Post by bottesfordbullets on Aug 21, 2015 17:09:10 GMT
The 100% home record for the Bottesford Bullets disappeared in the space of three races in a hugley entertaining affair at Lincolnshire's Bullet Arena.
The in form Stone Cross Stars, ably led by the man of the moment Ben Harris, were just too hot to handle on a thrilling day's racing. The visitors took the spoils and all the points home as the Bullets imploded and lost 43-47.
Harris laid down his marker in Heat 1 with a blistering ride, coming close to the track record in the process, Zoltan Slepukhin chased hard but Harris held him off superbly, whilst Hamish Hamilton, moved to No.2 ran Star's No.2 Lewis Miller close as the visitors recorded a 4-2.Reserves Luke Patryk and Lewie Carr returned the compliment in Heat 2, but the visitors responded with two further heat advantages in the before Mike Cartwright shot around the first bend in Heat 5 to inflict the only home defeat of the night on Harris, who team rode superbly behind Miller to keep Will Stone at bay in a shared heat.
Cartwight was the pick of thr home side recording 11+1 from his five rides, whilst Slepukhin also hit double figures from 5 races, surprisingly the in form Martin Greer failed to win a race for the first time this term, as Stone Cross' Heat Leaders had a productive meeting, taking the chequered flag on 9 occasions, perhaps the most telling statistic.
With scores locked at 36-36 after a Bottesford 4-2 in Heat 12 by Cartwight and Patryk, in for Lewie Carr as a reserve change, the meeting was poised on a knife edge. It was Stone Cross though who then produced the next 3 heat winners, but the damage was really done in Heat 13. Ben Harris flew out of the traps and forced Greer and Slepukhin wide, allowing team mate Justin Ross to cut back inside and join Harris at the front.Despite the best efforts of the home pairing they were unable to pass the visitor's duo and the meeting was lost in a corner.
Bottesford team manager was clearly disappointed to lose at home, but remains behind his team. " I'm gutted to be fair, whilst I recognise the Stars are a good side, I really felt we had enough to take the spoils today. I actually take some of the blame as I reshuffled the pack, perhaps a knee jerk reaction to our two leg KO cup loss to the Jets last week. I thought Hamish and Will would benefit, though, in hindsight, I maybe plumped too soon as our home form has been good. Maybe I'll revert back and consider trying the swap away to give us presence in Heat 1 on the road. Hats off to the visitors, Ben Harris is on fire for them and they have a strong spine, he played Heat 13 like the talent he is and left room for his mate to come under Zoltan and Martin."
Duff was quick to point out his own side's values though, adding "We will bounce back I'm sure - the challenge now is to react positively, we are at home again next week and I will be firing the boys up for it, I want to go through the season without another Home defeat, and we really need to grab a morale boosting win and a win on the road to get our season back on track, this team has huge potential and I am waiting for the day we all click in together, when we do we'll give someone a huge hiding. I feel for the lads today, and the fans, no-one likes to lose, let least on their home track. We will sit down, have a meeting to sort things out and bounce back I'm sure"
The in form Stone Cross Stars, ably led by the man of the moment Ben Harris, were just too hot to handle on a thrilling day's racing. The visitors took the spoils and all the points home as the Bullets imploded and lost 43-47.
Harris laid down his marker in Heat 1 with a blistering ride, coming close to the track record in the process, Zoltan Slepukhin chased hard but Harris held him off superbly, whilst Hamish Hamilton, moved to No.2 ran Star's No.2 Lewis Miller close as the visitors recorded a 4-2.Reserves Luke Patryk and Lewie Carr returned the compliment in Heat 2, but the visitors responded with two further heat advantages in the before Mike Cartwright shot around the first bend in Heat 5 to inflict the only home defeat of the night on Harris, who team rode superbly behind Miller to keep Will Stone at bay in a shared heat.
Cartwight was the pick of thr home side recording 11+1 from his five rides, whilst Slepukhin also hit double figures from 5 races, surprisingly the in form Martin Greer failed to win a race for the first time this term, as Stone Cross' Heat Leaders had a productive meeting, taking the chequered flag on 9 occasions, perhaps the most telling statistic.
With scores locked at 36-36 after a Bottesford 4-2 in Heat 12 by Cartwight and Patryk, in for Lewie Carr as a reserve change, the meeting was poised on a knife edge. It was Stone Cross though who then produced the next 3 heat winners, but the damage was really done in Heat 13. Ben Harris flew out of the traps and forced Greer and Slepukhin wide, allowing team mate Justin Ross to cut back inside and join Harris at the front.Despite the best efforts of the home pairing they were unable to pass the visitor's duo and the meeting was lost in a corner.
Bottesford team manager was clearly disappointed to lose at home, but remains behind his team. " I'm gutted to be fair, whilst I recognise the Stars are a good side, I really felt we had enough to take the spoils today. I actually take some of the blame as I reshuffled the pack, perhaps a knee jerk reaction to our two leg KO cup loss to the Jets last week. I thought Hamish and Will would benefit, though, in hindsight, I maybe plumped too soon as our home form has been good. Maybe I'll revert back and consider trying the swap away to give us presence in Heat 1 on the road. Hats off to the visitors, Ben Harris is on fire for them and they have a strong spine, he played Heat 13 like the talent he is and left room for his mate to come under Zoltan and Martin."
Duff was quick to point out his own side's values though, adding "We will bounce back I'm sure - the challenge now is to react positively, we are at home again next week and I will be firing the boys up for it, I want to go through the season without another Home defeat, and we really need to grab a morale boosting win and a win on the road to get our season back on track, this team has huge potential and I am waiting for the day we all click in together, when we do we'll give someone a huge hiding. I feel for the lads today, and the fans, no-one likes to lose, let least on their home track. We will sit down, have a meeting to sort things out and bounce back I'm sure"