Vortex Hammers miss out in Sussex

The Vortex Lakeside Hammers missed an opportunity to create some daylight between themselves and the chasing pack for the coverted fourth place play off spot, narrowly going down 49-41 at the Eastbourne Eagles.

After a convincing victory at The Raceway the preceeding night, expectations were high that the Essex based team would be able to capitalise on a number of absences from the Sussex based team.

Despite claiming 7 race wins and keeping the score to a four point decifit after heat 10, 4-2 heat advantages to the Eagles in heats 11 and 15 meant that the Hammers just missed out on salvaging an away point.

With an uncharacteristic off night for Hammers number one Peter Karlsson, Skipper Davey Watt led the way top scoring with 14 paid 15. Second strings Piotr Swiderski and Lewis Bridger both returned 9 points, with reserves Richard Lawson scoring 6 and guest Ashley Birks failing to score.

The Hammers remain in 4th place in the Elite League table, 3 points ahead of the Poole Pirates with both teams having raced 22 meetings.

Image: Heat 11: Watt (red) and Pedersen (white) – Lakeside Hammers vs Eastbourne Eagles – Sky Sports Elite League Speedway at Arena Essex Raceway, 09/08/13 – CREDIT: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO

Scores and heat results:

Eastbourne Eagles = 49

1. Bjarne Pedersen 2, 2, 1, 2, 3, 3 = 13
2. Stuart Robson (G) 1′, 1, 1′, 2′, 1′ = 6+4
3. Simon Gustafsson 3, 1′, 2, 1, 3, 1 = 11+1
4. Richie Worrall (G) 1, 2, 1′ = 4+1 –
5. Cameron Woodward R/R (SR 1, BP 1, SG 1, TL 0)
6. Nicolai Klindt (G) 2, 0, 0 = 2
7. Timo Lahti 1′, 3, 3, 3, 0, 0, 3 = 13+1

Lakeside Hammers = 41

1. Peter Karlsson 0, 0, 2, 1′ = 3+1
2. Piotr Swiderski 3, 3, 0, 3, 0, 0 = 9
3. Lewis Bridger 2, 3, Ex, 2, 2 = 9
4. Sebastian Ulamek R/R (AB 0, DW 2′, PS 3, LB 2)
5. Davey Watt 2, 3, 2′, 3, 2, 2 = 14+1
6. Ashley Birks (G) 0, 0, Ex = 0
7. Richard Lawson 3, 0, 0, 1, 1′, 1′ = 6+2

Heat Results

Heat 01: Swiderski, Pedersen, Robson, Karlsson Ret 3-3
Heat 02: Lawson, Klindt, Lahti, Birks 3-3 6-6
Heat 03: Gustafsson, Bridger, Worrall, Birks 4-2 10-8
Heat 04: Lahti, Watt, Robson, Lawson 4-2 14-10
Heat 05: Swiderski, Worrall, Gustafsson, Karlsson 3-3 17-13
Heat 06: Watt, Pedersen, Robson, Lawson 3-3 20-16
Heat 07: Bridger, Watt, Pedersen, Klindt 1-5 21-21
Heat 08: Lahti, Robson, Lawson, Swiderski 5-1 26-22
Heat 09: Watt, Gustafsson, Worrall 3-3 29-25
Heat 10: Swiderski, Pedersen, Robson, Bridger Ex 3-3 32-28
Heat 11: Lahti, Karlsson, Gustafsson, Swiderski 4-2 36-30
Heat 12: Gustafsson, Bridger, Lawson, Lahti 3-3 39-33
Heat 13: Pedersen, Watt, Karlsson, Lahti 3-3 42-36
Heat 14: Lahti, Bridger, Lawson, Klindt 3-3 45-39
Heat 15: Pedersen, Watt, Gustafsson, Swiderski 4-2 49-41