Freddie Lindgren is the new master of Monmore

Wolves 56 Lakeside 37

Sorcerer's apprentice Fredrik Lindgren weaved the magic as Wolves sealed their play-off place.

The 24-year-old sped to a five-ride maximum and broke the Monmore Green track record held by club legend and fellow Swede Peter Karlsson.

It felt like a symbolic passing of the torch and was rendered more poignant in happening on the very night when 40-year-old Karlsson suffered an horrific crash at Coventry while riding for Belle Vue, suffering a suspected broken shoulder.

Lindgren was simply sublime on an evening which produced some of the best Monmore racing of the campaign so far. His track record ride in heat one didn't even see the sharpest of gates, but from the moment he eased his way through the first bend traffic to hit the front, Karlsson's mark was clearly under threat.

Lindgren made only one other good start all night, partnering Ty Proctor to a comfortable heat 10 5-1 over the dogged Kauko Nieminen. Otherwise he won his points from the back and displayed the full repertoire of his ability.

Gallant Hammers skipper Adam Shields was first to fall victim, Lindgren tearing round him on the pits bend as early as lap two in the sixth heat.

And to the delight of a big Bank Holiday crowd it was Lakeside No.1 Lee Richardson, something of a panto hate figure in these parts, who was despatched twice in the final three races.

Lindgren struck inside a lap in heat 13 before finishing in the grand manner alongside Tai Woffinden two races later.

The Wolves skipper rounded 'Rico' in great style before Lindgren punched his way through on the inside.

On any other occasion, Woffinden would have been the main focus of attention. He dropped just one point all night, to the admirable Shields, and looked pin-sharp all night.

His successes against Richardson may have afforded him the greatest satisfaction, but his heat 14 win over Stuart Robson was arguably the night's best race.

The 33-year-old may ride at reserve but loves Monmore with a bit of dirt down. When Woffinden cut back early off the pits bend to make a 'long straight' and race past Robson, the Hammer simply kept it wound on and sailed back round him. Woffinden was forced to repeat the dose to even better effect to gain a fine victory.

If the top two of Lindgren and Woffinden caught the eye, it was unsung hero Matt Wethers who held it. The Aussie took the reserves' race at a canter and when Adam Skornicki eased double-pointer Kauko Nieminen wide in heat seven, Wethers needed no second invitation to jam himself into the gap.

He was also in the mix with Woffinden and Robson in the 14th — they were scarily three abreast on two occasions early on — but excelled himself in the 11th.

Lakeside's second double-point nominee, Lee Richardson, must have expected the easiest of victories after Skornicki tumbled on the first corner.

Yet the crowd was treated to the gratifying spectacle of the Great Britain star being harried inside and out throughout the entire four laps by the Wolves reserve. On a night when the title holders mathematically confirmed their Elite League play-off spot it was another bit of Monmore magic.