Ruthless Hammers

The Vortex Lakeside Hammers delivered a ruthless performance this evening with a 62-28 victory over a Swindon Robins side forced into replacements through injury.

The Hammers set their marker from the very start, dominating the opening three heats. Robins guest Max Fricke gated in the first race, before Nilsson moved through, followed by Jonsson with a majestic sweep around the 2nd bend to pass the young Aussie on the back straight.

Robins reserve Ben Morley jumped the first running of the reserves race, before Ashley Birks and Adam Ellis launched from the gate in the re-start, as Morley and Bates tangled, forcing the former Hammer to spin and fall.  Mikkel Bech continued his return to form, scorching from the gate in heat three, whilst Richard Lawson hunted down Zengota and passed through when the Polish rider picked up too much grip on the exit of bend 2.

Edward Kennett entered the Arena in the 4th heat, and was chased throughout by Zengota before taking the flag, whilst Birks and Bates traded places at the back before the Hammers reserve ground to a halt with engine failure.

After a delay due to floodlight issues, the action resumed with Nilsson delivering a near perfect gate, to keep ahead of the fast charging Fricke, whilst Ellis finished third ahead of Morley who took his second tumble of the evening.

With the Hammers 14 points up, Scott Nicholls was introduced as a tactical ride by the Robins, but he could do little to stop Kennett and Bech delivering another resounding maximum heat advantage.

Jonsson gated in the 7th, as Lawson battled with Morris for all four laps but was unable to take advantage. Birks had further bike issues in the 8th, but the Hammers team spirit showed as numerous riders tried to help solve the problems.  Nilsson got the better of Zengota in the following heat, after the Swindon pair had led from the gate, with Ellis keeping the Pole honest until bend 3 of the first lap.

The Robins finally took a heat victory in the 10th race, when Nicholls reached the first corner ahead of Bech. Lawson, at the back for the entire race, showed his perseverance sneaking 3rd from Fricke on the run in for the line. Heat 11 then saw the away team take their first maximum heat advantage, when Nicholls and Morris gated, despite the best efforts of Jonsson to pass throughout the race.

Adam Ellis and Ashley Birks took their second 5-1 in the re-run of the second reserves race, after Bates binned it exiting the 2nd bend in the first attempt. This scoreline was quickly followed by a further Jonsson / Lawson maximum heat advantage, with the Hammers captain showing again great speed in front.

Heat 14 saw a huge first bend from Kennett and Bech, sweeping Zengota out towards the fence, before the Hammers pair sped off for another 5-1.  The Hammers wrapped up the meeting in the nominated race, with Jonsson and Beck again gating ahead of Zengota and Nicholls, who was forced to retire after a tight back straight tussle.

Lakeside = 62

1. Andreas Jonsson 2′, 3, 1, 3, 3 = 12+1
2. Kim Nilsson 3, 3, 3, 0 = 9
3. Mikkel Bech 3, 2′, 2, 3, 2′ = 12+2
4. Edward Kennett 3, 3, 3, 2′ = 11+1
5. Richard Lawson 2′, 1, 1′, 2′ = 6+3
6. Adam Ellis 2′, 1, R, 1, 3 = 7+1
7. Ashley Birks 3, R, M, 2′ = 5+1

Swindon = 28

1. Scott Nicholls (G) 1, 1!, 3, 3, 1, R = 9
2. Max Fricke (G) 0, 2, 2, 0, 0 = 4
3. Nick Morris 1, 0, 2, 2′, 0 = 5+1
4. Grzegorz Zengota 0, 2, F, 2, 1, 1 = 6
5. Troy Batchelor R/R (GZ 0, NM 0, SN 3, MF 0 = 3)
6. Ben Morley (G) F, 0, 1′, 1 = 2+1
7. Josh Bates (G) 1, 1′, 0, Fx = 2+1

Swindon win toss take 1 and 3

Heat Results

Heat 01: Nilsson, Jonsson, Nicholls, Fricke 5-1 58.4
Heat 02: Re-run Birks, Ellis, Bates, Morley fell 5-1 10-2 60.4
Heat 03: Bech, Lawson, Morris, Zengota 5-1 15-3 60.1
Heat 04: Kennett, Zengota, Bates, Birks ret 3-3 18-6 59.9
Heat 05: Nilsson, Fricke, Ellis, Morley Frem 4-2 22-8 59.2
Heat 06: Kennett, Bech, NICHOLLS, Morris 5-1 27-9 59.3
Heat 07: Jonsson, Morris, Lawson, Zengota Fell 4-2 31-11 59.5
Heat 08: Kennett, Fricke, Morley, Ellis ret 3-3 34-14 59.8
Heat 09: Nilsson, Zengota, Ellis, Bates 4-2 38-16 59.1
Heat 10: Nicholls, Bech, Lawson, Fricke 3-3 41-19 59.3
Heat 11: Nicholls, Morris, Jonsson, Nilsson 1-5 42-24 59.7
Heat 12: Re-run Ellis, Birks, Morley 5-1 47-25 60.7
Heat 13: Jonsson, Lawson, Nicholls, Fricke 5-1 52-26 59.0
Heat 14: Bech, Kennett, Zengota, Morris 5-1 57-27 60.0
Heat 15: Jonsson, Bech, Zengota, Nicholls ret 5-1 62-28 59.6

Updates Courtesy of @lakesidelive and @Speedwayupdates

Image: Heat 8: Edward Kennett (red) and Lewis Kerr (yellow) – Lakeside Hammers vs Kings Lynn Stars, Elite League Speedway at the Arena Essex Raceway. CREDIT: Rob Newell/TGSPHOTO