With no league match the action at the Oak Tree Arena turned to the re-scheduled Exmoor Chase Individual Championship, sponsored by Eric Davey, John Kent and the Exmoor White Horse Inn.
The event, which was rained off on its original date, was a 16-man event run under the old World Championship format. The field included all the current Somerset Rebels septet, and a mixed field including former Rebel, Ben Barker, the Isle of Wight’s Jason Bunyan, Swindon’s Manuel Hauzinger, and a group of up and coming young riders headed by Workington’s Joe Haines.
Ben Barker has always been a favourite at the Highbridge circuit, and has made great strides this season with Stoke, and Elite League Coventry, culminating in a full transfer from his parent club Reading to the Brandon outfit. He showed why he is so highly thought of with his opening ride in Heat 1, totally dominating the field from the opening turn, and winning unchallenged. Not only did he return the fastest time of the night, but also the fastest of the season, and was only half a second slower than Leigh Adams track record, with a lightning 56.64. Paul Cooper just got the better of Weymouth’s Jay Herne late in the race.
Jason Doyle staked his claim to the first prize of £500.00 in Heat 2, with an all the way win over the Isle of Wight’s Krysztof Stojanowski. Newcastle’s fledgling star Jerran Hart got the better of a tight battle with Brent Werner to take third place.
Simon Walker chose this event to return to track action following his huge crash at Reading two weeks ago. Although he admitted that he is still not fully fit, he rode a terrific race to take Heat 4. Leading before the first bend, he had to fend off the attentions of team mate Stephan Katt, who came with a big run around the outside of the second turn. Once in front he was not troubled again, with Katt having to battle with Manuel Hauzinger before finally holding on to the second place.
Emil Kramer was another injury victim to take his place, but for the Swede it was not to be, as he finished his opening ride in Heat 6 clearly still in pain from his midweek fall at Kings Lynn. At the end of the race, he had to be almost lifted from his machine, such was the level of his discomfort, and it came as no surprise when he withdrew, with his remaining rides being taken by Weymouth’s Kyle Newman. For the record Stojanowski, to add to his earlier second place, won the heat, from Ben Wilson.
The battle for the podium places was starting to take shape, with both Jason Doyle and Ben Barker adding to their opening wins, taking Heats 5 and 7 respectively. Doyle had taken another easy win, whilst Barker had to fend off the close attentions of the quick starting Matthias Kröger, before the German retired when his primary drive belt stripped it’s teeth.
In this second round of rides Jason Bunyan, was another to put himself back into the picture with a winning ride in Heat 8. Jordan Frampton was excluded on the 2-minute rule when his machine steadfastly refused to start, and he was replaced by Andy Braithwaite, who then promptly crashed the tapes, and was then excluded. Bunyan got the better of a very tight first bend, with the three remaining riders all battling for the same outside line. Simon Walker was the main sufferer, and was shuttled to the back, and finished third despite a battling ride to regain places.
Walker kept up his push for honours with a good win in his third ride, leading off the line, and winning easily from Stojanowski, and Sheffield’s Paul Cooper. Cooper was another keeping himself in the hunt, with some steady scoring. Doyle and Barker were again out in consecutive heats, and once more both were perfect, taking Heats 10 and 11. However Barker was given a scare, as he was only in third place, behind a quick starting Brent Werner and Joe Haines, when his heat was stopped after Kyle Newman fell on the opening turn. In the re-run he was once again led by Werner, but was soon in front with a sweeping opening two bends. Haines was another keeping himself in the mix, with some impressive riding.
Ben Wilson completed the third round of rides, with another win to put him right up there, although it was a little fortuitous with Jordan Frampton retiring whilst holding a good lead, and looking all over the winner of Heat 12.
The fourth round of rides proved to be the key to the whole event, with Heat 15 bringing together the top four places. Simon Walker broke quickly to lead Jason Doyle away from the line, with Barker only in third place. Doyle powered in to the lead on the back straight, and Barker, on his inside, immediately challenged Walker. Walker clamped Barker to the kerb, and held him off to giving Doyle the opportunity to escape. The pair battled it out over the next two laps as Barker tried inside and out to find a gap. Walker was superb, holding off the Cornishman for as long as he could, and once more clamping him to the kerb as he tried to repeat his earlier move. Barker switched his attack to the outside, and stole passed on the outside as they ran towards the final lap. For Barker it was too late, and he had handed a vital advantage to his biggest rival for the top step of the podium.
Manuel Hauzinger, Jason Bunyan, and Brent Werner were the other winners. In Heat 16 Joe Haines produced another impressive ride to take second after a titanic battle with Krysztof Stojanowski, as they passed and re-passed each other for all four laps. Other to gain good points were Paul Cooper, and Matthias Kröger.
Simon Walker opened the final round of rides, looking for a win in Heat 19 to take third place outright. He was thwarted by the superb young talent that is Joe Haines, as the pair battled for the lead for all four laps. Haines just got the better of the start to lead the Rebels skipper, and it was enough to win him the race, as Walker tried all lines to find his way to the front. That win put Haines and Walker on 10-points each, and in a certain run off for the final podium spot. Paul Cooper had also put himself in the 3rd place run off in the previous heat, in a close battle with Brent Werner, which saw the Californian just fail to reach the run off as well.
Ben Barker was the first of the big two to ride, and he kept the pressure on Jason Doyle when he got the better of a tight first corner battle with Isle of Wight pair, Bunyan and Stojanowski. From there on he was untroubled, and took an easy win from Jason Bunyan. Bunyan’s second place guaranteed him the final spot in the third place run off, although for a while it looked as though his Isle of Wight team mate, might spoil his chances with some close racing.
Doyle sealed the meeting leading every yard of the way in Heat 20. He bolted from the gate, and planted himself on the wide outside, never coming off the fence until crossing the line four laps later. Jordan Frampton finally showed why he is considered the most improved rider in the Rebels side this year, as he finally got his machine to run sweetly, and took a good second place, in front of another Rebels man, Matthias Kröger.
With the top two spots settled, the interest now turned to the vacant third step on the podium. It was worth waiting for too, as it produced a superb race between Simon Walker, and young gun, Joe Haines. Walker just led at the opening turn, after a level break. Haines came storming through to narrowly grab the lead on the back straight. The pair raced wheel to wheel over the next two laps. Walker took to the wide outside, and came roaring back at Haines, and pulled alongside as they ran to the final turn of Lap 2, before pulling in front off the last bend. Haines didn’t lie down, and was alongside again on the opening turns of Lap 3. Walker held him off, but there was not much between them for the whole race, as Haines pushed all the way for the final podium place. It was Walker who eventually prevailed, but the crowd had been treated to one of the best races of the night in the process. Paul Cooper just got the better of Jason Bunyan in the late stages to finish fifth overall.
All in all it was an entertaining nights racing, with some great battles, and tight races, a good reward for the sponsors of the event. Doyle’s top step on the podium was greeted with loud cheers, and for him topped a good run that has seen him, barring falls, unbeaten by an opponent at the Oak Tree Arena for several weeks now. Barker was superb, and from his point of view, unfortunate to come up against Doyle in this kind of form. He added to his second place prize money by taking the award for the fastest time of the night, with his fantastic opening heat win. As for Walker, his third place was a fantastic result for a rider who suffered such a big crash, such a short time ago, and as he said himself, he is not yet fully fit. Joe Haines underlined his potential as a star of the future, with some battling performances, taking the scalps of some really experienced riders along the way, culminating in his pulsating win in Heat 18.
1. Paul Cooper (Sheffield) - 2, 1, 2, 2, 3 = 10+1
2. Jay Herne (Weymouth) - 1, 1, 0, 0, 1 = 3
3. Ben Barker (Stoke) - 3, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 14
4. Jordan Frampton (Somerset) - 0, exl (2min), ret, 0, 2 = 2
5. Jason Doyle (Somerset) - 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15
6. Krzysztof Stojanowski (Isle of Wight) - 2, 3, 1, 1, 1 = 8
7. Jerran Hart (Newcastle) - 1, 2, 2, 1, 0 = 6
8. Brent Werner (Somerset) - 0, 2, 2, 3, 2 = 9
9. Joe Haines (Workington and Boston) - 2, 2, 1, 2, 3 = 10+2
10. Ben Wilson (Sheffield) - 3, 2, 3, 0, 1 = 9
11. Matthias Kroger (Somerset) - 1, ret, 0, 2, 1 = 4
12. Jason Bunyan (Isle of Wight) - 0, 3, 2, 3, 2 = 10+0
13. Stephan Katt (Somerset) - 2, 0, 1, 1, 0 = 4
14. Emil Kramer (Somerset) - 0 - WITHDRAWN
15. Manuel Hauzinger (Swindon) - 1, 2, 1, 3, 0 = 7
16. Simon Walker (Somerset) - 3, 1, 3, 1, 2 = 10+3
