Speedway News

Reading Euphony Racers defeated Glasgow Tigers 52-43 in the KO Cup on Monday night at Smallmead Stadium, to earn a 95-90 aggregate win and now progress through to the second round of the competition to meet either Hull or Berwick.

Sheffield skipper Sean Wilson is likely to miss the rest of the season after confirmation that he has broken a bone in his neck. Wilson crashed in the Joe Screen testimonial at Belle Vue on Sunday and has broken the C7 vertebrae, but he does have full movement.

Elm Bank Berwick Bandits have the toughest test of their 2004 season on Saturday night in a match vs. the magnificently powerful looking Glasgow Tigers who are desperate to win everything in sight this season.

Arena-Essex Danish speedway rider Ronni Pedersen was decided not to return to this country to race for the A F Stocktaking Hammers.

Speedway results for Sunday 25 April. Premier Trophy: Glasgow 49 - 41 Sheffield Shane Parker 15 - Sean Wilson 11 King's Lynn 52 - 43 Isle of Wight Tomasz Topinka 13 - Craig Boyce 16+1

Poole's Bjarne Pedersen was crowned Danish Champion after a hard fought meeting at Holsted.

In an ongoing attempt to promote and further the business interests of the Weymouth Wildcats, Brian White has recently appointed Jon Dixon as the new Commercial Manager for the club.

Tony Rickardsson has ended speculation about his future with Poole by confirming his departure from the club. The five-times world champion is quitting British racing for family reasons - but he will stay until the end of the month.

The Middlesbrough Bears warm-up for the their forthcoming season of youth development and junior challenge matches with a friendly against the Hull Angels at Craven Park on Wednesday, 21 April.

Two days of action for Newcastle speedway spelling a baptism of fire for returnee to the side, Dane Kristian Lund. Saturday sees a trip to the fortress known as Derwent Park where the Workington Comets host the Diamonds in a Premier Trophy match.

The Middlesborough Bears prepared for the new season by staging a successful practice session at Workington's Derwent Park.

Sheffield Pirtek Tigers romped to a comfortable 57-35 win over a visiting team of track specialists last night - but the fans had plenty to enjoy. The racing was entertaining with both sides giving their all in front of a bumper crowd to celebrate Tigers' 75th anniversary.

Ricky Ashworth faces a hectic Good Friday with two meetings for two different clubs.

The Wildcats strengthen their squad with the signings of Carl Warwick and Jason Prynne both of who impressed in the recent Wessex Rosebowl. Carl is the brother of current Wildcat Danny and was the reserve in the Wessex Rosebowl scoring four points from four rides.

The Berwick Bandits were spurred on to a massive victory over near neighbours, Newcastle Diamonds last night at Shilefield Park after learning of the untimely death of long-time Bandits' supporter George Bebbington in a car crash the previous night as he ironically drove up to Edinburgh to watch

The Wildcats dominance of their home circuit came to an end in a last heat decider at the Wessex Stadium on Friday evening. In their opening Conference League fixture and also parading new top scoring number one signing, David Mason with fourteen points could not stop the Dragons victory.

Suzuki have been named as the event sponsors for the all-new Elite League Pairs Championship at Swindon on April 11. The event, which features the world's top three riders, is set to pull in a bumper crowd at the Abbey Stadium.

Rye House meetings against Newport always seem to have a certain resonance which you don't always get from the visits of other teams, possibly due to the history between the two clubs when they didn't quite see eye to eye in the 1999 season.

Speedway results for Monday 29 March. Elite League: Arena-Essex 43 - 47 Poole Mark Loram 11+1 - Tony Rickardsson 15 Belle Vue 41 - 49 Ipswich Jason Crump 11 - Hans Andersen 11

Sheffield Pirtek Tigers look to make it three straight home wins when they face Newcastle Diamonds at Owlerton Stadium on Thursday.

With the 2004 speedway season only just started Justin Elkins and Weymouth Speedway have parted company with Justin's contract now being cancelled following a poor start to the season from the Ringwood based rider.

The first away fixture for the Wildcats in the Conference League saw plenty of rain during the drive from Dorset to South Wales whilst being confirmed that the meetings, Newport v Exeter in a Premier League Trophy meeting then Newport v Weymouth in the Conference League would be going ahead.

The Newcastle Diamonds opened their Premier Trophy campaign under disappointing circumstances. Scott Smith is yet to arrive in this country though it's hoped he will be on his way from his Australian base today.

With the bad weather around the country affecting the sport the Wildcats were able to start their 2004 season off with the narrowest of victories against former Wildcat and now Swindon promoter Alun Rossiter's Sprockets side by a single point.