Elite League Preview

 

Three Elite League meetings take place this Bank Holiday Monday, but which teams will race away with the points?

 

Coventry v King’s Lynn

Elite League leaders, Coventry Bees, take on the King’s Lynn Stars in a top-of-the-table clash at the Brandon Stadium.

Coventry captain Chris Harris is unavailable due to racing in the Grand Prix qualifier in Germany this afternoon, so Bees’ boss Gary Havelock has called upon former Bee and Belles Vue Aces captain Scott Nicholls to stand in, as they looked to continue their fine form this season.

Visitors, King’s Lynn Stars, continue to be led by Grand Prix Superstar, Niels-Kristian Iversen, fellow Dane Kenneth Bjerre and 17 year old Robert Lambert, who continues to impress in only his second Elite League season. However, former Bee captain Rory Schlein will not feature as he undergone spinal surgery after he was involved in an accident in Heat 1 of Lodz v Daugavpils fixture in Poland, and a replacement rider is needed.

The Stars’ will also be without Lewis Kerr, as hip injury continues to plague him, so former Coventry Bees rider and British Championship Finalist, Adam Roynon, guests in his place.

Coventry Bees (from); Hans Andersen, Stuart Robson, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Danny King, Scott Nicholls (guest), Jason Garrity, James Sarjeant.

King’s Lynn Stars (from); Niels-Kristian Iversen, Robert Lambert, Nicklas Porsing, Kenneth Bjerre, Ashley Morris, Adam Roynon (guest), Replacement rider for Rory Schlein.

Prediction: Close but narrow victory for Coventry.

 

Wolverhampton v Lakeside

Fifth placed Wolverhampton Wolves, skippered by Peter Karlsson, will be looking to end the run of three consecutive defeats and gain their third win of the season against seventh placed Lakerside Hammers at Monmore Green.

Wolves boss Pete Adams sees Freddie Lindgren return from injury, whilst Redcar Bears rider Lasse Bjerre guests for the injured Tobiasz Musielak

Hammers boss Jon Cook is without Kim Nilsson and Richard Lawson with them competing in the Grand Prix qualifier and Premier League meetings respectively, so Peterborough Panthers’ Ulrich Ostergaard and Rye House rider Busk Jacobsen will guest in the absence. Captain Andreas Jonsson returns after a knee injury and Steve Boxall also could feature after recovering from recent shoulder and hip problems.

Wolverhampton Wolves (from); Freddie Lindgren, Jacob Thorssell, Lasse Bjerre, Ricky Wells, Peter Karlsson, Lewis Blackbird, Josh Bates

Lakeside Hammers (from); Andreas Jonsson, Nikolaj Busk Jacobsen, Mikkel Bech Jensen, Ulrich Ostergaard, Edward Kenneth, Adam Elis, Steve Boxall

Prediction: Wolverhampton to finally secure that elusive win.

 

Leicester v Poole

Bottom side Leicester Lions’ troubled season continues, with Mikkel Michelsen and Bjarne Pedersen both resigned to find themselves facing third placed and current Elite League Champions Poole Pirates at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.

Lions Manager Norrie Allen will look to team captain Jason Doyle in the search for a much needed confidence boosting victory. Grzegorz Zengota replaces fellow Pole Grzegorz Walasek due to the Grand Prix qualifier, and there could be a debut for Lewis Bridger, but the Lions have to find a replacement for the injured Josh Auty and recent Edinburgh Monarchs’ signing Sam Masters, who may be unavailable until Wednesday.

The Lions have as tough test ahead of them, and Pirates’ boss Matt Ford has a full strength team to take to Leicester, led by Polish wonder-kid and team captain Maciej Janowski. Paul Starke, Australian duo Dakota North and Davey Watt as well as high-scoring reserve Kyle Newman and 2012 World Champion Chris Holder, will all feature for the Pirates.

Leicester Lions (from); Lewis Bridger, Jason Doyle, Szymon Wozniak, Grzegorz Zengota (guest), Ashley Birks (guest), Simon Lambert, Replacement rider for Josh Auty.

Poole Pirates (from); Kacpar Gomolski, Chris Holder, Maciej Janowski, Dakota North, Davey Watt, Kyle Newman, Paul Starke.

Prediction: Pirates to pilfer Lions den.