New reserve Max Perry is proving a popular addition to the Workington Comets line-up.
He played an important part in Saturday’s 48-42 win over the Oxford Cheetahs but was involved in what was of the meeting’s main talking points.
He was battling hard for second entering bend three of the final lap, when Anders Rowe attempted an inside pass and became entangled with Perry.
The contact left his steel shoe caught up in Rowe’s machine dragging them both down.
To the disbelief of many inside the GT Tyres Arena, Perry was subsequently excluded from the race, a decision which was met with a furious reaction from the home supporters.
Despite the controversy, the GT Tyres Comets maintained their composure and went on to clinch the victory with a 4-2 in the final heat.
Comets team boss James Denham said: “It got close mid-meeting when I thought we may have been throwing it away, being 10 points up early on and going to a last heat decider is never good for the nerves.
“But the experience of Troy and Jonas got the job done for us in the end.”
“Max was great again and really unlucky in heat 12. From my position on bend two Max took an almighty whack, so much so his steel shoe got caught in Anders’ footpeg which dragged them into the third bend.
“The referee did say Anders had passed him but it’s about passing people fairly but he said he saw it from a different angle – in my opinion I thought it wasn’t Max’s fault.”
“But we move on now, it was great team effort and we need to carry that on to next Saturday when Glasgow visit. The bonus point is well within reach for that one and we will be going for it.”
You can hear James Denham’s full assessment of the meeting in conversation with John Walsh and news of a guest to face the Tigers below:
