Post by admin on Apr 8, 2008 15:59:06 GMT 12
By David Crane, Cambridge Evening News ~ Monday 7th April 2008
Mildenhall 32 Birmingham 42 - Premier Trophy (abandoned after 12 heats)
A series of horrific first-bend pile-ups ultimately forced the early abandon-ment of Mildenhall's second home meeting of the season, with three riders ruled out through injury. The heat 13 smash was the worst of the lot. Birmingham's Jack Hargreaves forced the rest of the field wide on the first turn, giving them little room, and the trio collided in a spectacular pile up. Kaj Laukkanen walked away dazed, but his team-mate Casper Wortmann and Brummies star Phil Morris left the circuit on stretchers. Wortman faces a long lay-off after breaking his pelvis and thigh, and was due to have surgery today, while Morris was treated for rib and wrist injuries.
That followed a heat-12 crash when visiting skipper Jason Lyons had to withdraw after three straight wins on his West Row return when he was caught in the crossfire of Mark Baseby and Lee Smart's collision, which again was the result of Hargreaves' wide opening turn. In fact, that manoeuvre from Hargreaves had caused two earlier falls as well. Baseby and Smart were again the victims in heat two and, six races later, home guest Barrie Evans caught the brunt of Hargreaves' back-wheel and made his thoughts known after confronting the 18 year old.
It all marred an improved performance from the Fen Tigers who had led Birmingham for the first three races, with Laukkanen and Evans teaming up for a morale-boosting opening-heat points maximum. Baseby was the most impressive rider on show for the home side. After collecting five points from his first two races, he beat Morris for a second race win in heat nine and shoved aside team-mate Wortmann to add a second in his fifth ride. Graham Drury's outfit grabbed the lead with a 5-1 in heat four and another from ex-Mildenhall men Lyons and Adam Roynon in heat seven put them six points ahead. A third max three races later from the same pairing put them into a commanding advantage that they always looked comfortable of holding.
Mildenhall
Baseby 10 (6 rides), Graversen 8 (4), Laukkanen 7 (3), Evans 3+2 (5), Cockle 3 (3), Wortmann 1 (3).
Birmingham
Smart 9+2 (6), Morris 9+1 (4), Lyons 9 (3), Roynon 6+2 (4), Hargreaves 6+1 (4), Roberts 3 (3.
Mildenhall 32 Birmingham 42 - Premier Trophy (abandoned after 12 heats)
A series of horrific first-bend pile-ups ultimately forced the early abandon-ment of Mildenhall's second home meeting of the season, with three riders ruled out through injury. The heat 13 smash was the worst of the lot. Birmingham's Jack Hargreaves forced the rest of the field wide on the first turn, giving them little room, and the trio collided in a spectacular pile up. Kaj Laukkanen walked away dazed, but his team-mate Casper Wortmann and Brummies star Phil Morris left the circuit on stretchers. Wortman faces a long lay-off after breaking his pelvis and thigh, and was due to have surgery today, while Morris was treated for rib and wrist injuries.
That followed a heat-12 crash when visiting skipper Jason Lyons had to withdraw after three straight wins on his West Row return when he was caught in the crossfire of Mark Baseby and Lee Smart's collision, which again was the result of Hargreaves' wide opening turn. In fact, that manoeuvre from Hargreaves had caused two earlier falls as well. Baseby and Smart were again the victims in heat two and, six races later, home guest Barrie Evans caught the brunt of Hargreaves' back-wheel and made his thoughts known after confronting the 18 year old.
It all marred an improved performance from the Fen Tigers who had led Birmingham for the first three races, with Laukkanen and Evans teaming up for a morale-boosting opening-heat points maximum. Baseby was the most impressive rider on show for the home side. After collecting five points from his first two races, he beat Morris for a second race win in heat nine and shoved aside team-mate Wortmann to add a second in his fifth ride. Graham Drury's outfit grabbed the lead with a 5-1 in heat four and another from ex-Mildenhall men Lyons and Adam Roynon in heat seven put them six points ahead. A third max three races later from the same pairing put them into a commanding advantage that they always looked comfortable of holding.
Mildenhall
Baseby 10 (6 rides), Graversen 8 (4), Laukkanen 7 (3), Evans 3+2 (5), Cockle 3 (3), Wortmann 1 (3).
Birmingham
Smart 9+2 (6), Morris 9+1 (4), Lyons 9 (3), Roynon 6+2 (4), Hargreaves 6+1 (4), Roberts 3 (3.