Lynn Stars boss hails his table-topping side

King’s Lynn Stars team boss Dale Allitt hailed the efforts of his riders to go through a gruelling regular season-ending schedule to make club history.

The Tru Plant Stars won three out of their four meetings in three days to seal top spot, the first time Lynn have finished top of the British Speedway leagues.

Lynn also have first pick of opponents in the championship-deciding play-offs – they’ve plumped for Belle Vue – after winning at Wolverhampton on Monday, losing at Somerset on Tuesday and beating basement side Leicester twice on Wednesday.

A champagne-drenched Allitt – he and his team know the job isn’t done yet – said: “There was mounting pressure on us. We’re all tired and the bikes are all tired; we’ve done a lot of miles.

“We did a fantastic job at Wolves, and had some bad luck at Somerset, but that was a freebie. When we’ve got a full team, there’s nothing they can’t do.”

Before their play-off journey, on Monday Lynn turn their attentions to Swindon in the KO Cup semi-final, with the second home leg then scheduled a week later for Monday, September 17.

Allitt commented: “The Knockout Cup is important to us as well.

“I wanted to keep everyone riding which is why we’ve done the fixtures on the 10th and 17th like that: get the cup out of the way and hopefully get into a final, and then on to Belle Vue. It will also give Ty (Proctor) some time to recover.”

Allitt revealed that Lynn’s Australian vice-captain Proctor is due for a scan today on his injured sternum, and added: “He might even be back for Monday but we’re not going to rush it.”

Meanwhile, the Swindon Robins have injury concerns of their own as reigning world champion Jason Doyle crashed out late on in their meeting at Belle Vue on Wednesday.

One year ago the Saddlebow Road stadium club just avoided the SGB Premiership wooden spoon.

Twelve months later, the Adrian Flux Arena outfit are sitting pretty on top of the table and Allitt added: “It’s something we said all year – I keep saying this and I’m sounding like a stuck record – we wanted to put the pride back into King’s Lynn Speedway this last year.

“I think we’ve done it in bucketfuls.”

PLAY-OFFS EXPLAINED

n Top four teams progress to the play-offs (all play-off ties raced over two legs).

n The team finishing top gets to choose from the second, third and fourth placed teams who they wish to race in the semi-finals.

n The winners from the two semi-finals then meet in a two-legged Grand Final to decide Premiership champions.

n In the event of a tie on aggregate in the Final, the outcome will be determined by Golden Heats format.

DATES

Monday, September 17: Somerset Rebels v Poole Pirates.

Mon, Sept 24: Belle Vue Aces v K.Lynn Stars.

Mon, October 1 Pirates v Rebels, Stars v Aces.

Mon, Oct 8 & 10: Grand Final first and second leg.