Key:+ = from 15m handicap,  * = Tactical ride for double points,  ! = Tactical substitution from 15m
SHEFFIELD SPEEDWAY MATCH REPORTS 2011
Somerset 'Rebels' v SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE 'Tigers' Premier League 31 May

Referee: Chris Durno

0102030405 0607080910 1112131415 Tot+Bp
1. Travis McGowan 8.70 1 0 2 1 4
2. Dakota North r/r 5.45 - - - - (5)
3. Christian Hefenbrock 6.43 3 2' 2 2' 0 0 9+2
4. Sam Masters 6.83 1 3 3 *6 1 14
5. Cory Gathercole 7.57 2 1 1 0 4
6. Alex Davies

4.00

1' 0 0 0 - 1+1
7. James Holder © 4.08 0 2 3 1' 0 2 0 8+1
Steve Bishop 1 3 4 2 5 3 1 3 5 2 1 2 1 6 1
Somerset 'Rebels' 1 4 8 10 15 18 19 22 27 29 30 32 33 39 40
Sheffield 'Tigers' 5 8 10 14 15 18 23 26 27 31 36 40 45 48 53
 Eric Boocock 5 3 2 4 1 3 5 3 1 4 5 4 5 3 5
1. Ricky Ashworth © 8.05 3 1 3 2' 2' 11+2
2. Hugh Skidmore 5.80 2' 0 3 2' 7+2
3. Shane Parker 7.82 2 2' 3 3 3 13+1
4. Emiliano Sanchez 6.46 0 ns - - 0
5. Josh Auty 7.98 3 1' fx 3 7+1
6. Simon Lambert 3.87 3 2 3 0 - 1 1 2 12
7. Ashley Birks 3.00 0 1 - 1 1' 3+1
Track record: 56.08
Leigh Adams 2007
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
58.44 59.27 59.22 58.39 59.27 59.07 59.42 59.11 59.72 58.44 58.91 58.39 59.72 60.11 59.75

2011 ProgrammeSheffield had a point to prove having lost their home match against the Rebels. Dakota North at reserve had been the Rebels trump card as he raced to 11 paid 14 at Owlerton but he was now on the injured list with the Rebels using rider replacement.

Ricky Ashworth made a lightning start to heat one with team mate Hugh Skidmore on his exhaust and Travis McGowan rounding James Holder out of turn two. No one strays from the inside line and that's how the race finishes. Ashley Birks broke the tapes in heat 2 and try as he might he couldn't get back into the points. Simon Lambert made a clean start and pulled clear of the Rebels young Aussie reserves. Emiliano Sanchez is the meat in a Rebels sandwich and falls in heat 3. At the second time of asking Shane Parker again leads into the first turn only for Christian Hefenbrock to drive around him onto the back straight. The Tigers pair trap ahead in heat 4 although Corey Gathercole passes Ashley down the back straight. Josh Auty never looked like being caught and Ashley contains Alex Davies at the back. Sam Masters and Christian Hefenbrock dominate from the gate in heat 5 and Ricky cannot find a way past the German. The Rebels maximum heat win levels the scores on the night.

The Rebels gate ahead in heat 6 with James Holder driving around Travis out of turn 2. Simon went around Travis out of the fourth turn and Josh took two laps before he made his pass stick. Emiliano gets a nudge from Alex Davis and falls on the second turn of heat 7. Simon Lambert replaces Emiliano who has hurt his elbow and celebrates with a masterful outside blast which takes him into the lead. Shane then passes Corey wide on he pit bend at the end of the first lap and the Tigers hold on for a maximum heat win. James Holder moves Simon out of his way to join Christian at the front but Hugh Skidmore swoops around the field to join the leaders. It locks like his outside line has given him the lead but the German fights back and the lead changes on every turn. Hugh gets a full length ahead on the third lap, switches to the inside and pulls clear. Simon took Ashley's place but never recovered after the first corner and trails home last. Josh took a heavy tumble in heat 9 when Sam Masters pulled a locker in front of him. The Rebels take as 5-1 in the rerun but Ashley hounded them all the way to the line and was half a wheel behind at the flag. Shane Parker traps to lead heat 10 from Travis McGowan. Simon Lambert is out again in place of the injured Emiliano and he blast around James Holder on the pits turn to go third and put the visitors back into a narrow 2 point lead.

Ricky becomes the first rider to win from gate one to win heat 11 and with Hugh rounding Alex Davies on the first lap the Tigers extend their lead to six points. Shane traps with Simon in heat 12 but James Holder battles past into second place and time is running out for the Rebels. Heat 13 sees Josh squeeze through the narrowest of gaps between Travis and the back straight fence to take the lead and then Ricky dives under Travis out of the pit turn to go second. Ricky survives a hairy moment on the third lap to put the Tigers 12 ahead with two races outstanding. Tactical time! Sam Masters dons the black and white and James Holder takes over from Alex Davies. Simon traps ahead but is passed by Sam as they enter the third turn while at the back Ashley picks up drive on the inside to relegate James. Three points is quite sufficient to give the Tigers the away win and the Tigers fans on the third turn begin the celebrations. Heat 15 sees Shane in possibly his last ever race at the Oak Tree Arena and off gate 4 he rounds the Rebels and then passes teammate Ricky down the back straight. Christian and Sam have no opportunity to catch the rampant Tigers and Shane is more than delighted to high-five all the long distance fans on the third turn.

A wonderful result for the Tigers who at last have been able to show what they're capable of in front of the cameras, as the weather has invariably spoiled the spectacle on previous occasions.

Return to Sheffield Speedway fixtures and results
Return to Sheffield Speedway homepage