THE Lakeside Hammers kept their Elite League Play Off hopes on track on Friday with an 18 point victory over the Wolverhampton Wolves at the Arena- Essex Raceway.
The Hammers were led to victory by a majestic five ride 15 point maximum from Peter Karlsson against his former side.
A delighted Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook stated: “Full credit to the team for a great effort and to the track staff in providing a great circuit on another difficult weather day. PK (Peter Karlsson) was awesome and on any other day would have taken all the plaudits, although he shared them on Friday evening with young Justin Sedgmen, whose heat 11 victory over the Wolves Swedish Grand Prix superstar Freddie Lindgren, who was on double point ’Tactical Ride’, will live long in the memory of all those present”.
Despite the Hammers conceding a maximum 5-1 heat advantage in the opening heat the home side soon took control of the match and were eight points up after five races. That lead increase to 12 points after nine heats and that resulted in the Wolves using the first of their ‘Tactical Rides’ in heat 11 when Pole Robert Miskowiak donned the black and white helmet colour. That move misfired for them as the Pole was kept at the back and eventually retired from the race. The stage was then set for Justin Sedgmen to claim a memorable victory over Freddie Lindgren. That put the Hammers 14 points up with just four heats remaining. Peter Karlsson completed his five ride maximum in the final race of the night although by that stage the three important Elite League points were already in the hands of the Hammers. PK also received a new set of four road tyres for his vehicle courtesy of the meeting sponsors, Skidmarques, who had put up that incentive to any of the Hammers riders who scored maximum points from their scheduled rides.
The next action for the Lakeside Hammers will be in two weeks time, on Friday 3rd August, when they are at home at the Arena Essex Raceway to the Belle Vue Aces in an Elite League fixture.
