Peter Boast wins Scunthorpe shorttrack Christmas Cracker

Peter Boast took victory in the annual Short Track Christmas Cracker event at Scunthorpe Speedway Stadium at the weekend.

Boast, riding a 450 Team Silkolene Suzuki, won the main final from CCM rider Rusty Hodgson and Victor Bull on another Yamaha in the American-style dirttrack race.

The crowds flocked to the speedway on a delightfully unseasonably mild afternoon and saw British Superbike star Steve Plater storming all the way to the Grand Final courtesy of top three placings in each of his three heats and the semi. 

Stealing a march on Steve Plater in that semi had been the surprise packet of the afternoon, Merseyside’s Craig Spence who produced the form of his life with three wins out of four to take up position on the front grid of the Final. 

Steve Plater and Craig Spence were joined there by Peter Boast and Redcar Bears Speedway rider, Rusty Hodgson – who’d been imperious in winning his first two heats and then besting Boast in the first semi. 

Just behind this front row was Stamford’s moto-cross expert Victor Bull – who was at his typically rampaging best as the tapes rose on the 12 hear spectacular finale to proceedings.

Steve Plater then assumed the mantle, before Rusty Hodgson shot to the front with Peter Boast held-up for four laps contending with the closest of attentions from his rivals including the fast-improving Skegness-based Glynn Pocklington.

Once away from the trio of Pocklington, Victor Bull and Steve Plater, Peter Boast set about reigning in a fast tiring Rusty Hodgson; and thus it was on lap seven the one-time Isle of Man TT rider, Boston Speedway skipper of old and once a rostrum man in the World Indoor Ice Racing championships belied his forty-something status to storm past the younger man and hold on for victory. 

Craig Spence – for whom the final proved one race too many – passed Steve Plater for fifth – with Victor Bull making up the rostrum positions behind Rusty Hodgson and just ahead of his regular Short Track rival, Pocklington.

Robspeed Short Track Christmas Cracker results:
1 Peter Boast (450 Team Silkolene Suzuki)
2 Rusty Hodgson (450 Dynomax CCM)
3 Victor Bull (450 Yamaha)
4 Glyn Pocklington (450 Helmets4u Honda)
5 Craig Spence (450 Yamaha)
6 Steve Plater (450 Honda)