WEEKEND PREVIEW: BYJL Round 2, Northern KO Cup and Regional racing
It’s week 7 of regional racing, in a season that is already seemingly flying by! First up, it’s round 2 of the popular British Youth and Junior League, where the countries youngsters battle it out for supremacy in their local region.
British Youth and Junior League – Round 2
As previously featured, it’s Birmingham who take centre stage in the BYJL Midland Region this weekend. For the Northern League, riders head to Hessle Raceway in Hull to compete. Great Blakenham are your hosts in the South East League, with Southampton, sadly not entered in any league this season, hosting the South and South Wales region’s racing.
If you’re a young newcomer to the sport, make sure you get yourself down to your local BYJL, it’s a great introduction to competitive racing and a great way to meet new people and make new friends in Cycle Speedway.
Good luck to all juniors this weekend!
Midland League
Coventry v Wednesfield
Coventry welcome Wednesfield to the Hearsall Common bowl on Sunday, both unbeaten so far in the league. The Godiva city side have an uphill battle if Wednesfield bring all of their top riders along with them. The Aces’ top Midland team is almost identical to their entire Elite League first team. Should they all make the journey, Coventry will have to conjure up some tricks to stay within touching distance of the Aces’ in-depth quality. They will have it all to do without Konrad Pietek, Kyle Roberts, Dave Frith and Dominik Rycharski, who are all unavailable for selection this weekend.
Leicester v East Park
Dave Hemsley is expected to be back on the saddle at Glover Park this weekend, which will be a big boost to the Monarchs, who have struggled with unavailability and injures to their first team for the back end of last season. East Park have put in some spirited performances so far this season, despite losing two of their top riders in Brandon Whetton and Matt Smith. This could be a close match!
Northern League
This weekend is the first round of the Northern Knock Out Cup, which sees all 8 teams heading to Sheffield in a four team formula. Astley & Tyldesley, Heckmondwike, Hull and Northern League champions, Stockport, battle in the first fixture. The second fixture features Bury, Northumbria, Sheffield and Edinburgh in what will be an afternoon of fierce competitive racing at Cookson Park.
South East League
Kesgrave v East London
Kesgrave welcome East London to Suffolk, both sides yet to get off the mark in the South East League. This will only be Kesgrave’s third outing to East London’s fourth. The Panthers lost out to Ipswich Eagles and Hethersett in their opening fixtures, so they will going all out to get some points on the board against the Londoners, who came off second best to Great Blakenham, Norwich and Ipswich Whirlwinds earlier in the season.
Ipswich Eagles v Great Blakenham
Top of the league Great Blakenham make the short trip to Ipswich Eagles for their first away fixture of the campaign. The Eagles have raced two, won two, so offer a formidable challenge for GB. The away side surprisingly beat the champions Ipswich Whirlwinds a few weeks back, who turned up with a few absentees. Can they do the Ipswich double this weekend?
Norwich v Hethersett
Hethersett travel to Norwich for this local derby as favourites to come away with the points. The Hawks finished second last year and are unbeaten so far this campaign after two meetings. Norwich put in a convincing performance against East London to claim one win in three, with their other losses at the hands of Ipswich Eagles and Great Blakenham. Hethersett on the other hand made light work of Great Blakenham and Kesgrave, so they will be expected to take their winning streak to three this season.
South and South Wales League
Horspath v Exeter v Poole Tigers
Horspath host Exeter and Poole Tigers at the Village for another round of 27 heat-three team-action. With the absence of pace setters Poole Comets and Newport, it’s a good opportunity for these three sides to put some points on the board.
Swindon v Newport v Poole Comets
Swindon welcome Newport and Poole Comets to the Oasis Leisure centre, where hopefully this weekend of racing can become noticed by the wider community, as the Robins face an uncertain future due to area redevelopment. Poole and Newport will be a tough set of opponents for Swindon, but the Wiltshire side have some decent riders in their ranks capable of mixing it with the top riders in the division and potentially causing the teams at the top of the league some damage.
Safe journey to all travelling this weekend, enjoy your racing!