Speedway News

Wolverhampton defend an unbeaten start to the new season in the first big local derby of 2002 at Brandon this weekend.

Stoke promoter Dave Tattum has stressed that the heat 15 incident of the Hull meeting last Saturday where Robbie Kessler was excluded should be distanced from the running of Stoke Speedway.

Belle Vue have finally succeeded in gaining a work permit for Tomasz Jedrzejak. The Polish youngster was originally turned down because he failed to reach a high enough average last season.

Brian Andersen has been released from hospital after recovering from a serious arm infection. But the Dane is not fit enough to return to Oxford's side to face Ipswich on Friday and the Cheetahs will also be without shoulder injury victim Ales Dryml.

Silver Machine Knights No.1 and skipper Nicki Pedersen has been ruled out of this Saturday's home local derby against Peterborough.

The Kent Sweepers Hammers begin their home Premier Trophy campaign this Friday when the Reading Racers provide the opposition at the Purfleet Raceway.

Newport could be without Ben Howe for another three weeks with stitches in a bad leg wound. Wasps boss Tim Stone said: "it's going to be 10-days before he has the stitches out and then the doctor can look again.

British Speedway weekly news round-up courtesy of Nigel Pearson at the British Speedway Press office: British Speedway Sky Sports Elite League latest: Belle Vue Aces:

The Whale Toyota Coventry Bees kick-started their season with a fruitful Easter haul of eight points out of 10 against Belle Vue and Peterborough.

Mick Powell has been added to the field for Jan Andersen's Farewell Hoedown meeting at Edinburgh on 19th April.

New Somerset signing Neil Collins will celebrate his 25 years in speedway with a testimonial meeting. The date looks now set for Friday September 6th at Somerset with details of the meeting format expected to be forthcoming over the next week or so.

What a start for the Camarthen Dragons as they took the honours in the first ever clash between two Welsh sides at Newport this morning by 46-43.

Kauko Nieminen is likely to miss the next two months of the season after crashing out of Workington's Premier Trophy defeat at Edinburgh. Nieminen suffered a badly dislocated shoulder in a nasty crash which involved colleague Rusty Harrison and Edinburgh's Dalle Andersson.

Mildenhall find themselves unable to include Steve Camden in their 2002 septet but another name on the team sheet is Darren Andrews.

Hull owner Malcolm Wright has assured fans that next Wednesday's opening home meeting with Newcastle will go ahead - but he remains an angry man. A meeting has been held to resolve a dispute over who is responsible for placing protective covers over the dog circuit at Craven Park.

All fixtures subject to change. Sunday 24 March: Sky Sports Elite League: Peterborough v Poole 3.30 Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 6.00 Premier Trophy: Newport v Swindon 2.30pm

Adam Allott must be kicking himself for not winning the Steel City Championship at Sheffield last night. Five wins in qualifying by huge distances made him an apparent certainty to win the final. Instead he blew it to finish last.

David Meldrum and Bevan Compton are on their way back to Berwick - for one night only! The former Bandits riders will ride in the Karl Friar Memorial Trophy at Shielfield Park on Saturday (7pm) along with current champion Paul Bentley and Glasgow duo George Stancl and Mick Powell.

The Oxford 'FOX FM' Cheetahs continue their build up for an assault on this years 'Sky Sports' Elite League title with a further two legged challenge, this time against the Workington Comets.

Mildenhall are continuing to build a very impressive list of staff for the new 2002 season with the announcement that one of the sport's longest serving promoters, Peter Thorogood, has joined the club.

Wimbledon Speedway have now completed their 2002 line up with the signing of experienced Premier League rider Graeme Gordon on loan from Exeter. The capture of Gordon gives the Dons a formidable spearhead on the eve of their historic return to the sport after an eleven-year absence.

Reigning Elite League champions Oxford launched the 2002 speedway season with a narrow 47-43 victory in a challenge fixture with Coventry tonight. A strength in depth performance from the Cheetahs with reserves Andrew Appleton and Mark Lemon in fine form.

Belle Vue Aces have given Lee Smethills their final team place allowing him to take advantage of the 'doubling up' facility as he will also ride on loan at Hull in the Premier League.

Ronnie Correy finally brings the curtain down on a glittering career when he gets a second chance to stage his farewell meeting this Sunday. The 2002 Wolves squad will face a Cradley Heath Select at Monmore Green (6pm).