Heat by Heat Results - August 1978

Despite visitors Coventry being without both Ole Olsen and Jiri Stancl, away for the World Longtrack Semi-Final, the Dukes still fell to a disappointing defeat as the Bees moved to the top of the table.  Kenny Carter was a late call-up for the sick Klaus Lohmann, but only Ian Cartwright and Mike Lohmann put up any resistance, as Eric Boothroyd bemoaned the Dukes carrying "too many passengers."  The top two scorers combined for the Dukes only two 5-1s of the night as Halifax slipped to 7th in the league.

Halifax somehow returned to winning ways, despite a brilliant 17 point haul from Gordon Kennett, and the Dukes losing both Mitch Graham and Mick McKeon in a horrific crash in heat 9.  McKeon and Graham were in pursuit of Kennett when the Aussie's engine seized, and Graham piled into the back of McKeon.  McKeon was shaken, but had more concern about his machinery, but Graham was taken to hospital with back and knee injuries.  But a welcome return to form for Eric Broadbelt and Chris Pusey, plus the now regular double-figure score from Cartwright, saw the Dukes get a relatively comfortable victory.

The Dukes were holding the Racers 21-21 when the original meeting was abandoned back in May, when the Dukes were healthy.  But with no Graham or Klaus Lohmann, and with Mick McKeon struggling after his catalogue of recent crashes, there was to be no chance of a shock away win.  Halifax fell 14 points behind after only 4 races, and the damage was done.  Mike Lohmann and Ian Cartwright did their best to minimise any further damage, but with Jessup and Davis in top form, the Racers had a convincing win.  The Dukes used Boston rider Dave Allen at reserve, but he fell awkwardly in the reserve race and took no further part.

After their recent injury issues and erratic form, a 22 point win over King's Lynn was a welcome result, with Chris Pusey finally getting back to his best with a 12 point maximum.  All the Dukes meant business, with only Alan Stansfield missing out.  The Stars' hopes were not helped by a below-par performance from British Champion and World Finalist Michael Lee, whilst veteran Terry Betts also failed to win a heat.  Ian Cartwright was beaten by the diminutive Turner in heat 4, but was unbeaten after that.

Halifax went down to an 18 point defeat at Cradley, with Eric Broadbelt having one of his best performances of the season.  But with Mike Lohmann and Ian Cartwright only providing limited support, and McKeon, Klaus and Pusey all non-contributors, the Dukes struggled to stay in contention.  The powerful Heathens trio of Bastable, Grahame and Penhall were dominant from the first race, with Cartwright's scoring being affected by 2 late engine failures.

Another 18 point defeat on the road, this time at Hyde Road, as Chris Morton, and the Collins brothers swept the Dukes aside.  Mike Lohmann was looking in impressive form, but had mechanical problems, whilst Pusey and Broadbelt used their knowledge of the Belle Vue track to pick up points, but Ian Cartwright had a nightmare, picking up a solitary point with the match already lost.  The defeat dropped the Dukes down to a season-low 8th place in the league.

Belle Vue did a Bank-Holiday weekend double over the Dukes as they snatched victory in the annual Warburtons cash challenge in the last race.  There seemed to be little to worry about, as the Dukes led from the moment Mike Lohmann stormed to win the opening race, and the Dukes held the lead all the way to the end.  But Chris Morton and Les Collins team rode to keep out Cartwright in the last heat to steal the win.  Broadbelt and Pusey's recent revival seemed to have come to an end, as they failed to contribute again.