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RAIDERS OUTSHINE YOUNG STARS
Sunday September 11, 2016
The BMR Raiders maintained their climb up the table by sweeping aside local derby rivals King’s Lynn 54-36 in the first of two Travel Plus National League matches staged at Rye House on Sunday.
Ben Morley went through the card with a five ride maximum, and would have been joined in the unbeaten stakes by Rob Branford had the Raiders No.1 not fallen when second behind his colleague in Heat 13. Captain Luke Priest was also in powerful form, dropping his only points through mechanical failure when holding second spot in Heat 9, while Sam Woods added paid 8 and George Hunter 7, a haul that included his first victory in what has proven a stop-start season due to injury.
Four consecutive 4-2s lifted the Raiders to a 19-11 advantage by Heat 5, and when Morley was joined at the front of Heat 7 by Woods – who passed both Ryan Kinsley and Scott Campos to claim second – the resulting 5-1 effectively sealed the win at 27-15.
The Raiders posted no less than thirteen of the fifteen race wins, with the last saved for Morley in Heat 15 as leader Branford slowed on the last lap to allow his colleague to claim a full maximum for the match. The Southend Flyer appreciated his partner’s gesture. “It was a nice touch because he realised I was on for the full max. We are both going really well. He was fast today, and I must admit I was struggling to keep up with him! It’s been really tough the last few days (riding for the Rockets on the road) so to get the motors sorted and get a max was really important.
“The last few matches, we’ve been picking up points here, there and everywhere. It’s a shame we couldn’t do that at the start of the season, but it is always nice when you do get them and begin to move up the table.â€
Morley does not want to be drawn too much on talk about the defence of his National League Riders’ Championship at Leicester on Saturday. “Some people may want to focus on me as the current holder of the title, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. When I won it here last year, I just went out and enjoyed my racing, and it will be the same again on Saturday. I don’t want to make too much fuss about it, but just go there and enjoy myself.â€
BMR Raiders:
Ben Morley 15 (5 rides, max), Robert Branford 11+1 (5), Luke Priest 9 (4), Sam Woods 7+1 (4), George Hunter 7 (4), Connor Locke 3 (4), Matt Saul 2 (4)
King’s Lynn:
Nathan Greaves 13 (6 rides), Jon Armstrong (guest) 7+1 (5), Scott Campos 7 (5), Taylor Hampshire 3+2 (6), Ryan Kinsley 3+1 (5), Lewis Whitmore 3 (3), Tom Stokes R/R
Match Points: Rye House 3 King’s Lynn 0
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