|
Elite League B fixture : Wednesday 30th July 2008 @ 8pm
|
The Hammers kept the momentum going in the crucial run in to play-off qualification with this comprehensive victory over Coventry.
Inspired by a superlative maximum from number one Andreas Jonsson, the Hammers were in dominant mood throughout and effectively had the meeting won at the halfway stage.
Despite the scoreline, there was plenty of excellent racing from both sides and the Hammers were made to work hard for their victory by the Bees, who weren't necessarily rewarded in the points stakes for their efforts.
Jonsson opened his catalogue of victories with a stunning first corner in the opening heat to round early pacesetter Oliver Allen. The story of the meeting was the same thereafter for the Swede, who combined slick gating skills with an excellent touch from the back - none more so that in heat ten when he moved from third to first in the space of one corner.
Coventry were underserved by the trio of Chris Harris, Simon Stead and Billy Janniro, all of whom failed to set the Arena Raceway alight. But equally, they had full value from Rory Schlein, some determined riding from Oliver Allen and arguably their finest performer in youngster Ben Barker, who produced two excellent race wins in heats eight and twelve - the latter over Adam Shields.
Schlein's success as a tactical rider in heat nine signalled the start of three Bees advantages in four heats and narrowed the scoreline slightly. It took an excellent ride from Ricky Kling to pass and hold off Harris in heat elevent to prevent a further advantage and provide further evidence that the young Swede is feeling far more confident on his home circuit these days.
A couple of excellent races closed the meeting, the sequence starting with Davidsson moving from third to first and Kling passing Janniro on the final lap of the penultimate race.
The final heat provided the platform for Jonsson to demonstrate his party piece as he stalked the fast-starting Schlein for three laps before cutting up the inside in sensational style to complete a full fifteen point maximum.
 Related Link: AJ inspires Hammers to victory : Match Statistics
| 
