MDL Round-Up
Friday, May 19th
BELLE VUE COLTS 19 SCUNTHORPE STAGS 17
MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
**BATTLING STAGS JUST MISS OUT BUT SHELDON SHINES**
Although the Scunthorpe Stags just lost out to the Belle Vue Colts in a thrilling last-heat decider, a real highlight was the performance of Sheldon Davies on his first ever visit to the National Speedway Stadium. With by far his best MDL meeting in his very short career, 16-year-old Sheldon top-scored for Scunthorpe with a win and two seconds from his three rides.
The Stags, never behind in the meeting, were two points ahead going into the last heat but couldn’t contain the talented Woodhull twins who came together for a match-winning 5-1.
The gremlins that plagued the Stags at home on Sunday, moved to the other side of the pits tonight, striking the Colts as early as Heat 1 when Luke Woodhull was left at the gate with a snapped chain, leaving the impressive Sam Woolley to take the win for a shared heat.
Heat 2 was won convincingly by Ben Woodhull who was the length of the straight ahead by the chequered flag, but his partner, Stephen Whitehouse, fell while fighting for second place with Davies.
Heat 3 was full of drama – Luke Woodhull stormed out of the gate and appeared to be cruising to a win before his engine packed up after two laps. James Chattin had gated second but behind him, Davies and Sam Woolley were involved in a side-by-side battle for two laps before Davies pulled away and closed in on his team-mate. With the demise of Luke Woodhull the Stags pair secured a 5-1 with Davies taking the win on the line.
Ben Woodhull failed to make the two-minute warning in Heat 4 and had to start from 15m. However, to illustrate just how dominant he was, by the third turn of the first lap he had swept past all three riders to take the lead. Lloyd Ditchburn, continuing his steady improvement match-by-match, was comfortably second but Sam Chapman, despite his best efforts, couldn’t find a way past Stephen Whitehouse for third, and the Stags’ lead was cut to two points.
A shared Heat 5 set up the last-heat decider. The Woodhull boys set off together with the Stags pair some way behind. Then, on lap two, James Chattin lost control and spun completely around. Sam Chapman, following closely behind, was unable to avoid clipping him, and also fell heavily. James was disqualified and although Sam was able to walk back to the pits he was unable to take his place in the re-run and was replaced by Ditchy. The resulting 5-1 just snatched victory for the Colts by the narrowest of margins.
All eight riders played their part in a great meeting that was enjoyed by a large number of spectators who had stayed to watch.
BELLE VUE COLTS 19
1) Luke Woodhull – R,R,3, = 3
2) Sam Woolley – 3,1,3, = 7
3) Ben Woodhull – 3,3,2+1, = 8+1 (PAID MAX)
4) Stephen Whitehouse – F,1,0, = 1
SCUNTHORPE STAGS 17
1) Sam Chapman – 1+1,0,W, = 1+1
2) Lloyd Ditchburn – 2,2,1+1,1, = 6+1
3) James Chattin – 1+1,2+1,FX, = 3+2
4) Sheldon Davies – 2,3,2, = 7
Ht1. Woolley, Ditchburn, Chapman, LWoodhull (R). 3-3 (3-3) 68.72
Ht2. BWoodhull, Davies, Chattin, Whitehouse (F). 3-3 (6-6) 64.12
Ht3. Davies, Chattin, Woolley, LWoodhull (R). 1-5 (7-11) 70.32
Ht4. BWoodhull, Ditchburn, Whitehouse, Chapman. 4-2 (11-13) 66.72
Ht5. Woolley, Davies, Ditchburn, Whitehouse. 3-3 (14-16) 68.22
Ht6. (Re-run) LWoodhull, BWoodhull, Ditchburn, (Chapman F/Inj), Chattin (FX). 5-1 (19-17) 66.25
Sunday, May 14th
SCUNTHORPE STAGS 9 BELLE VUE COLTS 26
MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
**ONE TO FORGET FOR THE STAGS**
The Scunthorpe Stags will want to forget this meeting when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong! Even before the racing began Sheldon Davies suffered machine problems which caused him to miss his first ride despite his mechanic/fathers desperate attempts to get the repairs done in time.
After a shared first heat things went quickly downhill when Luke Whitehead, the only Stag in the race, lost control in turn 2 of the first lap and went down heavily, leaving the two Colts unopposed in the re-run.
Heat 3 saw a ragged start but before the red lights came on Chris Bambury found himself forced out wide and into the first turn air-fence. Although all four riders were invited back into the re-run, a bent bike prevented Chris from taking any further part in the meeting.
An unsatisfactory start to Heat 5 resulted in a burnt-out clutch for Sheldon Davies and a puncture for Sam Chapman. Sam jumped onto his spare bike for the re-run but Sheldon had none left.
The Colts had problems of their own but were a little more fortunate. Stephen Whitehouse only just managed to complete four laps with a spluttering motor in that unopposed Heat 2, and Sam Woolley suffered a puncture as he crossed the line to win Heat 6. That said, the Colts thoroughly deserved their victory, with both Sam Woolley and Luke McKenna recording very impressive maximums. Stephen Whitehouse was beaten only once, by Luke Whitehead, and our own Ditchy, in for the Colts as a guest, had probably his best meeting to date, his 3 and a bonus would have been more if he hadn’t slid off when pushing for second place in his first ride.
A bit of a nightmare for the Stags, but now they need to put it behind them and get ready for the return match in Manchester on Friday.
Scunthorpe Stags 9
1) Chris Bambury – 2,NS,NS = 2
2) Sam Chapman – 1+1,1,1, = 3+1
3) Luke Whitehead – FX,2,2, = 4
4) Sheldon Davies – NS,0,NS, = 0
Belle Vue Colts 26
1) Sam Woolley – 3,3,3, = 9 (MAX)
2) Lloyd Ditchburn – FR,1,2+1, = 3+1
3) Stephen Whitehouse – 2+1,2+1,1 = 5+2
4) Luke McKenna – 3,3,3, = 9 (MAX)
Ht1 – Woolley, Bambury, Chapman, Ditchburn (F/Rem). 3-3 (3-3)
Ht2 – McKenna, Whitehouse, Whitehead (FD), Davies (NS). 0-5 (3-8)
Ht3 – McKenna, Whitehouse, Chapman, Bambury (F/NS). 1-5 (4-13)
Ht4 – Woolley, Whitehead, Ditchburn, Davies. 2-4 (6-17)
Ht5 – McKenna, Ditchburn, Chapman, Davies (NS). 1-5 (7-22)
Ht6 – Woolley, Whitehead, Whitehouse, Bambury (NS). 2-4 (9-26)
