JAMES Shanes lauded the influence of mechanic Henning Loof after shattering his best score for Sheffield in a 52-38 triumph over Ipswich.

The Dorset-based charger bagged 11-paid-14 on a night that saw the action delayed due to crashes that forced the withdrawal of Tigers Lasse Bjerre (concussion) and Broc Nicol (knee) as well as the visiting Cameron Heeps (concussion).

Shanes backed up wins for Georgie Wood, Charles Wright and Todd Kurtz to play a part in three out of five maximum heat advantages for the Sheffield Window Centre Tigers.

And having snaffled a chequered flag of his own in heat 14, the man behind Smiley Racing boasted a grin to rival that of Greg Hancock.

“It has been a long time coming while we have been working on getting to grips with the track,” said Shanes.

“After the crash I had, it took me a little while to get used to how deep it is. It knocked me back a bit and I stopped riding the outside so much.

“I found the right line again tonight and I cannot thank Henning enough for getting me back to where I wanted to be.”

The hosts made a flying start with guest Ty Proctor and Todd Kurtz taking full advantage of Rory Schlein’s early mechanical problem in a 5-1.

Wood and Shanes got a slice of luck when ex-Tiger Jack Smith fell and Connor Mountain slowed down when on a maximum that got reversed in the reserve race.

With Sheffield eight to the good, Bjerre clipped the back of second-placed Heeps in a horror smash on turn two that saw medics rule out both riders.

Wright and Shanes took the lead to double figures and then tactical substitute Nico Covatti had no joy in trying to make inroads in heat five despite Nicol's exclusion for hitting the fence.

The American would later pull out despite attempting to continue in his next race.

Ipswich hung in there with wins for guest Scott Nicholls, Schlein, Covatti and Mountain helping to shrink a 14-point deficit to eight.

However, Proctor finished with a flourish thanks to a pair of wins either side of a Shanes success to ensure the visitors went home empty handed.

INJURY UPDATE

Nicol is expected to make a full recovery in the eight days building up to the trip to Lakeside on Friday, July 13 but Bjerre will miss out due to a mandatory nine-day rest period for incidents involving concussion.

Club bosses anticipate Bjerre will participate at Peterborough on Sunday, July 15.

SHEFFIELD 52: Todd Kurtz 13+3, Ty Proctor 12+1, James Shanes 11+3, Charles Wright 10, Georgie Wood 4+1, Broc Nicol (withdrawn) 2, Lasse Bjerre (withdrawn) 0.

IPSWICH 38: Nco Covatti 12+1, Scott Nicholls 9, Connor Mountain 7+1, Rory Schlein 5, Jonas Jeppesen 4, Jack Smith 1, Cameron Heeps (withdrawn) 0.