WIGHTLINK WARRIORS SLIP TO DEFEAT

ISLE OF WIGHT WIGHTLINK WARRIORS 43 - MILDENHALL 45.

Once again there was some terrific Motorcycle racing at the Smallbrook stadium as a weakened Warriors side let slip a ten point advantage against the newly formed East Anglian team. In all honesty it was a case of the home side losing valuable points, when it seemed like a win was very much in the bag. However, full credit to the visitors for being in the right place at the right time to snatch a win at the death having trailed from the first race.

That first race saw Darryl Ritchings post his normal opening win leaving James Shanes in his dust, Harly Freeman picking up the vital third place for a 4-2. The fast improving Charlie Southwick won heat 2 with rookie Jamie Sealey brought in to replace Ben Morley taking third,  having not ridden his motorcycle for over a year, this was some achievement.  Connor Coles became the first visitor over the line after a super outside blast past Ritchings, who was taking a rider replacement ride for the absent Ryan Ingram.

Shanes did likewise in heat 5 after the Warrior picked up some unexpected drive when well in front, allowing the visitors number one and his own team partner Southwick though. Henning Loof and Southwick then hit a comfortable 5 -1 to double the lead to 8 points at 19-11. Heat 6 was worth the admission money alone and proves that you don't always need the world’s superstars to provide great racing. Coles looked like he'd got the better of Ritchings once more, before an outside swoop by the Warriors number one, which saw him snatch victory by a tyres width. Freeman once again picking up third as the gap was stretched to 10.

Southwick won the seventh, but Sealey was a faller and the heat was awarded 3-3. The visiting team manager nominated Warriors Loof to go off of 15 metres in the eighth, it was a move that looked set to fail but, paid dividends as the German made up the difference within half a lap, but as the opponents slowed Loof ran out of space, taking g an awkward spill and being disqualified from the re-start. The rerun then saw the second Warrior Freeman fall on lap two, gifting the visitors a maximum 5-0, halving the 10 point gap in one go. 26 - 21.

Coles kept it at 5 by winning the ninth, from Southwick and Sealey, with Mildenhalls Pole Daniszewski coming to grief when well behind. Five became three when Shanes saw off Loof with Freeman coming to grief, the visitors took a 2-4 to make it 31-28. Ritchings won heat 11 by the preverbal mile, but Cossey and Rogers split the heat. 34 - 31.

Coles comfortably headed home Loof in the next, with Daniszewski taking third over Sealey who was feeling the effects of his previous spill and all of a sudden only one point separated the sides at 36-35. Heat 13 was a right palaver being re-run 3 times, first Daniszewski failed to beat the two minute allowance and was put back 15 metres by the referee, the when the home side looked good for a 5-1, Freeman came down and was excluded. Next Loof shot to the front, but Tigers Max Broadhurst took an alarming crash on turn two, badly damaging his hand and also being disqualified for doing so.  When the heat was finally run, Loof won at a canter from Daniszewski who was well beaten second. The 3-2 made it 39-37 with two heats to go.

Heat fourteen saw the home side with just one rider as Sealey was forced to withdraw. Southwick won at a canter, but Cossey and Rogers picked up the minor places to share the heat 3-3. 42 - 40. The final heat once again saw the home side with just one rider, Darryl Ritchings up against Coles and Shanes. The two big hitters, who had already won 5 races between them. Both the visitors made an electric start with Ritchings chasing, in what was a dynamic race he passed Shanes and then set after Coles, but as Coles blocked his pass, Shane’s nipped back pass to join his team mate up front.  The two then demonstrated the art of team riding to take not only a 5-1, but the match too by 43-45.  It was the only time they were to be in front, but what a time to do it.

SCORERS

Wightlink Warriors : Ritchings 14+1, Freeman 2, Southwick 16, Sealey 2. Loof 10+2.

Mildenhall Fen Tigers : Shanes 12+1, Broadhurst 2+1, Rogers 5+2, Cossey 9+1, Coles 14, Daniszewski 3.

Next week, the Smallbrook action sees the Thermohome NORA British 500cc final, with some really top riders including Connor Coles, James Shanes, Ben Morley, Darryl Ritchings etc, plus the vintage upright championship too. 7pm Start.

Ken Burnett

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