READING Racers took the spoils 24-11 in their Southern Development League clash with Weymouth Wildcats at Eastbourne.

While both teams are using the Sussex track for home matches this year, this one was the away match for the Racers and they went into it on the back of an away defeat to Kent.

They lined up with the same four riders, their other two squad members Dan Gilkes and William O’keefe both being on the injured list.

Weymouth were looking for their first win of the campaign, and had their own selection problems, including injuries and other commitments such as the British Youth Championships, but brought in the capable Max Pankhurst and Luke Whitehead to fill the gaps.

It was a tight affair in the early stages, Nick Laurence winning heat one comfortably for the Racers, but with his partner Rhys Laker running last it looked like a share of the points until Jacob Fellows fell on the third bend of the second lap, gifting the visitors an advantage.

Heat two took four attempts to get underway, firstly with Reading captain Stephen Whitehouse breaking the tapes and being penalised 15 metres.

Then the race was pulled back twice due to fellow Racer Jamie Bursill moving at the start, resulting in the 17-year-old being disqualified from the race.

When they finally got away, Whitehouse made short work of catching and passing James Jessop, but couldn’t gain any ground on Pankhurst.

It was heading for a levelling of the scores until Jessop slipped off on the last bend, again gifting the Racers, as it meant a 3-2 heat win for Weymouth rather than a 4-2.

With Weymouth trailing by a point, Whitehead became the third of their riders to fall, coming to grief in heat three while leading.

In the re-run Bursill emerged from the second bend with the lead, and Whitehouse dived through the big gap left by Fellows as they entered the third, leaving Reading 11-6 up and Weymouth cursing their luck.

Racers’ top man Laurence took another win next time out with Pankhurst a comfortable second. Behind them Laker recovered from a very nervous initial ride to win his first competitive point as he got the better of Jessop at the back.

Laker was back out in heat five, and was now clearly enjoying things more, following Whitehouse home for a 5-1, despite the attentions of the ever-pressing Fellows behind him.

Whitehouse himself had been struggling for form and was more than pleased with his seven-point return.

With Reading now in an unassailable 11-point lead it looked like they were going to finish with a maximum in the sixth and final heat until Pankhurst passed Bursill for second place, while Laurence was at the front completing his own maximum.

Reading are in home action next week with an inter-league challenge against Birmingham Bulls, while their next league match is the return against Weymouth on July 14.

Scores:

Weymouth Wildcats 11 – Luke Whitehead 2, Jacob Fellows 2, Max Pankhurst 7, James Jessop 0.

Reading Racers 24 – Nick Laurence 9, Rhys Laker 4+1, Bursill 4, Whitehouse 7+1.

Heat one – Laurence, Whitehead, Laker, Fellows f.

Heat two – Pankhurst, Whitehouse, Jessop f, Bursill ex.

Heat three – Bursill, Whitehouse, Fellows, Whitehead fx.

Heat four – Laurence, Pankhurst, Laker, Jessop.

Heat five – Whitehouse, Laker, Fellows, Jessop.

Heat six – Laurence, Pankhurst, Bursill, Whitehead.