SHEFFIELD SPEEDWAY MATCH REPORTS 2022
SHEFFIELD 'Tigers' v BELLE VUE 'Aces'											Play Off Final			13th October
Ref: Christina Turnbull		01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	S/h	Tot+Bp
1. Jack Holder	8.61	2'					3				1			0		3		9+1
2. Lewis Kerr	4.71	3					0		3		3							9
3. Adam Ellis	6.89			x		fx				3			3					6
4. Kyle Howarth ©	5.42			2		3				0					0			5
5. Tobiasz Musielak	7.91				2			3				fx		3		2'		10+1
6. Justin Sedgmen	4.44		1'					1				1			3			6+1
7. Connor Mountain	4.51		2		1'				2'				0					5+2
Simon Stead		5	3	2	3	3	3	4	5	3	4	1	3	3	3	5
SHEFFIELD 'Tigers'		5	8	10	13	16	19	23	28	31	35	36	39	42	45	50	(39)	89
BELLE VUE 'Aces'		1	4	8	11	14	17	19	20	23	25	30	33	36	39	40	(51)	91
Mark Lemon		1	3	4	3	3	3	2	1	3	2	5	3	3	3	1
1. Brady Kurtz	8.24	fx				1'						3		1'		0		5+2
2. Charles Wright	6.42	-				-			-			-						(5+1)
3. Matej Zagar	7.20			1				2			0	2'	2					7+1
4. Tom Brennan	5.86			3		2		0			2				2			9
5. Robert Lambert	7.61				3		2			2				2		1		10
6. Norick Blödorn	5.45		3		0		1'		0	1'			1'		1'			7+4
7. Simon Lambert (g)	(4.76)	1	0		-				1						-			2
		01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	S/h
		61.31	61.06	61.88	60.63	awd	61.25	62.12	62.69	62.19	63.25	awd	62.82	63.25	63.88	63.38

We started the match 12 points down to the combination of Belle Vue plus Robert Lambert and Christina Turnbull who, if required to make a decision, always favoured the Manchester side. I was confident in turning them over until I discovered who the referee was.

This analysis was written after re-watching the tv coverage so has removed the heat-of-the-moment emotions. We should have realized right from the first bend that it was going to be one of those nights. Brady Kurtz (gate 4) cuts back under Lewis who is sent sprawling. A classic example of first bend bunching and it would have resulted in all-four-back with any other referee. Christina disqualifies Brady! Lewis and Jack take a maximum heat win with guest Simon Lambert hard on their heels. Norick traps from gate 1 in heat 2 but the Tigers share the heat ahead of Simon. Tom Brennan falls on the outside of Adam Ellis on the first bend of heat 3. Even Kelvin Tatum commented "Wow! I didn't expect that" as Adam is disqualified. Another classic first bend bunching example and ANOTHER Turnbull attempt to ruin the match. Kyle rides out of his skin to keep Matej behind after being passed by Tom on the first lap. Connor traps from the inside to lead heat 4 but Robert Lambert just powers past him down the back straight. Tobiasz takes up the chase but it's another shared heat. Kyle leads heat 5 but Adam, at he back tries the outside line on the third bend but runs out of track. After cheering Adam's fall the Mexican Morons from Manchester then chant "Cheat, Cheat, Cheat". What good sporting tossers they all are! Tigers lead by 2 points on the night, but trail by 10 on aggregate.

Jack powers away from the inside in heat 6 and goes straight for the dirt on the outside. Even Robert has no answer, but Lewis trails home behind Norick for another shared heat. Matej traps from gate 1 to lead heat 7 but Tobiasz switches back and passes on the inside exiting turn 2. Justin is never troubled by Tom and extends the Tigers lead. Norick is the replacement in heat 8 but is on graveyard gate 3. Lewis traps from the inside in heat 8 but Norick and Simon are close behind. Connor closes the door into turn 3 but Simon is riding high and wide. Connor sticks with the inside line and is passed by Norick on the outside of turn 3, only to reclaim the position out of turn 4. He dives under Simon out of turn 2 lap three and despite Simon's efforts holds second place over the line. Brilliant speedway racing! Robert is off the favoured inside gate in heat 9 but Adam blasts around him high and wide into the lead. Kyle passes Norick into turn 3 but Norick quickly fights back and the heat is again shared. Lewis makes a perfect start to lead heat 10 but Christina is having none of it. Second time of asking he beats Tom to the first turn with Jack scraping the fence back in third. Tigers lead by 10 points on the night, but trail by 2 on aggregate.

Tobiasz traps well in heat 11 but Brady rounds him out of turn 2 and Matej nearly does the same on turn three, but Tobiasz keeps plugging away and is right behind Brady. Exiting turn two, lap 3 he draws alongside and just shaves the lead into turn three right on the white line but rather than blast high and wide Brady elects to crowd him down and then bales out when he has no leg room. Belle Vu's no.9 disqualifies Tobiasz in the worst of all the crap decisions she's made over the two final legs. Perhaps she expected Tobiasz to put his brakes on to let her man into the lead. Adam traps in heat 12 and goes out wide for the dirt, Matej pushes Adam all the way home but Norick is untroubled by Connor. The big guns are out in heat 13. Robert has the graveyard gate 3 but Tobiasz flies around the outside to lead the way. Jack goes wide out of turn 2 but Brady has second and Robert is champing at his heels on the inside. Jack builds up momentum wide out of turn 2 on the third lap looking for way around Brady who looks over his shoulder and moves wide to deny him. If Jack had baled out would the Belle Vue no.9 have discluded Brady? We'll never know. Jack is passed up the inside by Robert. Kelvin calls Brady's move "ruthless" and that Jack was "beaten up". His words, an ex-rider with lots of experience. Heat 14 and Kyle is off gate 3. Justin makes a decent start but goes wide and the Aces pair lead down the back straight. Justin passes Norick out of turn 2 on the second lap and takes Tom for the lead out of turn 4, but Kyle cannot make up lost ground and the shared heat gives the Aces the League title. Robert traps off gate 1 and goes looking for dirt. Jack and Tobiasz both get past onto the back straight but Robert dives past Tobiasz into second. Tobiasz checks back and reclaims second place out of the pits turn. The Tigers pair hold onto their pride and even Robert's rocket ship cannot help him.

Robert Lambert turned his back on British speedway as a boy. The Aces brought him back after the transfer deadline had passed as the worlds no.5 but still on his boyish average. Even so we would have beaten Belle Vue and Lambert with fair refereeing decisions. The saving grace is that the meeting featured some scintillating racing and must have been a great tv experience.