|
Elite League B Fixture : Friday 25th June 2010
|
This match didn't failed to disappoint with the usual hard fought clash between the Hammers and the Eagles entertaining the crowd on a summer's evening at the Arena Raceway.
The Hammers went into the meeting depleted, missing their high scoring Swede Jonas Davidsson who was injured the previous evening whilst riding in Poland. As such, Hammers missed far more than his six and a half point average would suggest and were severely limited in the firepower stakes as rider replacement provided small consolation for his absence.
What made the match equally interesting was the fact that both sides had team members off form. Hammers had the usually excellent Daniel Davidsson produce his worst home performance of the season whilst the Eagles had reserve Ricky Kling riding as a shadow of the rider who performed three weeks ago.
THe Hammers produced an electric start with Lee Richardson and Kauko Nieminen producing a stunning first corner in the opening race to head home Lukas Dryml and Matej Zagar.
There was more to come in the second, Stuart Robson and Paul Hurry pulling away from Kling and Chris Schramm to ensure their side made the perfect start as Robson drove inside Kling to take second place.
Zagar made amends for his opening duck by jetting from the start in the third race, taking an early lead with Eagles guest Jason Doyle. With Davidsson struggling at the back, rider replacement Robson produced a typically gutsy move to drive inside Doyle and prevent a quick Eagles riposte.
Zagar re-appeared in heat five and this this time headed a 5-1 with race partner Dryml, holding off Kauko Nieminen who had led a first attempted running of the heat before Davidsson tumbled out exiting the second corner. The next couple of heats were shared as the Eagles kept their four points touching distance and former Hammer Joonas Kylmakorpi turned on the style for the Eagles, leg trailing to victory in the sixth race. Robson's continued hard work was also rewarded with another maximum heat advantage at the turn, combining with Nieminen to thwart Dryml and Kling.
The early part of the second half of the meeting was primarily about Kylmakorpi, who revelled on the racing lines available on the well prepared circuit to produce a string of impressive victories to ensure his side kept within touching distance. The tenth race was particularly memorable as he stalked leader Richardson for three laps before driving past in stunning fashion to bring his side to back within four points.
That was how it remained until heat thirteen when the fast-trapping Shields continued his unbeaten run by teaming up with Richardson to score an important 5-1 over Zagar and Kylmakorpi. The vital advantage prevented the Eagles' from getting closer with two important races to come and restored faith that the third Elite League point could also be achieved.
That hope turned to reality despite Shields losing his unbeaten run to Doyle in the penultimate race as the final heat produced a fitting climax to a very entertaining meeting.
With the extra point up for grabs. Kylmakorpi trapped and took an early lead as Richardson, Shields and Zagar jostled for the important minor positions. Shields moved into second place and Richardson edged ahead of Zagar on the final turn as the Slovenian bit the Purfleet shale to ensure Hammers took the full three points quota.
 Related Link: Three more league points for the Hammers : Match Details
| 
