took avoiding action to steer clear of opponent Chris Schramm (who had fallen in front of the Dane) during Bandits’ victory over Plymouth last month. Newcastle rookie Lewis Kerr, who showed to advantage at Shielfield Park during the meeting recently broadcast live on Sky TV, will ride in place of Barrett as a guest reserve for Berwick on Saturday night. Bandits’ skipper Kozza Smith – forced out of the last match at Shielfield with an inner-ear infection – has made a full recovery, and led the side with gusto at Plymouth last Friday (as well as on a successful long-track excursion in France – see below). Swede Robin Aspegren, who missed out at Plymouth with a bout of food poisoning, is also fit and takes his usual place with the New Holland Bandits. The champions arrive with a solid squad, as might be expected. David Howe has long been a high scorer around Shielfield, while in Josh Auty and Ashley Birks, Scunthorpe have two younger British riders who are still capable of going considerably further in speedway. Also bang-in-form is Lewis Blackbird, with the potential to be a match-winner from reserve. With thieir all-British quartet backed up by Australian Ryan Douglas and two Danes (Michael Palm Toft and Thomas Jorgensen) the potential of the Scorpions is obvious, with a win required by their management as they seek to mount a late-season charge towards a second title in succession. EDWARD IN WORLD TEAM CUP: Edward Kennett continues as Berwick’s poster-boy at No 1, delighted with his confirmation in Britain’s World Team Cup team, which will feature in a home semi-final at King’s Lynn on Monday, July 15th, with Sweden, USA and holders Denmark forming their opposition. The winning nation will qualify directly from that event to the Final in Prague on Saturday, July 20th (no meeting at Shielfield that night), but second and third countries have a further chance to qualify from a race-off, which will also be in the Czech Republic, on Thursday, July 18th. All three meetings potentially featuring Kennett and the UK team will be broadcast live on British Eurosport. EDWARD AND RICKY: THE FUTURE: Edward Kennett’s future as a Bandit will also become clearer over the next few weeks. “As is pretty well known, Edward agreed to race for our club as a direct replacement for Ricky Ashworth” explained team manager Ian Rae. “We agreed with Swindon, with whom he rides in the Elite League, that he would stay on as a Bandit until Ricky was cleared to ride and had got in some solid practice sessions to see how he feels, and could declare himself fully fit again”. “This situation has not changed, but in the interests of total clarity, I would confirm that Ricky was last week finally cleared by the neurological and medical authorities to resume riding a motor-bike”. “However, he is by his own admission a long, long way from being race-fit, and is intending to go to as many circuits he can over the next couple of weeks – he has ridden out at Stoke already -- to try himself out on track, to get totally fit again and to ensure he feels comfortable in himself about coming back”. “Then, and only then, will Ricky be able to feel confident enough to offer himself to Berwick again – and at that time we will let everyone know the situation. Not before!” “In the meantime, everyone here at Shielfield is just so proud to have Edward Kennett in our colours, and now named in Britain’s World Team Cup squad – which is yet another first for the club, as we’ve never previously had a British WTC rider in our team”. Saturday’s teams will line up: Berwick: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. David Bellego, 3. Robin Aspegren, 4. Matty Wethers, 5. Kozza Smith (captain), 6. Leis Kerr, 7. Paul Starke. Scunthorpe: 1. Josh Auty (captain), 2. Thomas Jorgensen, 3. Michael Palm Toft, 4. Ashley Birks, 5. David Howe, 6. Ryan Douglas, 7. Lewis Blackbird.. EDWARD’S GP CHALLENGE: Bandits’ star Edward Kennett is still awaiting news of a refixtured date for his Grand Prix qualification semi-final, washed out at Esjberg, Denmark two weeks ago. Qualification among the top eight from the event would put the 26-year-old Bandit at Poole for the Grand Prix Challenge meeting there on August 24th – just five races away from direct entry to the 2014 Grand Prix series! KOZZA ON LONG-TRACK GP TRAIL! While Eddie Kennett pursues his GP dream in speedway terms, Berwick skipper Kozza Smith is even closer to reaching the 2014 World Long-Track Final series Having successfully negotiated last Saturday’s semi-final round St Macaire in France, Kozza will race in the Challenge round of the FIM long-track process at Muhldorf, Germany on September 22nd, from which the top eight riders will progress to the very lucrative 2014 long-track series. As a two-time NSW long-track champion, and last year’s Australian long-track title-holder, Kozza Smith is no stranger to the super-fast European tracks. His progress, like that of Edward Kennett in the speedway series, brings great credit to Berwick, as a town, and a speedway club, becoming better- and better-known throughout international motorcycle track-racing circles! DEFENDING THE ‘FOURS’ TITLE: The New Holland Bandits will defend their Premier League Fours title at the East of England Showground at Peterborough on Sunday, July 14th The border team will be in Group A – wearing red helmets throughout --on the day, alongside Scunthorpe, Ipswich and Workington. Despite several changes to the club’s riding strength – it seems probable that only David Bellego will remain of last season’s winning quartet – the new-look Berwick line-up headed by Edward Kennett must have every chance of a repeat performance. Some of the Premier League’s top star names also feature in the Group A line-up with Ipswich led by Ben Barker and Workington by Richard Lawson – a Peterborough rider as recently as last year. Group B comprises: Somerset, Edinburgh, Leicester, Newcastle HOSPITALITY BECKONS: The hospitality packages offered by Berwick’s Bandits have become legendary in speedway circles. These very special evenings for the club’s guests open with a photo-session with one of their favourite speedway stars, followed by the club’s marvellous buffet supper and bar service during racing -- augmented by a revealing infield visit during racing! Bookings are now open for individual guests and/or party bookings at three Saturday matches in July, being July 6th (v league champions Scunthorpe Scorpions), July 13th (v Redcar) and July 27th (v Glasgow). The cost is only £30 per person (including admission, food, drinks and a souvenir programme) and can be booked by contacting club@berwickbandits.co WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL AT SHIELFIELD PARK IN AUGUST There will be a massive Eastern European invasion of Berwick-upon-Tweed on August 10th. Following the first round (of three) for the World U-21 Championship, riders from Poland, Latvia and Russia are leading the points table as the world’s very best young riders roll into town for Shielfield Park’s first-ever World Championship Final. This will be biggest speedway event ever staged in the border town, and pays tribute to the hard work by the club’s ownership since taking control less than five years ago. With riders from at least three other speedway nations joining the leaders, their followers will flood the town with visitors from all over Europe, for the World Under-21 Final on Saturday, August 10th. Following the earlier event at Pila, Poland, on June 29th, the current standings are: Patryk Dudek (Poland) 14, Andrej Lebedev (Latvia) 11, Kacper Gomolski (Poland) 11, Wladimir Borodulin (Russia 10), Piotr Pawlicki (Poland) 10, Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 8, Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 8, Nicklas Porsing (Denmark) 8, Adam Strzelec (Poland) 8, Tobiasz Musielak (Poland) 8, Vaclav Milik (Czech Republic) 6, Nikolaj Jakobsen (Denmark) 6, Mikkel Bech (Denmark) 5, Artur Cjaza (Poland) 3, Lasse Bjerre (Denmark) 3, Kyle Howarth (Great Britain) 1. “While Patryk Dudek is currently in – excuse me – Pole position, that situation can change in a heartbeat” admitted Berwick co-promoter Ryan Anderson. “We are so proud the FIM, and the British authorities, have awarded us this huge event” said co-promoter Ryan Anderson. “I take it as a massive compliment to our staff, who worked miracles in staging our first FIM meeting last season despite heavy rain before and during racing”. “We received so many compliments on the quality and work ethic of our track-staff, and on our overall presentation of the event – but to be awarded another, even more-important, FIM meeting so soon is really quite an honour”. “Speedway is without doubt helping to put Berwick-upon-Tweed pretty firmly on the map!” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luluthetiger Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 EDWARD’S GP CHALLENGE: Bandits’ star Edward Kennett is still awaiting news of a refixtured date for his Grand Prix qualification semi-final, washed out at Esjberg, Denmark two weeks ago. Qualification among the top eight from the event would put the 26-year-old Bandit at Poole for the Grand Prix Challenge meeting there on August 24th – just five races away from direct entry to the 2014 Grand Prix series! I see this date has now been confirmed as Thursday, August 8th. Good luck, Edward! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boobs Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Not having Barrett as a big-scoring reserve might cost Berwick dearly, as Lewis Blackbird is absolutely on fire just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heedthebaw Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Not having Barrett as a big-scoring reserve might cost Berwick dearly, as Lewis Blackbird is absolutely on fire just now. Going on Lewis Kerr's performance for Newcastle in the SKY meeting i think we have an adequate replacement, Blackbird hasn't done much at Berwick in the past although that could easily change, if this meeting is on par with the last few meetings at Shielfield then we are in for some quality entertainment, bring it on. Perhaps Ricky may put in an appearance for some practice ? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandits 13 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 49-41 to the Bandits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emilali Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Pretty pointless match for Berwick with the season already over. Bellego for a max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Going on Lewis Kerr's performance for Newcastle in the SKY meeting i think we have an adequate replacement, Blackbird hasn't done much at Berwick in the past although that could easily change, if this meeting is on par with the last few meetings at Shielfield then we are in for some quality entertainment, bring it on. Perhaps Ricky may put in an appearance for some practice ? Absolutely,Kerr was excellent for Newcastle and was a big reason why they won on the night,I expect him to do at least as well and probably better than Barrett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRITISHSPEEDPOWER Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Pretty pointless match for Berwick with the season already over. Bellego for a max. Still intend to go along, have a few pints and enjoy a good nights racing. I don't think it's a pointless meeting, so what if the league's over for us, I enjoy watching speedway . 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinh88 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Auty and birks be good to watch..i predict a home win As emilali says though pretty meaningless... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elesmere Gunner Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Auty and birks be good to watch..i predict a home win As emilali says though pretty meaningless... The two of you could always go fishing together 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRITISHSPEEDPOWER Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) Auty and birks be good to watch..i predict a home win As emilali says though pretty meaningless... Guess the meaningless part is pretty subjective. Depends on what you hope to get from this speedway meeting. Fifteen heats of innumerable moments in time in a constant image [unless you blink or get get hit right on the eye ball by shale] for your eyes to send to your brain and store away. Who knows, your brain may enjoy what it sees and remember the image of a great race forever. And the riders are at work. it sure means something the them. Oh and the weathers gonna be great. Summer'Sunshine'friends. It's a long winter Edited July 3, 2013 by BRITISHSPEEDPOWER 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Guess the meaningless part is pretty subjective. Depends on what you hope to get from this speedway meeting. Fifteen heats of innumerable moments in time in a constant image [unless you blink or get get hit right on the eye ball by shale] for your eyes to send to your brain and store away. Who knows, your brain may enjoy what it sees and remember the image of a great race forever. And the riders are at work. it sure means something the them. Oh and the weathers gonna be great. Summer'Sunshine'friends. It's a long winter BRITISHSPEEDPOWER previously known as ? On this Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfivetoes Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 BRITISHSPEEDPOWER previously known as ? On this Forum. Who cares? BSP seems to have more of a life, and less of an agenda against the club, than the "odd couple". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinh88 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Racing has been excellent recently. That said the team are really about mid table at best. scunny this year are about the same nothing special. I dont think emilali was too far out to be honest. No agenda against the club just browsing statistics and stating facts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 As long as theres people paying their £13s,then the riders had better find this fixture meaningful,which Im sure they will. Weather set fair for the weekend,lots of sunshine and warm tempratures. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinh88 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Both teams have flopped, end of dit lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 Berwick have built up a bit of positivity over the last couple of weeks,a decent home win over Plymouth followed by an away at Glasgow,thing slightly went off the rails at Plymouth last Friday though.Berwick need to hit Scunthorpe from the get go,Kennett needs to lead from the front and be backed up by Smith,Apegren etc.If that happens then its a home win,but lacking that fire in the belly could cost Berwick dear,thats why Im sure there`ll be a few well chosen words from the manager beforehand. Berwick 51 Scunthorpe 43. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luluthetiger Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 Kozza scored paid twelve in El tonight at Coventry! Also, told tonight -- Ricky Ashworth will ride in second half tomorrow, and (if no ill-effects) will return to Berwick team next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinh88 Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 (edited) Will kennet ride still or is he so exhausted because all tthe sweat that has oozed out of his pores riding for the mighties The wc star might need a few weeks off Edited July 5, 2013 by RobinH88 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montie Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 (edited) Not sure how true it is but heard Kennet isnt riding tomorrow Edited July 5, 2013 by montie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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