SPEEDWAY: STOKE Easy Rider Potters maintained their unbeaten home re-cord this season by beating Hull 50-45 on Saturday, writes NEIL EVANS.

It took a determined ride by Alan Mogridge in heat 14 to see the Potters home after the Vikings had closed to 42-41 with just two heats to go.

Mogridge went from last to first in the penultimate heat, passing firstly Ross Brady and then taking both Emiliano Sanchez and team mate Rob Grant on the final two turns.

'It was all or nothing by then because we needed a 5-1 to see us home,' said Mogridge who is still struggling to get out of the starts.

'I was looking to go round the two in front, but Rob was locking up and Sanchez was all over him. So I went in tight and luckily Rob moved over a few inches which just about let me through.'

There had been little between the two sides early on after Paul Thorp had set the fastest time in about four seasons in winning heat one in 62.0 seconds.

Daniel Giffard had a confidence boosting win in heat two and went on to score his best Potters score of the season, though the scores were level at 18-18 after six heats.

Jan Staechmann was lucky to escape injury in the next when Garry Stead seized a motor in front of him prior to Paul Clews turning in two top drawer rides in heats eight and 10.

Clews went by Emil Kramer in the former but bettered that two races later as he squeezed by team mate Robbie Kessler and Garry Stead through the narrowest of gaps.

Hull pegged the scores back after Thorp made good use of the tactical ride ruling in heat 11, his victory over Staechmann netting him six points. Magnus Karlsson won heats 13 and 15, but Mogridge's efforts in that titanic penultimate race saw the Potters home.

'It was another terrific Loomer Road meeting in front of a big crowd which must have pleased both sets of supporters,' said team manager Nigel Crabtree.

Stoke travel to Berwick tonight and then host the Bandits at Loomer Road on Saturday (7.30pm).