Lakeside 2017

[Guest]

Lakeside Hammers Speedway Press Release

Hammers win away at Kent
Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook heaped praise on his side after they edged a 46-43 away win at Kent on Monday.

The Vortex Hammers continued their encouraging start to life at National League level with a hard-fought victory over the Kings in the first leg of their Tunnel Trophy tie.

Top two Ben Morley and Zach Wajtknecht both starred but it was a superb all-around team effort from the Purfleet outfit.

They will now carry a narrow lead into the second leg at the Arena-Essex Raceway on Friday (8pm) – and Cook has been delighted with a positive start to their new era.

Said Cook: “It was lovely to get an away win so early in the season, and it was a great effort from the team.

“It was a real team effort from the six riders, and it'll hopefully be a feature of the season that Ben Morley and Zach Wajtknecht can get the job done in the big heats at the end.

Alfie Bowtell in particular has been impressive and a bit of an unsung hero in our first three fixtures, but I think we’ve got off to a really positive start.

Obviously Kent will come to our place wanting to turn us over on Friday, but we're looking forward to an exciting match.

In the meantime we can bask in the glory of a great away win and hopefully take that momentum into the second leg.”

KENT KINGS 43:

Luke Bowen 15, Ben Hopwood 9+1, Luke Clifton 6+1, Jack Thomas 6+1, Alex Spooner 3+1, Bradley Andrews 3, Nathan Stoneman 1.

VORTEX LAKESIDE HAMMERS 46:

Zach Wajtknecht 12, Ben Morley 10+2, Alfie Bowtell 8+1, David Mason 8, Jamie Couzins 6+3, Nick Laurence 2, George Hunter r/r.

Edited April 17, 2017 by Guest

[Guest]

KENT KINGS PRESS RELEASE = RE HOME MATCH v LAKESIDE HAMMERS:

 

KINGS 43 LAKESIDE 46

MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017

 

Kent 'SLYDE' Kings slipped to a second defeat in 24 hours in the Tunnel Trophy tussle at Central Park in front of a big Holiday crowd on Easter Monday afternoon (17/4), going down 46-43 to new local rivals in the Travel Plus National League [TPNL], Lakeside Hammers.

Despite the valiant efforts of skipper Luke Bowen who reeled off five classy wins despite even being made to put in an extra lap in the last race, it was the side from just over the Dartford Crossing in Essex who showed the all round resilience to win – even though providing less heat winners than the Kings (8-7). With former King Ben Morley at number one, Lakeside were always going to pose a threat - however it was actually to be another former Kings man, Jamie Couzins who proved the unlikely match winner.

Proceedings started well for the homesters as Bowen made a fast start from the in-form Morley and with Luke Clifton (who’s had a fine start to the 2017 campaign) taking third, Kent were off and running with a 4-2 heat advantage. An eventful reserves race saw new boy Alex Spooner excluded after falling when leading, causing two other riders to take avoiding action. This set up a rerun in which the New Zealand born Bradley Andrews took his first ever race win in Kent colours.

A second heat advantage in the space of the opening three races arrived courtesy of an assured win from Ben Hopwood, ahead of the other former Kent favourite in the visitors’ ranks, David Mason; and with Jack Thomas taking third, this moved the SLYDE-backed Kings four points ahead (11-7). A maximum heat advantage for Lakeside in Heat 4 though levelled the scores ; and they remained level until another 4-2 from the Bowen/Clifton pairing in heat six put Kent back ahead. However this was to be the last time the Kings led on the afternoon.

A bizarre heat number seven saw a pirouette from Andrews then also Nathan Stoneman taking a tumble; so gifting a maximum heat advantage to the away side that put them two points ahead. This was extended to four after heat eight.

Heat 10 saw the one and only maximum heat advantage for the hosts. Bowen made another great start and his partner Clifton muscled his way inside the Lakeside duo and rode a brilliant race to level the scores once again. Heat 11 though proved pivotal with a 5-0 heat advantage to Lakeside . In the first staging Stoneman took a very nasty crash where he was launched off the front of his bike into the more solid part of the fence. In the rerun, the Kiwi Andrews was putting in a challenge on Lakeside debutant Jamie Couzins when he buried the bike into the air barrier on bends 1 and 2. Kent managed a 4-2 in Heat 12 to pull the score back to three points.

The last three races were all shared 3-3 with Bowen beating Zach Wajtknecht twice to complete his maximum (even outlasting his opponent in a heat 15 extended by a lap thanks to a flag marshal malfunction!). But it was not enough to prevent the Hammers running out winners.

For Couzins, called into the visitors’ ranks only yesterday after impressing at their pre-season trials, it was both a busy day (having a full quota of seven rides) but one he’ll fondly remember also – contributing to two maximum heat wins and scoring a highly credible paid nine points against his old side.

Although Kent were defeated they can take heart in the performances of Bowen, Hopwood and Clifton and also that newcomer Andrews recorded a debut race win. Kent could yet pull off an aggregate triumph in this two legged affair when the return is held at Lakeside’s Arena Essex Raceway home in Thurrock this coming Friday. After all, the message of Easter is all about resurrection!

Kent 'SLYDE' Kings 43
1. Luke Bowen 3 3 3 3 3 15
2. Luke Clifton 1 1 2 2' 6+1
3. Ben Hopwood 3 2 1' 3 0 9+1
4. Jack Thomas 1 1' 2 2 6+1
5. Nathan Stoneman 0 1 FX 1
6. Bradley Andrews 3 0 FX 0 3
7. Alex Spooner FX 1 0 1 1' 3+1

Lakeside Hammers 46
1. Ben Morley 2 3 3 1' 1' 10+2
2. Rider replacement – George Hunter
3. David Mason 2 3 1 2 8
4. Alfie Bowtell 0 2' 3 0 3 8+1
5. Zach Wajtknecht 3 2 3 2 2 12
6. Nick Laurence 0 2 0 0 2
7. Jamie Couzins 1' 2' 0 1 2' 0 0 6+3

Heat Results
1 Bowen, Morley, Clifton, Laurence 58.9 (4-2)
2 (rerun) Andrews, Laurence, Couzins, Spooner (fell exc.) 63.8 (7-5)
3 Hopwood, Mason, Thomas, Bowtell 60.0 (11-7)
4 Wajtknecht, Couzins, Spooner, Stoneman 59.3 (12-12)
5 Morley, Hopwood, Thomas, Couzins 62.1 (15-15)
6 (rerun) Bowen, Wajtknecht, Clifton, Laurence (19-17)
7 Mason, Bowtell, Stoneman, Andrews 62.3 (20-22)
8 (awarded) Bowtell, Clifton, Couzins, Spooner (fell exc.) no time (22-26)
9 Wajtknecht, Thomas, Hopwood, Laurence 58.9 (25-29)
10 Bowen, Clifton, Mason, Bowtell 60.4 (30-30)
11 (awarded) Morley, Couzins, Andrews (fell exc), Stoneman (fell exc.) no time (30-35)
12 Hopwood, Mason, Spooner, Couzins 61.8 (34-37)
13 Bowen, Wajtknecht, Morley, Andrews 58.7 (37-40)
14 (rerun) Bowtell, Thomas, Spooner, Couzins 61.6 (40-43)
15 Bowen, Wajtknecht, Morley, Hopwood no time (43-46)

Edited April 18, 2017 by Guest

[Triple.H. 1,988]

Paul Hurry coming out of retirement tomorrow

[waco 1,026]

Paul Hurry was flying at press and practice ,,to have him available when Zack,s on duty with Swindon is a big bonus for lakeside

Edited April 20, 2017 by waco

[liam 376]

Paul Hurry was flying at press and practice ,,to have him available when Zack,s on duty with Swindon is a big bonus for lakeside

Will he be available in league meetings aswell?

[Heathen1984 139]

No

[liam 376]

That's a shame I was hoping maybe him and Josh Larsen could share the spot, he was also pretty good in the 90s.

[marko 956]

So was David Mason, although actually he wasn't

[Guest]

Lakeside Hammers Speedway Press Release Hammers v Kent Kings Preview

Fans favourite Paul Hurry will be back in Hammers colours on Friday – seven years after he last rode for the club (First race 8pm).

Lakeside host Kent at The Arena Essex Raceway in the second leg of the Tunnel Trophy – in which they hold a 46-43 aggregate lead after Monday’s victory at Central Park.

With Zach Wajtknecht on SGB Premiership duty with Swindon, the Vortex Lakeside Hammers have opted to use 42-year-old Hurry in the No.5 position.

He said: “It’s going to be a great occasion and I really cannot wait! I’ve been through a hell of a lot but I’ve always stayed pretty close to the sport.

I’m definitely no stranger to The Raceway and I’ve been getting a few laps in.

Kent are a pretty solid side so it should be a great meeting for the fans to come and watch.

I’m just going to enjoy the night – but of course I’d love to get a good score and help the team win as well!”

The Hammers look set to welcome back George Hunter after sitting out of Monday’s first leg. They will also hand Jamie Couzins another opportunity to impress at reserve after a solid showing in the away fixture earlier this week.

Kent include experienced campaigners Luke Bowen and Ben Hopwood as well as 2017 British Under-21 finalist Nathan Stoneman.

There will also be six junior races prior to the start of the main event, with the youngsters expected to take to the track around 7.30.

Vortex Lakeside Hammers

Ben Morley, George Hunter, David Mason, Alfie Bowtell, Paul Hurry, Jamie Couzins, Nick Laurence.

Kent Kings

Luke Bowen, Luke Clifton, Ben Hopwood, Jack Thomas, Nathan Stoneman, Bradley Andrews, Alex Spooner.

[East End Fan 426]

Looks like a close call to me fro Friday. The Hammers did well to win Monday and the reserves will decide the result again. Hope that the M25 traffic

doesn't affect the crowd, but at least the roadworks at Junc 30 are complete. Believe that Paul Hurry will ride for us....wouldn't be allowed in a league match

so will Kent object when they arrive ? Can't see anyone beating him. Does anyone know if Stoneman is fit to ride for Kent ?

[Triple.H. 1,988]

If one of the youngsters is Max Perry you could be in for a treat

Haven't a clue how old he is but he makes Dan Bewley look like a Harlem Globetrotter but the young lad looked supersmooth at Rye House last saturday

[The Voice Of Reason 2,124]

Who are Lakeside bringing out of retirement next week - Alan Sage?

 

What a farce.

[blueherb777 571]

Who are Lakeside bringing out of retirement next week - Alan Sage?

 

What a farce.

 

Have to agree.

Very sad and concerning,I thought doing the grass-track was worrying enough.

[TonyE 822]

It is just a challenge meeting and gives the less than thoroughly familiar with the track more competitive racing experience there.

[E I Addio 15,849]

It is just a challenge meeting and gives the less than thoroughly familiar with the track more competitive racing experience there.

Agreed. It is just a challenge match and thre is a lack of decent heatleaders in the NL. It's. Not as if Hurry is doing some quality youngster out of a worthwhile ride, and although we wouldn't want it on a regular basis it's going to be far better for the crowd than to have r/r or some inadequate guest.

I do agree though that with Hurrys injury record he must be mad, but that's a decision for him.