The Isle of Wight Warriors have suffered their first defeat of the season after being narrowly beaten 46-44 by the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in a thrilling last-heat decider at Smallbrook Stadium.
Tuesday (11th August)’s challenge match went right down to the final lap, with the sides locked at 42-42 heading into the deciding heat.
On another hot evening, track staff worked hard to keep dust under control as the surface dried quickly, before supporters were treated to a closely fought night of racing.
The Warriors made the perfect start when Darryl Ritchings recorded a 69.82-second pillar-to-post victory in the opening heat, with Tayla Street taking third to give the hosts an early 4-2 advantage.
Australian Ben Whalley responded by winning Heat 2, ahead of Arran Butcher and Danno Verge, before James Shanes stormed to victory in the third.
Ritchings secured his second win of the night in Heat 4, with Mildenhall’s Simpson passing Butcher for second. The resulting 4-2 nevertheless doubled the Warriors’ advantage to 14-10.
Mildenhall then drew level after Charlie Southwick suffered an alarming final-bend tumble when his chain came off while chasing Whalley. Scott Campos took second to secure a 1-5 for the visitors.
Shanes headed home Ritchings in Heat 6 to keep the scores level before the Fen Tigers moved ahead when Simpson produced a pass on Verge, with Sadler taking third ahead of Butcher.
The visitors extended their advantage to 6 points as Whalley and Campos combined for a 1-5, with Street taking third after Southwick’s second machine ground to a halt.
Shanes won again in Heat 9, ahead of Butcher and Verge, leaving the scores at 24-30.
There was drama in Heat 10 when Simpson lifted and crashed into Southwick, forcing a rerun.
Southwick recovered from the incident to win the restarted race, combining with Alex Spooner for a 5-1 that brought the Warriors back to within 2 points at 29-31.
Ritchings then got the better of Whalley to keep the deficit at 2, before Shanes produced a superb ride from last to first in Heat 12 to prevent the home side from moving back ahead.
Sadler claimed his first victory of the meeting in the following heat, beating Spooner, while Harrison took third to leave Mildenhall 41-37 ahead with 2 heats remaining.
The Warriors refused to give in and a dramatic Heat 14 saw Southwick produce an outside pass on Simpson, who then came down on the third lap. Verge took advantage as the hosts drew level at 42-42.
It meant everything rested on the final heat.
Ritchings and Butcher made the stronger start, with Whalley and Shanes initially behind. Shanes first passed his teammate before setting his sights on the Warriors pair.
He passed Butcher, with Whalley following, before Ritchings looked set to take the victory that would have secured a draw for the Isle of Wight.
However, Shanes went wide at turn 4 before cutting back past Ritchings to snatch the race victory, secure a 15-point maximum and give Mildenhall a 46-44 win.
Visiting team manager Kieran Phillips has said:
“Everyone likes a last heat decider, but wow, that was something special.”
Warriors promoter Martin Widman has said:
“What a meeting and what a final race, just being pipped at the post, but speedway was the real winner.”
Ritchings top-scored for the Warriors with 13+1, followed by Verge with 8+3, Spooner with 7+3, Butcher with 5 and Street with 3+1.
For Mildenhall, Shanes recorded 15, Whalley 12, Simpson 8, Sadler 5, Campos 5+3 and Rogers 1.
The next action at Smallbrook Stadium will take place on Tuesday (18th August), when the Mark Cooper Best Pairs event and British Women’s Championship final will be staged from 19:00.
Rachael Hellowell, Tia Brant, Annastasia Williams and Tayla Street are listed to compete in the Women’s Championship.
The Best Pairs meeting is once again being sponsored by Isle of Wight speedway supporter Mark Cooper.
Mark has said:
“I am very pleased to be sponsoring the Best Pairs meeting, it’s always one of the highlights of a Warriors season.
“The use of the 4/3/2 points scoring means team riding is a must, encouraging close racing, all culminating in semi-finals and a final bound to be dramatic to the very last turn, where a fall or dreaded mechanical failure can rob even the likeliest looking winners of victory.
“We have seen it all at Smallbrook over the years and should ‘expect the unexpected’ once more.
“I have managed an IOW Best Pair four times in the past, twice winning in the process, but as the meeting sponsor will rest ‘The Surrey Sliders’ this term, instead watching it all from the stands.
“The Team Managers will certainly have a memorable experience with some nail-biting moments; and the crowd having another enjoyable and exciting evening in what is proving to be a very successful and pleasingly well attended summer season of racing on the island.”
