New Zealand newcomer Andrew Aldridge and Lee Strudwick were the biggest stars, as the Kart Raceway Cobras finally opened their season, after two early postponements, by building a healthy 26 point advantage to take to Kent for next Sunday’s second leg.

Both riders went through the card unbeaten in six rides, and received solid support from Gary Cottham and 15 year old Richard Franklin. But for mechanical and other problems for Rob Smith and Terry Day, the winning margin could have been even higher.

For Strudwick, it was a first ever maximum in Rye House colours, and the 19 year old is quickly showing that his recent British U-21 Final appearance is no flash-in-the pan. Aldridge, meanwhile, had a British team debut to remember, setting the 4th fastest time (57.8) seen at Rye House in any competitive race to that point this season, and delivering two of the races of the night with a never-say-die attitude that produced last gasp passes of Jerran Hart in Heats 12 and 15.

At the other end of the scale, it took no less than four attempts to put Heat 2 to bed. An unsatisfactory start was followed by tapes exclusions, first for Alex Cunningham, and then Aaron Baseby, before Cottham and Franklin finally slammed home a 5-1. It was the first of no less than eight maximum advantages for the Cobras, who also finished with three straight.

The Crusaders’ main resistance came from Jerran Hart and Dean Felton, who delivered an 8-1 when Hart was nominated as a Tactical Rider in Heat 7, and former Raider Harland Cook, who delivered a 5-1 with Felton over the hard-chasing Terry Day in Heat 11. The visitors were hit by the unavailability of Barry Burchatt (signed that week by Workington) and Mark Baseby, who failed a late fitness test on a knee injury. The Cobras were also missing key riders, however, with Danny Halsey away with the Rockets and Danny Betson sidelined with a hairline fracture of the left elbow.

Rye House scorers:
Rob Smith   7 (5 rides)
Danny Betson   R/R
Andrew Aldridge  16+2 (6 rides, maximum)
Lee Strudwick   16+2 (6 rides, maximum)
Terry Day   3+1 (4)
Richard Franklin  7+3 (5)
Gary Cottham   10 (4)
Nick Laurence (No.8)  dnr

Sittingbourne scorers: 
Dean Felton   6+2 (5 rides)
Harland Cook   8 (6)
Barry Burchatt   R/R
Jerran Hart   11 (6 rides, inc 6 as a TR)
Daniel Berwick   2+1 (4)
Alex Cunningham  1 (4)
Aaron Baseby   5 +1 (6)
Ricky Mullins (No.8)  dnr