Reading Speedway: Busy spell ahead for the Racers.

From Worldspeedway.com

Premier League
Reading Speedway: Busy spell ahead for the Racers.
By Admin
May 8, 2008, 19:26

Still flying the club’s flag in all of this season’s major competitions following their brilliant Knock-Out Cup success over King’s Lynn, the Racers get back to Premier League action at Edinburgh on Friday 9 May, when the action at Armadale Stadium begins at 7.30 p.m.

The Scottish outfit have started the season well and, like Reading, have progressed to the semi-final stage of the Premier Trophy, where, of course, they will meet each other for a place in the final.

Indeed, the Monarchs, despite a number of winter changes, have gelled as a side and are now beginning to be tipped to enjoy a fruitful campaign. However, the question remains, can they emulate the great team of 2003, which went all the way and won the League Championship by 9 clear points from second-placed Sheffield?

That great Edinburgh side included the likes of club legends Frede Schott and Peter Carr, as well as Rory Schlein, Magnus Karlsson, Wayne Carter and Theo Pijper. However, in a link with that super side, the ever-loyal Matthew Wethers still remains on board and the Aussie would dearly love to feature in a repeat of the side’s glory of five years ago.

As well as Wethers, the Monarchs’ modern day heroes are William Lawson and American Ryan Fisher, with the three of them sitting on real-time averages in excess of 8 points per match from all of the sides official meetings so far. The back-up department is pretty impressive, too, since Derek Sneddon, Thomas H. Jonasson, Aaron Summers and Andrew Tully all currently boast averages of over 6 points a match.

Racers’ boss Malcolm Holloway said: “We are delighted to still be in every competition and we will be full of beans as we travel up to Armadale.

“It’s a tough proposition, as the Monarchs have a solid look about them and are particularly good on their own track.

“However, we put a team together this year that is capable of doing well on the road and we will be travelling up with every intention of putting on a good performance and doing the best that we can.

“Speedway is hard to predict, but if everybody rides to their capabilities then anything is possible.

“We are all in the right frame of mind for this after becoming the first side in four seasons to inflict Knock-Out Cup defeat on King’s Lynn.”

Regrettably, Jamie Smith hasn’t recovered fully from the knock he took in Monday’s thrilling home win over the Isle of Wight, so won’t be making the trip for the northern tour. At the time of going to press, promoter Holloway was scouring the UK for a suitable Conference League rider to replace the unlucky Racers’ No. 6.

Meanwhile, as Danny Warwick continues to recuperate from his fractured shoulder, Glasgow’s Ross Brady has been called-up to fill his place in the side. This represents a shrewd move by the Reading management, as Brady is a former Edinburgh rider and knows every inch of the Armadale racing strip.

TEAMS FOR FRIDAY 9 MAY 2008, Tapes-up 7.30 p.m.

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Derek Sneddon (Captain, 7.70); 2. Ryan Fisher (6.62); 3. William Lawson (8.52); 4. Thomas H. Jonasson (7.00); 5. Matthew Wethers (7.13); 6. Andrew Tully (5.78); 7. Aaron Summers (4.57). Team manager: Alan Bridgett.

READING RACERS (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Mark Lemon (Captain, 7.69); 2. Chris Mills (4.96); 3. Ulrich Ostergaard (11.07); 4. Tomas Suchanek (5.67); 5. Tom P. Madsen (6.33); 6. A.N. Other (3.19); 7. Ross Brady (3.95). Team manager: Tim Sugar.
Referee: P.J. Clarke.

AWAY MATCH PREVIEW:
WORKINGTON v. RACERS (PREMIER LEAGUE)

THE Racers conclude their mini-tour on Saturday 10 May, when they appear in Premier League action at Workington, with the start-time set at 7.00 p.m.

The meeting throws up another intriguing battle between the league’s top two riders, as Reading’s star-man, Ulrich Ostergaard, renews his battle with Comets’ No. 1 Daniel Nermark.

Their previous match-up at Smallmead on 21 April resulted in a 2-0 success for Ostergaard and, doubtless, the Dane will be looking to maintain his winning streak over the Swedish ace at Derwent Park.

The Cumbrian club underwent a change of management in the close season, with long-time sponsor Keith Denham taking control of the Comets in November, having concluded a deal with former owner Tony Mole.

Facilities and the racing strip were immediately enhanced at the arena and off-track initiatives were launched in an attempt to rejuvenate the club.

On track, the Workington management has assembled a fantastic septet of riders, which combines a wonderful mix of youth and experience.

One recent change to the line-up saw Scott Smith released after a poor run of form, with Barry Burchatt replacing the veteran rider after it had initially been thought that he would miss out on the 2008 season due to his exams. However, his studies have gone well and he has managed to find the time to resume his racing career with the Comets - in spite of a journey of almost 500 miles for each home meeting. Meanwhile, the dropped Smith has been snapped-up by Berwick as a replacement for their injured Italian rider, Guglielmo Franchetti.

Said Malcolm Holloway: “It will be nice to appear at Workington and I am looking forward to it.

“You never know quite how things are going to go on a tour, as you can’t legislate for mechanical gremlins, however, that aside, it should be another exciting encounter.

“As usual, we will get stuck in and give it our best shot. If everyone gives 100 per cent, then the law of averages means that you will eventually find success, so let’s hope it will be at Derwent Park.”

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY 10 MAY 2008, Tapes-up 7.00 p.m.

WORKINGTON COMETS SPONSORED BY THOMAS ARMSTRONG (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
(TBC) 1. Daniel Nermark (10.90); 2. Barry Burchatt (3.73); 3. Kauko Nieminen (8.30); 4. Charles Wright (4.17); 5. Carl Stonehewer (7.71); 6. Joe Haines (3.04); 7. John Branney (3.00). Team manager: Ian Thomas.

NEXT AT SMALLMEAD:
RACERS v. SHEFFIELD (PREMIER LEAGUE)

EVERYONE connected with the Racers will be looking for more of the same pulsating action that was witnessed on the Bank Holiday, when the Berkshire boys reconvene at Smallmead Stadium on Monday 12 May for Premier League activity versus Sheffield.

The South Yorkshire side are one of the dominant forces in Premier League circles and are always there or thereabouts when the major winners are decided at the sharp end of the season.

Indeed, in the last three years, they have recorded the following finishes to their league campaign: 3rd (2005), 2nd (2006) and 4th (2007). Play-Offs were introduced to the PL in 2006 and the Tigers made it through to the final that year, before losing to King’s Lynn in the Championship showdown. Then, last year, they were again beaten finalists, losing out to Rye House by 111 points to 74 on aggregate.

There have been plenty of successes in recent years, though; since the Tigers have scooped the League Championship twice (1999 and 2002), as well as winning several other trophies, as follows: Four-Team Championship (1999 and 2000), Young Shield (1999 and 2002), Premiership (2000), Premier Trophy (2001) and Knock-Out Cup (2002).

Sheffield proudly boast the fastest track in Britain today and, at 361 metres, the super-quick Owlerton raceway not only produces plenty of exciting racing, but has also become something of a fortress for the club.

The Tigers haven’t visited Smallmead since 27 June 2005, when the Racers swept to a 56-37 victory; the Berkshire side’s scoring on that occasion headed by Mathieu Tresarrieu (12+5), Richard Wolff (12+1), Matej Zagar (12) and Andrew Appleton (11).

Reading boss Malcolm Holloway commented: “There were so many talking points from our last home match against the Isle of Wight and I think everyone went home with a smile on their face.

“Certainly, a number of people told me just how much they had enjoyed the meeting, which was wonderful to hear. It really is fantastic that the feel-good factor is returning to Smallmead these days.

“Obviously, we want to keep that going against the Tigers and the fixture certainly has all the right ingredients to provide another evening of high quality entertainment.

“Sheffield are a good side and there is no margin for error, so we will be impressing upon the lads that they have to be right on their game in order to come out on top and keep our 100 per cent home league record intact.”

Reading are hopeful of being able to welcome back Jamie Smith for the fixture, whilst Workington’s Joe Haines steps in to fill the No. 7 berth in place of the luckless Danny Warwick.

As a club, Reading Speedway is keen to get the children more involved this season. As a result, the pits will be open every week from 6.00 p.m. until 6.30 p.m., so that the youngsters can get autographs and have their photographs taken with the riders.

The Racers’ management also want to run a slick show this year, so the parade will be taking place at 7.10 p.m. and, unless under extreme circumstances, the first race will start bang on 7.30 p.m.