The Silver Ski Rockets were made to work hard early on before eventually easing to victory in the first part of Bank Holiday Monday’s double header at Rye.

Tai Woffinden’s absence was covered by the Rider-Replacement facility, which netted 9+1 as the rest of the side more than filled the breach. Chris Neath was beaten only in his fifth ride, while Luke Bowen continued his recent rich vein of form and Stefan Ekberg and Robert Mear were also paid for double figures. The Potters, in contrast, proved overly reliant on star guest Ryan Fisher and Ben Barker (before he dashed off to his second match of the day at Elite League Coventry), although they also had the most exciting rider on display in the shape of 24 year veteran Mark “Buzz” Burrows.

The first three races were shared, and also highly eventful. Robert Mear only just failed to catch  winner Ryan Fisher on the line in Heat 1, while the following heats saw falls for Danny Halsey and Tommy Allen just after being past for first and second place, respectively.

The deadlock was broken by a Heat 4 maximum from Chris Neath and Luke Bowen that was followed up some two races later by another 5-1, this time from Mear and Stefan Ekberg after the Swede had won a thrilling duel with Mark Burrows for second spot. When Mear and Bowen blasted the Rockets’ third one-two finish in Heat 8, the home side was virtually home and dry, at 31-17.

There was still time for an exchange of passing and re-passing between Tommy Allen and Mark Burrows in Heat 8 – ultimately won by the League’s oldest rider, at 44 – plus two head-to-heads between Chris Neath and Ryan Fisher. The Rye captain inflicted the American’s only defeat of the day in Heat 11, while Fisher returned the favour by ending Neath’s maximum hopes when the two met again a couple of races later. The Stoke guest also took the chequered flag in a nominated heat which saw well-deserved appearance by Luke Bowen and a first Rockets point by No.8 Rob Smith after Burrows had come to a halt.

Rye House scorers:
Stefan Ekberg   10+3 (5 rides)
Robert Mear   9+2 (5)
Tai Woffinden   R/R
Tommy Allen   8 (5)
Chris Neath   14 (5) 
Danny Halsey   2 (4)
Luke Bowen   11+2 (5)
Rob Smith (No.8)  1+1 (1)

Stoke scorers:
Ryan Fisher (guest)  16 (5 rides, inc 4 as a TR)
Krister Jacobsen  1+1 (4)
Ben Barker   9 (4)
Jesper Kristiansen  3+1 (4)
Andrew Moore   1 (4)
Mark Burrows   5 (5)
Klaus Jakobsen  2+1 (4)