The Kent SLYDE Kings opened up the new month with a much needed City Gearboxes National League (CGNL) victory over high flying Coventry Storm to get back to winning ways after a barren June.
A closely fought match saw some of the best racing seen this campaign at Central Park, with home star (newly crowned as British Sand Racing champ) James Shanes and visiting number one Dan Greenwood in particular thrilling the crowd with some amazing passing manoeuvres.
But the main star in the Sittingbourne-based side's ranks was perennial crowd darling, Danny Ayres who was so unlucky not to record that still elusive first ever CGNL maximum - winning all four of his programmed rides before being harshly excluded in the nominated riders heat 15.
Ayres' first win in heat three brought the home side level after an initial flurry from the West Midlanders had seen the Storm take an early advantage - debutant Jamie Halder winning heat two for the visitors from a much more on the pace in his second appearance for the SLYDE Kings Ben Basford.
Heat four brought the crowd to its feet when man of the moment Shanes tracked down the flying Darryl Ritchings and picked him off down the back straight on the final lap.
Skipper Ben Morley joined in the winning routine for the resurgent Kings in heat six before Greenwood (who had an exceptional evening) showed his own racing pedigree by passing Shanes to bring his side firmly back into contention. At the half way point the homesters led by a mere two points and anxiety was again palpable among the success starved faithful packing the main grandstand.
So a maximum delivered by the ever reliable pairing of Ayres and Aaron Baseby in heat nine was hugely acclaimed and then when Morley and Jamie Cousins (the Faversham teen looking far more competitive than in recent weeks) scored a further heat advantage in the next heat, suddenly the home side's lead was up to a much healthier eight points.
There was controversy in heat 13 again when Greenwood and Morley clashed, with the home skipper hitting the deck and having insult added to injury via the red exclusion light. Ayres' fourth win in the next race guaranteed the CGNL points before the Newmarket Racer also found himself clashing with a fast cornering Greenwood and again the decision going against the home rider. The rerun of that heat 15 was a classic, pitching Greenwood and Morley together with Ben in the ascendancy - though the Storm's number one made a desperate dash for the line. Most felt Morley had held on only for the split decision to go in favour of Greenwood. The Coventry skipper then cemented what was an outstanding individual performance by holding off the challenge of Ayres to defend the Bronze Helmet.
Next up at Central Park is an 'Internationale' challenge against a team of top young Danish riders in Team Fritte Cup on Monday 13 July
KENT 48 B.Morley 2 3 3 X 2 - - 10 J.Couzins 1* 1 1* 1 - - - 4+2 A.Baseby 1 0 2* 3 - - - 6+1 D.Ayres 3 3 3 3 X - - 12 J.Shanes 3 2 2 2 - - - 9 B.Basford 2 0 X - - - - 2 D.Verge X 1 2 1 1 - - 5 Team Manager: Chris Hunt
COVENTRY 41 D.Greenwood 3 1*♢ 3 3 3 3 - 16+1 R.Shuttleworth 0 2 3 2 1 1 - 9 Rider Replacement Luke Crang M.Knuckey F 1 R 2♢ 2 - - 5 D.Ritchings 2 2 2 1 X - - 7 J.Halder 3 0 X X - - - 3 G.Hunter 1 0 0 F - - - 1 Team Manager: Laurence Rogers Referee: Mick Bates