ISLE OF WIGHT WIZARDS 21

WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 15

BACK-TO-BACK 5-1 heat losses sent the Weymouth Wildcats on their way to a 21-15 defeat at the Isle of Wight Wizards in the Midland and Southern Development League.

James Laker top scored for the Wildcats, claiming eight points via two race wins and one second place, while he was ably supported by Andrew Palmer who notched two second-placed finishes and a third place to collect five points.

Sam Peters grabbed two third places, while Cesca Kirtley-Paine was unable to get on the scoresheet against the Wizards.

The victory sees the Wizards sit in third place in the table, being one of three teams all on six points.

The Wildcats meanwhile, sit one spot off bottom with one point so far, but with each loss so far proving to be close encounters.

The crucial moments came in the second and third heats, both of which the Wildcats lost 5-1 to hand a considerable deficit to the visitors.

Heat six saw Laker and Palmer follow closely behind the Wizards’ Jamie Seeley, before going for it in the last lap and a half, but unfortunately Seeley fell off on the last bend for the home side.

Wildcats’ co-promoter Martin Peters said: “We didn’t do too bad, they are not a bad team at home so to only lose by the six points was quite good really.

Commenting on the close nature of their losses so far, Peters said: “A lot of it could be down to James Laker who is riding superbly at the moment.”

“We have never been hammered by anyone, there are teams that have been beaten by quite a margin and that has never seemed to happen to us for some reason, but it is good.”

Peters also paid tribute to how the team are getting on together.

Peters added: “The guys are getting on fantastically, we may not be top of the league but we have probably got the best side for team spirit.”