REACTION: MIXED FEELINGS FOR KERR AS PIRATES PROGRESS

Whilst the Pirates confirmed their passage to the quarter-finals, they left the Eddie Wright Raceway a little disappointed, having been unable to secure a home-and-away double against the Scunthorpe Scorpions despite holding a four-point lead two-thirds of the way through the second leg.

Poole fans were still feeling exhilarated by the manner in which Lewis Kerr had held off the previously unbeaten Josh Pickering in Heat 10 when Scunthorpe gained maximum points in Heat 11, following a very heavy fall by Richard Lawson on the second lap into the second bend fence. His team-mate, Kyle Newman, worked tirelessly, as he did throughout the meeting, but could not split the home pair of Michael Palm-Toft and Simon Lambert, and the scores were levelled.

A string of three 4–2 advantages for the Scorpions swung the meeting in their favour, including a maiden race win for young reserve Ryan Ingram, before the hosts finished the meeting with a 5–1 from Pickering and Palm-Toft in Heat 15, where Kerr partnered skipper Zach Cook.

After the defeat, Kerr admitted: “Personally, a decent night for me. I scored ten and really enjoyed my win against Picko in Heat 10, but it was a bit disappointing we couldn’t see the result out in our favour in the end. I felt the track was very challenging tonight—very inconsistent and difficult to ride—but in the end we got the job done, and now it’s onwards and upwards to Oxford in the next round.”

Kerr also featured in a bizarre Heat 3, which was ordered to be re-run after the result had been declared. His racing partner, Fraser Bowes—who had won the heat with Kerr in tow for a 5–1 to Poole—was penalised for illegally warming his tyre at the start line. After the referee visited the pits to inform team manager Gary Havelock of his decision, the heat was re-run, with Will Cairns stepping in as a reserve replacement for Bowes, as it was deemed a starting offence. Kerr worked hard to win the re-run, whilst Cairns rode well for third place to ensure Poole still took a heat advantage.

Both Cairns and fellow reserve Cooper Rushen scored paid seven apiece, whilst Poole’s top contribution came from skipper Zach Cook with paid eleven.

SCUNTHORPE 50 (79) – Josh Pickering 12 (3,3,2,1,3), Michael Palm-Toft 11+1 (0,3,3,3,2'), Simon Lambert 8+1 (3,0,2',3), Ryan Ingram 6+1 (2',1,0,3), Connor Mountain 5+1 (2,1',1,1), Nathan Ablitt 5+1 (1,0,3,1'), Luke Harrison 3 (0,2,0,1)

POOLE 40 (101) – Zach Cook 10+1 (3,2,2',2,1), Lewis Kerr 9+1 (3,1',3,2,0), Cooper Rushen 6+1 (R,2',2,2), William Cairns 6+1 (1,1,1',3,0), Richard Lawson 5 (2,3,FD,0), Kyle Newman 2+1 (XD,0,1',1), Fraser Bowes 2 (XD,2,0,0)

Heat Details 

Photo Credit Tony Hartmann