Jul/100
The Bandits season is far from over
Berwick “A & J Scott” Bandits 50
Birmingham “BRC Roofing” Brummies 43
(Premier League)
The A & J Scott sponsored Berwick Bandits caught an unsuspecting septet of Birmingham Brummies with the early signs of resurgence with a fine seven points win at Shielfield Park last night.
Not only was the result correct, but the track was once again back to it’s superb best, which in turn produced some of the best racing in 2010 so far.
Initially it looked as though the negative forecasters may have been right as Birmingham took the winner in four of the first five races, with Michal Rajkowski being the Bandits’ only three pointer in that time in Heat Two when he shot from, the tapes to take an easy win as the vibrant John Branny, guesting for the injured Chris Kerr, passed Jade Mudgway coming off the final bend of the race.
15-15 going into Heat Six Adrian Rymel made his best gate of the match to lead well from the off whilst with Steve Johnston in second, Mudgway got his revenge on Branney as he shot round the Brummie guest mid way through the first lap and defended his point well throughout a the 4-2 which put Berwick back into the lead by 19-17.
Four up after Heat Eight and captain Paul Clews hammered round the outside of Johnston though a minimal gap coming off bend four of the opening lap and extended a big lead to win well with Michal Makovsky taking the third place point in another 4-2 to the Bandits 30-24 up.
Rymel and Rajkowski took a remarkably easy 5-1 in the 10th but in the process of placing Berwick 10 ahead, that opened the door for Birmingham to nominate a tactical rider for double points, a mantle taken on by Jason Lyons who did the job asked by roaring from the gate to take an unassailable lead from the off, but second placed Johnston was overtaken by Lee Complin to restrict their advantage to a 2-7 score line which did haul the score back to a tighter 37-32.
Rajkowski took the lead from bend three in Heat 12 when he passed Branney, but probably would have enjoyed the view better had he missed the gate and watched a superb battle between Clews and the Brummie for the whole four laps with Clews right alongside Branney on half a dozen occasions managing a breath-taking pass on the fourth bend to clinch a Bandits’ 5-1.
Lyons sat hard on Rymel on the inside line of the opening bend of Heat 13 completely balking the Czech’s progress with the Berwick number one ending up firmly at the back, which is where he stayed making little impression behind as Johnston took the win in a Birmingham 2-4 (44-37).
Makovsky’s finest moment came in Heat 14 when he pushed hard between Sweetman and Branney to join Rajkowski up front for a match winning 5-1 which also clinched the full three league points for the Bandits, much in need of every one they can get.
John Anderson, co-owner of the Bandits said: “There was still an occasional weak moment to concern us, but this was a far better team effort by the whole squad with Michal Rajkowski excelling once more against a good side many expected to win here tonight, and if we can continue this style of riding then we should be able to clinch our place in the Young Shield much sooner rather than later.”
Individual riders’ Score Chart:
Berwick “A & J Scott” Bandits 50
1. Adrian Rymel 2,3,3,0 = 8
2. Craig Branney – Rider replacement
3. Paul Clews © 1*,1*,2,3,2*,1 = 10+3
4. Michal Makovsky 2,1*,1,1,2* = 7+2
5. Lee Complin 2,2,2,2,0 = 8
6. Jade Mudgway ® 1,1,1*,0,N = 3+1
7. Michal Rajkowski ® 3,0,3,2*,3,3 = 14+1
Birmingham “BRC Roofing” Brummies 43
1. Jason Lyons © 3,3,6^,1,3 = 16
2. Aaron Summers – Rider replacement
3. Justin Sedgmen 0,0,0,1,0 = 1
4. Richard Sweetman 3,3,0,1 = 7
5. Steve Johnston 3,2,2,1,3,2* = 13+1
6. Kyle Newman ® 0,0,N,0,N = 0
7. John Branney (guest) ® 0,2,1,0,2,1,0 = 6