Track Talk: Crunch time for Wolves’ play-off bid
Wolverhampton are entering last chance saloon as they prepare for their last two league outings of the season.
And it has to be said, their chances of reaching the play-offs are slim – but stranger things have happened!
They need to claim four points from their home meeting with King’s Lynn on Monday and a trip to Poole on Wednesday.
It means Monday’s clash with the table-topping Stars takes on added significance and it promises to be another big night.
Lynn include British wonderboy Robert Lambert, who I reckon could become the next Tai Woffinden if he continues to apply himself properly.
He’s had a stunning season, winning the British title, British Under-21 title and finishing with a silver medal alongside Woffinden in the World Pairs (Speedway of Nations) in June.
His spearhead with Danish star Niels-Kristian Iversen – a confirmed Grand Prix rider for next year – is potent but they won’t find it easy around Monmore.
King’s Lynn boss Dale Allitt is keen to finish top of the league – he’s on record as saying that – as that would give them choice of opponents in the semi-final.
Wolverhampton are clinging on and by Wednesday night we’ll know if they can make it. Personally I think it’s a long shot but you can be sure boss Peter Adams will have them ready for action.
Kyle Howarth represents his other club in one of the biggest meetings of the season tomorrow.
It’s a quirk of modern day racing that many riders are allowed to race in both the top two divisions and the Wolves man doubles up with Sheffield.
Howarth is a firm favourite with Sheffield as well as Wolverhampton and he represents the Tigers in the Championship Riders’ Individual at Owlerton Stadium.
He’ll be up against World Cup riders Craig Cook and Steve Worrall, representing Glasgow and Belle Vue respectively, and seven-times British champion Scott Nicholls. It’s a good line-up for a meeting which starts at 5pm at one of the best venues in the country.
And Howarth said: “I’d love to win a prestigious title like this one, it’s a great line-up and I’m sure the action will be exciting.
“That said, there’s not much of a home track advantage there for me because so many visiting riders enjoy racing around Sheffield these days.”
Cradley will face Mildenhall in the first leg of their National Trophy Final on Tuesday week, September 11, at Monmore.
Some Heathens fans have been asking why we are suddenly allowed a Tuesday night and why we can’t race there every Tuesday in a full league programme.
The answer is simple. Speedway will only take place at Monmore once a week and Wolves don’t have a meeting that week. The reason we have switched to the Tuesday is to avoid a clash with the Kent and Belle Vue meeting which would have taken Kyle Bickley and Taylor Hampshire out of the Heathens team.
It’s a great gesture by Mildenhall, Wolverhampton and the stadium management to allow the switch in the best interests of the final.
