STOKE 48 BIRMINGHAM 45 

STOKE Easy Rider Potters got back to winning ways with a three point victory over local rivals Birmingham in the Premier Trophy at Loomer Road on Saturday night. 

The Potters took an early lead in the meeting when Klaus Jakobsen and Jesper Kristiansen teamed up for a 5-1 heat advantage in heat two over Marek Mroz and Ben Taylor to give the Potters an 8-4 lead.

The Brummies response with immediate as Ludvig Lindgren and Robert Ksiezak teamed up for a 4-2 heat win in heat three before Tomasz Piszcz and Marek Mroz added to the Potters woes with a 5-1 advantage in heat four to put the Brummies 13-11 up after four heats. Birmingham extended their lead in heat five with a 4-2 advantage from Jason Lyons and Richard Sweetman over Jason Bunyan as the West Midlands outfit lead 17-13.

Stoke hit back with a superb 5-1 from skipper Lee Complin and Tom P Madsen as the Potters pair team rode keep pole Tomasz Piszcz at bay until he retired from the race, putting  the teams level after six heats at 18 all.

In the next four heats Stoke built up a twelve point lead as Jesper Kristiansen and Phil Morris gained a 4-2 in heat seven over Robert Ksiezak, then Madsen and Jakobsen added a 5-1 in heat eight before Bunyan and Phillips gained a hard fought heat nine 4-2 over Piszcz in nine. Complin and Madsen piled on the pressure in heat ten as the Potters added another 5-1 heat win over Ksiezak and Lindgren to give the Potters a 36-24 lead after ten races.

Brummies boss Graham Drury then nominated Birmingham skipper Jason Lyons as a tactical ride in heat eleven and he duly obliged with a comfortable victory and with partner Richard Sweetman following him home the Potters lead was cut to just five points to 37-32.

Jakobsen and Glen Phillips edged the Potters back into a seven point lead with a 4-2 in heat twelve over Ksiezak, but the Brummies were not finished and Piszcz and Lyons combined to take a 5-1 heat win in heat thirteen over Kristiansen and Complin to reduce the deficit to just three points at 42-39.

Bunyan took the race victory in heat fourteen as he held off the challenge from Ludvig Lindgren with Kristiansen taking third place for a Stoke 4-2 and give the Potters victory on the night.

Piszcz took victory in heat fifteen despite the best efforts from Jason Bunyan but the Potter can take consolation of denying Brummies skipper Lyons of a maximum. Brummies took a 4-2 but it wasn’t enough to stop the Potters taking victory with a 48-45 win.

Birmingham did not leave Loomer road empty handed though since they take a point from the meeting having not lost by more than seven points in the meeting. 

Stoke 48: Jason Bunyan 12, Klaus Jakobsen 9+1, Tom P Madsen 8+3, Lee Complin 8, Jesper Kristiansen 7+1, Phil Morris 2, Glen Phillips 2 

Birmingham 45: Jason Lyons 15+1, Tomasz Piszcz 11, Robert Ksiezak 6, Ludvig Lindgren 5, Richard Sweetman 4+1, Marek Mroz 3+1, Ben Taylor 1.