Hammers back with a bang

The Lakeside Hammers kicked off their busiest programme of the year so far with this comfortable victory over Belle Vue.   Ably led by the dynamic duo of Peter Karlsson and Davey Watt, the home side were comfortably in front from the offset and maintained their advantage throughout to run out comprehensive winners.

The early heats were all Lakeside, with a run of heat advantages from heat two including three consecutive 5-1’s from heat four onwards.

Karlsson and Watt were in sparkling form and featured in the races that were by far the best of the night. Missing the start at the beginning of a tight heat twelve, Karlsson weighed up fast starting Patrick Hougaard before blasting past in spectacular fashion.

The race provided the momentum for the Hammers to assert their final stranglehold on proceeedings, particularly as Rory Schlien had been twarted in his tactical ride efforts just one heat earlier.

Watt was determined to join the spectacle and his patient, determined efforts to pass fellow Australian Schlein in heat thirteen were equally appreciated by the home faithful, who cheered his every move to pass around the pacy outside line.

The final race was the chance for both to shine and as Karlsson led from the gate, Watt mounted the boards again and was rewarded with a paid win, driving past Schlein to ensure the Hammers finished on a high.

Lakeside Hammers 57

1. Davey Watt 3 2' 3 2 2' = 12+2
 2. Kauko Nieminen R 3 3 0 = 6
 3. Peter Karlsson 3 3 1' 3 3 = 13+1
 4. Kim Nilsson 1 2' 2 1 = 6+1
 5. Jonas Davidsson 2' 2 3 0 = 7+1
 6. Justin Sedgmen 3 1' 1 3 = 8+1
 7. Robert Mear 1 3 1 R = 5

Belle Vue Aces 38

1. Rory Schlein 2 1 4! 1 1 = 9
 2. Mark Lemon 1' 0 2 0 = 3+1
 3. Patrick Hougaard 2 6! 2 2 0 = 12
 4. Ales Dryml 0 X 1' 2 = 3+1
 5. Artur Mroczka 0 R 3 3 = 6
 6. Renat Gafurov 2 1 R = 3
 7. Josh Grajczonek X 1 0 1' 0 = 2+1

Heat Results

Heat 01: Watt, Schlein, Lemon, Nieminen (ret) 3-3 (3-3) 58.6
 Heat 02: Sedgmen, Gafurov, Mear, Grajczonek (fell exc) 4-2 (7-5) 60.2
 Heat 03: Karlsson, Hougaard, Nilsson, Dryml 4-2 (11-7) 58.6
 Heat 04: Mear, Davidsson, Grajczonek, Mroczka 5-1 (16-8) 58.7
 Heat 05: Karlsson, Nilsson, Schlein, Lemon 5-1 (21-9) 58.5
 Heat 06: Nieminen, Watt, Gafurov, Mroczka (R) 5-1 (26-10) 59.7
 Heat 07: Hougaard (tactical ride), Davidsson, Sedgmen, Dryml (fell exc) 3-6 (29-16) 58.6
 Heat 08: Nieminen, Lemon, Mear, Grajczonek 4-2 (33-18) 59.7
 Heat 09: Mroczka, Nilsson, Karlsson, Gafurov (ret) 3-3 (36-21) 59.2
 Heat 10: Watt, Hougaard, Dryml, Nieminen 3-3 (39-24) 58.8
 Heat 11: Davidsson, Schlein (tactical ride), Sedgmen, Lemon 4-4 (43-28) 59.2
 Heat 12: Karlsson, Hougaard, Grajczonek, Mear (ret) 3-3 (46-31) 58.4
 Heat 13: Mroczka, Watt, Schlein, Davidsson 2-4 (48-35) 58.7
 Heat 14: Sedgmen, Dryml, Nilsson, Grajczonek 4-2 (52-37) 59.9
 Heat 15: Karlsson, Watt, Schlein, Hougaard 5-1 (57-38) 58.7