The latest from the Lakeside Speedway Press Office…
LAWSON PRIDE IN DEFEAT
Championship Grand Final Second Leg
Workington Comets 61 Lakeside Hammers 29 (Workington win 95-73 on aggregate)
LAKESIDE skipper Richard Lawson is proud of his team — despite their Grand Final drubbing at Workington last night.
Vortex Hammers team boss Will Pottinger had urged his men to hit the home side early and prevent them building up a head of steam.
But Lakeside were powerless as the Comets, who have been in scintillating form on their own circuit of late, wiped out the Hammers’ 10-point lead from the first leg in the space of only three races.
The visitors could produce only two race winners in Lawson and Adam Ellis and one heat advantage as they struggled with set-ups at a circuit where — the abandoned league match when Dan Bewley was injured apart — they have not raced this season.
Workington’s high-powered Danish trio, plus guest Tero Aarnio, continually racked up the points and after just 11 races the home side needed only to provide a finisher in each heat to claim the crown.
“Obviously they go well round here and they caught us big-time,” said Lawson.
“Early on we weren’t getting out of the starts and struggled for speed — the track was so slick.
“It was difficult. We never stopped trying, but the scoreline doesn’t reflect that.
“We were pushing and I couldn’t ask any more from all the team.
“It’s been a tough season, but to get to the final is something to be proud of.
“We’ve had the same seven guys throughout the season, which says a lot.
“The fans have stuck by us with the switch to Rye House.
“Everything’s been against us — but we’ve still managed to get ourselves here, to a final.
“It was what it was. We tried.”
The Hammers must now regroup for tonight’s Shield final second leg at the same venue, where they trail by two points from the home leg, as Workington chase a Cup, league and Shield treble.
Workington 61: Nicolai Klindt 15, Rasmus Jensen 14+1, Tero Aarnio 11+1, Rene Bach 10+3, Kyle Bickley 6+1, Mason Campton 5+1, Ty Proctor R/R.
Lakeside 29: Adam Ellis 9, Richard Lawson 8+1, Nick Morris 5, Kyle Newman 4+1, Zach Wajtknecht 2, Alfie Bowtell 1, Ben Morley 0.
—
HAMMERS RACING FOR PRIDE TONIGHT
LAKESIDE ace Nick Morris says his side will be racing for pride tonight in their last shot at silverware this season.
They took a 61-29 beating from Workington in the Championship Grand Final yesterday to lose by 22 points on aggregate.
This evening they are back at the same Derwent Park venue — and face an uphill struggle as they begin the Shield Final second leg trailing by two points.
“We’ve seen what they’ve been doing to most teams that come here,” admitted Morris, whose considerable efforts in last night’s match yielded only five points.
“They’re just too good round this place. We thought we’d be able to put up a fight, but, yeah — they’re just quick, that’s all.
“We didn’t get the bikes set up as they do. We just couldn’t keep up, really.
“We’ll come back and try to race for a bit of pride. But we’ve got nothing to be ashamed about. We made it this far and, like I said, Workington are a really good team.”
Team boss Will Pottinger reckons the Hammers can at least learn from their experience in terms of preparation.
“We’re in a Grand Final and we haven’t raced here all year — a bizarre situation,” he said.
“At least we’ve got a bit of an idea as to where we’ve got to start from, bike set-up wise.
“We’re not going to give up. We’ll keep fighting.”
Hammers are unchanged while Stefan Nielsen guests for the Comets in place of the injured Dan Bewley.
Workington: Rene Bach, Ty Proctor R/R, Stefan Nielsen (G), Rasmus Jensen, Nicolai Klindt, Kyle Bickley, Mason Campton.
Lakeside: Richard Lawson, Zach Wajtknecht, Adam Ellis, Kyle Newman, Nick Morris, Ben Morley, Alfie Bowtell.
