The Lakeside Vortex Hammers claimed another three home points after a 51-42 win, for their fourth straight home victory against Belle Vue Aces at Arena Essex.
Top scorer of the night was Belle Vues’ Matej Zagar with 19+1 with the Hammers top rider captain Andreas Jonsson with 13.
Mikkel Bech was away on international duty ahead of the World U21’s Series as Lakeside drafted in a fans favourite former Hammer captain Davey Watt.
Number two rider Kim Nilsson remains out injured as former Hammer Piotr Swiderski stepped in. Ashley Birks is out injured for remainder of the season as Ben Morely comes in as the reserve guest.
Zagar set his stool out in heat one, gating first and claiming the victory despite Jonsson coming from the back to finish second to level the heat.
Heat two was a second split heat with another victory for Belle Vue through Steve Worrell but Adam Ellis and Morely stopped ‘The Aces’ gaining an advantage.
The visitors’ stunned Lakeside with an early maximum as Zagar again was electric out the gates and Scott Nicholls supported to take an early 11-7 lead.
‘The Hammers’ responded instantly with a reverse maximum as Ellis made a great start and was aided by Richard Lawson, to level up the meeting.
The home side got a slender lead as Swiderski made the bend in front and held off guest Kevin Doolan, as Morely took third.
‘The Aces’ claimed a second maximum as Zagar made his hat-trick of victories and a superb pass by Nicholls in between both Hammers on lap 2 took second, to regain the overall lead at 19-17.
Lakeside responded again as Jonsson and Watt got the home sides’ second maximum to regain the lead.
‘The Hammers’ extended their lead to six points after back to back maximums as Lawson won heat eight and Ellis took second.
Heat nine was eventful as after the third restart Belle Vue guest Grzegorz Zengota was excluded after falling on the first bend. Swiderski won his second race on the re-start as Ellis supported for their third maximum.
Zagar took the tactical ride and won despite Watt’s efforts to shorten the 10 point gap to only five – as the scores stood 34-29.
Jonsson secured the race victory after he took the lead during lap two and Swiderski chipped in with a point in third, to maintain their lead.
The second reserve race was importantly split as Ellis put in a great ride despite pressure from Worrall who settled for second.
Jonsson sped to his third victory and finally got the better of Zagar as he went wide around everyone to lead and hold off Nicholls in second.
‘The Hammers’ secured victory in race 14 with a brilliant ride from Edward Kennett who struggled throughout the evening and was backed-up by Lawson for a fourth maximum.
In the nominated heat Zagar ended a very successful night with another victory as Jonsson settled for second and claim a 51-42 victory.
Neil Vatcher Interview:
