Mike's Jottings:

Mike

In this week of the General Election, Harold Wilson’s famous quote of ‘ A week is a long time in Politics’ comes to mind. It’s a quote that can be attributed to many things, not least of which is Speedway. This time last week, the Somerset ‘Dickies’ Rebels were struggling to overcome an early deficit against Scunthorpe, this week they were storming, and yes storming is the right word, storming to a 56-37 victory over the Workington ‘Thomas Armstrong Ltd’ Comets.

The Rebels were in control right from the gun, with new signing, Lubos Tomicek, making his Rebels debut a winning one. He blasted off the line to lead Andre Compton at the first turn. Ritchie Hawkins, back in the main body of the team, was close up, and cut inside Compton to guide into second place coming off the same turn. Once at the front the pair were never troubled and pulled clear to a bloodless maximum. It was the kind of start that the Rebels have been missing over the last few weeks, and it set the tone for the rest of the evening.

As good as a team is, there’s always room for a bit of luck, and the Rebels found some early in the piece. Craig Cook has been taking the national League by storm with Buxton, and he has been piling on the points for the Comets, with four double points tallies from their five home fixtures, including an 18-point haul against Glasgow in the Premier Trophy. He broke quickly to lead Heat 2 alongside his teammate John Branney. By the end of the lap Branney was at the rear, as first Rebels guest Dakota North powered around the wide line to pass Branney off the second turn, and then Mark Baseby, making his official Rebels debut, cut inside the wide running Branney of the final turn of the lap. Cook was away and gone, and try as they might the Rebels pair were making no inroads to his lead, when he dropped a primary chain running onto the final lap, leaving the home side to add a second full house in as many races.

The Rebels rammed home their advantage, never giving the Comets a chance to get into their stride. Shane Parker, not renowned for his starting, made a superb start to lead Heat 3 from the tapes, with Chris Schramm by his side. Sam Masters was not far away, and as Parker eased into the lead on the back straight, Masters cut to the inside Schramm, slipping through as the pair rounded the last two bends of the lap. The Rebels pulled clear of Schramm, taking another easy 5-1. Young Dane Peter Kildemand was too eager at the start, moving and then stopping just before the tapes went up, leaving him rooted to the spot, and struggling to make any ground at all.

Heat 4 gave the Comets their first glimmer of hope, but at one point it looked like they would be on the wrong end of another full house. Cory Gathercole, and Dakota North flew from the tapes to lead early, with Gathercole taking up the running of the first bend. Rusty Harrison was soon on North’s case, and through to second spot off the final bend. North didn’t let him get away, and was soon pressing him hard as they ran into the second lap. As the pair got to the second turn they came together causing North to lock up, and produce a rodeo act that was worthy of a place at the Calgary Stampede. In the end he couldn’t hang on, and landed in a heap by the back straight fence. By the time he cleared the track the rest were almost back on him, but Graham Reeve let it go, and in the confusion the race ended with the riders completing 5 laps, with the result being declared at four, and the Comets taking a share of the points.

It was only a temporary respite, as the Rebels piled in five more heat advantages before the Comets had any further joy. Heat 5 saw the field break level, with the Comets pair leading onto the first turn. Sam Masters was soon on Richard Lawson’s case, as he cut to the inside on the back straight. Lawson was back in font of the young Australian on the next lap. Master never let him get away, and was back in the lead at the start of Lap 3. Shane Parker had accounted for Andre Compton early on, and charged after Lawson, but the 24-year-old Cumbrian held off big run, just hanging on as the flag fell.

Fourteen points down, Ian Thomas sent out the prolific Cook in the ‘Black and White’, but he came spectacularly unstuck as the Tomicek/Hawkins combination exploded from the tapes to lead virtually all the way, with Hawkins cleverly blocking off Cooks outside run at the turn. Rusty Harrison did get up the inside of Ritchie Hawkins on the second turn, but Hawkins never fully succumbed and was back in second as they ran out onto Lap 2. The Rebels pairs only scare was when Tomicek got a big lift as they entered the back straight for the final time, with Hawkins close up. He soon had the bike back down and running as the Rebels powered to their fourth 5-1.

Heat 7 was re-started, as it all got very tight in the first turn, ending with Peter Kildemand on the deck. In the re-run Cory Gathercole broke quickly with Chris Schramm, but soon appeared to have the measure of the Maldon man leading from the first turn, but Schramm had other ideas, as the pair swapped places until Gathercole finally got the upper hand with a big run on the boards at the start of lap 2. Mark Baseby was slowly away, but rode a great race to slowly reel in Kildemand, and finally muscle his was passed on the inside of the second bend of the final lap.

Heat 8 was another to be re-run, with Richard Lawson displayed too much eagerness to get away. The second running saw a level break from which Ritchie Hawkins lead on a very wide line around the opening bend. Dakota North got a big lift off the line, and had to fight his way passed Richard Lawson, as he came with a big run out in the dirt next time round. He chased John Branney hard, but could never quite get on terms with the Whitehaven born rider.

Shane Parker made his second great start of the night, only to catch a huge lift off the line and end up immediately in third place. He charged after the Comets pair of Cook and Harrison, coming with a powerful run on the wide line to account for Harrison off the final bend of the lap. Sam Masters was next on Harrison, cruising passed him on the inside of the back straight on the second lap. Parker set off after Cook in the lead, but he proved a more difficult proposition that Harrison earlier. Parker slowly reeled him in, and by the end of lap three he was on Cook’s tail. As Cook lead out the final lap he moved off the line, and Parker was through the inside like a shot, to take the win.

Heat 10 saw the Comets pairing of Schramm and Kildemand make a great gate. Kildemand showed some of what has brought him to the attention of many promoters in the UK as he led all the way. Ritchie Hawkins joined Schramm in second place and the pair engaged in a race long battle, swapping places for all four laps, until Hawkins stormed underneath Schramm of the final turn to grab second place. With Lubos Tomicek missing the break for the first time, and getting blocked out on the first bend, the Comets took their first heat advantage of the meeting.

They shared the next heat, but could not stop Cory Gathercole leading all the way. He broke quickly and was gone out of sight. Mark Baseby was very slowly away, but made up the ground steadily over the next three laps. Starting the final lap he was close up and challenging, but the Comets pair kept it tight, and never allowed him the opportunity to pounce.

With a 22-point deficit to make up, Ian Thomas resorted to his second tactical move, this time with Schramm as the wearer of the ‘Magic Hat’. He was lightning off the gate to lead early from his partner, Craig Cook. The pair snuffed out Sam Masters early run, and made the best of their way home. Masters never gave up, charging hard the whole race. Despite his efforts the Comets held him off, with Cook having to defend challenges inside and out from a rampant Masters. Hold him off they did, and were rewarded with their second heat advantage, and a 1-8 advantage at that.

Even after conceding the maximum tactical tally the Rebels were guaranteed two league points, and the way it had gone up to now, probably all three. They put the matter beyond doubt in Heat 13 as they made the best reply they could to conceding the tactical. Andre Compton shot from the tapes to lead, but he capitulated quickly, firstly to the big outside run of Gathercole, and then down the back straight when Tomicek came calling. Rusty Harrison fared no better, and was left as the Comets sole representative when Compton’s machine expired on the third turn. The Rebels pair pulled well clear to win unchallenged.

Shane Parker added a third win to his tally in Heat 14, when he came round the outside of the field on the first bend to lead. Mark Baseby made his best start of the night and was mixing it with Peter Kildemand from early on. The pair were locked together as the elbow flew on the second lap. Baseby forced himself up the inside of the talented Dane as they ran into the third bend. Kildemand made it tight as he leaned into Baseby, and something had to give. Unfortunately for the Rebels it was Baseby, as he machine lost grip in the battle, and he span out, tumbling to the outside fence, with John Branney narrowly missing him in the process. It was a gutsy ride by Baseby, who showed that he won’t be intimidated by anyone, and with that kind of spirit he will surely add many more points to his Rebels account.

The Comets took the final heat win, but could do no more that share the points. The Rebels tracked Cory Gathercole, and gave a well deserved spot to Ritchie Hawkins. For the Comets Chris Schramm came to post, with reserve Craig Cook, such was the level of their other performances. In the event, Chris Schramm took an early lead, challenged by Gathercole. Schramm caught a lift, with Gathercole taking the opportunity to cut up his inside on the back straight. Schramm fought him off, before Ritchie Hawkins moved up to be press his challenge for the lead. Despite putting a hard chase, he could never get properly to Schramm, who led out to take the win, with the Rebels pair taking the minor places.

Inevitably the 56-37 final outcome will prompt the question of were the Rebels good, or were the Comets just very poor, but as woefully toothless as the Comets were, it has to be said that the Rebels were excellent. It was another of those meeting were the score line belies the quality of the racing, although it has to be said that was mainly due to the Rebels inability to give anything up for dead. The two new signings brought a different emphasis to the team, with Lubos Tomicek giving the team the early focus they have been lacking since the enforced use of skipper Shane Parker at Number One. Tomicek’s first meeting produced a pleasing debut, after he encountered problems getting himself and his machinery to Somerset, and then blew up his top bike on the stand in the pits. Mark Baseby, who made his official Rebels debut after a guest appearance on Monday also ended in the points. As on Monday he still lacks some sharpness from the gate at this level, but again he showed he is a never say die racer with his late runs. His tally of 3+1 did not reflect his efforts, and without his fall he would have posted a very creditable 5+2.

Shane Parker, revelling in his move from the top spot, posted his first and very welcomed double figure score of the season. Cory Gathercole looked back to his best, with some great racing and passing, putting him on a full maximum before his final heat third. Ritchie Hawkins didn’t allow his move back to the main body of the team blunt his scoring as he banged in a great 11+2 tally. Sam Masters will travel to Poland at the end of next week to compete in the World U21 Championship, but still contributed to the cause. Guest Dakota North was another whose efforts did not reflect in his score, as he too lost points from a fall.

No one at Somerset will be counting their chickens, despite such a marked improvement over the last few weeks performances. They know that there will be more powerful sides than Workington to come, but with what now appears to be forming into a settled team, with the exception of cruciate ligament victim Tommy Allen, the Rebels will be no pushovers at home in the coming season.

Report courtesy Dave Thompson