Birmingham Brummies wait for a win goes on after they were beaten 48-42 by Oxford in their Bank Holiday Monday fixture at Perry Barr.
This was probably the Curtis Sport Brummies’ least convincing overall performance though since returning to the top division with Tom Brennan and outgoing rider Scott Nicholls scoring more than half of the team’s points.
The night got off to a bad start when Wiktor Lampart and Vaclav Milik conceded a 5-1 – but Nicholls, who dropped to reserve on his final appearance for the club, linked up with Leon Flint for an instant response.
A hat-trick of shared races followed before Birmingham’s opening pairing were once again on the receiving end of a maximum as Oxford restored their four point lead.
A further five straight 3-3s followed – this time they were all won by Brummies’ riders, but their relevant team-mates failed to provide the needed support.
In that run, Nicholls demonstrated his experience and class to make it four wins from four, Tom Brennan also ended Rohan Tungate’s unbeaten start and Milik made a blinder from the outside and was eventually awarded Heat Ten when Lampart was unnerved by a hard-charging Chris Harris.
Straight after the interval, it was Nicholls’ streak which came to an end as the visitors bagged back-to-back 5-1s to wrap up the points with two races to go.
Impressive duo Brennan and Nicholls teamed up for a 5-1 of their own in the penultimate race though before Brennan added a third win of the night with Milik also finishing third ahead of Harris after Nicholls allowed the Czech racer to get more laps under his belt around his new home circuit with the result beyond any doubt.
The Brummies are back in action this Thursday (April 4, 7.30) when they travel to King’s Lynn in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1
BIRMINGHAM 42: Scott Nicholls 15+1, Tom Brennan 13+1, Vaclav Milik 4, Leon Flint 3+2, Zach Cook 3+1, Steve Worrall 2, Wiktor Lampart 2.
OXFORD 48: Rohan Tungate 14+1, Charles Wright 11+2, Chris Harris 10+1, Lewis Kerr 6+3, Nicolai Klindt 6+1, Ashton Boughen 1+1, Maciej Janowski R/R.
Oxford win the aggregate point 95-85.
Referee Scorecard
birmingham_01.04.24_resWords and Image by Birmingham Speedway
