Comets complete Easter double
Last updated 14:19, Friday, 28 March 2008
Premier Trophy: Workington Comets 53 Berwick Bandits 40: After a winter of change, both on and off the track, the 2008 speedway season got underway on the revamped Derwent Park raceway with a solid victory over the Comets oldest rivals.
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New club owner Keith Denham was delighted with the efforts of his side, as they followed up their victory at Berwick 48 hours previously to maintain their fine start to the season.
"It has been a fantastic night, with entertaining racing and all the riders are very happy with the track, which makes all the hard work that has been done worthwhile," said Denham afterwards.
"We had a good crowd on a really cold night, and as long as we can keep everybody entertained they will hopefully keep coming back," he added.
But, although the club has changed hands, and the track has been widened and re-laid, some things never change - none more so than Mr. Workington Speedway, Carl Stonehewer, who marked his return from last season's back injury with a flawless 15-point maximum to top the Comets score-chart and be named as the J. Edgar & Son Rider of the Night.
And, with fine support from skipper Kauko Nieminen and new signing Daniel Nermark, the Comets big three provided all ten of Workington's race winners.
Meanwhile the Bandits were led by their in-form reserve Norbert Magosi, who made full use of his seven rides to amass 15 points, while their new Finnish recruit, Tero Aarnio, showed plenty of promise on his way to an eleven-point return on his first ever appearance at Derwent Park.
The home season got underway with a comfortable victory for Workington's new number one, Daniel Nermark, in the first heat, while Magosi took the second heat for the Bandits ahead of Workington's Joe Haines and John Branney.
Comet Charles Wright became Derwent Park's first faller when he came off worst in a very tight first bend in heat three and, in addition to a somewhat harsh exclusion he took a knock to his collarbone, while his machine suffered major damage to the front forks and handlebars after hitting the fence. However, the re-run saw Stonehewer lead from tape to flag to maintain the Comets slender advantage.
Following three relatively processional heats the racing stepped up a gear in the next after the fast-starting Magosi sped from the tapes with Nieminen in hot pursuit. And, after stalking the Hungarian for two laps, the Comets skipper dived underneath Magosi as they entered turn one for the third time to take the lead. Meanwhile, third place for Branney saw the Comets extend their lead.
Stonehewer recorded his second victory in heat 5 while Wright rounded Berwick guest, and 2007 Comet, Jamie Robertson in the closing stages of the first lap to claim third place. And, with Nermark performing a perfectly executed manoeuvre to power under early leader
Magosi on turn four of the opening lap in the next, while Scott Smith held third place, the Comets extended their advantage to eight points.
However, the seventh heat saw Michal Makovsky make the start to lead Nieminen into the first corner and, despite constant pressure from the Comets skipper for the remainder of the race, Makovsky was able to hold off Nieminen to inflict what turned out to be his only defeat by a visiting rider.
And, while Magosi led all the way to take victory in heat eight, all the excitement was behind him as first Branney bravely rounded Robertson on the back straight and then, on the last lap, Smith went under him as they exited the second turn to give the Comets a share of the points.
The visitors were fastest out of the start in the next heat too, as Aarnio made the gate from the inside to lead Stonehewer for just over two laps before Stoney dived under him as they entered turn one for the third time in a carbon copy of Nieminen's move on Magosi in heat heat.
But, the tenth heat saw Makovsky make the gate and hold off the charge of Nermark to claim the race win and, just as he had done to Nieminen three races earlier, become the only Bandit to defeat Nermark. And, with Aarnio taking third place from Smith it gave Berwick their first heat advantage of the match.
Heat 11 saw Nieminen make a textbook start from the inside grid to lead but it was all to no avail when Adrian Rymel locked up and fell awkwardly at the apex of turns three and four on the second lap, with the closely following Haines fortunate to avoid Rymel's rider-less machine. With Rymel duly excluded Nieminen made another superb start in the re-run to lead all the way and claim victory in the fastest time of the night. However, plaudits should go to 16-year old Haines who continued an excellent home debut for the Comets by riding a mature race to hold off Magosi, earning the Comets their first maximum heat advantage of the night.
A fourth race win for Stonehewer in the next was followed by a spectacular heat 13 as Nieminen went from last to first in half a lap when, having passed Makovsky and Nermark with a powerful drive along the fence on the back straight of the opening lap, he rounded Rymel as they exited turn four to hit the front.
And, with Nermark forcing his way under Rymel on turn two of the last lap to follow Nieminen home, the Comets claimed maximum points and in doing so clinched the match.
The visitors made full use of a 'tactical ride' by Aarnio, who claimed six points for winning the penultimate heat, while Magosi followed him home to give the Bandits a maximum 8-1 heat advantage.
However, the Comets completed a fine evening's work by taking maximum points from heat 15, with Stonehewer securing his richly deserved maximum by team riding with Nieminen for the entire four laps.
