The Wolverhampton Wolves took all 3 points and sent the Kings Lynn Stars home empty handed after a 51-41 victory in an entertaining meeting at Monmore Green. Kings Lynn, led by a sublime 17 point haul from number one Niels-Kristian Iversen against his old club, just fell short of a losing bonus point as they were made to be for carrying too many passengers against a Wolves team in which everybody contributed.

Wolves got off to a stunning start, as following a level heat 1, they were gifted a heat 2 5-0! The Wolves duo of Wells and Sowka led from the gate, and looked in control before Dakota North fell, forcing team-mate Kevin Wolbert down in the process. After the referee let the race continue, Wolves just eased around to open up a 5 point lead.

Things got even better in the very next heat, as Nicolai Klindt and Ty Proctor took a 5-1 following an excellent cutback from Proctor to take second from Mads Korneliussen on the second lap.

Incredibly, Wolves then took another maximum, as Tai Woffinden led from the gate and under-fire Lukasz Sowka incredibly held off Under 21 World Champion Maciej Janowski for second place.

However, Wolves had their lead significantly dented in the very next race as Niels-Kristian Iversen took a tactical ride. Iversen shot from the gate and never looked back, whilst former Wolf Daniel Nermark defended brilliantly from Klindt and Proctor for an 8-1 which cut the gap back down to 6 points.

After two 3-3s in heats 6 and 7, Wolves young duo of Sowka and Aspgren took to the track. Sowka yet again made a brilliant gate and led on the 2nd lap, only to be wiped out by the chasing Daniel Nermark, resulting in a heavy fall that unfortunately forced the Pole to withdraw with a back injury. With Nermark excluded, the other Wolves reserve Ricky Wells took Sowka’s place, and he duly led the way with Aspgren to take a 5-1 ahead of Dakota North.

Kings Lynn soon pulled that deficit back, as first Janowski beat Proctor and then Korneliussen held off Lindgren for back to back 4-2s. However, Wolves ensured that the visitors got no closer, and although Iversen won both heat 11 and heat 13, and Korneliussen won heat 12 they were only 3-3s, and a great 5-1 for Wolves pair Proctor and Wells in heat 14 opened up a gap of 10 points which remained after a final heat 3-3.

Wolves fans and riders alike will go home very happy after a vital home win over a team likely to be near them in the table as the season progresses. Wolves will be delighted that they managed to take victory despite only 3 wins between the big two of Lindgren and Woffinden, with the whole team contributing well. At reserve, Wolves were superb, with Sowka unbeaten from his two rides before his unfortunate withdrawal, and Wells top scoring with 10+3. Ty Proctor also built on a good score last week, and Pontus Aspgren did a decent job to score 3+2 despite an injured foot.

The visitors, on the other hand, will be very disappointed that they were not able to capitalise on a wonderful performance from their number one Niels-Kristian Iversen to take even a point from the meeting. Korneliussen and Janowski did contribute quite well, although the inconsistency of the later to go from losing to Sowka in one heat to beating Lindgren in his next was an issue. However, apart from that nobody really added any significant points, with only 8+1 from the remaining 4 riders combined being simply not good enough.

SCORES

Wolverhampton Wolves

1. Freddie Lindgren 3, 2, 2, 2, 2 = 11
2. Pontus Aspgren 0, 1′, 2′, 0 = 3+2
3. Nicolai Klindt 3, 0, 0, 2 = 5
4. Ty Proctor 2′, 1, 2, 3 = 8+1
5. Tai Woffinden 3, 3, 2, 1′, 1′ = 10+2
6. Ricky Wells 3, EF, 3, 1′, 1′, 2′ = 10+3
7. Lukasz Sowka 2′, 2′ Withdrawn = 4+2 (Paid max)

Kings Lynn Stars

1. Niels Kristian Iversen 2, 6!, 3, 3, 3 = 17
2. Daniel Nermark 1′, 2′, Fx, 0 = 3+2
3. Mads Korneliussen 1, 2, 3, 3, 0 = 9
4. Jordan Frampton 0, 1′, F = 1+1
5. Maciej Janowski 0, 3, 3, Fx = 6
6. Kevin Wolbert F, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1 = 3
7. Dakota North F, 1, 1 = 2