Redcar manager Gavin Parr insists his side can still reach the BSN Series semi-finals – but they need a big performance this weekend at home to Scunthorpe tonight and at Workington tomorrow afternoon.
The Scorpions raced to a 52-38 win at the Eddie Wright Raceway when the sides met a fortnight ago, so the Bears have a big task on their hands to take maximum points.
Parr has switched his riding order after a shock home defeat to Workington last week, whilst the visitors bring in Jack Smith to guest for the injured Nathan Ablitt at reserve.
Said Parr: “If we can beat Scunthorpe and Workington and overcome both aggregate deficits then we can qualify!
“I know it will be difficult, but it all starts tonight, we need a big home performance.
“If you look at last week’s match, we know it was not a good performance but if Charles (Wright) was six inches to the left we would have won. “
Comets had never been in front until after the final heat when Wright had been excluded allowing Crag Cook and Troy Batchelor to race to a 5-1 on the re-run.
Wright was in Premiership action last night for Oxford and despite a good points haul of ten from two wins and two seconds the Spires went down 45-39 at new table leaders Ipswich.
The Spires remained in touch despite the non-arrival of Rohan Tungate due to travel issues in Poland, and the Witches were never allowed to build a large advantage.
They eventually went six points clear with a 5-1 from Emil Sayfutdinov and Jason Doyle in Heat 13, and although guest Scott Nicholls won Heat 14 as a tactical substitute the visitors only fielded one rider so the Ipswich win was assured – with the meeting then abandoned due to rain before the final race.
Doyle (9+2) and Sayfutdinov (9) led the scoring for the hosts whilst Nicholls top-scored for the Spires with 12 followed by Wright (10).
Elsewhere last night former Comets riders weren’t at their most productive with Dan Bewley, Richard Lawson, Connor Bailey and Kyle Howarth all in action but mis-firing.
Max Fricke stormed to a 15-point maximum against his former club as Leicester secured their first home league win of the season with a 53-37 result against Belle Vue.
The Lions skipper reeled off five wins out of five as his side put in their most convincing performance of the season, taking 12 of the 15 heat victories.
They even came close to challenging for the aggregate point despite an 18-point defeat in Manchester last week, but Ben Cook’s Heat 14 win gave the Aces some consolation even though they then conceded a 5-1 in the last race.
Bewley managed only six points from four rides (three seconds) while Bailey failed to score in his three outings. Even in-form Lawson stuttered for the Lions to five points from four rides, made-up of a win, two thirds and a last.
Sheffield were emphatic 58-32 winners over a depleted King’s Lynn side in the first fixture of the season at Owlerton on Thursday.
Jack Holder scored a 10+2 paid maximum from four rides for the Tigers with fellow heat-leaders Tai Woffinden (12+1) and Chris Holder (12) also in good form, but skipper Howarth managed only five from four outings, with a win and two seconds.
