Speedway: Glasgow Tigers ace James Grieves slams fixture farce as side face 1100-mile road trip

Jun 14 2012 By Fraser Wilson

James Grieves

SPEEDWAY veteran James Grieves has slammed the "crazy" fixture schedule which will see Glasgow Tigers embark on a impromptu tour of Britain this week.

Grieves and his colleagues face an exhausting three meetings in four days starting in deepest Norfolk on Thursday night where they will tackle Ipswich Witches.

Just 24 hours later they travel all the way across England to the Oak Tree Arena in Somerset for a meeting with Somerset Rebels before the Tigers return home to Ashfield on Sunday for the re-arranged meeting with Workington Comets.

It adds up to a manic 1100-mile round trip for the Glasgow-based contingent and their loyal supporters.

And Grieves insists there was no need for the Premier League authorities to cram in such a hectic run of meetings so early in the campaign.

"I just can't see why they have given us two fixtures back-to-back at different sides of the country - it's crazy," blasted the Glasgow stalwart.

"I would have thought they could have at least fitted in a Friday night fixture on the same side of the country - somewhere like Rye House.

"But that's speedway and we will just have to get on with it. The club will put us up in a hotel on the Thursday night and we'll head down to Somerset on the Friday morning.

"There's no doubt the two fixtures are going to be tough. Somerset are among the teams I would say are favourites along with Newcastle and Workington.

"It's crucial we beat Workington at home on Sunday then, if we have managed to get anything from the two away meetings, it will have been a good week."

Glasgow's home meeting with the Comets comes seven days after the same fixture was postponed due to heavy rain in Glasgow.

Elderslie-based Grieves, who began his career with Glasgow 21 years ago, hopes to make it a family affair on Father's Day.

The 37-year-old said: "We were supposed to have a free weekend but with last week's meeting being cancelled it means we will be racing.

"My two boys will be there though, they are speedway daft, and hardly miss a home meeting. Fingers crossed we deliver for the supporters."

Glasgow Tigers face Workington Comets in the Premier League on Sunday, tapes-up 4pm.