WELCOME to the latest news from the BSPA, featuring items on all nine competing teams in the Elite League.
This week’s bulletin includes soundbite from Alun Rossiter on the home win against Eastbourne.
YOUNGSTERS HEAD FOR BRITISH FINAL
HOT-SHOTS Tai Woffinden, Adam Roynon and Ben Barker are through to the prestigious British Final at Swindon on Thursday 29 May.
Woffinden, who is currently on loan to Rye House from his parent club Wolverhampton, holds the distinction of holding the British Under-21 and Under-18 title at the same time!
ELITE LEAGUE LATEST…
BELLE VUE youngster Billy Forsberg says his confidence is returning.
He said: "The problems have been with a new type of clutch and with me. I knew what had to be done to make it work as I wanted but the problem was how to achieve it. I have spoken to other people who had the same problem and they didn't know the answer either.
"Our captain Joe Screen has spent time with me trying to sort it out and I have kept working on it. When you have a problem with your clutch it affects your confidence at the start of races. It's not much fun struggling for points, but now I'm getting my confidence back."
COVENTRY star Rory Schlein was grateful for the Bees' recent week out of action after damaging his previous finger injury in the last ride of his comeback meeting against Poole.
Schlein said: "My middle finger popped out again because the knuckles were still a bit weak, so that makes it a bit easier for them to pop out of joint.
"I popped it back in when I got home - the hand is still a bit sore and swollen, but hopefully it will get better and better each time I ride as the bruising comes out of the bone. I've had a rest over the last week, so things should be okay."
EASTBOURNE manager Trevor Geer has pointed the finger at mechanical issues which require sorting as the Eagles were heavily beaten in their top-of-the-table clash with Swindon at Blunsdon.
Geer said: "It's not a good result at all. They have got to sort their equipment out. They all had a bad first race and they were all swapping bikes and engines.
"Simon Gustafsson seized his good engine before the meeting started and it was all a bit of a nightmare really. We've got a few days off now and they have got to get their equipment sorted out and get back focused."
IPSWICH skipper Chris Louis has undergone an operation to patch up the broken socket and ball of his shoulder following his crash at Foxhall last Thursday.
Louis was due to commence physio at the weekend, but will remain in hospital until later this week as a precaution against infection.
Father John, the Witches' promoter, said: "It is too early to comment on what his future holds, but I know that he was enjoying his racing this year."
LAKESIDE are expecting to maintain their gathering momentum into the month of May when experienced Finnish rider Joonas Kylmakorpi, who has recently found his form, drops to reserve alongside Ricky Kling.
Promoter Jon Cook said: "I don't think there are many people who would argue with that being the strongest reserve pair in the league.
"Lubos (Tomicek) will move into the main body of the team and I'm confident he will do well. Even when he only scores a few points, they're important ones. He's the first reserve in the Grand Prix so he'll be fine in the team."
PETERBOROUGH are considering their options after a poor run of results on the road, highlighted by a 59-33 defeat at Wolverhampton on Monday.
Manager Trevor Swales said: "The time has come for the management to decide whether we continue going down the same avenue or try a different route. We have to consider making the odd alteration because I don't feel we have shown enough improvement.
"Being beaten at home is not an option, and the challenge for us is to try and put a couple of wins together on the road and that is an area in which we have been nowhere near good enough so far."
POOLE promoter Matt Ford has vowed not to rush into making a new signing to replace broken femur victim Zibi Suchecki.
Ford said: "I've got some thoughts and there are a couple of options available to me but I think, for the next couple of weeks, I'm just going to let the dust settle.
"I just want to make sure that I don't make one move now when, potentially, we might need to make more moves in the future. The riders are performing well enough and we can bring Jordan Frampton in to cover for Zibi as and when he's available."
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter is keeping his feet on the ground after his Robins team marched into a six-point lead at the top of the Elite League table with their emphatic televised home win over Eastbourne.
Rossiter said: "These boys are full of confidence and they should be after tonight, because they have performed brilliantly. But there will be no talk of winning the league.
"It's early days yet and we just have to keep plugging away and stay injury free. If we go down to Eastbourne and win on Saturday, then maybe people will really start to think about us as contenders."
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams insists the outlook is bright for his team. The Monmore men got back to winning ways with an entertaining 59-33 win over Peterborough.
Said Adams: “I’ve said all along this young team will improve as the season progresses and I stand by that comment.
“People like Nicolai Klindt have shown enough promise early on – and Ales Dryml is turning out to be a revelation for us.”
