Rampant Redcar roar to away win!
The Redcar “Agilia” Bears stormed to a superb 39-51 away win at Workington. The Bears led throughout the meeting as they picked up their first away win of the Cab Direct Championship season.
Antti Vuolas and Jye Etheridge both struck nine for the hosts whilst Charles Wright hit paid 13 for the Bears. Redcar were simply faster out of the gate throughout most of the meeting with the guests Jonatan Grahn and Paco Castagna both proving to be shrewd choices.
Redcar started in superb style with a maximum heat advantage as the Bears guest Jonatan Grahn took the win, and with Wright second, the visiting fans were in fine voice after the opening race.
The reserves race saw the Comets hit back as Jacob Hook won, and with the all-action Vinnie Foord in 3rd, the hosts reduced the arrears to two points at the GT Tyres Arena.
After Jye Etheridge won a shared heat three, the meeting was delayed due to a peculiar incident, with Comets reserve Vinnie Foord stuck in the toilets. After the former Poole man was rescued, he picked up a 3rd place in a shared race won by Danny King.
The BSN Series semi-finalists hammered home their early advantage in heat five as Wright and Grahn once again left the Comets in their wake for Redcar’s second 5-1 to give the Bears a six point advantage at a gloomy Northside.
After King made it back to back wins by holding off Fraser Bowes in a shared heat six, Redcar struck another blow to the hosts after Jason Edwards and Paco Castagna team rode superbly to send the large Bears support wild as Redcar stormed into a 10 point lead.
Heat eight saw Ace Pijper come to the party after a change of bikes as the Bears reserve won comfortably, and with the equally impressive Grahn in second, Redcar were a massive 14 points clear in search of their first away league win of the season.
Workington struck a much needed heat advantage in heat nine as Etheridge won, but with King passing Tate Zischke, Redcar remained a handsome 12 clear of the Comets. Heat 10 saw Workington breathe life into their chances as Bowes and Troy Batchelor exited the second bend in a 5-1 position, and with the Comets maintaining their position, they now only trailed by eight in Cumbria.
After Wright continued his serene run to win heat 11 in a Redcar 4-2 to re-establish the Bears 10 point lead, Workington boss James Denham played his tactical substitute in heat 12.
Tactical substitute Batchelor took the win, and with Zischke in a comfortable 2nd, we were set for an exciting finale in the search for Cab Direct Championship points. However, heat 13 saw Redcar edge towards the win as the superb King won, and with Wright forcing his way into 3rd despite losing his undefeated record, the “Agilia” Bears recorded their 6th heat advantage of the meeting.
Redcar secured the spoils in the penultimate heat as Castagna won, and with Pijper 3rd ahead of Foord, the Bears had earned a much deserved win.
The final race saw an incredible battle as Wright and Vuolas shared passes as Wright won, and with King 3rd, Redcar took a brilliant 39-51 win at the home of the Comets.
Workington Comets = 39
1. Troy Batchelor = 7+2
2. Fraser Bowes = 5
3. Tate Zischke = 3+1
4. Jye Etheridge = 9
5. Antti Vuolas = 9
6. Jacob Hook = 3
7. Vinnie Foord = 3+1
Redcar Bears = 51
1. Charles Wright = 12+1
2. Jonatan Grahn (G) = 8+2
3. Jason Edwards = 6
4. Paco Castagna = 6+2
5. Danny King = 12
6. Jody Scott = 3
7. Ace Pijper = 4