Tate Tigers take home the trophy!
The Tate Tigers were the winners of the annual Julie Lewis memorial meeting after an evening of close, exciting racing at the Media Prima Arena. The 3 man team of Elliot Kelly, Zach Cook and Kasper Andersen proved too consistent for their opposition throughout the second half of the meeting.
The final was a topsy turvy affair as the Australian duo of Josh MacDonald and Jake Allen gated on a maximum which would have secured the title for the pair and their reserve Greg Blair. Nevertheless, the pairing of Andersen and Cook passed Josh MacDonald to take the 5-4 win for the Tate Tigers.
The first half of the meeting saw some close racing throughout with Kyle Bickley totalling an impressive 11 points to top the standings. Jade Mudgway, dusting off the kevlars for one night only claimed second in his opener behind Jason Edwards. Heat 4 saw a small slice of Redcar 2021 history as Ryan Kinsley took his first win at the Media Prima Arena, much to the delight of the crowd. Zach Cook rode brilliantly throughout the first half of the meeting to score 9 points from his 4 rides whilst the impressive Josh MacDonald scored 8 points in the qualifier. Redcar’s very own James Sarjeant looked set to take the crown of the highest qualifier but after 3 wins from his opening 3 the Yorkshireman was forced to withdraw.
The main event of the evening saw close racing throughout with Lewis Kerr hitting an impressive 16 point maximum (4 points for a win) from his 4 outings but the GB international lacked support from an improving Kinsley and Mudgway with the Hodgson Hawks missing out on the grand final on countback. Charles Wright continued his recent impressive home from with 15 points from his 4 races but with his teammates Edwards and Jordan Jenkins only scoring 2 points between them they failed to make it to the final.
The main man in qualifying, Kyle Bickley struggled to recapture his early form as he only scored 3 points in the main event as the Shaw Sharks propped up the table.
Over the 10 heat main event the Simpson Stars came first with 21 points as Josh MacDonald again scored 8 points to back up Jake Allen who scored 13 and was named rider of the night for his efforts. The Stars were joined in the final by the Tate Tigers who hit 20 points in the main event but with Andersen and Cook proving just too competitive in the final they took the crown.
Andersen was understandably delighted with his efforts, “I think I’ve proved over the course of the season that I can mix it with the best at Championship level this season and tonight we rode well as a team. I was always looking for my teammate in the final and we are happy to come out on top.”
The Qualifier
1. Zach Cook = 9
2. Josh MacDonald = 8
3. Max Clegg = 3
4. Kyle Bickley = 11
5. Jordan Jenkins = 4
6. Jade Mudgway = 4
7. Elliot Kelly = 1
8. Jason Edwards = 8
9. Ryan Kinsley = 8
10. Luke Crang = 3
11. James Sarjeant = 9
12. Greg Blair = 4
13. Alex Goldsborough = 0
14. Kyran Lydan = 0
The main event
Lewis Lyons = 17
1. Charles Wright = 15
2. Jason Edwards = 2
3. Jordan Jenkins = 0
Simpson Stars = 21
1. Jake Allen = 13
2. Josh MacDonald = 8
3. Greg Blair = 0
Hodgson Hawks = 20
1. Lewis Kerr = 16
2. Ryan Kinsley = 2
3. Jade Mudgway = 2
Shaw Sharks = 12
1. Ty Proctor = 9
2. Kyle Bickley = 3
3. Luke Crang = 0
Tate Tigers = 20
1. Kasper Andersen = 13
2. Zach Cook= 7
3. Elliot Kelly = 0