King's Lynn return to winning ways by beating Wolverhampton in Premiership

Richard Lawson confirmed his return to form as the King’s Lynn Stars returned to winning ways, 55-35 at home to Wolverhampton tonight in the Premiership.

Lawson top-scored with 16 points from six rides. Lynn's Dane Thomas Jorgensen celebrated his 30th birthday with another impressive haul as well as Lawson, 14+3.

Lynn were bidding to stop a run of five successive league losses, four being extremely close but the last being a 61-29 reverse at Belle Vue on Monday night at the National Speedway Stadium.

Both sides were operating rider replacement (R/R) for their number ones: the Minors & Brady Stars with the continued absence of Niels-Kristian Iversen due to a Polish league recall and Wolves' Sam Masters who was ruled out with a foot injury.

Adrian Flux Arena skipper Josh Pickering took the opening heat R/R, Nick Morris for Wolves. It was also Worrall versus Worrall.

It was Lynn's twin brother Richie who triumphed over Steve in a 5-1 maximum heat victory with Pickering, who edged out Steve for second after a first lap tussle, as Morris retired halfway through the race.

Now at reserve, Jorgensen got his birthday off to a perfect start by leading home Jason Edwards in maximum number two. Drew Kemp – who seemed to have shed a chain – retired after the tapes, forcing team-mate Leon Flint to go wide.

Lawson won Heat 3 in a 3-3 shared result with Dersingham's Lewis Kerr struggling in last.

Jorgensen, in on a reserve switch, backed up Pickering in a third home 5-1.

Luke Becker was the Heat 5 away R/R and fell on the first bend of the second restart (Kerr had been warned to stay still on the first restart).

All four riders returned and Lawson won in a 4-2 while Kerr overtook S. Worrall on lap one and last-place Becker looked uneasy on his second bike to leave the scores 22-8.

After some track grading, R/R Lawson completed his hat-trick hotly pursued by Morris in a second successive 4-2.

Pickering and Jorgensen bagged maximum number four; then Steve won the second Worrall battle in a 3-3 to make it 34-14 at midway.

Winner Morris, who lowered Lawson's colours, ensured Wolverhampton's first race win and first heat advantage in Heat 9 while Kerr retired with a lap remaining.

Heat 10 R/R was Jorgensen who just failed to catch Ryan Douglas and offered his congratulations to the Aussie after the 3-3 race.

Following the interval, Pickering fell on the final lap, first bend while leading and the race was awarded 3-3 with Jorgensen ahead of the remaining pack.

Lawson next notched his fourth win to condemn Wolverhampton to defeat with three outings to spare.

Morris won the battle of the heat leaders over Lynn R/R Richie Worrall whose brother was passed by Pickering in a sixth 3-3 result.

As Wolves began to master gating, Douglas won the penultimate heat ahead of Kerr who passed Flint.

The final nominated heat line up was Lawson, Jorgensen, Douglas and Morris. This involved as much overtaking as the rest of the meeting and Morris' final-lap tumble and eventual recovery for last place allowed a final home 5-1 (Lynn's fifth) by Lawson and Jorgensen.

Lynn: Niels-Kristian Iversen R/R, Richie Worrall 10+1, Richard Lawson 16, Lewis Kerr 3, Josh Pickering (capt.) 9+2, Thomas Jorgensen 14+3, Jason Edwards 3+2.

Wolverhampton: Sam Masters R/R, Steve Worrall 6+1, Luke Becker 4+1, Ryan Douglas 12, Nick Morris 9, Drew Kemp 1, Leon Flint 3+1.

Fastest time: Pickering, Heat 4, 58.38 seconds.

Referee: Barbara Horley.