CHRIS Harris starred in a tough Ben Fund Bonanza event at the Adrian Flux Arena in King’s Lynn on Saturday night, writes Observer speedway reporter Robin Allen.
Bees had no less than five riders representing the club at the event which raises money for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund.
The meeting started with a bang in heat one with Harris battling with former team-mate Ben Baker for the lead and a the Bees star was not troubled after going into the lead in the second lap.
In the following heat new reserve Josh Bates showed his action-packed style following a duel with his Premier League team-mate Simon Stead.
The pair passed and re-passed each other until the youthful Brit tried to undertake Stead coming off the second turn but he collided with the Sheffield number-one which resulted in his exclusion.
The drama continued when Krzysztof Kasprzak battled from the back to take second in his first race, while Danny King was excluded in heat four which allowed new signing Kacper Woryna to make his British debut with the Polish youngster finishing second.
A second win followed for Harris in heat eight but Kasprzak found the going tough in the next heat after attempting to overtake Ulrich Ostergaard.
The Pole was excluded and received medical treatment on-track before heading to hospital. The Bees confirmed he had not broken his collarbone.
King continued the theme of back luck with back-to-back third places leaving him on just two points from three rides.
In heat 13, Bates showed his potential with a stunning win over Danish International duo Bjarne Pedersen and Mads Korneliussen. While Polish youngster Woryna got a well-deserved point with a third place in the next race.
Harris was then hit by the back luck curse after he struggled with clutch issues in his third outing as he ran a last place leaving him on six points. Meanwhile Bates went from zero-to-hero with his second straight win with Woryna coming third in heat 16.
Despite mechanical problems Bees skipper Harris secured his place in the semi-final with a vital second while a disappointed King rounded his night off with another third place.
However Harris lost out to Pedersen and home rider Robert Lambert in the semi-final, eventually finishing third.
“It was a good meeting; there was a lot of good racing out there,” said Harris. “The first two races we had some speed and then we seemed to lose it in the middle of the meeting as well as some clutch problems.
“Hopefully we have sorted them and found out why I lost speed in the end. But then again this is what these meetings are all about.”
“It was great for Kacper today because he got some time on-track and got track knowledge as well. Obviously it will take some time for him to find his feet but I’m sure when he does he’ll be fine.”
