Key:+ = from 15m handicap,  * = Tactical ride for double points
SHEFFIELD SPEEDWAY MATCH REPORTS 2012
SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE 'Tigers' v Somerset 'Rebels' Premier League 31st May

Referee:Jim Lawrence

0102030405 0607080910 1112131415 Tot+Bp
1. Josef Franc 7.20 1' *6 2' 1 3 13+2
2. Hugh Skidmore 5.91 2 2' 1' 3 8+2
3. Chris Schramm 6.28 0 1 1 2 4
4. Richard Hall © 7.06 2 0 3 2 2' 9+1
5. Ricky Wells 6.41 1 2 2' 0 5+1
6. Joe Haines

3.69

1' 0 3 1' 5+2
7. Emiliano Sanchez 5.86 2 0 2 0 4
David Hoggart 3 3 2 1 1 8 2 3 4 5 5 2 1 3 5
Sheffield 'Tigers' 3 6 8 9 10 18 20 23 27 32 37 39 40 43 48
Somerset 'Rebels' 3 6 10 15 20 21 25 28 30 31 32 36 41 44 45
Steve Bishop 3 3 4 5 5 1 4 3 2 1 1 4 5 3 1
1. Claus Vissing 8.56 3 2' fx - 5+1
2. Alex Davies 4.97 0 3 0 - 3
3. Sam Masters 7.70 3 1 1 1 1 7
4. James Wright 7.00 1 3 0 3 7
5. Jason Doyle © 7.93 3 1 2 3 0 9
6. Ashley Birks (g) 4.41 3 2' - 3 - 1 3 2' 0 14+2
7. Tom Perry 3.86 0 - 0 - 0 - 0
Track record: 59.1
R. Ashworth 2010
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

61.1

62.2

62.5

62.7

62.0

62.5

62.6

63.5

62.9

63.4

awd

63.9

63.9

64.0

64.1

2012 Programme Claus Vissing dumps Josef Franc into the fence at the start of heat 1 but the ref calls all-4-back. In the rerun Claus passes Hugh out of the second turn and pulls well clear. Ashley Birks traps to win heat 2. The PLRC champion traps to win heat 3. Ricky Wells scored 18+2 at Wolverhampton on Monday but was two bike lengths behind the field by the first bend in heat 4. He eventually managed to pass his team mate on the third lap but this guy is supposed to be a heat leader. Perhaps he's aiming for a place at reserve in both leagues? Alex Davies traps ahead and wins heat 5 and Claus passes both home riders on the third lap. The Rebels lead by ten points and it's looking gloomy for the Tigers.

Pepe is on a tactical in heat 6 and flies from the start followed by Hugh who does a stirling job in holding off all Jason Doyle's attempts to pass. Ricky leads heat 7 as far as the second turn when James Wright passes on the outside. Sam dives through to second at the start of the second lap but Ricky regains the position on the next bend. Ashley traps to win heat 8. Chris looks good from the start in heat 9 but is passed by Jason down the back straight. Richard Hall follows suit and then closes relentlessly on the leader until a wide swoop around the fence on the last bend gives him just enough to win the race to the line. Hugh and Pepe win heat 10 from the gate and the Tigers now lead for the first time.

Joe steals into the lead in heat 11 closely followed by Ricky. Claus picks Ricky off on the second lap and then sets off in pursuit of Joe. He pull a wheelie on the pits turn on the third lap and Ricky quickly reclaims second place but then Claus tries an impossibly wide line on the first bend of the last lap and falls nastily into the fence. The paramedics put him on a back-board and half a hour later he's transferred to an official ambulance. Another 25 minutes for the paperwork and the paramedics eventually let the proceedings continue. Ashley traps to win heat 12. Sam passes Chris on the third bend of the second lap,but Chris cuts back and reclaims the place on the next turn. Jason traps to win heat 13 and Ashley passes Josef on the second bend to follow him home. Ashley is out again in heat 14 for his fourth consecutive ride but it is James who leads the way. Joe effectively blocks his team mates progress for two laps as it is obvious that Joe isn't ever going to attempt to pass anyone, and by then time Richard does get past James is too far ahead. Sam and Jason for the Rebels, and Pepe and Richard for the Tigers in heat 15. Pepe traps like he means it but Richard is shut out at the back, until he swoops around Jason entering the third turn on the second lap, and then switched back to pass Sam on the exit of the pits turn. The Sheffield pair then held off the PLRC champion to complete an unexpected but morale boosting and crowd pleasing home win.

When is Ricky going to start taking Owlerton seriously? He hasn't got many friends on our terraces at the moment.

Claus was detained overnight in the Northern General with a punctured and deflated lung and has my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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