Swindon 57 - Belle Vue 38 

Simon Stead's 15 point maximum helps Swindon notch victory

 

A flawless fifteen-point maximum from Simon Stead helped Swindon notch a comfortable 57- 38 victory over Belle Vue on a night of entertaining Blunsdon action.

Stead rode superbly from the outset and combined with Leigh Adams to form the foundation of Swindon’s success.

The Robins gained the ascendancy in the early stages and survived two well worked tactical rides from Belle Vue to eventually prevail by a hefty nineteen-point margin.

The well-documented volcanic ash airline turmoil prevented Belle Vue’s big two of Hans Andersen and Peter Karlsson riding in the encounter.
As a result, the visiting side operated the rider replacement facility for Andersen, whilst Karlsson’s berth was covered by guest rider, Kevin Doolan. Despite tracking a depleted squad, the Manchester team rode with admirable tenacity which produced an array of exciting on-track action.

Swindon’s score-card was headed by the aforementioned fifteen-point haul from Simon Stead. The popular British rider demonstrated super quick gating skills and impressive speed to pull away from the chasing pack right throughout the meeting. Stead deservedly scooped the man of the match award, his first of the 2010 campaign.

Robins’ skipper Leigh Adams was also in terrific form, and the Australian amassed a paid fifteen point maximum.

 

The ‘Sultan of Slide’ was forced to work hard for his maximum score though, and in heat six overcame a fifteen metre tapes-touching handicap to notch victory.

 

Meanwhile Thomas H. Jonasson’s eye-catching form continued as the Swedish youngster conjured a well deserved paid nine score from his five ride schedule. Both Morten Risager and Grzegorz Zengota registered paid seven point hauls and were amongst the action throughout.

Belle Vue were well served by British youngster James Wright who served up bundles of entertainment. The former Robins’ rider amassed a solid paid thirteen score and demonstrated impressive straight line speed from the outset. Highly-rated Dane Patrick Hougaard also contributed a decent twelve point haul, whilst experienced Aces’ reserve Leigh Lanham weighed in with paid eight.

An opening race points share saw Leigh Adams romp to comfortable tapes-to-flag victory. Grzegorz Zengota fell in the early stages of the race but was able to clear his machine from track to allow racing to continue.

A 5-1 from Thomas H. Jonasson and Cory Gathercole in the ensuing heat propelled Swindon into an early four-point lead, before a comfortable race win for Simon Stead in the third maintained the advantage.

The Robins doubled their lead to eight points with a 5-1 from Mads Korneliussen and Thomas H. Jonasson in race four, which was quickly followed by an identical return from Stead and Risager in the next heat as Swindon moved into a twelve point lead.

An eventful, but memorable, race six saw Leigh Adams penalised in the initial staging for a tapes-touching offence. The Robins’ skipper opted to start the re-run from a fifteen metre handicap, but the second staging of the heat saw Belle Vue’s William Lawson disqualified for exceeding the two-minute time allowance.

 

At the third time of asking, Adams overcame his handicap and gained the lead of bend four of the final lap to the delight of the Robins’ faithful.

A 3-3 followed in heat seven, before Belle Vue’s James Wright collected four points for a tactical ride in heat eight. Two Swindon 5-1 advantages followed in races nine and ten as Ronnie Russell’s side moved into a twenty point lead.

A 4-2 for Belle Vue in heat eleven was quickly followed by an excellent 8-1 tactical ride from Patrick Hougaard and William Lawson in heat twelve as the visitors cut Swindon’s lead to eleven points.

 

Swindon finished strongly though with race advantages in the final three races and concluded the meeting with a well-deserved nineteen point cushion.