Speedway: Diamonds aiming to conquer Owlerton

May 1 2008 The Journal

THE Newcastle Diamonds race their final Premier Trophy match of the season tonight at the Sheffield Tigers on what has become their bogey track.

The task of trying to take something has been made even harder with the loss of George Stancl, who has ridden some good races at Owlerton Stadium in the past.

Rider replacement, which has been ineffective so far to cover for the influential Czech rider, will once again be utilised.

Sheffield have again been virtually invincible at home with Ricky Ashworth leading the way, ably backed up by former Newcastle skipper Andre Compton, who is again out to get one over his former club.

Team manager George English said: “We know this is always a difficult fixture for us, and 2008 will be no exception, but we will be trying and, with our massive defeat of the Tigers at the Newcastle Stadium last month, maybe we will have the psychological advantage.

“Whatever the outcome, we will be trying to contain them as best as we can and will be looking for good performances from the skipper Christian Henry and his fellow heat-leader, Josef Franc.

“We won’t be just going to get a respectable score. We will be trying to prove that this is a bogey track we can finally get to grips with.”

The Berwick Bandits will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run in this year’s Premier League when they visit the Redcar Bears tonight (7.30pm) at the South Tees Motor Park.

Their promoter Peter Waite has now dispensed with Denmark’s Henning Bager, who was on a short-term contract, and has completed the signing of 31-year-old Swede Benny Johansson, who will make his debut in this vital match.

He slots in at number three and has a wealth of experience to fall back on, having ridden with Filbyterna in the Swedish first division, as well as Griparna, while in Finland he has been associated with Seinajoki.

Waite said: “Benny come to us with good recommendations behind him, with many testimonies saying he’s just the sort of rider who’ll fit in well with our set-up. He will be capable of putting a good few wins behind him.

“His debut meetings home and away should be good, exciting events and a great way for him to get used to the ways of British Speedway.”

Adrian Rymel returns to the side after his featuring at the European Championships at the weekend.

SHEFFIELD TIGERS: 1 Ashworth, 2 Parsons, 3 Compton (captain), 4 Cooper, 5 Wilson, 6 Martin, 7 Smethills.

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: 1 Franc, 2 Stancl (replacement), 3 Henry (captain), 4 Powell, 5 King, 6 Robertson, 7 Stoddart.

REDCAR BEARS: 1 Havelock (captain), 2 Kerr (replacement), 3 Grieves, 4 Auty, 5 Proctor, 6 Bugeja, 7 Summers.

BERWICK BANDITS: 1 Rymel (captain), 2 Magosi, 3 Johansson, 4 Franchetti (replacement), 5 Makovsky, 6 Aarnio. 7 McKinna.