Richardson set for Robins in 2011?

BELLE VUE have confirmed that Danish star Charlie Gjedde is in their plans for next season after missing the entire 2010 campaign.

Gjedde needed surgery after suffering serious damage to knee ligaments and muscles in a pre-season practice session at Stoke last March. He was on the verge of a comeback after being forced to stop racing in July 2009 for a shoulder ligament operation.

Team boss Chris Morton said: “Charlie reports that his rehab is ahead of schedule and he will be ready to ride at the start of next season. We have told him that we plan to have him back in the team.”

COVENTRY skipper Chris Harris praised the Brandon circuit and his team-mates after the Bees ran up a 52-38 first leg win over Peterborough in the Elite League play-offs, with Harris scoring a maximum.

Harris said: “I think that was the best the track has been all year. You could really race on it and the bike was pulling me around. Credit to the track staff, they’ve done a fantastic job and hopefully if we get to the Final they can make it the same if not even a bit better!

“It’s a team effort and the whole team rode well. It was a bit of a slow start but we pulled ourselves together and we always come strong towards the end of a meeting - hopefully we can start next week how we finished tonight!”

EASTBOURNE skipper Cameron Woodward says he would like to see current Eagles’ No.1 Matej Zagar back with the club next season.

Woodward told Speedway Star: “He is absolutely class. Let’s hope we can have him back for next year - I’d like to see him back, definitely.

“Obviously his absences are frustrating but we can only hope for better, I suppose.”

IPSWICH boss Pete Simmons is urging his team to finish the season strongly - with the relegation race-off looming next month.

King told the Evening Star: “We must ensure that we cut the deficit to the club above us as much as possible. Of course the most vital meeting will be the play-off against the winners of the Premier League play-off.

“We probably won’t know who our opponents are for a while yet, and although we will be strong favourites to win over two legs we know that we can’t afford to show any complacency.”

LAKESIDE manager Jon Cook has called on his team to bounce back from the big disappointment of missing out on the Elite League play-offs.

The Hammers have their KO Cup defence to come, and Cook said: “It’s hurt all the riders to drop out this late and the fact that two of them, who have been crucial to earlier wins, have had such a dramatic loss of form is beyond explanation to the individuals concerned and to me as a Team Manager.

“Fans need to understand that however frustrating it is for them and us as a Management this is also Robbo’s (Stuart Robson) only form of income so nobody wants to turn things around quicker than him. Adam (Shields) needs to get over his illness bug and take some time away to clear his head and get back to enjoying his racing.”

PETERBOROUGH boss Trevor Swales admitted his disappointment with the Panthers’ late collapse at Coventry on Monday - but insists their 14-point deficit can be turned around in the second leg of the Elite League semi-finals.

Swales said: “I’m not happy with the performance, there are some we are not happy with but next Monday is another day.

“They came back at us in the last couple of races but it’s not all over yet. There’s still another leg back at the Showground.”

POOLE promoter Matt Ford felt the Pirates’ selection of Wolverhampton as semi-final opponents was vindicated with their 44.5-44.5 draw at Monmore Green on Monday, which makes his side hot favourites ahead of the second leg.

Ford said: “You have to remember that Wolverhampton have an incredible home record and trying to break them at Monmore was never going to be easy. Our aim was to run it as close as possible and you really can’t get any closer than that can you?

“But we can’t take anything for granted and we will honestly need all the support we can get to spur us on to finish the job on Monday night. Our fans can certainly be our 8th man and I really hope that they come along to give the lads the support they justly deserve.”

SWINDON boss Ronnie Russell has dropped a hint that club asset Lee Richardson - who scored 16 points at Blunsdon for Lakeside last Thursday - could figure in the Robins’ plans for 2011.

Russell told the Swindon Advertiser: “We are already planning for next season, of course we are. We must finish our fixtures and it’s up to my riders to post their CV’s.

“Lee Richardson posted his CV last Thursday. He came for the interview and left his CV and it was an impressive one. I can’t reveal any plans we have for next season but obviously it is up to the riders to impress me in the remaining meetings.”

WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams insists his side will travel to Poole with a positive attitude next Monday - needing a win at Wimborne Road to continue their Elite League title defence after a draw in the first leg of the semi-final.

Adams said: “We are going to Poole to win and we will be ready for the challenge. I’m sure there will be a packed house in anticipation of a Pirates victory but we will go there to try and ruin the party.

“If we miss out, then I hope Poole win the title. For a team to finish top by as many points as they have, they would be questioning the play-off system if they didn’t win the title from here.”.