Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 10 July 2008

A REMARKABLE Premier League meeting at Derwent Park packed in enough drama to make up for the lack of speedway action at the track over the last three weeks.

TIGHT ACTION: Workington's John Branney (blue helmet) and Charles Wright (red) on their way to taking maximum points from Redcar's James Cockle (yellow) and Scott James (green)

A rain-off and the staging of the British Grand Prix meant Workington fans hadn’t seen their team in action since June 14.

The early heats were eye-catchingly quick, if processional, but the excitement of the night was provided by a Gary Havelock-inspired Redcar comeback which almost saw them snatch a victory.

With just five races left the Bears trailed by 12 points but when it came to sorting out the line up for the nominated riders race to conclude the meeting, the Comets only held a slender lead.

Havelock had rattled up four straight wins, one of them a six-pointer from a tactical ride, and there was a distinct possibility that the former world champion could lift his side to an unexpected victory.

No wonder Havelock was full of praise for the Workington track afterwards, declaring it to be the best he’s raced on this year.

It had been a traumatic 48 hours for the Redcar skipper after he had been released when he declined to take a pay cut.

That was sorted out in the interim, with the help of the Redcar fans, and Havelock seemed determined to repay the large group of travelling Bears supporters.

But there wasn’t quite the fairytale ending that Havelock and those Redcar travellers might have hoped.

In the final race it was Kauko Nieminen and Carl Stonehewer who trapped to get away and Havelock was always going to be third from a long way out.

There was great relief for the Comets and their fans who could hardly have expected it to turn out as close as it did.

When James Grieves won heat ten with the race points shared he was the first Redcar rider, apart from Havelock to win a race.

But Grieves (9) and fellow heat leader Ty Proctor (10) gave excellent support to their number one, as like the Comets the visitors had to go into battle with six riders and use the replacement facility.

Proctor, a young Australian in his first season of British racing, and having his first look at the Derwent Park track, looked exceptionally promising.

He had five straight second places before missing out at the back in the last, but he was always in contention, pushing the man in front.

Workington were going to find it difficult with Daniel Nermark, the top rider in the Premier League and using rider replacement for Joe Haines.

Kevin Doolan, who stood in for Nermark, is a good rider but he wasn’t able to stamp his authority on the meeting like the Swede and could only manage one win and six points from his four rides.

The replacement rides for Haines added up to five points - three of those to Carl Stonehewer when he was brought in for heat eight.

Workington were also still with Finn Tomi Reima and Doolan’s King’s Lynn team-mate Kozza Smith stood in. He was probably worth more than the three points he scored because he’s clearly a 100 per cent rider.

It meant the bulk of Workington’s hopes were pinned on the shoulders of Stoney and club skipper Kauko Nieminen, and both pairs were broad enough to take it.

Nieminen, back at Derwent Park after his Best Pairs triumph had a night to remember again. He had four wins in five rides, only losing out to Havelock after a gripping struggle in heat five but gained his revenge in the last when the chips were really down.

But Nieminen also set the second fastest time ever round Derwent Park when he clocked 63,5 in winning the third race.

In actual fact Doolan’s only win was clocked at 63.8 which is the joint third fastest ever round the circuit. James Wright was given the same time last season.

Although Redcar won the first race advantage 4-2 after Scott James nipped in ahead of Smith for third place, Workington turned things round with six heat advantages out of the next eight races - the other two were shared.

Heat seven produced a remarkable chain of events after the four riders had raced a full lap before realising the red lights had been put on by referee Tony Steele.

They were haring round the fourth turn virtually together and it seemed a shame to halt the race but the lights had been put on almost immediately after the tapes went up because of an unsatisfactory start.

There was more drama at the end of the re-run when a Workington 5-1 changed quickly and the Comets just scrambled a 4-2.

Charles Wright was winning and Stonehewer was comfortably in second shepherding his partner home.

Unfortunately Wright lost a primary chain coming round the last turn and although Stonehewer raced through to win followed by James Grieves it was a tight call for third.

Wright just managed to propel himself over the line ahead of Josh Auty who hadn’t seemed to realise until too late that the Workington rider was in trouble.

Things started to turn Redcar’s way in heat 11 when Havelock took a tactical ride. Although Stonehewer pushed him hard all the way he couldn’t get through and with Auty beating John Branney for third the Bears were back in business on a 7-2.

Nieminen and Wright, split by Grieves, helped restore some sort of order for the Comets but then two successive heat maximums really put the growl into the Bears.

Havelock went from last to first round the first two bends of heat thirteen and Doolan went in the opposite direction. With Proctor getting in ahead of Stonehewer the Redcar pair saw it through.

Workington badly wanted a share of the spoils in heat 14 to calm any fraying nerves but it took three attempts to get a result - and not a good one for Workington.

Smith tipped off at the first bend in the initial attempt but referee Steel put all four riders back for the re-run.

All seemed well for the Comets when Wright hit the front and Smith was settled in third. But on the third bend of the first lap Smith wobbled off again and Redcar’s James Cockle did exceptionally well to put his bike down and avoid any contact.

It left Wright on his own to face Cockle and Auty, and this time the Workington rider didn’t make the break. He tried hard to peg back Cockle after Auty had flown but to no avail.

Redcar’s great escape was looking of Houdini proportions until Nieminen and Stonehewer stopped the rot to put the shackles back on and ensure a Comets win.

Comets 49: Doolan 6, RR for Haines, Nieminen 14, Smith 3, Stonehewer 14, Wright 8, Branney 4.

Redcar: Havelock 16, RR replacement for Keskinen, Grieves 9, Auty 4, Proctor 10, James 2, Cockle 3.