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Redcar Bears v Kings Lynn Stars
PL Playoff (QF), 21 September 2006
South Tees Motorsports Park, Redcar

Redcar 43
1Gary Havelock31333 ..130
2Chris Kerr031*1. ..51
3Kevin LittleFx2120 ..50
4Mathieu Tresarrieu31*3Fn. ..71
5Tomas Suchanek0210. ..30
6Jack Hargreaves2002. ..40
7Daniel Giffard0221*1* ..62
Kings Lynn 47
1Kevin Doolan23321* ..111
2Troy Bachelor1*Fx02*. ..32
3Trevor Harding1*120. ..41
4Daniel Nermark23X3. ..80
5Tomas Topinka3221*2 ..101
6Chris Mills3033. ..90
7John Oliver1100. ..20

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

Both Redcar and King’s Lynn were at full strength for this match.

Having already won at Redcar and scored 70 points against the Bears at Saddlebow Road in their league match, it was hardly surprising that the Stars chose Redcar as their first round opponents in the Play-Offs. King’s Lynn arrived on the back of a crushing win at home over Glasgow last night looking to keep their stunning run going. In an excellent match the Bears were soon behind and only once managed to get on level terms before falling behind again leaving them with little chance in the second leg.

Gary Havelock won the opening heat for the Bears but Doolan and Batchelor filled the minor places to share the points before King’s Lynn took the lead in heat 2. Chris Mills won the race from Jack Hargreaves but, rather surprisingly, Daniel Giffard struggled with the track and finished at the back behind John Oliver. The 2-4 put the Stars two points in front and it stayed that way after heat 3. Mathieu Tresarrieu was out in front when Kevin Little fell causing the race to be rerun. In the rerun Tresarrieu again hit the front and won the race for a shared heat but in heat 4 the Bears fell four points in arrears. Tomas Suchanek was the early leader but seemed uneasy on a tricky first bend and slipped to the back as Tomas Topinka, Daniel Giffard and John Oliver passed him for a 2-4 which took the score after the opening four races to 10-14.

Heat 5 had to be rerun after Troy Batchelor clipped Kevin Little’s back wheel causing Little to fall. Batchelor was excluded but Kevin Doolan won the rerun from Little and Tresarrieu to share the points and keep the visitors in front. Heat 6 saw Chris Kerr make a fine inside pass on the early race leader, Daniel Nermark, while Gary Havelock battled his way past Chris Mills who fell and remounted for the home side’s first heat advantage. The 4-2 cut the Stars’ lead to two points but they were four up again after heat 7. Daniel Nermark won the race from Suchanek with Trevor Harding third for a 2-4 and the four point gap remained after heat 8 when Chris Mills won the heat from Giffard and Kerr with Batchelor at the back after falling and remounting when passed by Kerr for a 3-3 which took the score after eight heats to 22-26.

The Bears pulled two points back again in heat 9. Mathieu Tresarrieu won the race from Tomas Topinka and Kevin Little passed John Oliver to give the home side a 4-2 pulling two points back then finally Redcar squared the match in heat 10 with another of the same. Gary Havelock was leading the race when Chris Kerr passed Daniel Nermark with the King’s Lynn rider falling. Nermark was excluded from the rerun in which Trevor Harding looked like pulling off a sensational win when he led Havelock and Kerr for two laps. Havelock passed him and, in trying to do likewise, Chris Kerr fell and remounted. This resulted in a 4-2 which tied the scores at 30-30. However King’s Lynn forged ahead again in heat 12 when Kevin Doolan and Troy Batchelor comfortably saw off Tomas Suchanek and Jack Hargreaves who fell and remounted for a 1-5 which put the Stars four ahead again. Chris Mills kept it that way by producing his third race win in heat 12 to head home Kevin Little and Daniel Giffard. This made the score after 12 races 31-35.

Gary Havelock won heat 13 but Kevin Doolan and Tomas Topinka followed him home to share the race points before controversy followed in heat 14. Daniel Nermark took Mathieu Tresarrieu wide on the opening bends resulting in Tresarrieu falling and hurting his foot. The referee decided it was an ‘all four back’ situation to the surprise of many but Tresarrieu was unable to take his place in the rerun. Daniel Nermark won the race but the two Bears’ reserves filled the minor places although John Oliver almost caught Daniel Giffard on the line. Heat 15 was shared too. Gary Havelock was the race winner but Tomas Topinka and Kevin Doolan finished ahead of Kevin Little to clinch yet another away win for the Stars.

Match Report by Merlin