Bears win in last heat decider
On a thrilling night at the Media Prima Arena, Redcar Ecco Finishing Supplies Bears got the 3-3 they needed in a last heat decider to beat a strong Workington side 45-44.
Praise must go to the track staff, and all 14 riders for giving it a go after a heavy rain shower around 5pm gave the track a good soaking. The Bears started off like a house and fire, and were eight points up after 3 heats. The Comets fought back well, and going into heat 8 were just two points behind before a heat 8 which had a bit of everything. In the first staging, Jordan Stewart jumped at the start and was disqualified from the re-run and was replaced by Mikkel B Andersen. Then Rene Bach fell awkwardly on the first bend and was also excluded, and indeed had to withdraw from the meeting after aggravating a shoulder injury. In the third staging, Rasmus Jensen then fell after a tough first bend in which he could feel a touch unlucky to be excluded. This left just MBA and Nike Lunna in the heat giving the Bears an unusual 5-0 heat advantage.
The Bears kept up the pressure, and after heat 10 had built up a commanding 13 point lead. Play-off chasing Workington had other ideas however, and fought back well to take the meeting into a last heat decider with just 1 point separating the sides. The very impressive Dan Bewley duly won the decider, but with Nike Lunna and skipper Ben Barker finishing second in third it ensured the Bears took the points!
It was a great home debut for the Finn Lunna, who joint top scored with 9+2 alongside Barker. Mikkel B Andersen also had a good night with 8+1. Wonderkid Dan Bewley top scored for the Comets with 14, with Proctor scoring 9. It was a thoroughly entertaining meeting by both sides, in front of a good sized crowd in Teesside.
Redcar Bears = 45
1. Ben Barker – 3, 2, 2′, 1, 1′ = 9+2
2. Nike Lunna – 1, 1′, 2′, 3, 2 = 9+2
3. Dimitri Berge – 3, Fx, 1, F = 4
4. Jonas B Andersen – 1, 1, 3, 0 = 5
5. Thomas Jorgensen – 2, 2, R, R = 4
6. Mikkel B Andersen – 2′, 0, 3, 1, 2 = 5+1
7. Jordan Sewart – 3, 1′, Ex, 2 = 6+1
Workington Comets = 44
1. Nicolai Klindt – EF, 2′, 3, 2′ = 7+2
2. Rasmus Jensen – 2, 3, Ex, 2 =7
3. Dan Bewley – 2, 3, 2, 1, 3, 3= 14
4. Mason Campton – 0, 1, R, 3 = 4
5. Ty Proctor – 3, 3, 0, 3, 0 = 9
6. Kyle Bickley – F, 0, TS, 1, 1 = 2
7. Rene Bach – 1, EF, Fx = 1 (WITHDRAWN)