SPEEDWAY POSTPONEMENT TUESDAY AUGUST 8:
CHALLENGE
Isle of Wight v Reading NL Select - OFF
(SPEEDWAY 1)
WOLVERHAMPTON withstood a late Poole fightback to leave the Pirates point-less from Monday’s SGB Premiership clash at Monmore Green.
The home side opened up a convincing 37-23 lead thanks to back-to-back 5-1s in Heats 9 and 10, only for Poole to respond with an 8-1 from Timo Lahti and Hans Andersen in the next.
When Rory Schlein crashed out of Heat 12, the visitors collected a 5-1 to cut the gap to three points.
That margin was maintained across the next two races with Fredrik Lindgren re-passing Hans Andersen in Heat 13 and Jacob Thorssell making it from the outside in the next to keep the home side ahead.
And then Lindgren and Thorssell combined for a 5-1 in Heat 15 to wrap up a 50-43 victory, moving Wolves to within one point of second-placed Belle Vue.
Thorssell racked up 16+1 from six rides as the hosts covered for the injury absence of Sam Masters, with Lindgren on 12+1 and Kyle Howarth on 10+1, whilst Lahti (11+1) and Paul Starke (10) were in double figures for the Pirates.
Lindgren said: “It looked good for us early on but Poole had to rely on the black and white to get themselves back in it again and they started to run us close.
“But me and Jacob managed to pull it off in the final three races and it was the perfect result for us in the end.
“To deny them a point could be so, so important because they're up there in the mix and it's getting so tight at the top.
“But we're delighted to add another win to the table and we got the bit of revenge we were after because we felt they were very lucky to end our unbeaten home run when they came here a few weeks ago.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
SOMERSET moved into SGB Premiership play-off contention with a 47-43 away win from a last-heat decider at King’s Lynn.
The Rebels’ third victory on the road this season took them above the Stars, and they now trail fourth-placed Poole by six points but have two matches in hand.
Two vital 5-1s to the visitors in Heats 12 and 14, both involving former King’s Lynn rider Lewis Kerr, were instrumental in turning a tight contest in the Rebels’ favour.
It meant they led by four points going into the final race and captain Josh Grajczonek completed the victory by heading home Robert Lambert and Thomas Jorgensen.
Grajczonek dropped just one point on his way to 13+1 with Kerr contributing 12+1 at reserve, whilst Jorgensen led the way for the Stars with 12+1.
Somerset boss Garry May said: “The boys rode superbly, and although a couple of them had by their standards an off-night, others such as Cameron (Heeps) and Lewis stepped up to the plate in a big way, while Charles (Wright) and Patrick (Hougaard) came up with the big points at crucial stages of the match.”
“But what can you say about Josh, our Captain Fantastic! He was in absolutely stunning form, and it was fitting that he took the race win in Heat 15 that made sure we would be heading home with those three league points safely locked away.”
King’s Lynn’s Michael Palm Toft said: “It's not easy when you build a new team and we are all trying to settle in.
“We have lost the meeting but we put a proper shift in and we all tried our very best. There was some good racing, the track was good and fast and for me although I could have done better I didn't run a last and think I did alright.
“Hopefully we can get better and better as the next few weeks go on and we can pick up some more points.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
KENT set-up a National Trophy group decider at Eastbourne by securing a 55-34 win over Mildenhall at Central Park on Monday.
The scoreline exactly matched the Fen Tigers’ victory over the Kings in the reverse fixture, but Mildenhall’s point at Arlington earlier in the season means they still top the table.
It means Kent have to travel to the South coast when that fixture is arranged and avoid defeat, in order to qualify for the Final against Group 2 winners Plymouth.
Guest Ben Morley reeled off five wins for a 15-point maximum, whilst Ben Hopwood also carded 15, from six rides. Jon Armstrong topped the Fen Tigers’ scorechart with 10, gleaned from five second places.
(FIXTURES)
TUESDAY AUGUST 8:
CHALLENGE: Isle of Wight v Reading NDL Select OFF
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v King’s Lynn 7.30, Somerset v Wolverhampton 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Plymouth 7.30, Cradley v Isle of Wight 7.30 (at Birmingham)
THURSDAY AUGUST 10:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Poole v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield v Workington 7.30
Results Monday August 7, 2017
SGB PREMIERSHIP
King’s Lynn 43 (Thomas Jorgensen 12+1)
Somerset 47 (Josh Grajczonek 13+1)
SGB Premiership points: King’s Lynn 0 Somerset 3
Wolverhampton 50 (Jacob Thorssell 16+1)
Poole 43 (Timo Lahti 11+1)
SGB Premiership points: Wolverhampton 3 Poole 0
NATIONAL TROPHY
Kent 55 (Ben Morley 15/Ben Hopwood 15)
Mildenhall 34 (Jon Armstrong 10)
National Trophy points: Kent 3 Mildenhall 0
