Heat by Heat Results - June 1982

The Dukes opened their June campaign with a home tie against Eastbourne. With Carter away in Prague on World Pairs Semi Final duty, Halifax operated the rider replacement facility. Wyer, promoted to number 1 was excluded for a tapes infringement in heat 1, but replacement Janke won in style, repeating the feat in the next race. Louis was still having engine problems, stopping in both rides, but Janke had already notched up 11 points in the first 7 heats. A 5-1 from Ashton, now back at reserve, and Baker opened up an 8 point lead - but then the heavens opened and the track quickly became un-raceable, forcing the referee to call a halt.

Halifax snatched defeat from the jaws of an unlikely victory in a thriller at Wimbledon. The Dons appeared in total control, easing into an 8 point lead, with only Carter offering resistance. Mechanical issues for the hosts kept the Dukes in contention, but the Dons still led by 6 with only 3 heats left. But 2 heat advantages in the next 2 races, both involving skipper Cartwright, drew the scores level and set up the last-heat decider. Carter shepherded his team-mates home in heats 8 and 12, but was powerless in the decider as Simmons pulled away early on, and then Niemi overtook KC to seal the win for Wimbledon.

Leicester proved stubborn opponents earlier in the season in the League Cup. This time, the Dukes thrashed the Lions, easing to a 30 point win. The victory was even achieved with Carter being the harsh victim of a 2 minute exclusion, when he turned away from the tapes, believing a rider was still to arrive from the pits. His protests to the referee earned him a £50 fine! Janke replaced him, won the race - and romped to a 12 point maximum. The Lions could only manage 2 heat winners all night, including reserve Courtney who deprived Cartwright of his maximum in the final heat. Carter had earlier defeated Shawn Moran in the Golden Helmet.

Despite the loss of Janke, and Cartwright being bruised and battered, the Dukes pulled off a shock away win at Leicester. This was not a Carter-inspired win however, with an all-round team effort getting Halifax the victory. The scores were tied after 6 races, but a 5-1 from Wyer and Cartwright saw the Dukes edge into the lead, which they held onto. Cartwright teamed up with the impressive Louis to seal the win in heat 12. Carter was controversially excluded for tape-breaking in heat 11, when Jensen had actually rolled into them first, and he was left at the start in the final race after what appeared to be an unsatisfactory start was not called back. Number 8 Martin Dixon deputised for the injured Janke.