Speedway: Leicester outfit wreak revenge for loss at Armadale

DAVID HEMSLEY was enraged by the manner of his Leicester Lions speedway defeat against Edinburgh Monarchs at Armadale. But the Lions weren’t sleeping in the return Premier League fixture at Beaumont Park on Saturday as they avenged that loss with a comfortable 53-40 victory over the Capital outfit.

Monarchs were always chasing the home team but a 5-1 from Andrew Tully and reserve guest Tom Perry over Jason Garrity and Illya Bondarenko in heat 12 placed Monarchs just seven points adrift. However, any hopes they harboured of salvaging a point were dashed as they lost the remaining three races, the Lions gaining 4-2 advantages in them all.

Kevin Wolbert was top scorer for Monarchs with 11 points, but the German wasn’t quick enough out of the gate to apply enough pressure to the Lions’ heat leaders.

Wolbert is currently doubling-up with Poole Pirates in the Elite League and is almost certain to race for them, perhaps full time in 2012. Wolbert revealed: “I definitely want to ride in the Elite League next year, Poole is a very good track and my door is always open, and hopefully I can ride for them again.” Tully, who scored a 15 point maximum against the Lions in Friday’s encounter, once again reached double figures as he picked up ten points and this included a couple of race wins.

Teammate Kalle Katajisto, despite running last places in his opening two outings, bounced back to win his last two rides, and the Finn has certainly looked a lot sharper in both matches than of late.

However Craig Cook’s rollercoaster run of meetings continues. The Cumbrian-based ace scored just four points and given he was disappointed after notching six points on Friday, he won’t be feeling any more upbeat after this. Hemsley’s pep talk to his side before the match paid off as both Kauko Nieminen and Magnus Karlsson netted twelve points each.

Leicester: Karlsson 12, Nieminen 12, Garrity 6, Bergstrom 6, Bondarenko 6, Bager 6, Graversen 5.

Monarchs: Wolbert 11, Tully 10, Katajisto 6, Wethers 6, Cook 4, Perry 2, Howarth 1.