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Rye House SpeedwayOfficial WebpageHome Of the Rockets and Cobras Teams |
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Next Home Meeting: Date: Saturday 17th May Opposition: Somerset Competition: Premier League Time: 7pm
Next Away Meeting: Date: Wednesday 14thMay Opposition: Kings Lynn Competition:Premier League Time: 7.30pm
To See all fixtures then click here. Latest Results: Bank Holiday 5th May - Workington W 52-40 Sunday 4th May - Mildenhall W 56-36 Saturday 3rd May - Workington L 46-44
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So Near, So Far, at Workington Workington 46 Rye House 44 (Premier League, Saturday May 3rd) The “walking wounded” of the Silver Ski Rockets produced a tremendous overall performance to force a last heat decider against one of this year’s most fancied sides around their own circuit. Despite the absence of regulars Tommy Allen, Luke Bowen and Danny Betson, Rye shocked the Comets by taking an early 8 point advantage, and then rebounded from the home side’s subsequent fight-back to take the match to its final four laps. Daniel Nermark has been an 11 point rider for Workington so far this season, but Rockets guest Josh Grajczonek and Chris Neath left him trailing in the opening race. Although the Comets drew level with a similar performance in Heat 2, Tai Woffinden and Grajczonek put Rye back in front by finishing either side of Kauko Nieminen in the next race, Stefan Ekberg and Robert Mear swiftly added a 5-1 against Carl Stonehewer in Heat 5, and Grajczonek and Neath produced another 4-2, to take the Rye clear, at 19-11. It took the Comets some four races to pull level, at 27-27, and they then moved ahead with a 4-2 from Nermark and Barry Burchatt over Tai Woffinden and Robert Mear. A home maximum followed in Heat 11, as Stonehewer and Joe Haines outpaced Neath, to make the score 36-30. The Rockets were unable to reduce the deficit over the next two races, but finally achieved their aim in Heat 14, courtesy of a crucial 5-1 from Robert Mear and Stefan Ekberg, against Charles Wright and Haines to set up the finale. Alas for the visitors, their long distance haul to Cumbria was “rewarded” by a nominated race victory by Daniel Nermark, with Ekberg and Woffinden collecting to collect the minor places, to leave the Rockets tantalisingly close, yet ultimately just shy of a first away win of the new campaign. Fortunately, that was to change less than 24 hours later…. Rye House scorers: Chris Neath 4+1 (4 rides) Josh Grajzonek (guest) 9 (5) Tai Woffinden 10+1 (5) Tommy Allen R/R Stefan Ekberg 13+1 (6) Danny Halsey 0 (3) Robert Mear 8+3 (7) Gary Irving (No.8) dnr Workington scorers: Daniel Nermark 12 (5 rides) Barry Burchatt 1 (3) Kauko Nieminen 8 (5) Charles Wright 5+1 (4) Carl Stonehewer 8+1 (4) Joe Haines 7+1 (5) John Branney 5+1 (4) It’s There! First Away Win of the Year Mildenhall 35 Rye House 56 (Premier Trophy, Sunday May 5th) It’s a long way from Workington to Norfolk, but the Rockets’ long trek south (and east) was ultimately rewarding, as they eased home against the Fen Tigers to ensure second spot in their Premier Trophy group. With five different visitors winning races, the Rockets held the Fenmen to just three such successes and a single heat advantage. Tai Woffinden and Stefan Ekberg each dropped just one point, while Robert Mear contributed three wins en route to paid 13, and Danny Halsey added a super-solid paid 7 that included a victory in Heat 2. The Rockets were actually briefly behind, as a fall by Chris Neath and mechanical problems at the start line for Robert Mear, gave Mildenhall an early 7-5 lead. Woffinden’s first race win of the day, over Kaj Laukkanen, quickly brought the sides level, before a trio of 4-2s put the Rockets in command. Neath and Joe Haines delivered the first in Heat 5, swiftly followed by Stefan Ekberg and Danny Halsey - with the Swede taking Jan Graverson wide on the first bend and then chasing down Laukkanen and snagging the win on the very last bend. The hat-trick was completed when Woffinden surged past Robbie Kessler, with Robert Mear third, in Heat 7. Mear then moved to centre stage himself by edging Jari Makinen on the line to win Heat 8, and then partnering Woffinden to the Heat 10 5-1 over Kessler and Graverson that made the score 35-25. He appeared yet again in the next race, following a tapes exclusion for Chris Neath, and promptly headed home the Tactically nominated Kessler to ensure the Rockets protected their ten point advantage with a 4-4. The Rockets’ win was ultimately cemented two races later as both Graverson (for a fall) and Kessler (for not being under power at the time of the stoppage) were excluded, to leave Ekberg and Neath to go through the formality of a 5-0. The Swede went on to win the final two races as well, with Robert Mear contributing third spot in Heat 14 and Tai Woffinden tucking in ahead of Laukkanen and Kessler for the nominated race 5-1 that closed out the proceedings. Rye House scorers: Chris Neath 5+1 (4 rides) Joe Haines (guest) 4 (5) Tai Woffinden 12+2 (5) Tommy Allen R/R Stefan Ekberg 17 (6) Danny Halsey 6+1 (5) Robert Mear 12+1 (7) Mildenhall scorers: Casper Wortmann R/R Jan Graverson 4+1 (5 rides) Kaj Laukkanen 12 (6) Henning Loof 4 (5) Robbie Kessler 6 (4) Matt Wright 1+1 (3) Jari Makinen 4 (5) Rockets Win Out in Bank Holiday Scorcher Rye House 52 Workington 40 (Premier League, Monday May 5th) It was hot, dusty and the start was delayed due to the late arrival of the ambulance, but the action served up was well worth waiting for. The Silver Ski Rockets ultimately gained revenge for Saturday’s squeeker at Derwent Park, although the final score certainly belied the intensity of the racing. It took another monster haul from Robert Mear – still desperately searching for sponsors; help, anyone? – and key points from Tai Woffinden and Stefan Ekberg to see the Rockets home against a Workington side that eventually proved too reliant on Kauko Nieminen, and which lost Daniel Nermark to a suspected fractured thumb after a Heat 11 tumble. The visitors showed early on that they definitely meant business, by taking an 11-7 lead after three races. Nermark won the opener in the second fastest time of the season at Hoddesdon (57.1 secs), with Barry Burchatt following him home ahead of Luke Bowen (who was clearly riding through the pain barrier with a strapped up shoulder) and an under-powered Chris Neath. Although Mear won Heat 2, Joe Haines and John Branney squeezed out Danny Halsey for the minor placings, while Nieminen headed home Woffinden and Ekberg in the following race. Heat 4 was something special, with Ekberg surging round former double League Riders Champion Carl Stonehewer on the back straight to claim victory, and Mear charging around John Branney and Stonehewer over the next two laps to join his partner for a 5-1. If that race was special, the next was sensational, as Mear once again left it late before driving inside Burchatt for second spot behind Woffinden. The Rockets’ second straight maximum gave them the lead, at 17-13. More mechanical misery for race leader Chris Neath gifted the Comets a 5-1 of their own in Heat 6, but Rye went back in front in Heat 8, after Burchatt fell battling Mear for the lead, to produce an awarded 4-2. Mear – yes, him again – and Woffinden took the Rockets’ advantage to 6 points by easing home against Carl Stonehewer in the next race, while Neath’s afternoon finally took a turn for the better with a win over the previously unbeaten Nieminen in Heat 10. Luke Bowen’s third place point made it 34-26. Daniels Halsey and Nermark gave and took no quarter from each other in Heat 11, both going down in the resultant tangle, with the Swede excluded and injured in the process. Stefan Ekberg won the re-run, with Halsey just holding off Burchatt for the 5-1 that took the score to 39-27. Any remaining Workington thoughts of a comeback ended when Tai Woffinden came through to win against the Tactically nominated Nieminen in the next race. The Rockets went on to cement their victory with further wins from Ekberg and Mear, before Stonehewer brought the curtain down on a fine match by holding off the British U-21 Champion in the finale. Rye House scorers: Chris Neath 4 (4 rides) Luke Bowen 4 (4) Tai Woffinden 13 (5) Tommy Allen R/R Stefan Ekberg 12+1 (5) Danny Halsey 3+2 (4) Robert Mear 16+3 (7) Lee Strudwick (No.8) dnr Workington scorers: Daniel Nermark 3 (3 rides) Barry Burchatt 4+1 (4) Kauko Nieminen 13 (5 rides, inc 4 as a TR) Charles Wright 0 (3) Carl Stonehewer 10 (5) Joe Haines 8+1 (6) John Branney 2+2 (4) The Things They Said: John Sampford The Rye House team manager had the following to say about the Rockets’ three Bank Holiday Weekend fixtures: About Saturday’s Last Race Heartbreak in Cumbria “It was frustrating, for sure, to go eight points up early on, and then end up losing by two. The track leant itself to the situation where we were able to pull away early on because we had the better gate positions. Later on in the meeting, when the positions came round, the Comets came to the fore, pulled the points back and went in front. We managed to stay in it until Heat 14, where we got the 5-1 that took it to a last heat decider. Unfortunately, although we won the toss for that last race, and chose the best set of gates, Daniel Nermark popped out of the start, and was away. “I hope that at the very least it’s helped lay the perception of the Rockets having a “big track bogey” to rest. If the tracks are as good as Derwent Park was in the sense of being smooth and well prepared, then I don’t see why we can’t get decent scores.” About Sunday’s Win at Mildenhall “It’s always a great feeling to get that first away win of the year. We rode really well, and hopefully the result will set us up for a few more on the road. It was a strong all-round team effort, with race wins virtually all-round. The contributions from Stefan Ekberg and Tai Woffinden were immense. Stefan seems to have sorted the problems he had at the start of the season; he’s getting fit again, and he’s just flying. And Tai? Well, Tai was just Tai. “We got excellent points from reserve as well. Robert? Well, we expected no less from him; he’s been on fire, and the best reserve in the League. Danny contributed some good points, too. He’s gaining from the experience, and he’ll continue with his run in the side until Danny Betson is fit, which will be beneficial for him and the rest of the side.” About Monday’s Return Win Against Workington “We always new it was going to be hard, but it was even stiffer than we thought. It was another team effort that got us through, although I guess I have to single out Robert Mear for special praise. We’re running out of words to describe him – he was just brilliant, and fully deserves his move up into the team.” About This Friday’s Match at Somerset “It will be another hard venue, and a good team, to go to. They’ve given a few sides a good hiding already there this year, but I don’t see any reason why we can’t go there and perform well. It’s a pretty fair circuit – it certainly tests both man and machinery but it’s always a pretty fair one, and we all believe that we’ve got the riders to do it.” Scan Wait Nearly Over for Tommy Gun Tommy Allen is set to learn on Tuesday (May 6th) the result of the scan on his knee. Subject to that result, he will either ride the rest of the 2008 season with a leg brace and then undergo a post-season operation, or have that operation now, which would lead to him being sidelined for approximately three months. Danny Betson, meanwhile, remains sidelined with a hairline fracture of the left elbow, and Len Silver admitted during Saturday’s parade that he may be out “for another three or four weeks”, although the 19 year old remains determined to reduce that time-scale as far as possible. Mear to Move Up Under New Averages With the Rockets having now completed three home and three away fixtures with their trip to Workington, their new averages will start to kick in next weekend. Those for Chris Neath, Stefan Ekberg and Robert Mear will change for Saturday’s match against Edinburgh, while Tai Woffinden’s will change the following day. Injuries to Luke Bowen, Tommy Allen and Danny Betson leave theirs unaffected. The changes see Robert Mear move into the main body of the team, while Luke Bowen will drop down to reserve. Tai Woffinden and Chris Neath remain the top two heat leaders. The new averages, subject to final validation from the BSPA, are (with previous averages shown in brackets, where relevant): Tai Woffinden 9.38 (8.23), Chris Neath 7.29 (7.80), Stefan Ekberg 7.07 (7.30), Tommy Allen 6.53, Robert Mear 4.88 (3.00), Luke Bowen 3.96, Danny Betson 3.00. NB The above records exclude bonus points scored. Aldridge and Strudwick Shine as Cobras Halt Crusaders Rye House 59 Sittingbourne 33 (Conference League Knock-Out Cup, First Round, Saturday May 3rd) New Zealand newcomer Andrew Aldridge and Lee Strudwick were the biggest stars, as the Kart Raceway Cobras finally opened their season, after two early postponements, by building a healthy 26 point advantage to take to Kent for next Sunday’s second leg. Both riders went through the card unbeaten in six rides, and received solid support from Gary Cottham and 15 year old Richard Franklin. But for mechanical and other problems for Rob Smith and Terry Day, the winning margin could have been even higher. For Strudwick, it was a first ever maximum in Rye House colours, and the 19 year old is quickly showing that his recent British U-21 Final appearance is no flash-in-the pan. Aldridge, meanwhile, had a British team debut to remember, setting the 4th fastest time (57.8) seen at Rye House in any competitive race to that point this season, and delivering two of the races of the night with a never-say-die attitude that produced last gasp passes of Jerran Hart in Heats 12 and 15. At the other end of the scale, it took no less than four attempts to put Heat 2 to bed. An unsatisfactory start was followed by tapes exclusions, first for Alex Cunningham, and then Aaron Baseby, before Cottham and Franklin finally slammed home a 5-1. It was the first of no less than eight maximum advantages for the Cobras, who also finished with three straight. The Crusaders’ main resistance came from Jerran Hart and Dean Felton, who delivered an 8-1 when Hart was nominated as a Tactical Rider in Heat 7, and former Raider Harland Cook, who delivered a 5-1 with Felton over the hard-chasing Terry Day in Heat 11. The visitors were hit by the unavailability of Barry Burchatt (signed that week by Workington) and Mark Baseby, who failed a late fitness test on a knee injury. The Cobras were also missing key riders, however, with Danny Halsey away with the Rockets and Danny Betson sidelined with a hairline fracture of the left elbow. Rye House scorers: Rob Smith 7 (5 rides) Danny Betson R/R Andrew Aldridge 16+2 (6 rides, maximum) Lee Strudwick 16+2 (6 rides, maximum) Terry Day 3+1 (4) Richard Franklin 7+3 (5) Gary Cottham 10 (4) Nick Laurence (No.8) dnr Sittingbourne scorers: Dean Felton 6+2 (5 rides) Harland Cook 8 (6) Barry Burchatt R/R Jerran Hart 11 (6 rides, inc 6 as a TR) Daniel Berwick 2+1 (4) Alex Cunningham 1 (4) Aaron Baseby 5 +1 (6) Ricky Mullins (No.8) dnr Pocket Rockets Win Academy Opener The Pocket Rockets followed the Kart Raceway Cobras’ success by seeing off Poole in the Academy League on Saturday night. With the scores level at 9-9, a Jerran Hart’s fall while leading Heat 3 proved crucial, with Richard Franklin and Joe Jacobs going on to turn an initial 2-4 situation into a 5-1. A 4-2 from 14 year old Daniel Greenwood and Jacobs in the following race set the seal on the result, as Rye House went on to beat the Pirates Academy 21-15. Rye House scorers (all from 3 rides): Daniel Greenwood 5, Nick Laurence 5+2, Richard Franklin 8, Joe Jacobs 3+1. Poole scorers (all from 3 rides): Jerran Hart 6, Ricky Mullins 1, Scott Campos 5+1, Alex Cunningham 3+1. Rye on the Road The Silver Ski Rockets go back on the road this Friday (May 9th), when they head to Somerset for their second away League match of the campaign. The Rebels return the favour the following week, when they visit Hoddesdon on Saturday, May 17th. The Kart Raceway Cobras have their first away match of the year on Sunday (May 11th). Their journey is slightly shorter, as they travel to Kent for the return match of their Conference League Knock-Out Cup tie against Sittingbourne. The start time at the Old Gun Site is 12 noon. Next in Town: Edinburgh The Rockets return to home turf this Saturday (May 10th) as the race for the Premier League gold truly hots up with the visit of Edinburgh. The Monarchs are undoubtedly the early pace-setters in the new season: they have qualified for the Semi-Finals of the Premier Trophy, made it through to the last eight in the Knock-Out Cup and already gained an away draw in the League at King’s Lynn. That record includes just a solitary defeat – a 48-45 last race decider at Workington – which is more than balanced by wins at Newcastle and Glasgow (to the tune of 58-34!) in the Trophy, a home-and-away Cup double against Berwick and the afore-mentioned draw at the Norfolk Arena. The team that has achieved that remarkable record started the year without a rider above an 8.00 average but clearly based around scope for improvement, and it has already delivered that objective. The starting heat leaders are American ace (and former Belle Vue ace) Ryan Fisher, the quietly developing Derek Sneddon (who is the “veteran” of the side at 25!) and 6th year Monarch Matthew Wethers (who is the only survivor from Edinburgh’s League title of 2003). The middle order is made up of British U-21 star William Lawson and Thomas Jonasson. If you are not yet familiar with the 20 year old Swede, we can tell you that he placed 6th in last season’s World U-21 Championship and is already looking likely to meet his 7.00 assessed average. Finally, the reserves are Andrew Tully and Aussie newcomer Aaron Summers. It all adds up to the one of the Rocckets’ toughest matches in the defence of their Premier League Championship. Forthcoming Fixtures at Rye House Saturday, May 10th Rockets vs Edinburgh (Premier League) 7.00pm Saturday, May 17th Rockets vs Somerset (Premier League) 7.00pm Saturday, May 24th Cobras vs Redcar (Conference League) 7.00pm Monday, May 26th Rockets vs Berwick (Premier League) 2.00pm |
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