British Speedway weekly news round-up.

British Speedway weekly news round-up courtesy of Nigel Pearson at the British Speedway Press office - team by team:

Elite League:

Oxford boss Nigel Wagstaff was in a jubilant mood after seeing his side grab a last gasp 46-44 win at Belle Vue.

Nicki Pedersen and Todd Wiltshire picked up a 5-1 over home duo Jason Crump and Jason Lyons to secure the victory.

Wagstaff said: "Nicki and Todd will take all the credit because of that race but this was a real team effort and we're naturally delighted."

Reigning Elite League champions Wolverhampton picked up their first points of the season with a 53-37 win over Peterborough at Monmore Green.

Mikael Max and Peter Karlsson secured a 5-1 in the last race to force a run-off for the aggregate bonus point which Max won after Hans Andersen was excluded.

Wolves boss Peter Adams said: "It was a very pleasing result. Bonus points could be critical."

Peterborough boss Jim Lynch slammed his side after seeing them crash to defeat at Wolverhmapton.

Lynch said: "We're disappointed that one or two of the riders haven't got a grip of the track and to blow a 16-point lead really is stupid."

Coventry boss Colin Pratt has hit out at the regulation allowing riders to double up.

Bees beat Peterborough 51-39 at the weekend and Panthers included Kenneth Bjerre and Chris Harris from the Premier League.

He said: "I don't believe in us training up foreign riders like Kenneth Bjerre by letting them double up, but I do with Chris Harris because he's a young Englishman. Good luck to him, I thought it was a marvellous performance and I've always rated him."

Poole boss Neil Middleditch is warning his riders to avoid complacency when they face Ipswich at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.

Pirates hold a 10-point lead from the first meeting between the sides at Foxhall Stadium and should complete their first double of the season.

But Middleditch said: "Against riders of the calibre of Scott Nicholls and Jarek Hampel we cannot afford to take things easy in any way."

Premier League:

Sheffield have booked former Tigers favourite Simon Stead as a guest replacement for the injured Sean Wilson in Thursday's British League Cup tie with Belle Vue at Owlerton.

Hull's Garry Stead is facing a tough decision whether to travel to Norway next month for his worldchampionship qualifier.

If he does make the trip he will miss two Vikings meetings.

Glasgow are under increasing pressure to deliver the goods this Sunday when they face Berwick at Ashfield.

Tigers have suffered a string of defeats in the early stages of the season.

Co-promoter Stewart Dickson said: "We are now getting to the stage where we have to win or else we will have to look to make changes to the side.

"It's not just the fact that we are losing, it is the fact that we are losing too easily."

Stoke's home meeting this Saturday marks 30 years of speedway at Loomer Road and also coincides with Robbie Kessler's 30th birthday.

There will be a mixture of action and entertainment on the night including match races between Nigel Crabtree and Eric Monoghan, moto-cross races including jumps, trick motorcyclists, Easy Rider miniature bike races plus 12 heats of speedway as well as finals.

In addition to the Potters, invited riders include Tony Atkin, Peter Carr, Jamie Smith, Garry Stead and, making his first appearance of the season, Lee Complin.

There will be other entertainment and admission prices will be reduced.

Rye House Promoter Len Silver has praised the performance of the new 'Golden Double Ride' which replaces tactical substitutions in this year's Premier LeagueKnockout Cup and which was trialled by Rye House and King's Lynn in theirrecent A10 Challenge matches.

Silver said: "I think the golden double ride is a winner, I love it. Ihave spoken out for years and years against tactical substitutions because theycan change whole nature of the match.

"But the golden double has the effect of keeping the scores possible, but it's still difficult to win the meeting."

Tributes have been paid to former Sheffield star Arnold Haley, who died on Friday aged 60.

The pint-sized racer was one of the most popular riders ever to don the blue and yellow Sheffield race-jacket in an Owlerton career that spanned almost 13 years.

He died after a fall at his home in Leeds, with the funeral to be arranged.

"He was one of the sport's great characters", said former team-mate and current Tigers team boss Reg Wilson. "It came as a shock when we heard the news. Arnie was a happy-go-lucky type, a really likeable bloke and it's a sad loss."

King's Lynn youngster James Brundle took elimination from the British Under-21championship on the chin.

After progressing through the meeting in impressive style he suffered a snapped chain during an elimination race.

He said: "Michael Lee was telling me how well I was riding and then it all happened. The only consolation is that I have five more years to have a crack at this competition!"

Somerset boss Ray Dickson is backing Glenn Cunningham to get it right when he takes his place in the Rebels side against Trelawny on Friday.

Cunningham managed only four-points in the disappointing 47-43 defeat at home to Exeter.

Dickson said: "Glenn is a class act and we know it was very unlike him on Friday, but he had his reasons. He would like to offer his sincere apologies for his performance, he left the bike he used against Kaparna in the workshop and brought one with a fresh engine just back from his tuner, guess where it was going on Saturday!"

Newport stage another double-header this Sunday when they face Somerset in the Knockout Cup at 2.30pm followed by a Conference clash with Mildenhall.