Challenge - 25th April 2008

Referee: Mr P Griffin

Heat Results
1. (re-run) Armstrong, Johnson, Bargh, Irwin (f.exc), 53.5 5-1
2. (re-run) Webster, Day, Gay (Tapes -15m), McLeod, 53.9 3-3 (8-4)
3. Priest, Wright, Mason, Mallet, 54.2 4-2 (12-6)
4. Herne, Day, r/c Webster, Brown (Fell), McLeod (Ex 2 min), 53.6 4-2 (12-6)
5. (re-run) Priest, Bargh, Mason, Irwin, 54.3 4-2 (20-10)
6. (re-run) Brown, Armstrong, Johnson, Gay, 54.2 3-3 (23-13)
7. Herne, Webster, Mallet, Wright, 54.3 5-1 (28-14)
8. Irwin, Day (tact), Johnson, McLeod, 54.9 1-7 (29-21)
9. Brown, Mason, Priest, Gay, 54.1 3-3 32-24
10. Armstrong, Johnson, Mallet, Wright (ret), 54.7 5-1 (37-25)
11. (re-run) Webster, Herne, Bargh, r/c Day, Irwin (Ex Tapes), 53.9 5-1 (42-26)
12. Wright, r/c Day, Priest, McLeod, 54.3 1-5 (43-31)
13. Armstrong, Bargh, Herne, Brown (Fell), 53.5 4-2 (47-33)
14. Mallet, Webster, Day, Mason, 54.5 2-4 (49-37)
15. Bargh, Brown, Webster, Johnson, 53.8 1-5 (50-42)

After last weeks double disappointment against the Devils, the Wildcats bounced back in style with an impressive victory over the Mavericks 50-42. The cobwebs of the winter certain seem to be on the way out as the hosts clicked into gear tonight and demonstrated the type of form that had been anticipated since the impressive 2008 line up was announced.

Jon Armstrong seems to be finding his way around the tight Wessex stadium circuit dropping just the one point from his four rides to Tom Brown in heat six which provided some of the best riding of the night. Brown made the gate ahead of the Wildcats number 1 who then proceeded to push the Welshman hard but after attempting numerous passes Armstrong had to settle for just the two points as Brown just beat him to the line.

It was yet again new reserve wonder signing Tim Webster who top scored for the Wildcats with 12 paid 13 from his six rides, picking up a couple of extra rides through the night, the first in heat four after Alex McLeod suffered mechanical problems causing him to miss the two minutes and the second after Team Manager Jem Dicken nominated Webster and Johnson for heat fifteen. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Cats though as the mechanical gremlins that plagued Karl Mason last weekend returned yet again as temperamental ignition boxes caused his machine to misfire although Karl is planning to undertake more testing throughout the week to get to the bottom of the problem before next weekend.

Ex-Wildcat Terry Day had a successful first meeting of the year, scoring 11 paid 13 from his six rides at reserve for the Mavericks although it could have been more. Heat eight saw Terry don the black and white helmet colours but confusion between Day and another ex-Wildcat Nathan Irwin saw them run home in 1st and 2nd but with Irwin leading Day the opportunity to really make the tactical ride pay had been lost.

Three heat advantages from the last four heats allowed the visitors to clamber back from a sixteen point deficit to just the eight points that remained following heat fifteen which brought to a close a night of highly entertaining competitive speedway which allowed a glimpse at the potential that the Wildcats line up for 2008 appears to offer.