Bears beat Lions to remain undefeated!
The Redcar “Agilia” Bears picked up another home win as they saw off a spirited challenge from Leicester to move second in the early SGB Championship table. Redcar’s heat leaders yet again hit double figures to rubberstamp their authority at the Ecco Arena.
Redcar again proved they are a different animal in 2022 as they started strong as they won the first 3 races to surge into a 12-6 advantage. Heat 3 saw the Bears engine room begin to fire as a partnership as Lewis Kerr and Kasper Andersen left Leciester’s guest Thomas Jorgensen trailing to register the first maximum heat advantage.
Leicester took the chequered flag for the first time in heat 4 as the impressive Richie Worrall defeated Erik Riss whilst a determined looking Anders Rowe passed Jordan Jenkins to reduce Redcar’s lead to 4.
Redcar’s lead was doubled in heat 5 as Kerr and Andersen combined for another maximum heat advantage but that only tells half the story! Andersen was gifted 2nd as Nick Morris (who tried to dive up the inside of Kerr on lap 3) suffered an engine failure on the last lap which let the Dane through for the paid win.
Charles Wright tried the outside in heat 6 but he could not find a way past Worrall but with Adam Roynon getting the better of Joe Thompson the Lions remained 8 behind. The 7th race saw Erik Riss dive up the inside of Jorgensen spectacularly to take the win on the line, the first of 2 wins he would take on a run to the line!
The Lions took their only maximum heat advantage in heat 8 as the former Bear Rowe took a strong win from the tapes whilst Connor Mountain held off Jenkins to cut Redcar’s lead to 4.
Lewis Kerr won heat 9 with Kasper Andersen in third to stretch Redcar’s stretched lead to 6 with the Kings Lynn Star passing Worrall on the 4th bend of lap 1 and with Andersen in third the Bears recorded their 4th heat advantage of the night.
Wright picked up his second win but the story was the battle for second as Adam Roynon first picked off Jorgensen up the inside and with Dan Thompson running wide this allowed the likeable Cumbrian through for a precious 5-1.
Heat 11 saw Riss dived up the inside of Morris on the fourth bend of the final lap for a photo finish on the line.
The aftermath would not of been out of place in Eastenders as the referee gave Riss the win with Morris incredulous about the decision. The Australian angrily stormed down to the start gate to remonstrate with the referee and undone the tapes in the process, clearly furious about the outcome.
Kerr’s undefeated run was ended by Worrall in heat 12 as the stand in Lions skipper held off a strong outside challenge from last week’s maximum man to bring Leicester within 8 with Rowe in 3rd.
Back to back shared heats followed with Andersen securing the 3 points for the Bears. The Dane pulled off another welcome win as Rowe tried to pass up the inside but to no avail. Heat 15 saw the race of the night as Worrall won comfortably but all of the action was happening behind him as Morris bounced off the boards several times to pass Kerr, only to be re-passed by the Kings Lynn man. Riss looked set to make an inside move stick on Morris only for a charged up Morris to claim third to send the Lions home with a point.
Redcar co-promoter Jamie Swales is happy with another home win, “We performed well again, our heat leaders are the best 3 riders in the league and I am so proud of them. Additionally, Kasper scored paid 10 and he is improving every week. When we have a full 1-7 firing at the same time we will be even harder to beat!”
Redcar Bears = 48
1. Charles Wright = 10
2. Adam Roynon = 3+1
3. Lewis Kerr = 13
4. Kasper Andersen = 8+2
5. Erik Riss = 9+1
6. Jason Edwards = 1
7. Jordam Jenkins = 4
Leicester Lions = 42
1. Nick Morris = 8
2. Connor Mountain = 5+3
3. Thomas Jorgensen (G) = 5
4. Dan Thompson = 3+2
5. Richie Worrall = 15
6. Anders Rowe = 8
7. Joe Thompson = 0