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13th August 2009
SPEEDWAY: Webster smashes track recordBy Paul Baker TIM Webster is the fastest man to have ever ridden at the Wessex Stadium.
Weymouth Wildcats 54
Newport Hornets 38
TIM Webster is the fastest man to have ever ridden at the Wessex Stadium. The Weymouth Reserve shaved four tenths of a second off the previous best when scorching across the line in 50.9 seconds in heat two.
He claimed the record from Jason Bunyan who tracked 51.3 seconds in September last year.
A delighted Webster said: “That was beautiful. I thought it was quite quick but I had no idea I’d broken the track record.
“When I heard the announcement I couldn’t believe it. When you think of all the top riders who have been round the Wessex Stadium it really is a great honour.”
Weymouth’s victory may have been straight forward in the end, but they were made to work hard during the early stages by a spirited Hornets outfit.
And had visiting talisman Tony Atkin not suffered a series of frustrating engine gremlins, things might have been different.The 43-year-old only managed three points with one blow out coming when leading by a country mile in race five.
Another rider who had an evening to forget was Weymouth captain James Cockle after he fell in his first outing and then failed to finish in his next two. He did manage a win in the nominated heat 15, but it was his young team mates Webster and Terry Day (11) who did the bulk of the work for the hosts.
Only four points separated the sides after heat six but successive 5-1’s for the Wildcats then saw them move clear of the Hornets.
Newport did manage a 5-1 of their own in the ninth but they could muster only one more race advantage after that.
Ex-Wessex Stadium Sam Hurst (11) enjoyed a decent return to his former track but his efforts could not prevent Weymouth consolidating their second place in the table, four points behind leaders Bournemouth.
l Weymouth, who travelled to Isle of Wight Islanders last night (Tues) entertain King’s Lynn at the Wessex Stadium on Friday (tapes up 7.15pm).
Weymouth
James Cockle FX, R, R, 2*, 3 = 5+1
Terry Day 2, 3, 3, 3 = 11
Matt Wright 0, 1, 1, 3 = 5
Benji Compton 3, 3, FX = 6
Mark Burrow 1, 2*, 2*, 3 = 8+2
Tim Webster 3, 3, 3, 2, 1 = 12
James White-Williams 1, 3, 2*, 1, 0 = 7+1
Newport
Tony Atkin 1, R, 1, 1^ = 3
Shelby Rutherford 3, 2, R, 0 = 5
Karl Mason 2, 1, 1,*, R = 4+1
Ryan Sedgman 1*, R, 2, 3, 2 = 8+1
Grant Tregoning 2, 1*, 2*, R = 5+2
Sam Hurst 2, 2, 3, 4^, R = 11
Tom Young FX, 0, 1, 1 = 2
PLYMOUTH DEVILS 45
WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 45
NEW signing Benji Compton enjoyed mixed fortunes on his Wildcats debut at Plymouth.
The reigning Conference League Riders champion netted a useful nine points for his side in what was a thrilling and sometimes controversial local derby at St Boniface Arena.
There was never more than six points between the sides and it was Weymouth who took a two-point lead into the deciding final heat.
Devil Mark Simmonds fell on the first lap of the race, but referee ruled there had been contact with visitor Tim Webster and the young Wildcat was thrown out of the re-run.
When he tapes went up again, Compton got out in front and the spoils appeared to be heading back to Dorset.
However, the brilliant Simmonds passed Compton on lap three to secure a 15 point maximum and a precious National League point for his team.
The ever-improving Webster collected 15+2 for the visitors while Mark Burrows also chipped in with a valuable 7+1.
Plymouth
Mark Simmonds 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15
Paul Starke 2*, 2, R, 2, 1 = 7+1
Matt Bates R/R
Seemond Stephens 3, 0, F, 2 = 5
Kyle Hughes 1, 3, 1, 3, 2* 1 = 11+1
Josh Dingle 2, F, 1, FX = 3
David Gough 1*, 0, 1*, 0, 1, 1* = 4+3
Weymouth
James Cockle 1, 1, 2, 1 = 5
Terry Day 0, 0, 1* = 1+1
Matt Wright 1*, 2, 0, 2* = 5+2
Benji Compton 2, FX, 2, 3, 2 = 9
Mark Burrows 2*, 2, 3, 0 = 7+1
Tim Webster 3, 3, 1*, 3, 2*, 3, X = 15+2
Jamie White-Williams 0, 3, 0 = 3
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