BEARS SNATCH COMEBACK VICTORY

REDCAR got off the mark in the Cab Direct Championship with a last-gasp recovery to defeat Oxford 46-44 at the ECCO Arena.

With just three races remaining the Cheetahs looked set for an away win as they led by eight points, but the Bears then hit back with successive 5-1s to level the scores.

Nicolai Klindt, who was unbeaten following a last place in Heat 1, then won the last-heat decider with Jake Allen crucially holding third place as the home side snatched victory.

Klindt scored 15 points and reserve Jake Mulford also played a vital role with 12 including four race wins, whilst Anders Rowe top-scored for the visitors with 11.

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “Normally you wouldn’t be too disappointed if you kept it close away from home, but tonight we wanted to bounce back from the home defeat to Glasgow on Wednesday and start to build up our momentum again.

“The interval after Heat 12 was quite lengthy. The Redcar riders were out on the track, examining it, and the meeting did the turn around once we got going again. I felt Redcar won it, rather than us lose it.

“I can’t fault the effort put in by any of the lads tonight. They all contributed and they all put everything into their racing. It’s a hard result to take, but we move onto Plymouth tomorrow (Saturday) and start again.”

Watch the action from Heat 15 (courtesy of BEARS TV)

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE