Wilson wins in vain as Buxton Hitmen are beaten

Wilson was back to his best as he romped through the card to top score with 12 points from his four rides and he was well supported by skipper Tom Woolley who picked up 11 points although the hitmen were up against it from the start with David Wallinger being ruled out of the meeting, leaving the Hitmen to cover for his absence with rider replacement. The Hitmen went in front in the opening race with a 4-2 from Wilson and Corban Pavitt over Luke Harris after Bees’ guest Tom Perry suffered a mechanical failure while in second.

Coventry hit back immediately with a couple of maximum 5-1 heat advantages before Connor Coles gained his first race victory in Hitmen colours beating Danny Phillips and Ryan MacDonald before Perry and Harris gained another maximum heat win in the following race to leave the Hitmen trailing 10-20 after five races. Wilson took his second victory of the afternoon in the next race before the Bees’ stung the Hitmen for another couple of 5-1 advantages to put themselves into a commanding 15-33 lead after eight heats.

Hitmen skipper Tom Woolley and Wilson took heat wins in the next couple of races before Perry and Harris combined for a Bees’ 5-1 and then veteran Bees’ skipper Jon Armstrong rolled back the years to take victory over Woolley in heat twelve with Jamie Halder taking third place for a Coventry 4-2.

Wilson took his fourth win of the afternoon to complete a four-ride maximum before Coventry finished the meeting off with a couple of 4-2 advantages.

Hitmen number one Ben Wilson said: “It’s disappointing to lose we are missing David Wallinger big time, we knew it was always going to be hard covering for him and the youngster are doing their very best and are coming on with each meeting but they are always going to struggle to cover such an experienced rider as he is.

“All the guys need more track time with this only being our second home meeting of the season and it told as Coventry were a lot more race fit and have benefited from getting in a few extra meetings than us. When we started I said to the younger lads try to fill in the minor positions and get some points on the board as that brings them confidence and you can see there is improvement in them every time they go out and by the time the league season really gets underway we will be fine.”

Wilson continued: “With regard to my own performance I’m delighted to have got a maximum, I should have had one in our last home meeting but let it slip which was disappointing but we got it today and I’m feeling really good on the bike and enjoying my racing.”

BUXTON 31: Ben Wilson 12, Tom Woolley 11, Connor Coles 5, Corban Pavitt 2, Kieran Douglas 1, Lewis Whitmore 0, Sam Woolley (no.8) 0, David Wallinger r/r.

COVENTRY 59: Luke Ruddick 13+1, Luke Harris 10+1, Jon Armstrong 9+2, Tom Perry 8, Ryan MacDonald 7+2, Danny Phillips 7+1, Jamie Halder 5+3.