Soundbites: 6th May 2005

Bethell	Norton

"I was looking at scoring well at Buxton and picking up some guest bookings in the Premier League towards the end of the season. But Graham (Drury) seems to think I've made good progress and if I continue to move forward he'll be happy. I want to do my bit for Workington because I had my first spin round a speedway track at Derwent Park and I enjoyed riding for the Comets against Sheffield the other week."
New Comet Jonathan Bethell

"Colin Hill approached Westpoint, on the advice of Exeter City Council, reached agreement and was offered a lease. But six months after our public meeting, Westpoint indicated that they no longer wanted us in the face of local opposition. Several thousands of pounds have already been spent on the project and clearly Go Speed were not prepared to spend a great deal more money on a full planning application if the original agreement is not going to be honoured. We are now arranging a face-to-face meeting, which until now has been delayed as our expert advisors were not available."
Mike Spearpoint with the latest on Exeter's plans to move to the East Devon showground

"It is a second chance for me because last time I was in England it was not so good. Now I feel happy that Poole called me up. I hope it is going to be good. When I was at Belle Vue in 2004 everything around the speedway was a problem, so I couldn't focus properly on my riding. I was worrying about how to get to the track, who was going to mechanic for me, where was I going to sleep that night, non-riding things like that. It was terrible. But this time I will be able to focus fully on my riding. I have spoken to Matt about those things and everything seems good. So I hope I can do something for the team."
New Pirate Tobias Johansson

"Joe needs two cracking matches to avoid going down to reserve and he is capable of doing it if everything is right. At this stage of the season, when riders have only had a few meetings, it's easier for scores to have an effect on improving an average."
Ian Thomas on Joe Screen

"Both are coming on very nicely indeed. We knew when we signed them that they would find it hard going initially. "However, both were outstanding in our recent home win over Reading and that, together with the signing of Tomas Suchanek which we revealed last week, means that things are coming together nicely as we look forward to the league campaign to come."
IoW boss Dave Pavitt on Jason Doyle and Manuel Hauzinger

"There were a lot of travelling fans and they saw a very passionate performance. It has been a hard slog struggling for results in the opening month of the season, but I said from the start that it was a young team and they needed time to bed in."
Colin Pratt on Coventry's win at Oxford

"The result was as bad as it looked. However, the averages meant Joel Parsons was not at reserve and he struggled with his shoulder all night. Simone wasn't dialled in and Craig Branney only chipped in with paid five from five rides. When neither reserve is scoring and Joel can't pick up points it's bound to have an effect. Our two tactical rides only got four points between them, it was just one of those meetings."
Hull boss Dave Peet on their heavy defeat at Sheffield

"It was another really hard battle, despite them not having Chris Louis. It just showed again how everyone likes racing at Blunsdon. The main thing was we took the win, but we did not have many points to spare. Bonus points are going to be difficult to pick up unless we find an away win from somewhere."
Leigh Adams on Swindon's last heat win over Ipswich on Thursday

"That is our best performance of the season and we will do well to top it. This was the home meeting we really feared because Belle Vue are packed with riders who love the Showground and, having already lost at home to Poole, we couldn't be too optimistic. But our riders were fabulous to inflict the biggest defeat on the league leaders they've suffered all season."
Mick Horton on Wednesday's win for the Panthers

"It's going to be tough at Glasgow but they are there for the taking. We want to start the league season with a bang. We know what we're capable of and we're going to be a force in the league this year. It will be nice once we get our final rider in place as it will give me a bit more of a rest, but I don't mind it at the moment."
Lee Smethills on the start of Exeter's Premier League campaign

"It's impossible to believe that Glasgow will perform in the same manner as Hull did. They have two good riders in Shane Parker and George Stancl. But equally they also track Paul Bentley and James Birkinshaw and round Armadale that is going to be a problem for Glasgow."
John Campbell looks forward to tonight's Scottish derby

"Apparently I am worth £36,000 according to the SCB, and I suppose it is quite flattering to be valued at that sort of figure. I am told Jason Crump also cost £36,000, and if I can achieve what he has achieved in the next few years, I will be delighted."
Scott Nicholls

"It was very, very hard, but I was pleased to be there. It was always going to be difficult for me. I was one of the youngest riders there and the lads I was up against ride in the premier league. It was an honour to get there and great to represent Scunthorpe, but I couldn't quite do it on the night. However, I'm still only 18 so I've three years left to win it."
Danny Norton reflects on the British Under 21 Final

"I am obviously aware of James Wright's injury but by officially naming him as a Wild Card he has an opportunity to ride if he recovers. If not, I will name a replacement a day or two before the meeting."
Peter Oakes on his decision to hand James Wright a World Under 21 lifeline

This article was first published on 6th May 2005