Wolves snatch last heat win

The Vortex Lakeside Hammers suffered a disappointing loss, their first at The Raceway this season, as the Wolverhampton Wolves staged a dramatic comeback to snatch a 44-46 victory.

Unlike their usual early meeting domination, the Hammers found themselves four points down after the first two races.  In the opening heat, new GP star Jason Doyle, in for injured Hammers skipper Andreas Jonsson, laid his bike down quickly behind Freddie Lindgren after first bend bunching, which saw Wells excluded.  In the rerun, neither Nilsson or Doyle could find a way past the fast gating Wolves rider.

The impressive Lewis Blackbird led from the gate in the first reserves race, with Bates sneaking through past Ellis after he lifted on the second bend of lap 2. Guest Rory Schlein and Mikkel Bech brought the scores level in heat three with a dominant gate to tapes maximum for The Hammers.

Former Hammer Peter Karlsson, celebrating the record number of appearances for Wolves, took victory in heat 4, with Kennett finding his way past Blackbird on lap 2. Nilsson led from the tapes in the following race, with Bates and Wells keeping Ellis at the back.

Great team riding in the 6th heat from Kennett and Bech over Lindgren saw the Hammers two points up, a lead extended when Doyle and Schlein thwarted Karlsson to gain a big 5-1 for the Hammers in the following race.

Kennett scorched past both gating Wolves in the 8th for a shared heat, giving the Hammers a 6 point lead as they entered the second half of the meeting. Wolves hit back immediately, with Karlsson outgating Nilsson, whilst Ellis slid off on bend 3 of the second lap. A shared 9th, then saw the Hammers re-take the advantage as Blackbird was excluded in the 10th for collecting his team mate Thorsell in a first bend fall.  The resulting 5-1 extending the Hammers lead to eight.

Wright, in for the injured Boxhall, scored his first points of the night, finishing behind Blackbird in the second reserves race, as Ellis slid off in the same place on bend 3, the resulting 2-4 narrowing the Hammers lead to 6.

A shared heat 13, left the home team in a strong position, until the previously anonymous Musielak, joined the party, following Karlsson to stun the home crowd with a Wolves 5-1 over Bech and Kennett.

Karlsson returned to haunt the Hammers in the nominated race, teaming up with Lindgren to complete a second 5-1 over Nilsson and Schlein, and snatch victory for the away team.

The Hammers must re-group prior to their trip to Leicester on Saturday and ahead of the visit of the table topping Coventry Bees next Friday.

Scores and heat results:

Lakeside Hammers = 44

1. Jason Doyle (G) – 1*, 3, 2*, 0 = 6+2
2. Kim Nilsson – 2, 3, 2, 3, 1 = 11
3. Mikkel Bech – 2*, 2*, 1*, 1 = 6+3
4. Edward Kennett – 2, 3, 3, 0 = 8
5. Rory Schlein (G) – 3, 2*, 2, 3, 0 = 10+1
6. Adam Ellis – 1, 0, F, F = 1
7. James Wright (G) – 0, 0, 0, 2 = 2

Wolverhampton Wolves = 46

1. Freddie Lindgren – 3, 1, 3, 2, 2* = 11+1
2. Ricky Wells – FX, 1*, 1*, 0 = 2+2
3. Tobiasz Musielak – 0, 0, 2* = 2+1
4. Peter Karlsson – 3, 1, 3, 3, 3 = 13
5. Jacob Thorssell – 1, 0, 1 = 2
6. Lewis Blackbird – 3, 1, 2, FX, 3, 1* = 10+1
7. Josh Bates – 2*, 2, 1, 1 = 6+1

Wolves win the toss and defer to Heat 15. Lakeside take gates 1&3 in Heat 1

Heat Results

Heat 01: Lindgren, Nilsson, Doyle, Wells (FX) 59.1 – 3-3
Heat 02: Blackbird, Bates, Ellis, Wright 60.0 – 1-5; 4-8
Heat 03: Schlein, Bech, Thorssell, Musielak 59.5 – 5-1; 9-9
Heat 04: Karlsson, Kennett, Blackbird, Wright 59.8 – 2-4; 11-13
Heat 05: Nilsson, Bates, Wells, Ellis 59.4 – 3-3; 14-16
Heat 06: Kennett, Bech, Lindgren, Thorssell 59.2 – 5-1; 19-17
Heat 07: Doyle, Schlein, Karlsson, Musielak 59.5 – 5-1; 24-18
Heat 08: Kennett, Blackbird, Wells, Wright 59.3 – 3-3; 27-21
Heat 09: Karlsson, Nilsson, Bates, Ellis (F) 59.8 – 2-4; 29-25
Heat 10: Lindgren, Schlein, Bech, Wells 59.9 – 3-3; 32-28
Heat 11: Nilsson, Doyle, Thorssell, Blackbird (FX) 59.8 – 5-1; 37-29
Heat 12: Blackbird, Wright, Bates, Ellis (F) 60.9 – 2-4; 39-33
Heat 13: Schlein, Lindgren, Blackbird, Doyle 59.9 – 3-3; 42-36
Heat 14: Karlsson, Musielak, Bech, Kennett 59.7 – 1-5; 43-41
Heat 15: Karlsson, Lindgren, Nilsson, Schlein 60.3 – 1-5; 44-46

Courtesy of @speedwayupdates and @lakesidelive

Image: Kim Nilsson of Lakeside Hammers – Lakeside Hammers vs Kings Lynn Stars, Elite League Speedway at the Arena Essex Raceway: Rob Newell/TGSPHOTO