Kings Lynn v Lakeside

Norfolk Arena is the venue for this weeks Sky Sports Elite League Clash between the Kings Lynn Stars and Lakeside Hammers.

Kings Lynn are a new edition to the British Speedway Elite League this year and in my opinion I think Sky Sports have rightly predicted them to finish 3rd. They have a very strong top 3. Kenneth Bjerre took a step up in his career last year, he shone both on the Grand Prix stage and in his league racing and he'll be sure to do this same this year, if not improve! Niels Kristian Iversen is also a top class rider and on his day can beat the best. Mads Korneliussen can be a bit hit and miss, one meeting he's an awesome rider, the next not so great, but will definitely score a lot of double figure points for Kings Lynn. They've brought Olly Allen & Tomas Topinka up from their premier league side and they'll benefit from knowing the track well. The rest of the team is filled with young riders..Lasse Bjerre, Sam Masters, Morten Risager and Filip Sitera. Kings Lynn will be hoping they can continue their winning run at home in front of the sky cameras.

Lakeside built their team around Lee Richardsson and Adam Shields, who are a great top 2 and have a lot of experience under them and are also ex kings lynn stars. They've retained Peter Ljung from their 2010 team after he was brought in towards the end of the season to replace Daniel Davidsson, and it's so far so good for Swede. Their flying finn Kauko Nieminen is definitely living up to his name this season which makes their top 5 so strong. They've had a bit of trouble with their last rider in the main body as Piotr Swiderski has not been able to get permission to ride for the hammers due to his homeland Poland having issues with the new silencers, however he finally was allowed to ride last week. Luckily Lakeside could rely on home favourite Jonas Davidsson to come back for 1 meeting only to help his old side out. Lakeside's reserve berths are made up of young Brit Robert Mear and Kyle Legault/Stuart Robson. After drawing at Swindon on Thursday, Lakeside will be hoping to go 1 better and bag their first away win of the 2011 season.

There is a big difference in Kings Lynn & Lakeside tracks. Kings Lynn is a very fair track with no real home track advantage which has been rewarded with holding big meetings such as the World Cup and major Elite League events. Norfolk Arena has been known for the great racing it produces. Whereas Lakeside is a small tight track that takes a while to get used to which allows Lakeside to have a good home track advantage. Not many riders like going there due to the tightness and trickiness of the track but next week the Arena Essex Raceway stages the British Under 21 final.

Team Line Ups:

Kings Lynn:

1) Kenneth Bjerre 9.47 (DEN)

2) Tomas Topinka 4.58 (CZ)

3) Olly Allen (C) 4.78 (GB)

4) Mads Korneliussen 6.26 (DEN)

5) Niels Iversen 7.76 (DEN)

6) Lasse Bjeere 3.48 (DEN)

7) Fillip Sitera 3.00 (CZ)

Key rider / One to watch : Olly Allen / Lasse Bjerre

Lakeside:

1) Lee Richardson 8.45 (GB)

2) Kauko Nieminen 5.35 (FIN)

3) Adam Shields 7.39 (AUS)

4) Piotr Swiderski 6.48 (POL)

5) Peter Ljung 4.92 (SWE)

6) Robert Mear 3.15 (GB)

7) Kyle Legault 4.20 (CAN)

Key rider / One to watch : Piotr Swiderski

Prediction: Kings Lynn 48-42 Lakeside