Anderson’s Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 48

Henderson’s Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions 42

(Premier League)

Berwick Bandits beat two injuries to sneak a win in the last throes of a see-saw match with Scunthorpe in a meeting that had it all and some excellent racing to boot!

Having welcomed two new riders and one returnee from injury, things where looking settled at last for Peter Waite’s “Dream Team”, but this dream very nearly became an X-rated nightmare, redeemed by a sensational win on the night.

First out on the side-lines was Scud Smith who came out in Heat two only to jar, and injure his right leg leaving him in too much pain to continue, followed by the new hero – Tero Aarnio who crashed dramatically out of Heat 10 when his primary chain snapped mid bend.

This left Berwick with four fit racers, with rider replacement already in force for Norbert Magosi who was away on World Cup duty, and a being so short-handed had to race Heats 11,12 and 13 with only one representative in each.

It was a brave debut for Tony Atkin as he’d been out of action for over eight weeks but once he’d warmed up began to show some of that thrilling form that will bring many points his way in weeks to come, whilst Paul Clews has also had some time off recently yet scorched away to a cracking 12 point haul.

Massive thanks also have to go to Berwick’s superb guest to cover Adrian Rymel’s absence (away in European Championship action), he being Czech Tomas Topinka of King’s Lynn, who is statistically the best visitor to Shielfield Park and with his excellent 14 points this was only enhanced.

Scunthorpe took an early, if not unexpected advantage to lead by eight after only five races, but Berwick took charge from then on, although there were several “heart-in-mouth” moments to keep every fan on the edge of their seats.

HEAT ONE: started with an ominously good gate from both Scorpions but guest star, Topinka shot round Wilkinson high round bend three on the opening lap, but with Moore so well ahead there was no catching him (2-4 / 2-4).

HEAT TWO: was slightly delayed with a last-minute panic to change Clews’ helmet colour who was incorrectly out in blue, but once the race started it was McKinna away! as the young Scott, who was last week a Bandit and now guesting for Scunthorpe, jetted into the lead, which he extended to a good 60 metres on the first lap alone as Bekker passes with ease an injured Smith on lap three (2-4 / 4-8).

HEAT THREE: saw Karlsson take the fast gate and into the lead with Makovsky hard on his tail and getting right up alongside, but just missing the pass after a thrilling last lap (3-3 / 7-11).

HEAT FOUR: started with the sore Smith excluded for failing to beat the two minute time allowance with Clews taking his place, and as the tapes went up it was Hall who led the race into bend one with Clews behind and Aarnio chasing on, trying to go round his partner on bend two, but the door was closed and he ended up losing a lot of power to end up last, and a change of bike for his second race (2-4 / 9-15).

HEAT FIVE: and Berwick went another two points down when Makovsky went hard under both Scorpions on bend one, but Moore came back round him on bend two to extend a big lead down the back straight and things were looking bad for Berwick (2-4 / 11-19).

HEAT SIX: had Topinka out of the traps first to lead, with Hall trying to get past on bend one but the Czech guest powered up on bend two to leave Hall in his wake and develop a big lead as Mckinna’s bike packed up on the last lap after a good effort, but it was the Bandits who pulled two points back this time (4-2 / 15-21).

HEAT SEVEN: was a straight forward from the gate to tapes stonewall max for Berwick with no challenge from Karlsson and Richardson as the Bandits raced back to within 2 points of Scunthorpe (5-1 / 20-22).

HEAT EIGHT: had Clews in for the injured Smith, and it was he who took the lead on bend one as Makovsky took a hard and very wide line under Wilkinson, who got very close to the fence, to join his partner up front and took the lead ½ a lap later in another Berwick max to put the home side into the lead (5-1 / 25-23).

HEAT NINE: and Atkin led well from the gate with Makovsky passing McKinna one bend one and then Hall too on bend four, but Hall retired on the second lap as the Bandits went six up (5-1 / 30-24).

HEAT 10: looked like another massive success for the home side as both Topinka and Aarnio left Karlsson and Richardson standing from the gate, but coming out of bend four on lap three Aarnio’s primary chain snapped cart-wheeling him at speed into the fence, stopping the race which was awarded without the Finn who ended up out of the meeting with suspected broken ribs (3-3 / 33-27).

HEAT 11: was the first of three one-bandit-only races due to a lack of manpower and only one very overworked reserve, who was already in this heat, and it was the said Clews who shot under the impressive Moore on the second lap, but ½ a lap later Moore had gone back round the new Bandit in excellent fashion (1-5 / 34-32).

HEAT 12: saw Makovsky out-gated by both Scorpions, but he shot round McKinna with little trouble on the second bend chasing hard on Karlsson making a magnificent effort to pass his Scorpion rival on bend four of lap three before repeating his attempt in an equally spectacular manner, but taking the pass too, and grabbing the win on the finish line (3-3 / 37-35).

HEAT 13: and Topinka took the wide fast line to go round Moore at high-speed, who took up the chase and made for a thrilling race, the Bandit just holding on (3-3 / 40-38)

HEAT 14: saw Scunthorpe again use their superior gating skills to fly to the lead on bend one at a maximum points haul, but Clews went round McKinna on bend two, ¼ lap before McKinna fell and remounted well to the read, but Bekker picked up a puncture on bend four of lap two to continue despite losing a lot of speed and skill, as McKinna caught the deflated Bekker up and passed him for the third placed point - and the Bandits had won a crackin’ match! (5-1 / 45-39).

HEAT 15: Was a tremendous battle with Moore leading initially until Topinka grappled the lead from his grasp on the second lap as Makovsky, Moore and Karlsson tore the track to bits with their passing and re-passing, blocking and counter-blocking in a scintillating 3 laps of the best speedway can offer with amazingly Makovsky ending up at the back in another share of the spoils (3-3 / 48-42).

Andersons Quality Berwick Bandits 48

1. Tomas Topinka (guest) 2,3,3,3,3 = 14
2. Norbert Magosi – Rider Replacement
3. Michal Makovsky (vice c) 2,2,3,2*,3,0 = 12+1
4. Tony Atkin 1*,0,1,3,2* = 7+2
5. Tero Aarnio 0,3,Fx,Ns = 3
6. Paul Clews ® 0,2,2,2*,2*,1,3 = 12+2
7. Scott Smith ® 0,N2,Ns,Ns = 0

Henderson’s Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions 42

1. Andrew Moore 3,3,2*,2,1* = 11+2
2. Carl Wilkinson 1,1,0,3 = 5
3. Magnus Karlsson 3,1,2,2,2 = 10
4. Scott Richardson (guest) 0,0,1*,N = 1+1
5. Richard Hall © 3,2,R,1* = 6+1
6. Adam McKinna (guest) ® 3,R,1,1*,1 = 6+1
7. Byron Bekker ® 1,1,1,R = 3

FIVE NATIONALITIES – SEVEN GREAT RIDERS – ONE SUPERB TEAM – THE BERWICK BANDITS!