Sky sports Elite League action at Arena Essex at 1pm on Friday (From Thurrock Gazette)

Easter afternoon will be highlight for borough speed fans

10:25am Wednesday 4th April 2012 in Sport

SPEEDWAY: Good Friday promises to be a great afternoon out for Thurrock's speedway fans.

Lakeside Hammers will take to the Arena Essex track at 1pm as they welcome the Eastbourne Eagles in their second Sky Sports Elite League meeting of the new season.

Having easily overcome the challenge of the Belle Vue Aces seven days earlier the team will be looking for revenge over their local rivals who won with a last gasp heat victory twelve months ago.

The Hammers Co Promoter, Jon Cook, said: “The Easter afternoon meeting is one of the real highlights of the year and with a mouth watering fixture, with the chance for the fans to see new signings Peter Karlsson and Davey Watt in action, it promises to be a great time to take in the action. Kids admission is reduced to just a pound for all aged 16 and under and we will open the turnstiles at 11am."

The Hammers will go into the meeting minus their two double up pairings of Kauko Nieminen/Stuart Robson and Justin Sedgmen/Richie Worrall as all four riders have Premier League commitments the same day, which take precedence. They will use the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility to cover Nieminen/Robson and have booked in young Kyle Howarth, who rides for Workington in the Premier League, at reserve as a guest replacement for Sedgmen/Worrall.

The Eagles will also be missing one of their side for this important fixture as their No.1, Joonas Kylmakorpi, is still recovering from a shoulder injury. They will utilise the ‘Rider Replacement facility to cover his rides.

Included in the Eastbourne team will be young British international Lewis Bridger, Swede Simon Gustafsson, Australian Cameron Woodward, Lukas Dryml from the Czech Republic, Finn Timo Lahti and their new Russian signing Denis Gizatullin. Any of these riders will be able to take an additional ride under the ‘Rider Replacement’ regulations.

Following the conclusion of the action at the Arena Essex Raceway both teams will then drive down to the Arlington Stadium, the home of the Eastbourne Eagles, for the evening reverse League fixture in what will be a busy day for all of the riders, mechanics, Managements and fans from both clubs.

The action gets underway at the Arena Essex Raceway with the pre-meeting parade beginning around 12.45 with the first race at 1pm. Admission prices for this afternoon meeting are: Adult £17, Senior Citizens, Disabled and Students £14, Unemployed £12, Children 17 to 18 years £12, Children 6 to 16 years £1, Children Under 6 years Free.