Local Rivalry Resumed
The Lakeside Vortex Hammers hopes for Sky Sports Elite League Play Off qualification will have to withstand the pressure of a local derby this Friday, 9th August, at the Arena Essex Raceway as the Eastbourne Eagles visit.
Whilst the Eagles are not in contention for a top four finish they have strengthened their team with the addition of young Danish sensation Mikkel Michelson and clashes between the two teams are rarely without incident.
The Vortex Hammers make a change to their riding order on Friday with Polish rider Sebastian Ulamek and British International Lewis Bridger changing numbers on a busy night for the Pole who flies to Russia from Heathrow later in the evening for a round of the European Championship Finals. He, therefore, will miss Saturday’s return match at Eastbourne as do the Eagles Mikkel Michelson and Cameron Woodward. Michelsen will be at Berwick for Round Two of the World U-21 Finals whilst Woodward will be competing in Europe in a round of the World Longtrack Grand Prix.
Friday’s meeting will see the Vortex Hammers at full strength and the Eastbourne Eagles will be just missing their Czech Republic World Cup rider Lukas Dryml who remains injured. They will use the ‘Rider Replacement’ facility to cover his rides.
The two teams for Friday’s mach at the Arena Essex Raceway are (in alphabetical order):-
The Vortex Lakeside Hammers: Lewis Bridger, Kevin Doolan, Peter Karlsson, Richard Lawson, Piotr Swiderski, Sebastian Ulamek and Davey Watt (captain).
Eastbourne Lifestyle Eagles: Lukas Dryml (Rider Replacement), Simon Gustafsson, Limo Lahti, Mikkel Michelsen, Kim Nilsson, Bjarne Pedersen and Cameron Woodward (captain).
The action gets underway at the Arena Essex Raceway this Friday at the slightly earlier first race time of 7.45pm with the parade of riders scheduled for 7.35pm.
The ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme will be in operation for this meeting whereby children aged six to sixteen inclusive will pay just £1 to watch this important match. Normal adult and other concessionary ticket prices will apply. Tickets will be available on the night at the paybooths or can be purchased in advanced via the Club’s website at www.lakesidehammers.com