Speedway News

After an absence of a decade, speedway is set to return to Wimbledon in 2002 thanks to a joint venture between David Croucher and Steve Ribbons. The Dons will compete at Conference League level next year with their first fixture arranged for 2 May - a challenge against Belle Vue Colts.

Les Collins celebrates a quarter of a century as a speedway rider with a special silver jubilee meeting at Glasgow on Sunday. And it will be something of a family occasion with brother Neil and son Aiden also taking part.

Newcastle are the new Speedway Premier League champions after a 42-30 win over Glasgow at Brough Park. Rain failed to dampen the celebrations as the Diamonds secured the Premier League title with a 42-30 win over on Monday night.

Billy Hamill has won the 2001 American Motorcyclist Association National Speedway Championship. He claimed the title at the Gold County Fairgrounds in Auburn, California last Friday night from Billy Janniro. Ryan Fisher and Chris Manchester.

Latest results and standings plus fixtures for the coming week. RESULTS 17 - 23 SEPTEMBER 17 September Belle Vue 37 Wolverhampton 53 Ipswich 33 Peterborough 39 Exeter 67 Workington 24 Sheffield 59 Rye House 31

RESULTS 10 - 16 SEPTEMBER 10 SEPTEMBER Belle Vue 49 Eastbourne 41 Newcastle 54 Edinburgh 36 Reading 51 Stoke 39 11 SEPTEMBER Isle of Wight 52 Reading 38 Trelawny 62 Stoke 28 12 SEPTEMBER Poole 53 Oxford 37 Kings Lynn 38 Peterborough 33

Following the unexpected U-turn by Polish Grand Prix star Piotr Protasiewicz earlier this week, which led to him not making his expected reappearance in the Knights colours last night, a new signing is now all but in place.

The 16-man field for the Elite League Riders' Championship has been confirmed, and contains the cream of the grand prix crop - as well as some who feel they should be given the chance.

Rye House host the Conference League Riders' Championship this Saturday, which will see an interesting field comprising of some exciting young Speedway talent - plus the odd experienced older hand.

Coventry Speedway (pictured) is the place to be on Sunday afternoon (3.00pm). The cream of the Premier League go head to head all looking to emerge as Premier League Riders Champion 2001.

Following the enormous success of the inaugural Speedway Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff, this year, Benfield Sports International has announced that the British round of the 2002 Speedway World Championship will again be held at the Welsh capital, on Saturday June 8.

British speedway captain Chris Louis has been forced to pull out of Saturday's penultimate grand prix of the season as the result of lingering injury worries.

RESULTS:

The new speedway world under 21 champion is David Kujawa. He took the title after scoring twelve points in the final at Peterborough on Sunday afternoon.

Sheffield Tigers face local rivals Hull Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday in fixtures that will have a huge influence on the destination of the 2001 Premier League championship.

RESULTS 13-19 AUGUST 13 AUGUST Wolverhampton 38 Coventry 51 Exeter 52 Swindon 38 Newcastle 48 Hull 41 Reading 38 Workington 52 Sheffield 58 Mildenhall 32 14 AUGUST Trelawny 44 Hull 46 Isle of Wight 57 Workington 33

Results July 30 - August 5 July 30 Belle Vue 44 Coventry 46 Exeter 60 Trelawny 32 Newcastle 57 Swindon 33 Reading 48 Arena Essex 42 Sheffield 49 Rye House 41 July 31 Trelawny 37 Exeter 53 Isle of Wight 46 Hull 44

Elite League Oxford 40 Poole 39 Ipswich 33 Coventry 31 Peterborough 24 Eastbourne 24 Wolverhampton 21 Kings Lynn 18 Belle Vue 10

Speedway could be on its way back to Leeds, 63 years after the roar of the brakeless bikes was last heard in the city.

It's a question of 'win or bust' for the Kent Sweepers Hammers this coming Saturday, as they entertain the Edinburgh Monarchs at Purfleet.

Simon Stead and David Howe safely negotiated the semi-final stage of the speedway world U-21 championships, and will line-up in the final at Peterborough next month.

Results June 22 Oxford 48 Wolverhampton 42 Peterborough 55 Kings Lynn 35 Eastbourne 56 Arena Essex 34 Newport 44 Boston 46 Somerset 43 Sheffield 47

Former World Speedway Champion Sam Ermolenko and America's elder statesman of speedway, John Cook, were among eight riders who advanced on Sunday from the Overseas Final qualifying round for the 2002 World Speedway Grand Prix Series.

16 June Workington 55 Exeter 35 Stoke 55 Newport 35