Speedway and Motorsport

With three ex-Rebels in their side, Stoke were always going to be a difficult proposition for Somerset and so it proved in the opening heats as the Potters restricted the home side to a mere two point lead at the half way stage.

In fairness, the Rebels could well have been holding a ten point lead by heat eight had Jordan Frampton not suffered punctures in both of his opening rides when holding second place to his partner but Stoke took full advantage of these misfortunes to frustrate Somerset with some determined riding and did actually take the lead themselves after four heats, courtesy of a Vissing win and Smith passing Katt on the final lap for third place.

With their play-off ambitions seemingly on the line, Somerset stepped it up a gear in the second half of the match, increasing their lead to a more comfortable ten points over the next three heats, forcing Stoke into employing the tactical ride in heat 11- Barker being handed the responsibility of trying to get the visitors back into the match.

It was a move that failed in the extreme as Hawkins rode an intelligent first bend to stop Barker’s swoop around the outside and with it any real hopes Stoke had of getting back into the match.

Fitting, Cunningham claimed a heat win on his return to the Oak Tree Arena in the following race but it was a case of too little too late as far as Stoke were concerned, although his win did deny Kramer his chance of a maximum.

A final throw of the die by Stoke team manager, John Adams, saw Complin replace Harrison as a tactical substitute in the penultimate heat but although he was soon on terms with the other three, his efforts to make the double point move pay disappeared as he seemed to get blocked by Smith as he tried to get past his team mate.

With Zetterstrom back to maximum ways and Katt beginning to show signs that he was coming back to the form, the Rebels had far too much for Stoke to contend with and although the visitors put up a brave fight, the fact they could only post two race winners tells its own tale.