STARS WIN DESPITE THOMSON HEROICS

KING’S Lynn were 47-41 winners at Northampton in the final Premiership KO Cup group fixture – despite a remarkable display from Foxes reserve Kye Thomson.

Max Fricke and Jan Kvech secured victory for the Stars with a 5-1 in Heat 15 after the home side had pulled back from 12 points down to force a last race decider.

That was mainly down to the efforts of Thomson, who took his full quota of seven rides and piled up 18+1, with guest Zach Cook also contributing 11+2 from six.

Both sides lost their Rising Star in a heavy Heat 2 crash, with the Foxes’ Luke Harrison (concussion) and the visitors’ Jody Scott (muscular damage) unable to continue after piling up on the home straight.

Fricke scored 13 for the Stars with Jan Kvech on 10+4, whilst Cooper Rushen also took extra rides in Scott’s absence, and scored 11 from seven outings.

King’s Lynn boss Rob Lyon said: “We wanted to put on a good show, and obviously it was a pay day for the boys so they wanted to do as well as they could. Hopefully we put on a decent show for the fans, and that’s what it’s all about.

“Jody is a little battered and bruised. He’s hurt his neck but we’re not quite sure what that is. I think he’ll be a bit sore tomorrow as you’d expect, but we’ll see how he goes over the weekend.”

Northampton manager Chris Adams said: “You could tell early on that some riders were struggling, and it put us on the back foot a bit.

“We were 12 points down and came back for a last heat decider, but I’m a little disappointed at the result and I’m sure everyone else is.

“Anyone who saw that crash will know that Luke is very lucky to still be walking out of here, and the same with Jody as well. We wish them a speedy recovery, and hope they are back racing soon.”

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Photo credit: JEFF DAVIES