BOUNCEBACKABILITY!

Having surrendered those first Championship points to the Pirates of Poole last Saturday, I was anxious to find out if the 2024 Jewson Bandits had the grit, spirit and determination to bounce back at Redcar tonight.

I knew they had the ability, but I had to wait and see if they could put that ability to work, and convert that early home loss into an away gain.

Well, they most certainly could!

They were facing a Redcar team which, despite some earlier iffy home results, were coming in from putting up fifty points at Workington to move into the KO Cup semi-finals, and would be enjoying the services (as they will tomorrow) of Ben Barker as an in-form guest.

But this mattered naught to the bonny bouncers. Even with our own guest Tom Brennan slightly down on expected power after a first-race, first-bend shake-up from Charlie Chuckles, this was a match where we were always in the hunt, and always ready to take to the Bears.

Four Bandits were paid for double figures — when did that last happen away from Shielfield? – with top scorer Drew Kemp leading the way. Both Drew and partner Jye were very unhappy after a couple of their races on Saturday, but tonight saw their three heat partnerships give us a 5-1, a 4-2 and a 3-all. The couple therefore returned us 12 against the opposition’s 6. And we won by 4. ‘Nuff said!

Then there was wee Bastian. The history of Edinburgh discarding Jye Etheridge, only for Reggie to become our three=time Rider of the Year, is well-known.

This year, we found the Monarchs (who won a Super Heat victory at Glasgow this evening, by the way) deciding not to re-engage Bastian for the 2024 season.

Well, say no more! Stewart Dickson clearly saw more in the diminutive Dane than the Armadale management, and I think it’s fair to say he’s been a success. Just a wee bit!

Tonight, despite losing a win through a broken chain while ahead of the Bears pairing in Heat 4, Bastain still racked up 9+1 from his other four heats (his fifth double-figures payment in nine matches, virtually all after missing the start in every race) and must give us cautious hope that tomorrow (Saturday) will see him, and all our Jewson Bandits, perform a double over the Bears, collect a bonus point and re-jig our course again towards the play-offs.

Well, why not?

Let’s go skidding!

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Want to disagree with Dick (as so many do)? He is always happy to hear from interesting people on dick@crystalfm.co.uk