SPEEDWAY: STOKE Easy Rider Potters finished their league season on a high by beating Isle of Wight 43-34 in a rain affected meeting at Loomer Road on Sunday.
The meeting had been pushed back 24 hours after the initial staging had been rained off, but steady drizzle resulted in the track turning greasy and with the racing becoming difficult for the riders, referee Craig Ackroyd called it off after Heat 12.
The result stands and the win on the night gave Stoke the bonus point as well following their 50-46 defeat at Isle of Wight earlier in the year.
Promoter Dave Tattum said: 'Neither side were really keen to carry on and their safety is paramount. Unfortunately, the racing was not of the calibre we have come to expect here because the riders were struggling for vision and control.
'But we picked up three points and finished with a win which was important psychologically before the winter recess.'
There were a number of falls and stoppages, the first coming in Heat Two which left Barrie Evans with shoulder damage. Paul Clews made the best of some decent starts to get out wide and finished the night as top scorer with 14 points from five rides.
Jack Hargreaves gave Ulrich Ostergaard a nudge going in to the first turn which resulted in the Dane falling before Alan Mogridge won the re-run to put Stoke 22-14 up.
Garry Stead and Evans took a 5-1 in Heat Seven and Luke Priest came from the back to join Clews for another 5-1 in the next race as the Potters opened up a 16 point lead.
Tattum has stressed that there will be a meeting at Loomer Road on Saturday, but he is not yet sure of the opposition. Even though October represents the final month of the season, he said there is plenty of racing on offer.
The end of season get together takes place on November 12. Tattum added: 'We have two league meetings, the CL Trophy final and an individual meeting pencilled in - so there is plenty of good action still to come.'
