Pickering won heat 1 despite close attention from the pushing George Stancl but Andy Moore was tailed off at the back. Paul Clews burst past James out of the second turn in heat 2, and James just held off Trent Leverington despite some hairy first turns, probably caused by the sun setting over the safety fence! Ricky ran into Richard Hall's rear wheel on the 2nd turn in heat 3, and Robbie and Moggo were too hot for Richard in the rerun. Stekkers took heat 4 from André with Ben again well adrift at the back. George was good value again in heat 5 and was all over Robbie but there was no way past, while Andy never even looked like catching Moggo.

Pickering took heat 6 easily (no sign of engine problems!), but while James swooped around the pits turn moving from last to second his skipper did the opposite. Richard Hall was a faller on the 2nd turn in heat 7 trying to fnd his way around Paul Clews, and in the rerun Stekkers was joind at the front when Paul blasted around Ricky on the pits turn on he second lap. Following two poor last places Andy Moore was given a tactical ride in heat 8. Trent Leverington sped into the lead with Rob Grant making himself very wide as James tried every which way to get past before having to pull over of the last lap to allow his team mate through for the extra point. Robbie and Moggo left André trailing in heat 9 with Ben Wilson hopelessly out of touch. Pickering (bike still sweet) passed Ricky out of turn 2, but Richard tucked in behind and kept Rob Grant at the back to share heat 10.

Stekkers took heat 11 from George with Paul Clews more than a match for Andy Moore, and Robbie completed his paid maximum in heat 12 despite being pushed by Richard Hall, with James accounting for Trent Leverington for another shared heat. Pickering took heat 13 and it became a maximum as Stekkers passed George on the second lap. Ricky (on a tactical) got between Moggo and Paul Clews down the back straight in heat 14 but Moggo cleverly closed him down on the pits bend to allow Paul into the lead for another maximum heat win. André became Sheffield's solitary heat winner after a ragged start to heat 15 and was able to show a clean pair of heels to Stekkers with Pickering unable to pass Stancl at the back.

An abysmal showing from the Tigers with only the battling George Stancl and James Birkinshaw due any credit. The Stoke track was probably in the best condition I've seen it in for some years but there were only four passes after the second bend on the first lap in 15 races. Hardly the 'fantastic entertainment' that the centre green announcer was endlessly telling us we were witnessing, but mildly better than having to listen to him arguing with the home supporters or ranting at the drivers parked along the back straight.

Andy Moore and Ben Wilson have a lot to atone for after such pathetic displays and hopefully the Vikings will pay the penalty...!

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