SWINDON will be looking for another win at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday 10 April, when they square-up to Lakeside in Sky Sports Elite League action.
It will be the Robins’ second meeting against the Hammers in less than a week, the Wiltshire side having travelled to Purfleet last Friday, when they narrowly went down 50-45 in a fighting display.
Team manager Alun Rossiter said: “I wasn’t disappointed by the result at Lakeside; in fact I was relatively pleased, especially with the manner of our fight-back after we had gone 14 points behind in heat six.
“If we show the same level of determination on Thursday in the return match, then I see no reason why we can’t keep our winning home run going.
“It could well be another close meeting because the Hammers have some very good riders, but as I have said several times this season already, happiness is 46-44.
“The most important thing is to keep our winning run going at Blunsdon and, as we’ve seen this year, the tight scores make for great excitement, especially in the latter stages of a meeting.”
Under the innovative promotion of Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook, the Lakeside Hammers continue to make significant progress, both on and off the track.
Their 2008 side brings together an array of exciting riders that many within the sport see as being capable of challenging for Elite League glory.
The acquisition of Andreas Jonsson was particularly shrewd, as was the signing of his compatriot, Jonas Davidsson.
Indeed, Lakeside are a team that has plenty of experience and should therefore travel well in 2008, whilst also maintaining a strong home track advantage.
Local lad Chris Mills completes the Hammers’ squad in a No. 8 capacity and combines his Lakeside commitment with riding full-time for Reading in the Premier League.
Team news ahead of Thursday’s match-up sees Cory Gathercole get another run-out in the Swindon side in place of the injured Theo Pijper, while Lakeside have called upon the services of Blunsdon expert Davey Watt to replace Andreas Jonsson, who is recuperating from hand and wrist injuries.
VISITORS FACTFILE: LAKESIDE HAMMERS
Jonas DAVIDSSON
DOB: 7 August 1984, Motala, Sweden.
DAVIDSSON remains a Swindon asset, although he hasn’t ridden for the club since 2005. He has since ridden for Poole and Reading, before linking with Lakeside this season in what many in the sport see as an intelligent move for both rider and club. His fantastic form in Sweden and Poland has never quite been replicated in Britain, but there is a genuine hope that the twenty-three-year-old will overcome his enigmatic tag this term.
Andreas JONSSON
DOB: 3 September 1980, Hallstavik, Sweden.
THE Swedish international is undoubtedly one of the most exciting riders in world speedway. He collected two Grand Prix victories in 2007 and spent the latter part of the season riding in Britain with Lakeside. ‘AJ’ first came to the UK in 1998 with Coventry and captured the World Under-21 Championship in 2000. He is tipped by many to be a future World Champion, but is currently injured after suffering two broken fingers in his left hand and a broken bone close to the wrist of his right hand during the Hammers’ away match at Belle Vue on 31 March.
Ricky KLING
DOB: 2 June 1987, Mallila, Sweden.
HIGHLY-rated youngster, who initially joined the Hammers mid-way through last year. He performed well enough to earn a recall in 2008 and has the ability to make real progress in the Elite League this season, having started the campaign from a reserve berth. His British speedway career began at Oxford in 2007, but their unfortunate demise paved the way for him to join Lakeside and his scores ever since have certainly caught the eye.
Joonas KYLMAKORPI
DOB: 14 February 1980, Stockholm, Sweden.
AFTER enduring a 2007 campaign that was blighted by injury, the flamboyant Finnish racer (who was actually born in Sweden) returned to Lakeside on an attractive average. He has been affiliated with the Hammers for some time and, indeed, lines up in 2008 for his third successive season with the Thurrock-based club. Previous to that, Kylmakorpi spent the latter part of 2005 at Coventry, where he was an integral component of the Bees side that romped to the Elite League title.
Leigh LANHAM
DOB: 15 August 1977, Ipswich, Suffolk.
LONG-serving Hammer, who, remarkably, has again linked with the Essex side for an eleventh successive season. Not surprisingly, Lanham is a real track specialist at the Lakeside circuit and is one of the league’s most reliable second-string riders. His previous Abbey Stadium form is varied, but the experienced British rider has the ability to conjure fast starts and bag a few points.
Adam SHIELDS
DOB: 8 February 1977, Kurri-Kurri, New South Wales, Australia.
DEPENDABLE Australian, who sports the Hammers’ colours for a second successive campaign. Shields moved to Lakeside on a full transfer in 2007, after previously spending three successful seasons with Eastbourne. He cut his British speedway teeth with the Isle of Wight and represented the Island outfit when he collected victory in the 2002 Premier League Riders’ Championship. A typically tenacious Aussie, whose past Blunsdon performances have been very impressive.
Lubos TOMICEK
DOB: 14 March 1986, Prague, Czech Republic.
CZECH international, who has made real progress during his British career and continues to impress in the Elite League. The youngster first came to these shores in 2003 with Oxford and the twenty-two-year-old has since gained plenty of experience at top-flight and Premier League level. He hails from a family steeped in speedway history and is a third generation rider, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both of whom were international competitors.
SWINDON MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD
Thursday’s Swindon Man of the Match Award is kindly sponsored by the Robins’ Associate Partners, M & S Van and Truck Rentals Ltd. Proprietor Mike Sykes and his team are members of the Legends’ Lounge and are great friends of Swindon Speedway.
Based on the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, M & S Van and Truck Rentals are a company constantly expanding and taking delivery of new vehicles to ensure that they offer their customers an unbeatable service.
M & S have a selection of different sized vehicles, ranging from the compact Berlingo to 7.5 tonne trucks, and offer great deals to fans of Swindon Speedway. For more information, please visit www.mstruckrentals.co.uk or call 01793 513755.
VIP PACKAGES
Swindon Speedway pride themselves in offering one of the best VIP packages in sport, where both the ardent fan and the complete newcomer can enjoy a superb evening of fast and furious entertainment, alongside exclusive pre-meeting pit-walks, and a table in the newly refurbished Legends’ Lounge.
Bookings for these packages have increased year-on-year and already a large number of companies have booked team nights out and meeting sponsorships for the 2008 season. Tickets are available by calling Commercial Manager Paul Oughton on 01305 755607 or via e-mail at: paul.oughton@swindon-speedway.co.uk
TEAMS FOR THURSDAY 10 APRIL, Parade 7.20 p.m.; Tapes-up 7.30 p.m.
LAKESIDE HAMMERS (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Davey Watt (Guest, 8.35); 2. Leigh Lanham (4.92); 3. Adam Shields (Captain, 7.40); 4. Joonas Kylmakorpi (6.12); 5. Jonas Davidsson (5.07); 6. Ricky Kling (3.49); 7. Lubos Tomicek (3.37). Team manager: Jon Cook.
Referee: C. Durno.
Admission prices: Adults £15, Concessions £12, Children (12-16 years) £5, Kids (11 years and under) Free.
SWINDON ROBINS IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM PARTNERS PEBLEY BEACH HYUNDAI, REDCARE LOGISTICS AND A.C. NURDEN LTD.
SIXTY SUCCESSIVE SEASONS AND STILL GOING STRONG!
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE BY ROBERT BAMFORD
SWINDON SPEEDWAY PRESS OFFICER
EMAIL: Rbamfordspeedway@aol.com
TEL: 01666 823469
OFFICIAL CLUB WEBSITE: www.swindon-speedway.co.uk
OFFICIAL CLUB HOTLINE: 09068 664682 (Premium rate applies)
