Diamonds set for tough test
THE Newcastle Sapphire Engineering Diamonds return to home duties tonight at Brough Park after a fortnight’s absence with a tough looking test against Peterborough Panthers who are now led by Team GB and former Grand Prix rider Chris Harris,
The Diamonds will be sweating on the safe return from the Czech Republic of their own No.1, the sensational teenager Robert Lambert who yesterday produced a superb unbeaten performance to become the European Under-19 Championship yesterday.
Lambert was favourite for that meeting and was flawless throughout to race to the first major International Championship of his career and justify his favouritism. Many rate the Norfolk-based rider as the next big thing in British Speedway and this may well be the start of many more individual Championships to come.
Peterborough – who last weekend won The Championship Fours competition – would have taken a lot of confidence from that victory, which they’ll need as Newcastle is their third stop in as many nights on a tough Northern trip that started with defeat at Edinburgh on Friday night.
They were due to race at Berwick last night without Harris and with Newcastle’s Stevie Worrall deputising for his GB compatriot. The two Stuart Robson knows it will be a stern test for Newcastle Diamonds tonight will be in opposition tonight – and with Lambert back it adds to the spice of the meeting.
Newest Diamond Stuart Robson – who is back with his local track for the fourth time in an illustrious career – is in no doubt that his side faces a stern test of their great home track record.
A record that was enhanced when Robson himself contributed double figures in a 46-44 win over Edinburgh in his return to Newcastle colours. Robson said: “It was a very good result two weeks ago to beat Edinburgh.
“We all know how good a team they are so it was nice to get the three points and were an in-form team and it’s always tough when they come to town.”
“Peterborough could prove to be equally as tough especially with Chris, my Rye House team-mate, spearheading them.
“I know what kind of form he is in at the moment and he is proving he is a No.1 in both leagues.”
“With good back up from the rest of the team of their team we’re going to have to be on top form and sharp from the tapes from the off.”
It should be a great spectacle for Diamonds fans and a further boost to their spectating experience is the re-opening of the restaurant for them to enjoy viewing the racing from and that racing gets under way at the Byker race-track at the usual time with tapes-up at 6.30pm.