Wolves seen off by Vortex Hammers

June 21, 2013

The Vortex Hammers overcame a slow start against the Wolverhampton Wolves to run out winners by fourteen points and maintain their challenge for the Elite League play-offs.

That the meeting even went ahead was a testimony to the track staff as a downpour had left the track underwater at 6pm. All of the surface water was cleared from the track and the raceway made ready in time for the 8 o’clock start – and it was a start that saw the visitors take to conditions quicker.

The visitors won six of the first eight heats and trailed the home side by just two points at the turn despite fielding a depleted side with Grand Prix star Tai Woffinden absent. Despite this, their superior prowess at the starting gate saw them repeatedly hit the front with the home side unable to make significant in-roads once behind.

The turning point came in heat nine when Piotr Swiderski and Sebastian Ulamek teamed up for a 5-1 over Ludvig Lindgren and guest Ryan Fisher, who was deputising for Woffinden but endured a torrid night.

This was immediately followed by another 5-1 thanks for Peter Karlsson and Lewis Bridger over the previously unbeaten Adam Skornicki – and all of a sudden the Hammers had some breathing space. The ten point lead did afford Wolves the use of Fredrik Lindgren as a tactical ride in the next race but it was Hammers’ own guest Tyson Nelson who brought the house down when he led Lindgren for three laps. This was enough for Davey Watt to get comfortably in front and prevent the tactical ride from making the desired impact.

A brace of shared races followed as the Hammers closed out the win, leaving a top class final race for fans to enjoy as Swiderski and Karlsson both came from the back to defeat Lindgren and Skornicki.

Lakeside Hammers = 53
 1. Peter Karlsson - 2 , 3 , 2' , 1' , 1 = 9+2
 2. Lewis Bridger - 1' , 1 , 2 , 3 = 7+1
 3. Seb Ulamek - 0 , 1' , 3 , 3 = 7+1
 4. Piotr Swiderski - 2 , 2 , 2' , 3 , 3 = 12+1
 5. Davey Watt - 1' , 2 , 3 , 2 = 8+1
 6. Tyson Nelson - 3 , 0 , 1 , 1 = 5
 7. Kevin Doolan - 2' , 2 , 1' , 0 = 5+2

Wolverhampton Wolves = 39
 1. Freddie Lindgren - 3 , 3 , 4^ , 3 , 2 = 15
 2. Alex Davies - 0 , 0 , 0 = 0
 3. Rider Replacement
 4. Adam Skornicki - 3 , 3 , 1 , 2 , 2 , 0 = 11
 5. Ryan Fisher - 0 , X , 1 , 1 = 2
 6. Ludvig Lindgren - 1 , 1 , 2 , 0 , 0 , 1' = 5+1
 7. Jacob Thorssell - 0 , 3 , 3 , 0 , 0 , 0 = 6

Heat Results

Heat 01: F Lindgren, Karlsson, Bridger, Davies 3-3 58.90
 Heat 02: Nelson, Doolan, L Lindgren, Thorssell 5-1 8-4 60.90
 Heat 03: Skornicki, Swiderski, L Lindgren, Ulamek 2-4 10-8 59.50
 Heat 04: Thorssell, Doolan, Watt, Fisher 3-3 13-11 60.50
 Heat 05: F Lindgren, Swiderski, Ulamek, Davies 3-3 16-14 59.00
 Heat 06: Karlsson, L Lindgren, Bridger 4-2 20-16 59.40
 Heat 07: Skornicki, Watt, Fisher, Nelson 2-4 22-20 59.80
 Heat 08: Thorssell, Bridger, Doolan, Davies 3-3 25-23 60.20
 Heat 09: Ulamek, Swiderski, Fisher, L Lindgren 5-1 30-24 59.20
 Heat 10: Bridger, Karlsson, Skornicki, Thorssell 5-1 35-25 59.30
 Heat 11: Watt, F Lindgren - Tactical Ride, Nelson, Thorssell 4-4 39-29 59.20
 Heat 12: Ulamek, Skornicki, L Lindgren, Doolan 3-3 42-32 60.20
 Heat 13: F Lindgren, Watt, Karlsson, L Lindgren 3-3 45-35 59.70
 Heat 14: Swiderski, Skornicki, Nelson, Thorssell 4-2 49-37 59.90
 Heat 15: Swiderski, F Lindgren, Karlsson, Skornicki 4-2 53-39 59.60

Picture: Sebastian Ulamek in action (Rob Newell/TGSPHOTO)