Heat by Heat Results - July 1978

The bad run of results continued with a home defeat to local rivals Sheffield, although this was definitely down to bad luck.  Klaus Lohmann was comfortably leading heat 8 when his primary chain broke, turning a 5-1 into a 3-3.  And the same thing happened in heat 12 when Pusey's clutch fell apart, as he followed Mike Lohmann towards another probable 5-1.  But irrespective of those misfortunes, it was another sub-standard performance from Pusey, and with Mitch Graham and Klaus Lohmann also struggling, the Tigers took full opportunity.  The defeat left Halifax down in 6th place in the league table...

Ian Cartwright's glorious 12 point maximum, the first of his career, saw the Dukes return to winning ways, eventually seeing off a dogged-Vikings.  Mike Lohmann set the tone by defeating World Champion Mauger in the opening race, and his 5-1 with Broadbelt in heat 6 put the Dukes 6 points up.  With Mauger struggling, it was down to Beaton and Moran to drag Hull back into the tie, but consecutive 5-1s in the last 2 races saw Halifax get the win.  The returning Broadbelt was clearly far from fit, whilst Pusey, now at reserve faired no better, running two last places after a reserve race second place.

Halifax went down to another defeat on the road, as they slipped to an 18 point loss at Coventry.  Mick McKeon scored the only win on the night by a Duke when he headed Ole Olsen in heat 10, but crashed trying to repeat the feat two races later.  Chris Pusey was more like his old self, scoring 9 points from 6 starts to top-score, but Mike Lohmann had a night of mechanical problems as the Bees won at will.  

Mike Lohmann extended his claims to the title of number one Duke with a brilliant 14 point haul against the Wolves.  But Lohmann only received support from Ian Cartwright, as Mitch Graham faded after a promising start.  Chris Pusey failed to arrive, having broken down on the motorway, and the Dukes were forced to use a Wolves junior as cover, as they failed to take advantage of an off night for Dave Morton and guest Mick Hines.  Cartwright inflicted the only defeat on Jimmy McMillan, but the match was lost by that point.

The Dukes defeated Poole in a stormy and brutal encounter, courtesy of a second consecutive home maximum for Ian Cartwright and improved scoring from reserves Pusey and Klaus Lohmann.  Broadbelt was ruled out after looping at the start in heat 1, and Mitch Graham crashed heavily in heat 3, bruising his hip. Malcolm Simmons was angry to have been adjudged the cause of a crash with McKeon, and McKeon was subsequently excluded in the re-run after being lapped with bike problems.  With the Pirates riders unhappy at some refereeing decisions, guest McMillan was their only rider in heat 11, and nobody took to the track in the final race, leaving Cartwright and McKeon to ride to a 5-0.  The Poole riders subsequently walked out, refusing to take part in the second half races.

The Dukes went down narrowly at Hull, with Mike Lohmann winning 3 races in his 10 points, with young Kenny Carter scoring a career best 9 from reserve.  Mick McKeon was unavailable, trying to get his machinery sorted after the Poole match, and Eric Broadbelt failed to score after his fall at the weekend.  A heat 12 5-1 for the Vikings put the hosts 6 points up - the biggest margin all night, and a final heat 4-2 from Graham and Lohmann was too late to save Halifax from another away loss.  Graham disappointed on his return to the Boulevard, failing to beat an opponent before that final race, although he was unhappy with a controversial tapes exclusion in heat 10.

Halifax defeated rivals Belle Vue in a thriller at the Shay, with Ian Cartwright scoring another maximum, his third in a row at home.  Cartwright and Mike Lohmann inflicted the first defeats on Peter Collins by a Halifax rider in 3 years, as the Dukes edged into a slim lead, but unlike previous meetings, they managed to hang on.  Lohmann and Chris Morton dead-heated for the win in heat 10, and Cartwright secured his maximum and the win by taking the flag in a breathless final race.