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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
The next action at Rye House, this Saturday (September 11th), sees the race to the Play-Offs fast approaching boiling point in the shape of double header action.
At 6pm – an hour earlier than the usual start time at Rye House – the Silver Ski Rockets continue their chase of a top four finish against a resurgent Newport Wasps side that looks a different proposition to the one humbled at Hoddesdon in April’s Trophy encounter. Heading their charge is Leigh Lanham, whose second season at Queensway Meadow has seen him post an all-in average in excess of 8 ½ as well as an impressive 6.25 record with Elite League Belle Vue.
There’s been a tight battle developing between former Grand Prix Qualifier Finalist Craig Watson and 3-time Canadian Champion Kyle Legault for the Wasps’ No.2 position. Looking at the Welsh side’s middle order, Swede Kim Nilsson – here on Sunday in the U-21 World Cup Final –has impressed in his first full season of British racing with a near 7 point average. He was a European Finalist in both 2008 and 2009. Fellow Swede Robin Aspegren is making his first visit to Rye House after replacing the injured Anders Mellgren, and is also not far off the 7 point mark for the year.
Rounding off the team at reserve are 17 year old prospects Alex Davies and Todd Kurtz.
Beyond Saturday’s match, the Rockets have three further Premier League fixtures to fulfil: at Stoke (Sunday, September 12th), at home to Glasgow (Saturday the 18th) and away at Newport (Sunday the 19th). Team manager John Sampford is under no illusions as to the task at hand if the Rockets are to make the Promotion Play-Offs. “Realistically at this stage, Sheffield are our strongest rivals for finishing in the top four. They are six match points ahead of us, with one away fixture at Glasgow on the 19th to come. The worst case situation for us is that they win that for maximum points and take a ten point lead, so are current planning is that we have to go all out for wins in our final four fixtures.
“The positive news is that Jordan Frampton has been given the all-clear by his doctor today (Monday the 6th) and is scheduling a private practice session over the next few days. If he comes through that – and it is an IF at this stage – then we’ll be looking for him to ride against Newport on Saturday.”
Saturday’s fifteen Premier League heats will be followed by fifteen more as the Kart Raceway Cobras battle the Newport Hornets in what looks a super-tough encounter. The Hornets are already safely through to the final four and could still catch Buxton for top spot and the No.1 seeding slot.
Despite recently losing Mark Jones, who has returned home to Australia at the end of his six month work permit – Tim Webster has returned from injury as a direct replacement - they have added Luke Priest to their ranks following Mildenhall’s closure, and possess further danger men in doubling-up Wasp Todd Kurtz, former World Longtrack Finalist and British Grasstrack Champion Tony Atkin and doubling-up Birmingham Brummie Kyle Newman, who is aiming to complete a hat-trick of League titles having won back-to-back third tier crowns with Weymouth and Bournemouth.
Admission for Saturday’s double header is: Adults £18, Seniors £15, Children £5.
Forthcoming Fixtures at Rye House
Saturday, September 11th Rockets vs Newport (Premier League) 6.00pm
followed by
Cobras vs Newport (National League)
Saturday, September 18th Rockets vs Glasgow (Premier League) 7.00pm
Saturday, September 25th Cobras vs Plymouth (National League) 7.00pm
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