Classy Comets beat Bears

Workington produced a superb team performance to defeat the Redcar “Agilia” Bears 49-41 at the GT Tyres Arena. The Bears were more than a match for their hosts but lost Danny King to injury in heat 11 whilst also missing the skipper Charles Wright. Craig Cook top scored for the Comets with a faultless paid maximum (14+1) whilst Jonas Knudsen hit a fantastic paid 14 (12+2) for the Bears.

Cook began his perfect afternoon with an impressive win over Danny King who put Cook under calculated pressure but could not find a way past, but with Tate Zischke at the back, the heat was shared. The first heat advantage was struck by the Bears in heat 2 as Jake Mulford took a superb win, and with Ben Trigger holding off Celina Liebmann for 3rd, Redcar had the advantage by the seaside.

Heat 3 saw the hosts hit back with a 4-2 of their own as Antti Vuolas held off Connor Bailey for the heat win, and with Claus Vissing passing Jason Edwards for 3rd, the Comets drew level. The 4th race of an entertaining afternoon saw a great race unfold as Justin Sedgmen, the Redcar guest, found superb speed around the outside to pass Troy Batchelor on the run to the line, and with Trigger again holding off Liebmann for 3rd, the Bears once again edged in front.

The “Agilia” Bears then struck a superb 5-1 as Danny King and Jonas Knudsen left the Comets standing to hit a maximum heat advantage to send the Bears into a 6 point lead in Cumbria. However, Workington hit back with a maximum heat advantage of their own as Craig Cook took the win, and with Zischke passing both Sedgmen and Mulford, the Comets were back within 2 points of the Bears.

After a pair of shared heats in Cumbria, the hosts drew level with their second 4-2 heat advantage as the impressive Finn, Antti Vuolas defeated Sedgmen for the win, and with Vissing ahead of Mulford in 3rd, Redcar’s lead was now a distant memory with the scores level. The Comets then hit the front for the first time in the BSN Series clash with a superb 5-1 as Zischke and Cook combined to send the Comets fans wild.

Heat 11 saw a superb race with Knudsen, Batchelor and King all battling for the heat win until Sam McGurk lost control and wiped Danny King out with the race entering the final lap. The referee awarded the heat in favour of the former GP star Batchelor who was at the front at the time of the stoppage. However, the Bears promotion first concern was Danny King with the Brit looking to have avoided serious injury after clashing with both McGurk and the Workington fence.

After a shared heat 12 won by Vuolas, the Comets struck an important 4-2 in heat 13. Sedgmen initially cut back on Cook to take the lead but the skipper of the Comets rode the outside to take the win, and with Batchelor battling past a game Trigger, the Bears were 6 down in Cumbria.

Gavin Parr then brought the flying Dane, Jonas Knudsen as a tactical substitute with the decision paying huge dividends with the impressive looking number 2 taking the win, and with Edwards in 3rd, the Bears had yet another last heat decider! The final race of an exciting afternoon saw both Comets gate over Knudsen and Sedgmen to take the win, and the match with the Bears left rueing their bad luck with injuries.

Workington Comets = 49 (95)

1. Craig Cook = 14+1
2. Tate Zischke = 7+1
3. Antti Vuolas = 10
4. Claus Vissing = 4
5. Troy Batchelor = 11+1
6. Sam McGurk = 2
7. Celina Liebmann = 1+1

Redcar Bears = 41 (85)

1. Danny King = 6+1 (WITHDRAWN)
2. Jonas Knudsen = 12+2
3. Connor Bailey = 7
4. Jason Edwards = 2+1
5. Justin Sedgmen (G) = 8
6. Jake Mulford = 4+1
7. Ben Trigger = 2