TONIO AND TAI IN TOWN FOR PLAY-OFF TIE

Two of the most exciting world class riders to have returned to British league racing will go head to head on Wednesday night providing an added dimension to the Elite league play-off semi-finals.

British GP champion  Antonio Lindback and World Champion Tai Woffinden will be at loggerheads when they line-up for Poole and Wolverhampton respectively, having made their choices to return to race on British soil and so, a tie that was already packed with anticipation, will have risen a level with the prospect of seeing these two stars back at Wimborne Road.

Lindback, the current Wimborne Road track record holder answered an injury replacement call by the Poole management, who needed cover for start-of-campaign captain Hans Andersen who has been sidelined since crashing at Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday,  and the Rio Rocket will make his first official British team competitive appearance since 2007.

Currently clinging on to 8th place in this year's world championship series Lindback has been on many a fans wish-list for a return to the skull and crossbones that he last wore in 2006, having first joined the Pirates in 2003. His debut appearance made all the headlines as he scorched to a paid 21 seven-ride maximum.

Woffinden ended his sabbatical from British racing last month as Wolverhampton made a move to strengthen their league title assault as they seek their first championship success since 2009, and the Scunthorpe-born racer agreed to re-join the club he first rode for in 2008.

Wednesday's appearance by the world champion, who is currently third in the championship standings will be his first Wimborne Road showing since July 2014 when he scored paid 12 from 5 rides, and it is one that Poole boss Matt Ford is looking forward to.

"I guess that I am like most speedway fans when I say that I am really looking forward to seeing Tonio and Tai back racing each other in British Speedway.  A play-off is always, in its own right, a thrilling night of speedway but Wednesday night we have four of the current top ten GP riders on show, with Chris and Freddie normally bagging the headlines, but the fact that the attention is on Antonio and Tai speaks volumes.

" I would encourage fans to really make the effort to come and along and see it all for yourself, it could be one of those nights that will be talked about for many years to come."

The Pirates have been boosted by the news that reserve Kyle Newman will be fit to ride. The local lad suffered a twisted knee last Thursday whilst competing in a challenge fixture at Swindon and he missed Plymouth's meeting at the weekend, but he has declared himself fit to ride again. He will renew his association with fellow Elite Draft rider Adam Ellis, who returns to the reserves berth under the latest Green Sheet averages. Ellis finished third in the Golden Sash meeting, the junior event to the prestigious Czech Golden Helmet , at the weekend with both himself and Brady Kurtz appearing in Golden Helmet meeting itself. Both qualified to the quarter final stages before being eliminated.

Both sides are expected to be at full strength for this semi-final first leg tie which means the newly crowned National League Riders' champion, Max Clegg, will also be on show.

The gates will open at 6pm on Wednesday night with the usual start time of 7.30pm

Teams from:

Poole: Krzysztof Buczkowski, Chris Holder, Brady Kurtz, Antonio Lindback, Bjarne Pedersen (capt), Adam Ellis, Kyle Newman Team manager: Neil Middleditch

Wolverhampton: Peter Karlsson, Freddie Lindgren (capt), Sam Masters,  Jacob Thorssell, Tai Woffinden, Max Clegg, Kyle Howarth Team manager: Peter Adams