COVENTRY Bees owner Mick Horton is hoping to sign off the 2016 season a high when they take on King’s Lynn at Brandon tonight (Friday).
The Stars, led by Grand Prix star Niels-Kristian Iversen, can deny the Buildbase Bees a top-six finish if they can repeat the drama of their one-point victory of their last visit in July.
It’s the first of two matches in one night at regular EL admission prices, as the City Storm are also in action against play-off chasing Belle Vue in the National League immediately after the Bees clash.
The match brings down the curtain on the official Elite League campaign for the Bees, one which has seen them unable to repeat their play-off qualification of 2014 and 2015, but one which has also been full of eventful and entertaining meetings at Brandon.
A busy winter is just around the corner with plans to be put in place both on and off-track for 2017.
Horton said: “It’s the last official Bees fixture of the season, and we need to beat King’s Lynn to finish above them.
“With Niels racing for them, I’m sure there are going to be some big battles between him and the likes of Bomber (Chris Harris) and Danny (King) if they can carry on the form they were showing at Wolverhampton on Monday.
“So much hard work has gone into saving the Bees, and the future is looking much, much brighter.
“It is so important to make a statement of how important and popular Coventry Speedway is in the city and to the community.
“We need everyone to come along and show their support to prove we belong here, and get behind the boys in the Elite League for the last time in 2016.”
Both sides are forced into changes, with squad riders Ben Barker and Adam Roynon stepping in for the Bees as Jason Garrity is injured and Josh Bates is competing in the second round of the World Under-21 Final at Pardubice.
Krzysztof Kasprzak also misses the meeting as he prepares for the decisive round of the Speedway Euro Championships in Rybnik, a meeting for which Kacper Woryna is the Wild Card.
Horton added: “KK has a unique opportunity to become European Champion on Saturday. He is only five points off the top place, and therefore as a club we have given him permission to chase a dream.
“Kacper has been given the Wild Card because the meeting is being held at his home track.
“His performance and result there is not crucial to his career, and on the other hand he is very keen to show the fans at Coventry that he is good enough for a reserve berth next year should the rules allow.”
