BERWICK went down to a narrow eight-point defeat at Stoke on Sunday, just missing out on a bonus.
The Bandits, with Tero Aarnio back in the side after missing most of June with a broken hand, were expected to push the Potters all the way . . . esp
ecially after they had edged them on aggregate in a close KO Cup clash earlier in the season.
And with William Lawson showing some much improved form, and a good display from ex-Stoke rider Paul Clews, Berwick always looked to be in with a shout.
But Josef Franc was plagued by bike problems (he failed to finish two races), Michal Makovsky also didn't enjoy the best of nights, despite winning his opening ride, and with ex-Bandit Tom Madsen turning in a match-winning performance at reserve for the Potters, it just wasn't to be for the Border side.
Makovsky and Lawson gave Bandits the perfect start, taking a 5-1 from the opening heat, but gradually Stoke pegged them back and with Klaus Jakobsen, Phil Morris and ex-Bandit Tom Madsen all in the points, along with Jason Bunyan, who won heat six, the Midlanders turned the meeting around by forcing themselves six points up at 21-15.
During this spell, Berwick saw Josef Franc retire in one race, whilst Gino Franchetti fell and was excluded in another.
A 5-1 from Franc and Clews over Morris in seven, followed by a 4-2 from Lawson and Aarnio in eight, saw Berwick back on level terms at 24-all.
But a 5-1 from Jakobsen and Lee Complin over Franchetti and Greg Blair, followed by a 3-3 in ten, when Clews won, but Franc failed to get off the start line, saw the Potters edge four in front at 32-28.
Morris, who had a controversial meeting, beat Lawson and Makovsky from the gate in 11, but after a delay for some track watering, Clews and Aarnio claimed a 4-2 in 12, split by the impressive and hard-working Madsen (he eventually took seven rides), which cut the deficit to two again at 37-35.
It was still anyone's meeting, but Berwick saw their chances of success slip from their grasp over the next two heats when Stoke took a 4-2 and 5-1, courtesy of Morris and Bunyan, and Complin and Madsen, who was riding as a reserve replacement.
This put the home side 48-36 in front, guaranteeing Stoke victory on the night. However, there was still a bonus up for grabs, but Berwick needed a 4-2 to achieve it.
Lawson, who had also starred in the cup meeting at Loomer Road earlier in the year, achieved his second (third paid) win of the night, but Clews was unable to get the better of Morris and Bunyan and Bandits left empty-handed.
The three match points gleaned by Stoke lifted them up to second place in the Premier League table behind current leaders Workington.
A philosophical Berwick promoter John Anderson said afterwards:
"We came so close to getting a result at Stoke and I think had we not suffered some rare mechanical problems for the usually completely reliable 'Pepe,' then who knows what might have been.
"But if bikes stop in a race there's not a lot you can do in the heat of the action.
"Willie rode very well tonight and deserved every one of his well taken points."
Stoke - Madsen 12+3, Morris 11+1, Jakobsen 9, Bunyan 9, Complin 7+1, Smart 1. Berwick - Lawson 12+1, Clews 10, Aarnio 6+1, Franchetti 5, Makovsky 4+1, Franc 3, Blair 1.
* IN the Premier League Pairs at Somerset on Friday Berwick were represented by Michal Makovsky and Josef Franc.
They scored 13 points but failed to qualify for the semi-final stages.
'Pepe' scored seven points (one second place and two thirds) whilst Makovsky scored six (one win and one third).
The meeting was won by the Birmingham duo of Jason Lyons and Tomasz Piszcz, who beat the home-based Steve Johnston and Emil Kramer in the final. Thid were Workington (ex-Bandits Kevin Doolan and Adrian Rymel), and fourth King's Lynn (Tom Topinka and Darcy Ward).
* THIS Saturday Berwick return to league action at home with a meeting against Newport at Shielfield on Saturday.
The Bandits have already won away to the Welsh side earlier in the season and will be looking to complete the double over the Wasps.
The might and expertise of Northumbria Police has been called in by Berwick Speedway in order to at last solve a mystery that has shrouded Shielfield Park for 42 seasons of speedway.
The mystery to be solved, which has been the contentious discussion point of many a meeting over the decades, is just how fast do these speedway riders actually go when powering round Shielfield Park's big 368 metre circuit?
Berwick's co-owner Lynda Waite explained: "People are always asking us how fast Josef Franc actually goes as he is officially the fastest Bandit ever at Berwick with his super-fast time of 64.6, and the track record, the longest standing in British Speedway at ten seasons when Sean Wilson clocked 64.2 is now looking very shaky when so many get so close now.
"The time seemed spot on to find out exactly how fast these riders race with Ian Rae's brilliant track producing the best racing in years and we already know it's close to becoming the fastest ever.
"Northumbria Police have been superb in helping us with our enquiries and have done everything in their power to get their special equipment into the stadium this Saturday night to get an official speed, but our lads need not worry, there's not going to be any £60 fines or licence points to worry about!"
The Northumbria Force will be represented by PC Paul Temple who will be armed with his trusty speed laser equipment to finally ascertain a speedway rider's speed and then, once and for all everyone will know the answer to the 42-year-old mystery.
