WASPS 57 BERWICK 38

SWEDISH star Robin Aspegren’s 15-point maxiumum was the rock on which Mike Manning Audio Wasps built yet another convincing win to move up a place to fifth in the British Premier League table.

Aspegren was in sensational form as the Wasps’ superiority confirmed the victory with three heats still remaining at Queensway Meadows Stadium.

The home side were well served by all team members, although there was an extremely rare last-place finish at the venue for dashing Dane Charlie Gjedde.

He missed the gate in heat 13, which was won by guest David Howe ahead of home skipper Leigh Lanham and visiting captain Lee Complin.

Another chief reason for this emphatic success was Newport’s reserves Mark Jones and Todd Kurtz outscoring their Berwick counterparts Mitchell Davey and Jade Mudgway 14-1.

The Wasps started with a bang, two opening 5-1s putting them in complete control, and only a tactical 8-1 from Josef Franc and Linus Eklof over Leigh Lanham and Mark Jones in seven boosted Berwick’s final total.

With five riders only managing to score 14 points among them and the reserves being hammed so heavily, Berwick will have absolutely no complaints about the outcome.

Although every heat was more or less keenly contested, there was only one which could adequately be described as a true race.

Aspegren and Anders Mellgren lined up against Linus Eklof and Josef Franc, who started by sweeping around everyone at bend two.

Aspegren, though, retaliated by overtaking the Czech Republic ace in fine style on turn four of the same lap with Eklof eventually swept inside Mellgren on the same bend in the penultimate lap.

The quartet battled it out hard and fast over the final circuit with Aspegren holding position well to take the chequered flag.

The Wasps could finish the 2011 campaign as high as fourth position, a remarkable achievement considering they only won two of their opening 11 fixtures and lost their first five at home.

Newport Mike Manning Audio Wasps 57: 1 – Charlie Gjedde 14(5); 2 – Rider replacement for Jason Doyle; 3 – Robin Aspegren 13+2(5); 4 – Anders Mellgren 6(5); 5 – Leigh Lanham 10+1(6); 6 – Mark Jones 6+1(5); 7 – Todd Kurtz 8+2(5).

Berwick Bandits 38: 1 – David Howe (Scunthorpe Scorpions, guest for Sebastian Alden) 13(5); 2 – Alex Edberg 1(4); 3 – Linus Eklof 6+2(5); 4 – Josef Franc 11+1(4); 5 – Lee Complin 6(4); 6 – Mitch Davey 1(0); 7 – Jade Mudgway 0(4).

- The Wasps travel to face Berwick on Friday before completing their 2011 PL programme by entertaining Edinburgh Monarchs next Saturday – tapes up at Queensway Meadows Stadium at the earlier time of 6pm.