Speedway and Motorsport

The loss of a rider of the calibre of Magnus Zetterstrom - riding in the Polish League Play Off's - would have left many teams struggling to even retain the bonus point, never mind harbour thoughts of winning the tie.

Such is the spirit in this seasons Somerset 'Sharp' Rebels side, that not only did they win the bonus point, but came very close to snatching victory on a track where earlier in the season they went down to a 16-point defeat in the Premier Trophy.

None typified that spirit more than stand in skipper Simon Walker, who’s 7-point tally almost totalled his accumulated returns at the track for the last three years.

Two more who fell into the same category were, Ritchie Hawkins, who equalled his best score in the last three years at the track, but from less rides, and Jordan Frampton, with his top score at Queensway Meadows.

Emil Kramer scored 11 points

The Rebels fans also did there bit, turning up in numbers despite the disappointment of not having their 'Number One' rider to cheer on. Under the BSPA rules, the absence of Zetterstrom could only be covered by a Conference League guest, that booking fell to former Wasp Karl Mason.

The meeting opened with Simon Walker taking the opening heat in a re-run. The original start was brought back following a huge crash, between teammates Michal Rajkowski, and Tom Hedley. In a tight first bend with all but Karl Mason in the mix, Hedley appeared to fail to turn, and tangled with Rajkowski, taking them both heavily into the safety fence, with such force that Rajkowski punched a big hole in the fence, with the young Australian also breaking a panel. Both men were down for some time, but eventually regained their feet none too worse for their experience, although Hedley's bike had seen better days. Former GP referee Tony Steele took the view that the field had tightened up, and put all four riders back in the re-run.

In the re-run Walker was fast away, with Rajkowski challenging on the first turn. Walker fought off the Wasps top man, and pulled out a lead on the back straight, which his was not to lose. Mason never got in the hunt, and the points were shared.

Heat 2 saw both Rebels make a good start, with Jordan Frampton leading at the first bend. Danny Warwick was in a good position on the wide outside, and a Rebels 5-1 looked on the cards until Warwick lost grip, and spun out on the second turn. Warwick did remount, but was not in contention from there on. Nick Simmons gave chase, but never got in striking distance of the flying Frampton, result a second shared heat.

Heat 4 was another taking two starts to get under way. The original running was stopped after Chris Schramm had gone down in the middle of the opening turns, following a good start from both Rebels.

Ritchie Hawkins and Danny Warwick made the gate again in the re-start, but Schramm went by Warwick on the second bend. Barry Burchatt closed up on Warwick, and repeated Schramm's move at the same spot on the following lap. Hawkins was away and gone, and never looked in danger as he took the win. Warwick eventually retired at the end of the final lap. With four heats gone the teams were still locked together at 12-points all.

The deadlock was broken in the very next heat, as the home pair of Atkin and Morris made a great start, just as Simon Walker missed the break. Walker chased the pair hard, but could never get close enough to strike a blow.

The Wasps led for the first time with the 5-1 taking them into a 4-point lead. The Rebels didn't let this setback worry them, and over the next two heats they clawed back the lead to get back on level terms.

Ritchie Hawkins trapped well in Heat 6 to lead alongside Michal Rajkowski. Jordan Frampton then appeared on the scene to challenge the young Polish rider on the second turn. Rajkowski fought off the challenge, to give chase to Hawkins. He tried hard on a wide line but couldn't get a blow in, as the Rebels took a 2-4 advantage to cut the lead to two.

Exclusion

Emil Kramer made it two wins from two starts as he came from behind to win Heat 7. Kramer held off Schramm easily, and Katt held on to his third spot, for another 2-4 to the Rebels, levelling the scores at 21-21.

The Rebels went into the lead for the first time in Heat 8, with a great 5-1 from Walker, and Frampton, who replaced Warwick while Heat 10 was shared after Phil Morris was excluded following a Ritchie Hawkins fall in the middle of the opening bends. It looked a bit harsh on the Welshman, as many in the stadium were expecting all four to return to the tapes.

In the re-start Tony Atkin made a good start, but looked in danger of losing the lead as Hawkins, now recovered from his fall, challenged up his inside on the second bend. Atkins just found enough grip to fend off Hawkins as they pulled off the turn, but he could never drop his guard as the Rebels man shadowed him for all four laps.

If Morris's exclusion appeared harsh, then Stephan Katt's in the very next heat was just plain wrong, as Tom Hedley clearly took his front wheel away in the opening bend.

Jordan Frampton was the Rebels top rider

In the re-run the remaining three riders made a fairly even break, but in the first turn Michal Rajkowski forced Emil Kramer so wide that they looked as if they were on their way the car park.

Rajkowski went on to take the lead, leaving Kramer to battle with Tom Hedley for second spot. Kramer challenged the 19-year-old Victorian around the opening turns of Laps 2 and 3, eventually getting a run on him, and passing at the end of Lap 3. Rajkowski was beyond recall and the Wasps grabbed a 4-2 to cut the lead back to two points, but could not stop the bonus point going back to the Oak Tree Arena, as the Rebels reached 31-points, one more than they needed.

The next two heats were shared, with Jordan Frampton riding a magnificent race in Heat 11.

Heat 13 proved to be something of a turning point in the match, with the Rebels holding a two-point lead they only needed a good result to give them a chance of snatching a superb result in the absence of Zorro.

It looked on the cards as the tapes rose, with Ritchie Hawkins breaking alongside Chris Schramm, and Michal Rajkowski. Rajkowski just led, with Hawkins and Schramm in close attendance.

The Rebels were now two points down, but still in contention for the points.

As the tapes rose, Katt made his worst start of the day, as Nick Simmons led at the opening turn, challenged by Jordan Frampton. Tony Atkin swooped wide to pass the entire field on the second bend to lead into the back straight, with Simmons on his inside. The pair had Frampton all over the back of them, and on the second lap he came with a great run forcing his way between the pair on the back straight. He could not quite complete the move as the Wasp pair slammed the door shut, forcing him to knock the throttle off. From there on they shut him out, but he never gave up and was all over them, but couldn't find a way by before the flag. That 5-1 sealed the match for the Wasps, denying the Rebels a last heat decider.

The nominated heat was shared with Michal Rajkowski taking the win, after once more taking the car park route around the first bend, blocking Ritchie Hawkins good run in the process. Emil Kramer got the better of Tony Atkin on the second lap, but the damage was done, and the Rebels had to make do with a shared heat.

Atkins great team ride with Simmons in Heat 14 had stolen the match for the home side, but the Rebels had fought hard with great determination, and should consider themselves unlucky in the process.

The fans turned out in force to support their team, and were rewarded with a magnificent fight, even if the result was not what they had hoped for.

This result, and others around the country had left the Somerset 'Sharp' Rebels in sixth place in the table, and with some work to do if they are to progress to the play offs.

One thing is for certain though, and that is if they fail, then it won't be for the lack of fight or bottle if today’s showing is anything to go by. Simon Walker, Ritchie Hawkins, and Jordan Frampton all stepped up to the plate today, ably supported by Emil Kramer.

If there was an award for the Rebels 'Man of the Match' in away fixtures, then today's would surely have gone to Jordan Frampton, with a superb 13+2 return, and some 'never say die' racing to boot.