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Post by Administrator on May 22, 2016 22:30:35 GMT
ROCKETS BEAT CHAMPS, LOSE LANHAM The BMR Rockets undoubtedly turned a few more heads outside of Hertfordshire by upending back-to-back Premier League Champions Edinburgh 47-42 in dramatic and emotional circumstances at Rye House on Sunday evening. That they achieved the result despite a difficult night from regular anchor man Edward Kennett was even more remarkable. The Rockets’ No.1 managed just 8 points, coming off on the worse end of a high intensity first bend with Sam Masters in Heat 1 that saw him shed a chain and later suffering a last lap pass from Kevin Wölbert at the front in Heat 10. Kennett switched bikes with success to win Heat 13, with his other victory coming via a trademark fourth bend surge past Ryan Fisher in Heat 6. Rye’s so-called lesser lights filled the gap nicely, however, with Ben Morley topping the score-chart with two wins in a 10+1 haul, Kasper Lykke adding 7+1 and missing out on victory against Erik Riss by inches in Heat 8, and stalwart Stuart Robson contributing 7. The Rockets’ biggest hero, however, was undoubtedly Peter Karger, whose visible determination and effort had hitherto delivered few points to date but who finally got his reward in a paid 7 score that included his very first victory in club colours. It came in Heat 11 against none other than the previously unbeaten Masters no less, as the Dane held his adversary at bay for the duration to bring the house down at the chequered flag. His fist in the air as he crossed the finish line said it all. The Rockets’ victory came at a cost, however, as Heat 14 saw Jye Etheridge collide with Karger within the opening metres, which in turn sent the Dane into team-mate Leigh Lanham who then brought Max Clegg down as all four riders hit the deck in domino fashion. It was Lanham who came off the worst, suffering concussion, as well as abrasions and lacerations to his hand, which will almost certainly keep him out of the Rockets’ next fixture on Bank Holiday Monday. Karger bravely emerged for the re-run, nursing a wrist injury as he struggled at the back of the field, and although Morley took the victory, a Heat 15 5-1 from Wölbert and Masters over the hard-chasing Lykke and Cameron Heeps rescued an away match point for Edinburgh. While there was little doubt that the events of Heat 14 put a bit of a dampener on the Rockets’ success, Peter Karger still managed a smile after the match. Of his first victory in Heat 11, he said: “That’s the best heat of my life! I was so happy to finally get that first heat win out of the way. I definitely got a real confidence boost there, and hopefully I can build on that now. “I was so disappointed when Thursday (at Sheffield) was rained off, because when I got there I thought “This ’s my kind of track and I can score points here”. It wasn’t to be then, but fortunately it was tonight.” Pressing an ice pack to his wrist, he continued, “It’s a bit bruised up but I don’t think anything is broken. It will be alright, but I had a hard time holding onto the handlebars (in the re-run of Heat 14); we had to wrap it in duct-tape to get me out for the race, but it was a real struggle and I finally had to ease off on the last lap. “I hope that Leigh will be alright soon. He was really bruised up, and he had a big bruise on his head. “But we are all really happy to get the win today. Everybody did well, and it got us the result.” BMR Rockets: Ben Morley 10+1 (5 rides), Edward Kennett 8 (4), Kasper Lykke 7+1 (5), Stuart Robson 7 (4), Peter Karger 5+2 (4), Cameron Heeps 5+1 (5), Leigh Lanham 5+1 (3)
Edinburgh: Kevin Wölbert 11 (5 rides) , Sam Masters 10+1 (5), Max Clegg 8 (6), Ryan Fisher 7 (4), Erik Riss 5+1 (4), Jye Etheridge 1+1 (3), Dan Bewley 0 (3) Match Points: Rye House 3 Edinburgh 1
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Post by Administrator on May 31, 2016 5:55:23 GMT
HEAP BIG POINTS FOR HEEPS Cameron Heeps proved the difference maker for the BMR Rockets as they out-powered a game Redcar outfit 55-37 in the entertaining main event of Bank Holiday Monday’s double header at Rye House. The 20 year old Aussie reeled off four straight race wins before Jonas B Andersen played party-pooper to spoil his maximum hopes by sneaking past him on the third lap of Heat 14. Heeps was more than happy afterwards, however. “It’s been a great day. I’m finally getting my set-ups figured out and making the starts I want to. Hopefully I can get dialled in now and there’ll be plenty more scores like that to come.” Even the one that got away – Heat 14 – was some race. “I made the right start, and he (Andersen) sort of crept up inside me but I went around him and thought that I was set. But I could hear him around me all race. Maybe if I had relaxed and ridden the way I did earlier on I would have been alright, but perhaps I rode too defensively and he was smart and did me inside – and there goes the maximum! “Redcar didn’t make it easy for us. They certainly put up a fight, and made it a good meeting. We enjoyed it; it’s good to be around a group of boys that are enjoying what they do.” Heeps was aided and abetted by his team-mates, who each contributed at least 7 paid points apiece, with Edward Kennett racking up three wins himself in a paid 13 haul, Ben Morley (9+1) once again quietly slipping into double figures and both Stuart Robson (9) and Kasper Lykke (7+2) not far off that mark. The Dane also provided two great passes when nabbing third spot over Jacob Bukhave and Hugh Skidmore in Heats 1 and 3, respectively. Rob Branford, who was guesting for the side-lined Peter Karger, added a solid paid 7. Continues Heeps, “Edward said that he was struggling, but I wish that I could struggle as well as he does! Either way, we pulled through in a team performance, and that’s what counts.” One BMR Rocket who was frustrated to have to sit out the match, but was still in the pits to help his team, was concussion victim Leigh Lanham. “It’s always hard as a rider to spectate, especially when it’s your team that’s racing and you feel you should be out there, but the boys did well today and they all chipped in with good points. We’re sitting quite well in the League table at the moment, which is really pleasing to see. Talking about his injury, Lanham admitted that “I still feel a little bit second hand, to be honest. I’m feeling a lot better than I did in the middle of last week; I was pretty groggy and there were a couple of days where I could just about get out of bed. So it was pretty bad, but I was also pretty lucky in that I never broke any bones. It was just a lot of bruising, plus my head injury, which has been giving me headaches and the most grief this week.” Of his memories of the Heat 14 incident against Edinburgh that sent him to the side-lines after a “domino effect” that took down all four riders: “I was minding my own business really, and made quite a good start. I remember the crash and then it was a bit of a blur until I woke up under the air fence. It was just one of those things in Speedway – a hard first corner with no intent – and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” And Leigh’s thoughts on the possible timescale for a track return? “I’m hoping for this Saturday (against Berwick), but I’ll make a late decision on that one and see that I’m right. I’ll only be back when I’m right; I’ve done it before and come back a week early, and I’ve learned from that. It wouldn’t be fair on me, the team and everyone.” BMR Rockets: Cameron Heeps 14 (5 rides), Edward Kennett 12+1 (5), Ben Morley 9+1 (5), Stuart Robson 9 (5), Kasper Lykke 7+2 (5), Robert Branford (guest) 4+3 (5), Leigh Lanham R/R
Redcar: Jonas B Andersen 13 (5 rides), David Bellego 11 (5 rides, inc 4 as a TR), Lasse Bjerre 5 (4), Jacob Buckhave 5 (4), Lee Payne 4 (5), Hugh Skidmore 1 (4), Daniel Bewley (guest) 0 (4)
Match Points: Rye House 3 Redcar 0 4
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Post by Administrator on Jun 3, 2016 7:34:20 GMT
ROCKETS AIM TO BURN BANDITS The BMR Rockets’ 2016 season swings into June as the Team prepares for its next Premier League action in the race for the play-offs, tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) home fixture against Berwick (7pm start time). Not only is the match important to both clubs because of the League points that are at stake, it is also effectively a dry run for August’s Knock-Out Cup quarter-final tie between the sides. The Bandits have experienced a mixed start to the season, with home reverses against Edinburgh, Sheffield and Newcastle balanced by a tremendous away victory over the League Champion Monarchs and a battling 41-49 defeat at Glasgow which is the best performance to date of any visiting side to “Fortress Ashfield”. Their squad for Saturday includes familiar Borderers Kevin Doolan, who was the 2011 winner of the Ace of Herts, Matthew Wethers and Thomas Jorgensen, while Hoddesdon track exponent Michael Palm Toft – who famously romped to a 6 ride maximum when called upon for the equivalent fixture last year – will deputise for injured No.1 Sebastian Alden. There is further guest cover at reserve via Arthur Sissis, who stands in for the World Longtrack-committed Romano Hummel. The Rockets, for their part, are expected to welcome Leigh Lanham back to the fold following his recent side-lining through concussion, while Rider-Replacement will operate for wrist injury victim Peter Karger, who has moved into the main body of the team effective the new averages. Kasper Lykke has headed in the opposite direction, with Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck optimistic that the young Dane can build on his recent hot streak in his new reserve position. “Kasper is moving in the right direction again, but the rolling averages for June actually take him down to 4.95, which will give us a not-so-secret weapon at reserve. “While things are looking positive for Leigh, the news on Peter (Karger) is less so. He has now found out that he has a broken bone in his hand that wasn’t picked up by his original x-ray due to the swelling. It looks like he will be out for up to three weeks. “Kasper’s presence at reserve will help to compensate, and as far as Saturday goes, we will just get stuck in as we always do and give 100%.” BMR Rockets: Cameron Heeps, Peter Karger, Edward Kennett (captain), Leigh Lanham, Kasper Lykke, Ben Morley, Stuart Robson Berwick: Liam Carr, Kevin Doolan (captain), Thomas Jorgensen, Theo Pijper, Michael Palm Toft (guest), Arthur Sissis (guest), Matthew Wethers Saturday’s match will be preceded at 6.30 by three 150cc demonstration races featuring Nathan Ablitt and twin brothers Joe (the British 125cc Champion) and Dan Thompson
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Post by Administrator on Jun 5, 2016 7:49:39 GMT
ROCKETS AND BANDITS BURN DOWN THE HOUSE The BMR Rockets and visitors Berwick combined to provide a superb advert for Speedway in a riveting 45-45 Premier League draw at Rye House on Saturday night. The evenness of the encounter was emphasised in the statistics that at no stage were the two sides ever separated by more than four points, while the match also supplied some nine different race winners. One of those was Kasper Lykke, who revelled in his new position at reserve with a sensational 17 point haul from seven outings – most of those earned in stunning style from the back. The Dane’s first personal ovation was received after a terrific Heat 6 that saw him round Thomas Jorgensen on the first circuit and then zip inside Bandits guest Luke Bowen on the third to join Rye House No.1 Edward Kennett for the 5-1 that briefly gave the Rockets a 20-16 advantage. Better was to come, however, in an incredible drive past both Matthew Wethers and Kevin Dooolan exiting the fourth bend as Lykke secured another maximum with Kennett in Heat 10, on this occasion to bring the Rockets back to 30-30. The 22 year old was the centre of attention once more in the penultimate race, this time rounding Wethers on the third lap and sneaking inside Bowen on the very last corner to produce a 4-2 with Leigh Lanham and give Rye back the lead at 43-41 with just the nominated heat to go. The Rockets needed a drawn result from that race to clinch the victory, but with Kennett stranded in no man’s land on the second bend it was left to Lykke to carry the race for Rye. He soon found his way past Michael Palm Toft then set about leader Thomas Jorgensen, ultimately missing out on the victory by the narrowest of margins as his bike lifted in one last desperate attempt in the run-in to the finish line. It was perhaps fitting the Jorgensen took the final chequered flag as it compensated for a snapped chain when the Dane was en route to a 5-1 with MPT in Heat 13 and which had handed the Rockets a get-out-of-jail card, although few would argue that overall a draw was a fitting result between two sets of riders that left absolutely nothing in the can. Talking after the match, Lykke admitted that “It was a great night, but my starts are annoying me SO much. I felt I did get them slightly better in the end, to make life a little bit easier, and I will work on that for our next match. “I was using my second bike, which I haven’t been riding all season, and it seemed to be right. “We’ve been working hard on the bikes, both myself and my mechanic Steve, and we tried different things tonight, which created a bit more speed, and it was that combination with the change of bikes that worked for me.” About his sensational Heat 6 in which he passed both Bandits in the space of a straight, Kasper confessed that “I don’t really know what happened there. I just hit a rut coming into turn three and it shot me so hard coming into the corner that I gained so many metres on the other guys. That’s what made it possible.” And about the race that – just – got away in Heat 15, “I had to try 100%, and it was just a bit too much and the bike lifted a bit. I kept the throttle on until we crossed the line because I thought I might just do it. It was a good race, though – with some fair racing with both Thomas (Jorgensen) and Michael (Palm Toft), so I can’t argue there. It was very annoying that we lost the win, however. A draw is better than nothing, but I would have liked to have won it, to be honest.” Lykke will have that opportunity when the two clubs meet again in August in the Knock-Out Cup. If this was the dress rehearsal for that tie, it should be something very special! BMR Rockets: Kasper Lykke 14+3 (7 rides), Edward Kennett 10+1 (5), Cameron Heeps 7 (4), Leigh Lanham 6 (5), Ben Morley 4+2 (5), Stuart Robson 4 (4), Peter Karger R/R
Berwick scorers: Michael Palm Toft (guest) 11 (5 rides), Kevin Doolan 8+1 (4), Thomas Jorgensen 8+1 (5), Luke Bowen (guest) 6 (5), Theo Pijper 5+2 (4), Liam Carr 4+1 (3), Matthew Wethers 3 (4)
Match Points: Rye House 1 Berwick 2
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Post by Administrator on Jun 10, 2016 14:19:15 GMT
ROCKETS SHARPEN UP FOR DIAMONDS Following last week’s barnstormer against Berwick, everything points to an equally action-packed encounter at Rye House this Saturday, as the BMR Rockets tackle Newcastle in the Premier League. The Diamonds have a strong look about them for 2016, courtesy of riders like parallel Elite League Belle Vue Ace Steve Worrall, 2015 World U-21 Finalist Victor Palovaara, fifth year Tynesider Ludvig Lindgren and former Czech GP Wildcard Matej Kus. Most local eyes, however, will be on teenager Robert Lambert, the Hoddesdon track record holder who had a brief stint with the Rockets last year and is now installed as the Diamonds’ No.1. Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck looked back on last Saturday’s 45-45 draw to look forward to this Saturday’s clash. “The match against Berwick was a real spectacle, which sucked everyone in - and not just the crowd - but although a draw was ultimately a fair result, we were very disappointed not to win. Yes, we had a little bit of luck in Heat 13 (when Bandit Thomas Jorgensen lost a chain) but these things tend to even themselves out. To be honest, it hurts a lot more when you don’t win the close ones. “But we put a really good meeting on for the sport as a whole, and the feedback since has been absolutely fabulous. That is an important builder for this week. “I think it will be another exciting meeting. The fans’ focus will be on Robert Lambert, but our focus will be on our team and what we do against them overall as a team. “Some of the boys came down for a practice yesterday; we had Eddie (Kennett), Robbo (Stuart Robson), Ben (Morley) and George (Hunter). It was a good bonding session, and we also had a bit of fun. “Robbo had problems with his engines against Berwick, and his bikes really let him down. But he’s just had two engines back from tuning, and he was really happy how they ran at the practice. “I’m delighted to say that George also came through the session well, and he will be our No.8 on Saturday, as well as be back with the Raiders at Kent on Monday.” BMR Rockets: Cameron Heeps, George Hunter, Peter Karger R/R, Edward Kennett (captain), Leigh Lanham, Kasper Lykke, Ben Morley, Stuart Robson Newcastle: Matej Kus, Robert Lambert, Ludvig Lindgren (captain), Victor Palovaara, Danny Phillips, Lewis Rose, Steve Worrall Footnote: Rye House fans will briefly become Plymouth supporters tonight as the Devils take on Somerset in the final round-robin match in the League Cup’s Southern group. The Rebels need to win on the road in order to sneak top spot in the group, whereas a Plymouth victory or a draw would mean that the Rockets would progress as top dogs to the competition’s semi-finals, where they would face Sheffield on a home-and-away basis. The other semi-final tie will be between Glasgow and Workington.
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Post by Administrator on Jun 12, 2016 7:04:30 GMT
Anyone who chose to stay away from Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Rye House in favour of the England football on TV missed another white-hot battle – as well as a more positive outcome – as the BMR Rockets edged out Newcastle 48-42.
It was a meeting that matched the passion and drama of the previous week’s thriller against Berwick, with never more than six points separating the two sides at any stage, and the margin at a slender two points after no less than eleven of the fifteen races.
Rockets captain Edward Kennett ultimately led his Team to victory, dropping a single point from five races and also winning his direct head-to-heads with Diamonds No.1 – and 2015 Rocket – Robert Lambert 2-1 in what proved three of the most exciting heats of the night.
His teenage adversary took their first face-off via a blistering last lap pass in Heat 1, but Kennett gained revenge when disappearing into the distance as Lambert and Steve Worrall were forced to fend off Stuart Robson in Heat 13. He then won again, despite Lambert’s late charge, in Heat 15.
Kennett’s biggest support came from Kasper Lykke, who racked up a monster paid 16 from a full complement of seven rides and also featured in all three of the Rockets’ 5-1s. The first came alongside Ben Morley in a Heat 2 that took four attempts to complete due to a number of starting infringements that typified the tension and determination to win evident from both sides.
The Rockets’ second maximum came in a drawn-out Heat 6 that went as far as Instalment No.6 (!), with both Worrall and Kennett warned for separate early movements at the tapes, Ben Morley going down on the first bend, Lewis Rose being excluded for bringing down Morley on the second lap and then the Southend rider himself being disqualified for exceeding the two minute allowance after hitting problems with his steel shoe. Lykke duly appeared as Morley’s replacement to drive inside Worrall off the second bend and join his captain at the front.
The Rockets’ final 5-1 proved decisive, with Leigh Lanham and Lykke holding off Ludvig Lindgren in Heat 14 to clinch the match with a race to spare and also take Lanham into double figures for the night, although the Diamonds earned a fully deserved away match point by keeping the margin at 6 in the finale.
Rye House captain Edward Kennett said afterwards, “It was a great team performance tonight. The boys dug deep, and I was proud of them again. It was a great win.
“For me on a personal note, I swapped bikes after Heat 1. I wasn’t too happy with it - I haven’t been for the last week or so – and jumped on my spare bike and it was fantastic and really working for me. In Heat 13 especially: I pulled SUCH a lead on Robert (Lambert), who is fantastic around here. In Heat 15, he was pushing me SO hard, but I just knew I had the edge on him. Fair play to him, he rode it hard but fair, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Saturday’s match is the latest in a series of exciting and dramatic matches at Rye House, with Kennett quick to draw attention to the track improvements that have helped make that possible. “The racing here is so, so much better of late. I think that the little bit of rain in the air probably did it the world of good, and certainly from a fan’s perspective tonight, I expect it was a thriller to watch.”
The Rockets now face three matches on the road – at Sheffield (Thursday, June 16th), Scunthorpe (Sunday the 19th) and Somerset (Friday the 24th) before returning to home climes to face Plymouth (Saturday the 25th). Says Kennett of those matches: “We will definitely be looking for points. It’s a shame that I won’t be at Sheffield on Thursday because of Elite League duties (2011 Premier League Riders’ Champion Sam Masters will deputise), but I am going to push the boys hard at the other ones, as I know Peter (Schroek) will on Thursday.
“On our day, we are all firing and there is no reason why we can’t get positive results.”
BMR Rockets:
Edward Kennett 14 (5 rides), Kasper Lykke 10+6 (7), Leigh Lanham 9+1 (5), Ben Morley 6+2 (5), Stuart Robson 6 (5), Cameron Heeps 3+1 (4), Peter Karger R/R, George Hunter (No.8) dnr
Newcastle:
Robert Lambert 12+1 (5 rides), Steve Worrall 10+1 (5), Matej Kus 9 (4), Ludvig Lindgren 4+1 (4), Victor Palovaara 4 (4), Lewis Rose 3+1 (5), Danny Phillips 0 (3)
Match Points: Rye House 3 Newcastle 1
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Post by Administrator on Jun 18, 2016 8:23:22 GMT
SHEFFIELD VS RYE HOUSE – OFF
The BMR Rockets’ scheduled Premier League match at Sheffield has been postponed due to Thursday’s wet weather.
It is the THIRD time that the Steel City match has been rained off!
A new date will be announced as soon as agreed.
The Rockets’ next fixture is away to Scunthorpe on Sunday, followed by a trip to Somerset next Friday and a return to home shale the following evening (June 25th at 7pm) to face Brady Kurtz and the Plymouth Devils.
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Post by Administrator on Jun 19, 2016 21:10:54 GMT
ROCKETS’ HOPES WASHED AWAY The BMR Rockets are STILL looking to complete their first Premier League away match of 2016 after the wet weather returned to claim their fixture at Scunthorpe with just two races run. With the racing calendar nearing the end of June, the Rockets have managed just THREE competitive fixtures on the road: a tantalising defeat at Somerset and victory at Plymouth – both in the League Cup – and a narrow reverse at Ipswich IN THE Knock-Out Cup. Sunday’s meeting in Lincolnshire lasted just eight laps, with the Kasper Lykke taking second place in the rain in Heat 1 after Edward Kennett had been excluded for exceeding the two minute allowance, and Ben Morley and Lykke reversing that opening race 4-2 with one of their own next time out to make it 6-6. And with the rain continuing to fall, that was that. As Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck explained afterwards, “The rain hit just before the first heat. It wasn’t the track that was the problem; the riders just couldn’t see. Even Ben (Morley) had a problem with visibility – and he was in the lead. “You know me; I wear my heart on my sleeve. To say it was all very frustrating, especially after what had been a dry afternoon, is an understatement. But we’ll channel that frustration into our next match at Somerset on Friday, and we’ll start again there.”
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Post by Administrator on Jun 23, 2016 9:01:25 GMT
WHAT A RUSH! Following last week’s relentless series of washouts, there’ll be a whirlwind of track activity for Rye House this coming weekend to help redress the balance. The first port of call, tomorrow night, is the Oak Tree Arena, as the BMR Rockets aim to go one better than their last visit to Somerset, when they went down by a tantalising 49-40 in the League Cup after pulling back from 40-20 behind without the use of the Tactical Ride facility! Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck is looking forward to the return trip. “We were so frustrated when the weather intervened on Sunday at Scunthorpe because we were really pumped up to get a result, and we will be taking the same attitude down to Somerset. All the boys are up for it, and we’ll be going for it 100 percent.” The Rockets will be back to full strength for the fixture, with Peter Karger returning to action after some five weeks spent nursing a broken bone in his hand. The Dane famously defeated 2011 PLRC winner Sam Masters in his last meeting to collect his first race win as a Rocket. Updates Schroeck, “Peter has phoned to say he successfully came through a practice session on Tuesday. He felt a bit stiff, but there was no pain.” BMR Rockets: Cameron Heeps, Peter Karger, Edward Kennett (captain), Leigh Lanham, Kasper Lykke, Ben Morley, Stuart Robson Somerset: Jake Allen, Josh Grajczonek (captain), Paul Starke, Rohan Tungate, Zach Wajtknecht, Bradley Wilson-Dean, Charles Wright There will be limited time for rest and respite following tomorrow’s Rebels fixture, as the Rockets make an abrupt about-turn and head back the 174 mile trail to Hoddesdon in time for Saturday night’s home clash with Plymouth. It’s a head-to-head that will bring them up against the likes of new signing and Australian National Champion Brady Kurtz, double Aussie Longtrack titlist and elder brother Todd Kurtz and World U-21 Finalist Jack Holder. The Devils will operate Rider-Replacement for Kyle Newman, who suffered a broken collarbone in an alarming crash at Peterborough on Tuesday. Continues Schroeck, “It should be another exciting match, because Plymouth’s own track is not dissimilar to ours and they’ve also now got Brady Kurtz in their team – but they’re still coming into OUR backyard. “Win or lose, we’ll be aiming to get a good result at Somerset to set ourselves up in the best possible way for Saturday’s match.” BMR Rockets: Cameron Heeps, Peter Karger, Edward Kennett (captain), Leigh Lanham, Kasper Lykke, Ben Morley, Stuart Robson Plymouth: Jack Holder, Brady Kurtz, Todd Kurtz (captain), Kyle Newman R/R, Stefan Nielsen, Ellis Perks, Sam Simota Finally, the attention will shift from the Rockets to the BMR Raiders, who will be heading up to Buxton on Sunday intent on capturing their first away victory in the Travel Plus National League. The Raiders will be more than buoyed by last Saturday’s fighting 42-48 result at Eastbourne which garnered the side its first away match point, and will also be keenly aware that the Hitmen have won just once in eleven outings this season. Says Schroeck, “It will be a first for me because I haven’t been to Hi Edge before, but most of the boys, with the exception of Connor Locke, have ridden there. “We will have to make do without Kenny Bowdery, who has a work commitment, but if we can pop out of the starts there is no reason why we can’t get the Raiders on the map alongside the Rockets on the back of what we’ve already achieved at Eastbourne.” Although the Raiders will be in Derbyshire, there WILL be plenty of track action at Rye House on Sunday afternoon, courtesy of the fourth round of the Mitas British Youth Championship. Please see the separate news piece for full details. YOUNG LIONS ON THE PROWL Britain has got young talent, and there will be plenty of it on show at Rye House on Sunday afternoon, with the staging of the fourth round of the Mitas British Youth Championship at 2pm. The national U-16 event, which started life back in 2004 as a single class (500cc) series for U-15s has also evolved into a four tier event, with a 250cc class, plus 150cc and 125cc support classes, now sitting alongside the original 500cc as a natural progression path.
All four classes will run on Sunday, and with the series now entering its business end, there will be plenty on the line at Rye House as no less than 44 Young Lions compete in 44 qualifying races across the four classes. With a Final then following for each, it makes for a hefty agenda of 48 races. However, the programme is set to run at a terrific pace, with the action coming thick and fast in what is typically a three hour show. The series reaches its half-way point on Sunday. Already this season at the three previous rounds there have been some spectacular contests between all the different classes, and Young Lions Manager Neil Vatcher sees no reason why Round 4 will be any different. “This will be the first time for the majority of these Youth riders attending the new shaped Rye House circuit, and one that we are all looking forward to.” There are many standout performers in this season’s 500cc class, but with series leader Tom Brennan and winner of two of the first three rounds Kyle Bickley both competing it would be hard to look beyond these two, if you are a betting man. Local Boy Jason Edwards will be trying to extend his lead in the 250cc class, although Leon Flint who will be travelling down from Berwick, and together with new boy Drew Kemp is sure to have a say in this class. In the 150cc class Nathan Abblit, who is yet to lose a race after the first three rounds, will be hoping to continue that success on a circuit that he won the 150cc class in 2015. A large attendance of 18 riders will be competing in the 125cc support class, which will see the return of Harry McGurk who broke his arm in round 1 at Glasgow in April. Rye House Co-Promoter Steve Jenson is looking forward to welcoming Vatcher and the Young Lions back to Hoddesdon. “The lads put on a terrific show last year. The action was fast and furious, and everyone gave their best, and I know that this year’s round will be no different. “We are also delighted to be able to play a part in supporting these youngsters by staging an event. It slots in nicely alongside what we will be aiming to achieve with our new Training Track project and our regular Training Schools. “Adult admission will be just £5, and kids will go free, which for 48 races is fantastic value, so if you can please do come along on Sunday to back the newest breed of Young Lion. They really appreciate it.” NEW DATE FOR SHEFFIELD AWAY The BMR Rockets will be hoping it will be FOURTH time lucky for their Premier League trip to Sheffield. The Rockets have already seen their meeting in the Steel City washed away three times by the rain, with a new date now scheduled for Thursday, September 1st. A new date of Friday, September 9th, has been announced for the Rockets’ visit to Scunthorpe, which was abandoned after just two races on Sunday.
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Post by Administrator on Jun 24, 2016 21:32:06 GMT
ROCKETS DOWNED BY REBELS The BMR Rockets finally got their away Premier League programme off the ground with a respectable 55-38 defeat at Somerset. A strong opening by the Rebels, who mounted a 17-7 advantage within the first four races, rapidly ended the Rockets’ hopes of taking away major points from the fixture. However, with Edward Kennett in terrific form prior to a last race exclusion for exceeding the two minute time allowance, and Kasper Lykke augmenting his captain’s three race victories with one of his own in Heat 8, Rye were still in with a shout of salvaging a match point as late as Heat 11, when they trailed 40-29. Somerset effectively ended that possibility with a 5-1 in the next race, and a further 4-2 in the nominated heat after Edward Kennett had hit chain problems at the start line gave the result its final 17 point spread. Kennett finished the evening with 14, with Lykke also into double figures with 8+2 and Stuart Robson contributing 8 via a solid four second places from five starts. Elsewhere, Peter Karger made a welcome return to the saddle after a five week absence with a broken bone in his hand, but unfortunately failed to score from three outings. Those were the statistics, but as Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck said afterwards, “The score didn’t really reflect what was an excellent meeting, with some really good racing. “Listen, Somerset is a tough place to come to, and tonight was one of those things. We can’t grumble too much. “But we deserved to finish closer. Edward (Kennett) had a chain come off when he was at the gate in Heat 15, and Cam (Heeps) went down when he was second in Heat 7, so we could have grabbed a few more points. “The boys are disappointed because they felt they had more in them, but tomorrow is another day. We’ll be back on our own track and absolutely determined to bounce back against Plymouth.” That next action at Hoddesdon against the Devils gets underway at 7pm sharp. BMR Rockets: Edward Kennett 14 (inc 6 as a TR), Kasper Lykke 8+2, Stuart Robson 8, Leigh Lanham 4, Cameron Heeps 3, Ben Morley 1, Peter Karger 0 Somerset: Rohan Tungate 12+1, Jake Allen 12, Josh Grajczonek 8+1, Charles Wright 8+1, Bradley Wilson-Dean 7, Paul Starke 6+2, Zach Wajtknecht Match Points: Somerset 3 Rye House 0
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Post by Administrator on Jun 26, 2016 7:04:39 GMT
RIDERS ON THE STORM The BMR Rockets dodged a bullet with the weather - and then dodged a persistent Plymouth team in collecting a 35-25 Premier League victory as the action was curtailed when the rain returned with a vengeance. The result, after the Heat 10, abandonment stands. A heavy downpour at around 5.15 had left the circuit requiring lengthy maintenance work and led to the delay of the meeting by 30 minutes. When racing did get underway, however, there were plenty of dramatic moments to make up for the lost time. Edward Kennett took the opening stanza after strong early pressure from Australian National Champion Brady Kurtz, with Plymouth guest Michael Palm Toft nipping inside Peter Karger on the second lap to force a 3-3. The Rockets proved much more dominant in Heat 2, however, as Kasper Lykke and Ben Morley powered to a 5-1 to give their side a lead they never surrendered. The following two races were drawn, before an exciting Heat 5 which saw leader Leigh Lanham block out Kurtz’s efforts and Cameron Heeps come around the outside of his fellow Aussie on the second lap to join his partner for the max-out that took Rye’s advantage up to 19-11. Kennett and Peter Karger secured a 4-2 in the next one, with Jack Holder the meat in the sandwhich, before the meeting took another twist in Heat 7. With Sam Simota and Holder on a 5-1, Stuart Robson tried an outside pass on Holder on the third lap, only to hit the deck as his opponent moved out to block the move and be judged the primary cause of the stoppage. The race was awarded as a 5-1 to the Devils, to bring them back into contention at 24-18 - and they thought they had another in Heat 8 when the second placed Karger fell immediately ahead of Stefan Nielsen on the fourth bend of the third lap. The race was re-run, however, and the Rockets escaped with a 2-4 thanks to a strong effort from Morley. The rain started to fall again as the riders lined up for a Heat 9 that saw Heeps and Lanham restore the Rockets’ margin to 6 with a 4-2 over Holder, and then the heavens truly opened during what proved to be the final race of the night, won by Kennett, who completed a three ride maximum, and with Lykke weaving his way past both Simota and Nielsen for the 5-1 that wrapped things up. Rockets captain Kennett said afterwards, “We had a massive downpour before the meeting, and fair play to Gerald (Richter) and the track staff to get the track rideable. It was fine, really, up to Heat 9, and then the heavens opened for Heat 10 and that killed it. It’s a shame that it didn’t go all the way, because I think it would have been tight – maybe a last heat decider – but we got all the points and that’s our job done now. As for coping with the conditions in the final race, “I was in front, so perhaps it wasn’t so bad for me, but my goggles jammed up on lap two which made it rather scary for me. But to be fair, the track still rode alright, and I managed to get around it. Obviously, so too did Kasper (Lykke) for a 5-1, so it paid off. “But it’s certainly been a long time since I’ve ridden in conditions like that. The closest I got to it this year was when I went out to Guernsey to do sand racing on the beach and it was raining throughout the meeting then. I sort of had a little laugh to myself down the straight tonight thinking I can remember doing this recently!” Next on the agenda for the Rockets is a trip to Redcar on Thursday for a match against a struggling Bears outfit which provides an obvious opportunity for the Team to pick up points on the road. “We need to big time. Redcar do have some good riders, and it is quite a tough track to go to, but I am sure the boys will get fired up and we can get something out of it. “On a personal level, I feel good, my confidence is good, and my set-ups and bikes are working well. So I am definitely looking forward to it.” BMR Rockets: Edward Kennett 9 (3 rides, max), Cameron Heeps 8 (3), Ben Morley 6+1 (3), Kasper Lykke 5+2 (3), Leigh Lanham 4+2 (3), Stuart Robson 2 (2), Peter Karger 1 (3)
Plymouth: Jack Holder 9+1 (4 rides), Michael Palm Toft (guest) 7+1 (4), Brady Kurtz 3 (2), Sam Simota 3 (3), Stefan Nielsen 3 (4), Ellis Perks 0 (3), Todd Kurtz R/R Match Points: Rye House 3 Plymouth 0 The weather forecast for Sunday is much, much better, with a dry sunny day, as Rye House plays host to the fourth round of the Mitas British Youth Championship. No less than 44 riders are scheduled to compete in 48 races across four categories (500cc, 250cc, 150cc and 125cc) over a duration of around 3 hours. Adult admission is just £5, with children admitted FREE, so please do come along to support the new breed of Young Lion. The action starts at 2pm.
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Post by Administrator on Jun 26, 2016 21:47:15 GMT
YOUNG LIONS SHINE BRIGHTLY Kyle Bickley, Leon Flint, Nathan Ablitt and Joe Thompson proved the individual winners on an afternoon at Rye House that emphasised the continued talent development work that is ongoing within the domestic sport. More than 40 riders competed across 46 races in the fourth round of the Mitas British Youth Championship, and regardless of individual stage of progress, every one of them showed 100% commitment and determination on each visit to the track. In conditions that could hardly have differed more from those that ended the previous night’s racing at the circuit – when the track was disappearing under water after a burst of heavy rain - 14 year old Kyle Bickley from Cumbria took the 500cc Final after just scraping through into the decider with 8 points following bike problems while leading his third ride. The otherwise unbeaten Tom Brennan finished second – and also posted the fastest time of the day of 60.2 secs – while Luke Woodhull placed third. The Final was marred by the wrist and elbow injuries suffered by Daniel Gilkes, who appeared to straighten and lift on the exit to the last bend before hitting the air- fence at considerable speed. Gilkes required considerable treatment before being assisted, in obvious discomfort, into the track ambulance. 13 year old Leon Flint from Berwick took the 250cc Final after quickly finding a way past his main rival Jason Edwards, who in turn headed home Drew Kemp. Flint and Edwards have now each won two of the four rounds. The 250cc class had earlier produced the closest and most compelling races racing of the afternoon, with little to show between the rivals. The 150cc Final was collected by 12 year old Nathan Ablitt, who went through the card and is still yet to suffer a race defeat in any of his four rounds to date. Sam Hagon took the runner-up slot, with Kieran McCoy finishing third, while Josh Parnell placed fourth for the second consecutive round after suffering mechanical problems on the start line. Finally, the 12 year old Thompson twins dominated the 125cc bracket, with Joe eventually taking pole position after both brothers had ridden undefeated during the qualifying heats. Sibling Dan, who had won earlier rounds at Glasgow and Scunthorpe, finished second, ahead of Harry McGurk, who had dropped just one point in his qualifying heats, with Corbin Pavitt fourth after suffering problems at the gate in the Final. Young Lions Manager Neil Vatcher was highly upbeat afterwards. “Apart from the unfortunate way the meeting ended with Daniel Gilkes’ injury, it has been a great afternoon. I would like to thank everyone who came out to support the future of British Speedway. Hopefully, everyone can spread the word, because as I keep saying the future DOES look bright and we’ve got some great kids here. “Things have really come through this year. We’ve got three riders in the World U-21 Final, and guys who are riding in the Elite League who have come through the British Youth Championship. There are many more here today who in the next few years have the potential to get through to U-21 Finals, and hopefully will go on to ride in the Elite League and Grand Prix. So it is a good time to be a British Speedway supporter.” 500cc qualifying scores: Tom Brennan 12, Daniel Gilkes 11, Luke Woodhull 10, Kyle Bickley 8, Jordan Jenkins 7, Anders Rowe 6, James Hitchen 6, Kean Dicken 6, Sam Woolley 5, Carl Basford 4, Alex Spooner 4, Sam Bebee 2, Sheldon Davies 2 Final: Bickley, Brennan, Woodhull, Gilkes (fell) (63.0 secs) 250cc qualifying scores: Leon Flint 11, Jason Edwards 8, Drew Kemp 5, Aaran Butcher 0 Final: Flint, Edwards, Kemp (3 riders only) (64.7 secs) 150cc qualifying scores: Nathan Ablitt 12, Sam Hagon 8, Kieran McCoy 8, Josh Parnell 7, Mason O’Rourke 3, Jamie Bursill 3, James Laker 0 Final: Ablitt, Hagon, McCoy, Parnell (ef) (68.8 secs) 125cc qualifying scores: Joe Thompson 12, Dan Thompson 12, Harry McGurk 11, Corbin Pavitt 9, Sam McGurk 8, Mikey Robbins 8, Mickie Simpson 6, Jordan Palin 6, Freddie Fox-Baron 5, Danny Curl 5, Jacob Clayton 4, Alex Goldsborough 4, Bailey Fellows 4, Elliott Kelly 2, Taya Thirtle 2, Jacob Fellows 1, Max Perry 0 Final: Joe Thompson, Dan Thompson, Harry McGurk, Pavitt (ef) (67.1 secs)
RAIDERS RAINED OFF The BMR Raiders' Travel Plus National League match at Buxton on Sunday was postponed due to a waterlogged track, with the call-off coming in late morning. A new date is to be confirmed.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 6, 2016 21:07:45 GMT
ROCKETS AIM TO BREW UP TROUBLE The BMR Rockets will be aiming to go one better than last time when they visit Ipswich in the Premier League tomorrow night. Back on May 12th, the Rockets came from 10 points down to hold the Witches to a tight 46-44 score-line in the Knock-Out Cup before completing the job for an aggregate success two nights later in Hertfordshire. This time around, they have been forced to make a late change to their line-up, with regular BMR Raider Rob Branford guesting for Peter Karger, who took a tumble yesterday at King’s Lynn in a second private meeting staged to test a potential new racing format for the sport. As Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck explains, “Several riders went down in the same patch of track, and unfortunately Peter ended up riding over Leigh Lanham’s bike and into the safety fence. The bottom line is that he’s aggravated his original wrist injury. “Apart from that, everyone is raring to go. We all know what Eddie (Kennett) can do around Ipswich – he’s been unbeaten against the Witches in three matches home and away this season – and the rest of the boys are really psyched up too. “Rob (Branford) was really flying around King’s Lynn yesterday, and hopefully he will arrive in Suffolk with the same attitude. He hasn’t been able to put a finger on why he felt ill on Sunday (against Cradley), but the important thing is that he’s fine again now. “We haven’t forgotten that we ultimately came within a whisker of getting a draw there in the Cup, and although the Witches have made a few team changes since then, we really believe we have the potential to go one better there this time.”
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Post by Administrator on Jul 7, 2016 22:57:11 GMT
FLAMES UPON THE HEATH The BMR Rockets produced a fiery performance to claim their first away match point in the Premier League in a narrow 48-45 reverse at Ipswich. That they did so from ten points down and despite a subdued night for inspirational skipper Edward Kennett, who was feeling less than 100%, was doubly remarkable. The Rye House No.1 had ridden undefeated in three matches against the Witches but bike problems within the first lap of this fixture at Foxhall Heath compounded his fitness issue and saw the home side capitalise with a 5-1. BMR Raider Rob Branford – guesting for the injured Peter Karger - wrapped up Heat 2, with Ben Morley holding off a persistent Joe Jacobs to quickly level the score, only for Ipswich to push ahead 22-14 by Heat 6, with Kennett an uncharacteristic third behind partner Kasper Lykke in the previous race. Lykke won Heat 8, with Jacobs catching Morley on the line to hold the Rockets to a 4-2, but a 5-1 from British Champion Danny King and James Sarjeant in Heat 10 after Cameron Heeps had been excluded after a hard second bend from Sarjeant left Rye ten points adrift at 35-25. Kennett was rapidly handed Tactical responsibilities in Heat 11 and responded with six points to claw the score back to 37-32, before Branford and Heeps blasted a 5-1 against Nico Covatti to bring the match even closer at 38-37. That proved as close as the Rockets could get, however, with King and Ben Barker finishing either side of Stuart Robson in Heat 13, as Kennett fell at the back, to give the Witches their final winning margin as both the remaining races were drawn. Kennett did not feature in the nominated race, and as Team Manager Peter Schroeck explained afterwards, “Edward struggled manfully with an ear infection all night, and a fall in Heat 13 didn’t help his shoulder, but he came good when we really needed him with six points on a Tactical ride. That really helped to swing the match around. “I’m really proud of all the boys. They all did their bit and chipped in with points. Robbo (Stuart Robson) hit double figures, and Cam (Heeps) wasn’t far off that. Rob (Branford) was flying, and Kasper (Lykke) grabbed a win too. Leigh (Lanham) came good with a vital second place in Heat 14, and Ben popped in the points as he always seems to. They were all heroes. “I feel in my heart that if Eddie had been fully fit we would definitely have won here tonight, but to come from ten points down to at least take a match point was a deserved reward for a great team effort.” BMR Rockets: Stuart Robson 10, Cameron Heeps 7+2, Edward Kennett 7+1 (inc 6 as a TR), Kasper Lykke 7, Rob Branford (guest) 6, Ben Morley 4+2, Leigh Lanham 4+1 Ipswich: Danny King 15, Ben Barker 9, Morten Risager 7+1, Nico Covatti 7, James Sarjeant 6+3, Joe Jacobs 3, Danyon Hume 1 Match Points: Ipswich 3 Rye House 1 LATE PAIRS CHANGE The BMR Rockets have been forced to make a late riding change to their line-up for tomorrow night’s Premier League Pairs Championship at Somerset. With No.1 Edward Kennett nursing an ear infection and also aggravating a shoulder injury in a fall at Ipswich tonight (see separate news piece), the Rockets have now named Cameron Heeps to partner Stuart Robson in the event. The two were paid for 9 and 10, respectively, in tonight’s narrow 45-48 defeat at Ipswich.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 8, 2016 21:42:02 GMT
EARLY EXIT AS SOMERSET WIN PAIRS The BMR Rockets were unable make a major impact in this season’s Premier League Pairs Championship staged at Somerset. Stuart Robson contributed three second places from Rye’s four outings, but it proved a difficult night for colleague Cameron Heeps. The Aussie - a late replacement for the ill and injured Edward Kennett - fell when second in his opening ride and his luck failed to improve thereafter as the Rockets finished last in their round-robin group on 11 points. Hosts Somerset won the title, with Josh Grajczonek and Rohan Tungate dropping just two points all night. The Rebels romped Group A by a full 8 points and then dominated both Sheffield (Simon Stead/Kyle Howarth) and Edinburgh (Sam Masters/Ryan Fisher) 7-2 in the Semi-Final and Grand Final, respectively. It was the second year in a row that Tungate has lifted the title, after his success as an Ipswich Witch twelve months ago, while Grajczonek previously took the gold as a Rebel in 2013. Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck was philosophical afterwards. “It was a very good meeting in terms of the racing, and Robbo held his own and had a good night. Unfortunately, it was a bit too much for Cam to chew off. He had a heavy fall, which hardly gave him the best of starts, and by the time he found the right set-up it was too late, although he was always in there against what was very tough competition. “Congratulations, though, to Somerset. We look forward to welcoming them to Rye House on July 31st. We’re still the only team to beat them this season, and we’ll be determined to get another win against them then!” Group A: Somerset 26 (Josh Grajczonek 14, Rohan Tungate 12) Glasgow 18 (Richard Lawson 9, Aaron Summers 9) Workington 17 (Claus Vissing 9, Rick Wells 8) Peterborough 15 (Ulrich Ostergaard 10, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 5) Newcastle 14 (Matej Kus 10, Lewis Rose 4) Group B: Edinburgh 23 (Ryan Fisher 14, Sam Masters 9) Sheffield 21 (Simon Stead 11, Kyle Howarth 10) Plymouth 20 (Todd Kurtz 12, Jack Holder 8) Ipswich 13 (Nico Covatti 11, Morten Risager 2) Rye House 11 (Stuart Robson 11, Cameron Heeps 0) Semi-Finals: Somerset 7 Sheffield 2 (Tungate, Grajczonek, Howarth, Stead) Edinburgh 5 Glasgow 4 (Summers, Masters, Fisher, Lawson) Final: Somerset 7 Edinburgh 2 (Tungate, Grajczonek, Masters, Fisher)
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