Speedway: Wolves given mauling

Already missing Josh Larsen, out after breaking three bones in his right ankle at Coventry, Hammers were further weakened during the meeting by injury to Paul Hurry, while Kelvin Tatum continued to be handicapped by a hip problem that will see him undergo replacement hip surgery at the season's.

However Leigh Lanham, another riding through the pain barrier, scored a magnificent paid 15 points from the reserve berth to underpin the victory whilst second string Dean Barker also showed superb timing to produce his best return of the season with a paid 14 points.

The meeting started disastrously for the home side who conceded a 1-5 in the opening heat before a collision between both Hammers' reserves in heat 2 when Hurry hit Lanham's back wheel left Hurry badly bruised and shaken.

However Arena showed steely determination and reeled off three consecutive heat maximums with the Tatum and Barker combination claiming two of the successes, with Mark Loram.

The home side were reduced to just one representative, Loram, in heat 7 when Hurry was forced to pull out, but the Hammers' Grand Prix rider dominated the race throughout.

A 24-17 advantage was extended to 34-19 after heat 9 following successive heats 5-1's before the Wolves' use of the golden tactical ride floundered when Michael Max failed to make up the 15 metre handicap on the home duo.

Loram produced a scintillating ride in heat 11 after a tardy start. He picked off David Howe towards the end of the second lap and then charged past Max on the third lap before powering away from his rivals.

Max gained revenge for an earlier defeat by Loram reducing the difference to nine points with the score favouring Arena 45-36 and although David Howe was given a tactical ride in the penultimate heat, Barker gated quickly to negate the potential threat in a shared heat.

Published Thursday July 22, 2004

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