Freddie Lindgren wins the Olympique

Wolves star Freddie Lindgren was the man with the plan as he took his fourth successive Banks's Olympique.

Lindgren, who has now won five of the last six stagings, finished a full three points clear of runner-up Scott Nicholls – and he rounded off in style.

The Swede needed just a point from his final outing to lift the trophy in front of a big crowd and a smooth inside line took him to the front despite his 20-metre handicap.

Yet Birmingham's sparky Ben Barker, still seething after being put off the wrong handicap mark following a starting offence in heat nine, successfully worked his way past Lindgren to seize the lead.

Lindgren could have coasted – Austin Novratil's fall now meant all he had to do was finish – but the Swede is both stylish racer and steely competitor and regained the advantage.

A huge lift coming off the final bend raised alarm on the terraces but Lindgren slammed the bike back to the shale and crossed the line.

Despite the harum-scarum racing this handicap event engenders, Lindgren had plotted his way to victory.

Everything dropped into place – literally – when he battled with his other main rival, Chris Harris, six races later.

The Belle Vue man made a fractional error on the first turn which left him at the back. When he fought through to chase Lindgren, the Cornishman overcooked it on the pits turn and fell.

Not only did the fall cost Harris points, it also put him off scratch in his final race – which just happened to be against Nicholls.

The Swindon man, who had already conceded points to Ty Proctor, Ricky Wells and Barker, had too much ground to make up.

Harris took the final rostrum spot after a run-off with Proctor which meant that the same three riders have been on the podium for the last four stagings.

But, in each of the four, it's Lindgren who's occupied the top step.

By Tim Hamblin