After the comfortable win over Edinburgh a week ago, Workington Comets were taken to the wire by Oxford Cheetahs at Northside.
But after another exciting meeting, with more outstanding racing, the Comets got home for a 46-44 victory which took them to the top of the Championship table.
Workington had to bring in two guests – former number one Connor Bailey returning to deputise for Antti Vuolas who was in World qualifying action, while another ex-Comet from last year Pijper stood in for reserve Celina Liebmann who was ill.
They didn’t let them down as Bailey had two thrilling victories in his seven points tally while Pijper earned a valuable second in the reserves race – although he wasn’t able to add to that.
Although beaten by Sam Masters in the opening race of the meeting, skipper Craig Cook and Australian teenager Tate Zischke were unbeaten as a pairing, knocking out three auccessive 5-1’s which were crucial in the final analysis.
Troy Batchelor won his first three starts and was entrusted with going into the final heat fifteen with Cook. Although they both struggled from the start it was Cook who roared round everyone to grab the lead and from there he wasn’t going to be caught.
That shared heat was enough to ensure Workington won the meeting 46-44, which was not as good as it was looking like earlier in the meeting.
As late as heat 12 the Comets were leading by eight points but a 5-1 and a 4-2 for the Cheetahs saw them cut the deficit to just two points ahead of the final heat.
Zischke and Bailey both produced some thrilling racing to excite the home crowd while young Ashton Boughen, at 16-years-of age and with experience of the Northside track last year, showed what promise he has with a top-scoring 12 plus one from reserve.
It really was a case of youth and experience for the Cheetahs as alongside Bougen, they had Sam Masters (10 + 2) and Scott Nicholls (10 + 1) leading the way.
Workington had 10 individual race winners and four heat advantages, while points in eight of the races were shared.
Workington Comets 46
Craig Cook 11 + 2; Tate Zischke 10 + 1; Connor Bailey 7; Claus Vissing 5; Troy Batchelor 9; Ace Pijper 2; Sam McGurk 2 + 1.
Oxford Cheetahs 44
Sam Masters 10 + 2; Henry Atkins (rider replacement); Cameron Heeps 6 + 2; Jordan Kenkins 5 + 1; Scott Nicholls 10 + 1; Ashton Boughen 12 + 1; Luke Killeen 1 + 1.
In the Grand Prix qualifier in Slovakia Comets Finnish rider Antti Vuolas scored three points – three third places – from his five rides.
Anders Thomsen of Denmark won the meeting with 14 points ahead of Patryk Dudek (Poland) 13; Brady Kurtz (Australia) 12 + 3 AND Robert Lambert (GB) 12 + 2.
