Hammers back with a bang

The Hammers made a welcome return to action, and kept their play off hopes on track on Friday with this comfortable win over the Wolverhampton Wolves at the Arena-Essex Raceway. Magnificently led by former Wolves rider Peter Karlsson, who romped to a fifteen point maximum, the Hammers recovered from an opening race blip to piece together a consistent set of scores and hold the visitors’ tactical efforts.

Lindren, never the most popular of visitors to the Raceway, enjoyed a mixed bag in terms of success and took part in the race that drew arguably the biggest cheer of the night. Riding as a nominated tactical rider in heat eleven, he was passed on the inside of the second turn by Hammers reserve Justin Sedgmen who then continued to show the Swedish Grand Prix star a clean pair of heels as he crossed the finished line to huge shouts from the home faithful.

With Davey Watt and Kauko Nieminen preventing Wolves’ other tactical rider Robert Miskowiak from scoring a race earlier, it was very much a case of seeing out the rest of the meeting to ensure that all three Elite League points were claimed. Nieminen in particular had a good night, never making the best of starts as far as gating was concerned but certainly making amends during the first lap or so. This was evident on at least three occasions when he powered through from the back to claim a heat advantage for his team each time.

With Hammers’ reserve pairing scoring so well, it was always an uphill struggle for the visitors, who were dealt a blow when the previously unbeaten Tai Woffinden slid off in heat nine whilst dicing for position against the also unbeaten Karlsson. Nevertheless, full credit to the home side who embark on a short Olympic break before returning for a busy spell in August that is sure to spell out their 2012 Elite League destiny.

Hammers Promoter Jon Cook commented  “credit to the team for a great effort and to the track staff in providing a great circuit on another difficult weather day. PK was awesome and on any other day would have taken all the plaudits, though he shared them Friday with young Justin Sedgman whose heat 11 victory over the tactical riding Freddie Lindgren will live long in the memory of all those present”.

Picture credit: Peter Karlsson of Lakeside Hammers out on his own – Lakeside Hammers vs Wolverhampton Wolves – Sky Sports Elite League Speedway at Arena Essex Raceway, 20/07/12 – CREDIT: Ray Lawrence/TGSPHOTO

Lakeside Hammers 55

Davey Watt 1, 2, 3, 3 = 9
Robert Mear 0, 0, 1 = 1
Peter Karlsson 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15
Kim Nilsson 2′,2′,2′,1 = 7+3
Jonas Davidsson 1′,3, F, 0 = 4+1
Justin Sedgemen 2′,0, 3, 3 = 8+1
Kauko Nieminen 3, 2, 3, 2′, 1, 0 = 11+1

Wolverhampton Wolves 37

Fredrik Lindgren 2′,0, 4, 2, 2 = 10+1
Tyron Proctor 3, 1, 2, 1′,1′ = 8+2
Robert Miskowiak 1, 1′,R, 2 = 4+1
Ricky Wells 0, 2, 1, 2 = 5
Tai Woffinden 3, 3, X, 1′ = 7+1
Matej Kus 0, 1, 1, 0 = 2
Jacob Thorssell 1, 0, F, 0 = 1

Heat 1: Proctor, Lindgren, Watt, Mear (1-5) 59.3
Heat 2: Nieminen, Sedgmen, Thorsell, Kus (5-1) (6-6) 59.0
Heat 3: Karlsson, Nilsson, Miskowiak, Wells (5-1) (11-7) 58.9
Heat 4: Woffinden, Nieminen, Davidsson, Thorsell (3-3) (14-10) 59.3
Heat 5: Kalrsson, Nilsson, Proctor, Lindgren (fell) (5-1) (19-11) 58.2
Heat 6: Woffinden, Watt, Kus, Mear (2-4) (21-15) 58.9
Heat 7: Davidsson, Wells, Miskowiak, Sedgmen (3-3) (24-18) 59.0
Heat 8: Nieminen, Proctor, Mear, Thorsell (4-2) (28-20) 58.6
Heat 9: Karlsson, Nilsson, Kus, Woffinden (fell exc) (5-1) (33-21) 58.0
Heat 10: Watt, Nieminen, Wells, Miskowiak (tactical ride) (5-1) (38-22) 59.3
Heat 11: Sedgmen, Lindgren (tactical ride), Proctor, Davidsson (3-5) (41-27) 59.7
Heat 12: Karlsson, Miskowiak, Nieminen, Kus (4-2) (45-29) 59.4
Heat 13: Watt, Lindgren, Woffiden, Davidsson (3-3) (48-32) 58.6
Heat 14: Sedgmen, Wells, Nilsson, Thorsell (4-2) (52-34) 59.9
Heat 15: Karlsson, Lindgren, Proctor, Nieminen (3-3) (55-37) 58.7