THE feel-good factor was back at Brandon as the Buildbase Bees finally recorded their first Elite League victory of the season – and it was an emphatic one against Lakeside.
Ironically Coventry’s dreadful start to the 2010 season, which featured nine straight defeats in all competitions, had come to an end with a home win over Lakeside, and on this occasion again it was the Hammers who bore the brunt of the Bees’ reaction to last week’s defeat by Wolves.
Friday’s Forum and the Fun-day of Monday lunchtime were both big successes, but the Bees needed a big performance on-track to match them, in front of a most encouraging, and highly supportive crowd - and the team delivered to secure maximum points from the meeting and clamber out of the Elite League’s basement position.
Skipper Scott Nicholls was in vintage form, Aaron Summers revelled in his extra rides at reserve, and there was also a season’s best display from Grzegorz Zengota who is rapidly becoming a crowd favourite at Brandon.
Bees were also indebted to Craig Cook for stepping in at short notice to guest for Olly Allen, who was concussed in a crash in Poland on Sunday, Cook only leaving Scunthorpe after 5pm from his afternoon Premier League match but contributing two vital race wins on his first-ever appearance at Coventry.
The early signs were positive from the home side with Summers, Cook and Nicholls all winning their opening rides, Cook with an exciting re-pass of Hammers skipper Davey Watt in Heat 3, with Bees going six points up.
Lakeside managed just two advantages all evening, the first coming in Heat 5 thanks to a sweet cut-back from veteran Peter Karlsson, and with Piotr Swiderski winning the next race the visitors appeared to be in contention.
But Bees then hit the Hammers hard over the next six races, consecutive 4-2s putting their lead up to 28-20, and a spectacular burst of 5-1s then put the match out of the visitors’ reach.
Zengota produced a stunning outside pass on Swiderski to team up with Cook in Heat 9, and when Watt went for double-points in Heat 10 the move went wrong for the Hammers as he went wide on turn two, taking partner Lewis Bridger with him, with Summers and Krzysztof Kasprzak turning back to give Bees a 5-1.
And Lakeside’s second tactical move was just as unsuccessful with Karlsson, who had looked unbeatable, making the start in Heat 11 but being swamped either-side by Nicholls and Summers as the Bees raced into a 20-point lead.
Zengota’s win in Heat 12 made maximum points mathematically certain for the Bees, but the Pole produced another fine ride to finish in Heat 15 after Nicholls had taken Karlsson wide on the second bend, Zengota passing the Swede and then superbly maintaining his line under pressure at the end of the first lap.
Nicholls said: “It’s well overdue, and hopefully it’s the turning point. We’ve got a couple more meetings this week, so hopefully we can take the form and the confidence from here into Friday.
“I had a good night so I’m really pleased, but the boys did great. Krzysztof had a bit of a tough time but at least it was nice to see him putting the effort in and battling, that makes a big difference.
“It was great to get the reception from the crowd, and full credit to Mick (Horton). He got the boys together today and it was nice to get the support from him, to reassure us that he was behind us. He put the free event on earlier for a bit of fun for the kids, so full credit to him and hopefully that’s got the fans behind us again.â€
BUILDBASE BEES 57: Aaron Summers 15+1, Grzegorz Zengota 13+2, Scott Nicholls 13+1, Craig Cook 7+1, Krzysztof Kasprzak 5+2, Michal Szczepaniak 4, Stuart Robson R/R. LAKESIDE 33: Peter Karlsson 11, Davey Watt 8, Piotr Swiderski 7, Kim Nilsson 3, Lewis Bridger 2, Todd Kurtz 2, Robert Mear 0.