LONDON -- Anthony Joshua's promoter says a rematch will take place between the British fighter and new world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.

Eddie Hearn says on Twitter that the contracted rematch clause was triggered Tuesday following talks with Joshua, his management team and his trainer, Rob McCracken.

Hearn says "the fight will take place in (November or December) at a venue to be confirmed shortly."

Ruiz Jr.'s camp has not confirmed that the Mexican boxer has agreed to the fight.

Joshua fell to the first loss of his professional career when he was stopped by Ruiz Jr. in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden in New York at the weekend.

Ruiz Jr. now owns the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts.

DeMar DeRozan is rooting for his best friend and his former teammates to win the NBA Finals, but he still can't help but feel that he was the "sacrificial lamb" for the Toronto Raptors to get to this point.

"Honestly, I don't think I even said this -- I probably said it to my own inner circle -- but if it wasn't for all the years and groundwork that I did before then, none of them things would've been possible," DeRozan told Bleacher Report in a video interview. "Yes, I fought, I sacrificed, I pushed the limits to where I had to be the sacrificial lamb.

"You just have to sit back and understand, like, you know, you are the reason so many things was even possible."

"I had to be the sacrificial lamb" @DeMar_DeRozan is still rooting for the Raptors in the Finals but explains why he was so hurt when the trade went down. Season finale of "Take It There" with @TaylorRooks https://t.co/CNL1gyPDtm pic.twitter.com/WKUtzvow29

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 4, 2019

DeRozan was traded by the Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs last July in a blockbuster deal that brought Kawhi Leonard to Toronto.

"To their credit, [the Raptors] probably felt like it was time to see what we could get to make that next jump."

The Raptors are tied with the Golden State Warriors entering Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday (9 p.m. ET, ABC).

"More hurt," DeRozan said of his feelings about the trade, "because, you know, being invested from 19 to -- I was what, 28? Everything you learned was from there. Everything you gained was from there.

"So for that to be gone like that, when you least expect it, it just throws you off guard. You know, we human at the end of the day, and it definitely hits you."

That doesn't mean, however, that DeRozan has hard feelings. He is rooting for Kyle Lowry, whom he calls his "best friend," to take home the league's ultimate prize.

"I'm rooting for my best friend to do well, to accomplish something that we tried to do all the years, and he has the opportunity to do it," DeRozan said. "All the guys on that team, they know I'm rooting for them."

DeRozan averaged 21.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his first season with the Spurs, who were eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs by the Denver Nuggets.

A 12-strong British team has been named for the European competition at the Highgate Harriers Night of the 10,000m PBs

A British team of 12 athletes, including European 5000m silver medallist Eilish McColgan and fifth-placer Marc Scott, has been selected for the European 10,000m Cup at Parliament Hill in London on July 6.

McColgan leads the team having run 14:52.40 for 5000m at the Stockholm Diamond League last week and she will chase another qualifying mark for this year’s IAAF World Championships, this time over 10,000m, in London.

Like McColgan, Scott is also looking to add a 10,000m qualifying standard to the 5000m mark he already has.

The European 10,000m Cup will again be incorporated into the successful Highgate Harriers Night of the 10,000m PBs, which also acts at the British Championships and trial for the IAAF World Championships in Doha.

McColgan and Scott will be joined by their fellow European Championships team-mate Alice Wright, who placed sixth in the 10,000m in Berlin and recently lowered her half-marathon personal best to 71:37.

Also on the team is Dewi Griffiths, who earned selection for the British marathon team for Doha at the London Marathon in April.

Charlotte Arter and Ben Connor have gained GB team places for the European 10,000m Cup for the second year running, with Arter having claimed bronze in a PB of 32:15.71.

Jess Piasecki and Adam Hickey will both pull on the British vest again this year having competed at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March, with Nick Goolab, who was third at the Vitality London 10,000 last month, and Matt Leach completing the six-strong men’s team.

Vancouver-based Sarah Inglis, in her senior British debut, and Verity Ockenden, who first raced at Parliament Hill in 2017, complete the six-strong women’s team.

With six women and six men selected, Britain will race for team medals in both events at the European 10,000m Cup, which will be integrated into the A races at Parliament Hill.

Team leader Mark Pollard said: “We are delighted to have announced such a strong team for the European 10,000m Cup in London next month.

“Incorporated into the Night of 10,000m PBs once again, the European 10,000m Cup is a standout event on the calendar and a significant marker in an important year for all of the athletes selected. We will be looking to achieve the highest possible placing in both the men’s and women’s team standings and are confident that the athletes selected can deliver successful results.”

British team

MEN
Ben Connor
Nick Goolab
Dewi Griffiths
Adam Hickey
Matt Leach
Marc Scott

WOMEN
Charlotte Arter
Sarah Inglis
Eilish McColgan
Verity Ockenden
Jess Piasecki
Alice Wright

INDUSTRY, Calif. – Austin Novratil, 24, won the AMA Speedway bike 500cc season-opener at Industry Speedway last Wednesday in front of more than 1,300 spectators.

The first of 14 speedway race nights took place on the eighth-mile dirt track in the Grand Arena at the Industry Hills Expo Center.

It kicked off the 16th consecutive season of racing at the popular Los Angeles County venue in the eastern San Gabriel Valley.

The fifth annual Connor Penhall Memorial Cup again opened the Industry season. Novratil, from Huntington Beach, became only the second rider to win the prestigious Penhall Cup. He rode his usual No. 7 Jawa frame with a Marcel Gerhard-designed GTR engine manufactured by Gerhard Engine Co. & Suter Racing Technology in Switzerland.

The Penhall Memorial event honors the memory of speedway racer Connor Penhall. He was killed at age 21 in April of 2012 while working as a sub-contractor for Cal Trans on an I-10 Freeway construction project near the 605 Freeway. The drunk driver who drove through barriers and hit Penhall was an illegal alien from Japan. He was convicted of second degree murder and given a 15-year sentence and confined at Norco State Prison.

Bruce Penhall, 62-year old father of Connor and 1981-82 Speedway World Champion, and his family began the Penhall Memorial Cup to keep the memory of Connor alive. They also hope to spread the message against impaired driving. Bruce, his entire family, and numerous guests were present as usual. Bruce presented the coveted first place award—a specially painted Troy Lee Designs helmet in a see-through plastic case—to Novratil during post-race ceremonies in the infield.

Top three riders in the 500cc D-1 and top three 250cc and 150cc junior division riders received their awards and posed on the podium with Penhall. It was the first time the distinctive Penhall Memorial Cup helmet trophy did not go home with nine-time AMA National Speedway Champion and five-time California AMA Speedway Champion Billy Janniro, 38, from northern California.

The Grand Marshal was versatile motorsports champion and 1999 Indianapolis 500 second-place finisher Jeff Ward. The long-time Penhall family friend was a motocross mentor to young Connor at the request of his dad Bruce. Born in Scotland, Ward came to the United States at age 4.

He is a nine-time AMA motocross champion, two-time AMA supercross champion, AMA flat track racer, Indy car driver from 1996-2005, NASCAR Cup driver in 1998, off-road truck racer, X-Games gold medal winner, Red Bull Rally Series and stadium truck racing driver. He is currently racing at age 57 in AMA Flat Track 450cc singles series TT events on a KTM.

Also present was Greg Hancock, a four-time World Speedway Champion. Hancock, 48, is another long-time friend of the Penhall family and Industry Speedway promoter Kelly Inman. Hancock’s son Wilbur, 14, raced in the Junior 250cc division. Greg will not be racing in Europe this year. He will remain in So Cal to support his wife Jennie who is battling a serious illness.

CARMEL, Ind. – Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has announced the signing of teenage racer Gray Leadbetter to campaign the Oil2Soil-sponsored DRR ARX2 Rallycross car this year in the nine-race American Rallycross Championship ARX2 Series.

Leadbetter, 14, has already experienced a well-rounded motorsports career which has included two-wheel and four-wheel competition despite her young age. Her racing experience started with a 50cc motorcycle at age three, but since then, Leadbetter has gone on to win back-to-back regional amateur Arenacross championships and an international karting title, as well as compete in UTV off-road racing and Mini-Outlaw sprints.

Trained by 2004 Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Rice, Leadbetter has also recently tested a Dodge Hellcat, Dodge Viper, Formula Mazda, ARX2 Rallycross car, RX2 Rallycross car in Europe as well as a late model at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Leadbetter’s accomplishments also include being the youngest driver in the FlatOut and Dirt Fish Rally events, as well as a participant in the 2018 Winter Subaru driving event in Wisconsin. She was also the recipient of the 2018 Pippa Mann Scholarship that rewarded her with a chance to participate in the Lucas Oil School of Racing.

“Gray’s inner drive to be the best every time she gets behind the wheel can’t be taught,” said Rice, the technical director for the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing ARX2 team. “She has the skill of drivers much older and the ability to drive a variety of vehicles competitively. I am looking forward to developing her abilities to be a champion in the next few years and expanding her talent into a long career in four-wheel racing.”

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing earlier announced two ARX2 entries in the 2019 ARX2 Rallycross season with young Cole Keatts in a full-time series ride as well as veteran Indy 500 driver Sage Karam in selected ARX2 competitions.

“We are very excited to add Gray to our ARX2 Rallycross driver lineup in 2019,” said Dennis Reinbold, the veteran team owner of the DRR organization which also includes two Indy 500 entries. “The DRR team recently tested Gray in one of our ARX2 cars and was extremely impressive, especially for her young age. But Gray’s vast racing experience in a variety of motorsports disciplines proves she is much more advanced as a driver for just being 14 years old. We look forward to have Gray develop her racing craft in the Oil2Soil DRR ARX2 car this year.”

“I am thrilled to join the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing ARX2 Rallycross team in 2019,” said Leadbetter. “I recently tested the DRR ARX2 car alongside some of my new teammates, and I feel like the car fits my driving style well. It’s gotten me even more excited to compete this season. I’m grateful for the opportunity that Dennis, Buddy and Oil2Soil are providing me, and I’m excited to work with seasoned veterans of the sport. I can’t wait to get to Mid-Ohio for the ARX2 season opener.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race scheduled for June 15 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, Conn., has been canceled and will not be replaced.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule will now consist of 12 championship points events.

The next event for the series will be at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 20.

There is a new driver at the top of the SPEED SPORT Power Rankings! Who sits atop our weekly rankings? Click below to find out.

WHEATLAND, Mo. – After an extended break, most of which was unplanned, Lucas Oil Speedway looks to get back to business on the race track this Saturday night.

“Now, if we can just get a little cooperation from Mother Nature,” Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said of the scheduled Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series event, the first action at the speedway since May 11.

TA/Petro along with KY3 Digital Presents the action, featuring the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models, Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds, O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks and the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods. The B-Mods will take center stage on with a 25-lap, $750 to win main event – plus a makeup feature to kick off the show, from a May 11 rainout just before the B-Mods hit the track.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7:05 p.m.

Since the last action at the speedway, there have been two weather-related cancellations plus a scheduled week off. Included was cancellation of the 27th annual Show-Me 100 after severe weather damaged the facility on May 20.

“We want to thank all our fans and race teams for their patience as we’ve made repairs and cleaned up storm debris,” Lorton said. “It will be good to get back to racing on Saturday night.”

Also back in action is the popular Go-Kart Track behind the main grandstand. It has been closed for improvements since early in the season.