KINGS LYNN BARRACUDAS 46
WEYMOUTH DOONAN WILDCATS 44
LAST-heat heartache cost the Wey-mouth Doonan Wildcats a share of the spoils at the Norfolk Arena on Saturday night.
The Wildcats led 38-34 going into the final three races but a mix-up between Mark ‘Buzz’ Burrows (7) and Lee Smart (9) in heat 13 handed the Kings Lynn Barracudas their only 5-1 of the night to level the score and set up a tense finale.
A shared heat followed before an enthralling race-off, which at one stage looked like it would end in a stalemate, saw home rider Adam Allott (10+1) go around the outside of James Cockle (10) on the last bend to snatch his side a dramatic victory.
The results means Kings Lynn now top the National League table but they have had one more meeting than the Wildcats, who sit just one point adrift in second place.
Weymouth team manager Jem Dicken said: “We are all very disappointed but on the night we just came up against a good side.
“Terry Day (2) had mechanical problems in his first couple of rides but it was in heat 13 where everything changed.
“We were 38-34 ahead going into that race but Mark Burrows and Lee Smart messed each other up and it enabled Kings Lynn to score their only 5-1 of the night to level the score. And to be honest we never really recovered from that.
“We really needed a heat advantage going into the last race but we did not get it and in the end Adam Allott overtook James Cockle on the last bend to snatch them victory by just two points.
“Due to the scoring in the league this year at least we have come away with a point but we set ourselves high standards and really we wanted all four.
“On the positive side, James is riding well and Mark went okay despite the mishap in his last race. It was a big track and although he struggled at times you can see he is getting closer to full fitness.
“He raced well on Friday night and I am sure it won’t be too much longer until he is firing on all cylinders after a bit of time away from competitive racing.”
Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ mouth-watering Knockout Cup tie against local rivals the Bournemouth Buccaneers will not take place at the Wessex Stadium this week as first hoped.
The Buccaneers, who have not completed a meeting in the National League yet, cannot raise a team this Friday due to too many of their riders doubling up with Premier League sides.
Dicken added: “The Bournemouth tie was never officially a fixture. This Friday was when we wanted to hold the meeting but they cannot do it on that night.
“In fact we have given them three nights and they have said they cannot raise a team for any of them.
“I think they are having problems with too many of their riders doubling up. They want us to ride on a Saturday but why should we change our race night just so they can field a stronger team? We certainly won’t be doing that.”
Instead of taking on Bournemouth the Wildcats will now travel to the Newport Hornets this Friday night for another National League clash before holding an open practice session at the Wessex Bus Raceway on Saturday.
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