Wolves ride to easy victory

Seven days after mustering only two heat wins in a home drubbing by Peterborough, Wolves conceded just a couple of setbacks as they overpowered Reading59 to 31 in last night's Elite League speedway clash at Monmore Green, writes Rob Taylor.

Inspired by a 15-point maximum from Freddie Lindgren, and a paid maximum by skipper Peter Karlsson, Peter Adams' men were in control from start to finish against the Berkshire outfit.

Wolves were a completely different side from the one who had performed so dismally against the Panthers.

They had sharpened up their gating and even when they were sluggish at the tapes there was a determination to make sure no points were easily surrendered.

The outcome was a match which, while one-sided in terms of the scoreline, provided some of the best action Monmore regulars have witnessed this season.

And while Lindgren led the way with a full house, his maximum hopes might have been thwarted as early as his opening ride.

Out-gated in heat four, the Swede quickly forced his way past Sam Simota but had to wait until the final bend before cutting inside Reading skipper Travis McGowan for the first of his five victories.

Not that he was about to take all the credit.

"It was a good night for me," he said, "but everyone did well. I'm still having a bit of trouble at the start but I'm gradually getting there."

If Lindgren's late surge past McGowan had the crowd on their toes, though, it was nothing compared with the amazing events of heat 12.

With Billy Hamill leading comfortably, most of the attention was focussed on the battle for second place as Wolves reserve William Lawson chased Jonas Davidsson.

It looked as if the young Scot had left it too late until he surged around the outside on the final turn to sweep to an unlikely but incredible win.

Almost unbelievably, a bemused Hamill, who had been ahead for all but the last few yards, had to settle for third place.

Lawson, who had also won his opening ride, finished with eight points, his best return of the season, and it might have been even better but an exclusion under the two-minute rule in heat eight.

That race saw David Howe at his battling best.

Having been involved in a very physical close encounter with the wayward Pole Janusz Kolodziej in the opening heat, Howe was sluggish from the gate but worked his way past Simota before producing a superb last bend manoeuvre to pip Davidsson on the line.

James Grieves had done equally well to hold off a strong challenge by Birmingham's Jason Lyons - guesting for absent Reading star Greg Hancock - and with Magnus Karlsson also weighing in with a race win, it was a night for Wolves fans to savour.