WELCOME to the latest news from the BSPA, featuring items on all nine competing teams in the Elite League.
BELLE VUE star Jason Crump has put his terrific recent form, including his British Grand Prix win, down to his return to the Aces this season after leaving the club at the end of 2006.
Crump said: "I'm back to the way I want to be and it has been a long time coming. I haven't ridden like this since I was at Belle Vue in 2006.
"There's no question that going back there this season has had a lot to do with this. It has helped me to start riding my bike better again. I love that place and it's the track I need to be riding every week."
COVENTRY are concerned that injury problems for Chris Harris and Billy Janniro could de-rail their chances of making full use of their matches in hand during a busy run over the next fortnight.
The Bees were beaten heavily at Lakeside on Monday, and manager Peter Oakes said: "We needed one rider to have an absolutely sensational meeting - but that wasn't going to happen because it was our two best scorers around Lakeside who were missing!
"There's an awful long way to go, and you won't miss out by losing at places like this - but we've got to start picking up some wins, and obviously getting seven fit riders on the track."
EASTBOURNE star Scott Nicholls says the Eagles' reserves have a vital part to play in the club's play-off chase - after James Brundle enjoyed his best meeting at Elite League level with paid ten in the weekend win over Belle Vue.
Nicholls said: "We've struggled in Heat 2 but the reserves are settling down a bit, getting a bit of confidence and that's what we need.
"We want to try to support and encourage team-mates in the right way."
IPSWICH promoter John Louis said a pre-meeting team talk paid dividends before the Witches got back on the winning track against local rivals Peterborough.
Louis said: "It's nice to see the lads looking more like their old selves after the disappointment of our clash at Belle Vue. We had a team meeting before the start, we told the lads exactly what was required and they have gone out and done it.
"I can't praise them enough, they have shown plenty of effort. I was disappointed with some of the commitment at Belle Vue after we went
behind, but that's more like it."
LAKESIDE boss Jon Cook issued an ominous warning after the Hammers' 63-29 win over Coventry - he expects further improvement from his riders!
Cook said: "It was a great performance from the team, although most of them can probably also say there was a race where they could have done better.
"It's good to see Ricky (Kling) and Lubos (Tomicek) coming through and also Jonas Davidsson came good at the end of the meeting too, and we saw some good racing from our riders which augurs well for the rest of the season. We have a lot of big meetings to come here."
PETERBOROUGH manager Trevor Swales is unhappy with the attitude of some riders in recent matches as the Panthers continue on a difficult run of results.
Swales said: "I have found myself questioning how much we actually want to win lately because there seems to be a lack of determination and grit.
"That has to stop and we have to get ourselves out of this rut because we are in danger of just going through the motions. We need to find a way of getting everyone to click on the same night."
POOLE legend Craig Boyce, who enjoyed a farewell meeting at Wimborne Road last week, was firmly on the side of unlucky Pirates skipper Bjarne Pedersen after his highly controversial exclusion from the semi-final at the British Grand Prix.
Boyce said: "As a Pirates supporter watching Bjarne who also helps do his engines, I couldn't believe he was excluded. His bike was clearly half a length in front of the guy when the collision occurred.
"I was standing on the outside of the track on the first corner, one of the best views of the incident in the stadium, and Nicki (Pedersen) went into the back of him. So how did the referee get to that decision?"
SWINDON promoter Alun Rossiter says he is confident and happy with the Robins' current position, which sees them top of the table after a first half of the season which has defied the pundits' forecasts.
Rossiter said: "I'd rather be where we are now at the top of the table then where everybody predicted us to be.
"It's okay having meetings in hand, but the other teams still have to win them. We would rather have the points on the board and let them chase us."
WOLVERHAMPTON promoter Chris Van Straaten has labelled the club's 80th anniversary celebration meeting on Monday as a massive success.
Van Straaten said: "Everything went in our favour - the weather was good, we had an excellent crowd and the old riders all really enjoyed meeting up again.
"It was great to see Sam Ermolenko and Ronnie Correy back on track and going flat-out, too."
