Tough task for Diamonds without No 1

NEWCASTLE Diamonds are in the toughest of tough spots tomorrow night at Byker (6.30pm) when they are forced to go into a local derby clash against Redcar Bears without No 1 Robert Lambert and, perhaps crucially, without a guest or rider replacement facility to cover his absence.

This unfortunate scenario is down to the priority of fixtures according to the International Speedway League Board (ISLB). Tomorrow night’s SGB Championship match is a rearranged date – the original, set for May 7, was postponed – so scheduled fixtures take priority, which means Lambert will be in Poland for the end-ofseason play-offs over there.

Newcastle co-promoter Alan Hedley, boss of team sponsors Sapphire Engineering, said: “We have to get our own fixtures raced and Sunday is an unfortunate consequence for us.

“Just to be clear on this, we are not releasing Robert to go to Poland, but the ISLB has given priority to his Polish club without any recompense to us. The British authorities have tried to assist us, but there is nothing in the current rules which would ease our predicament.

“Obviously, Redcar, now in a play-off place in the table, will see this as a great opportunity to come to Byker and win, but our riders will be doubly determined to overcome the odds. If our fans come out in force on Sunday night and get behind the lads, we can still come out on top and give the Bears major problems.”

The only concession, if you can call it that, is the Diamonds are able to track a National League junior in Lambert’s place – a daunting task for any young racer – and team manager George English is hunting for the best available from NL teams not racing tomorrow.

Tonight the Diamonds are at Berwick, where Ricky Wells (Edinburgh) steps into Lambert’s boots as a guest because the Newcastle No 1 is racing for Great Britain in the Under-21 World Team Championship Final in Poland where the Lions meet the host country, Australia and Sweden.