NIKE Lunna pushed himself to within inches of the Ashfield fence to pass Ipswich’s Morten Risager in a daredevil move that won Glasgow their third meeting in three days.
And the Finnish flyer revealed how he had no choice but to make the last-bend swoop – because he was going so fast.
The 19-year-old was again the star of the show for the Tigers as his 5-1 in heat 14 with Richie Worrall put the meeting beyond the Witches, who had pulled to within three of the hosts following a maximum of their own in heat 13.
A closing-race 5-1 from Worrall and Aaron Summers ensured that the visitors went home empty-handed, with a 50-39 scoreline.
It rounded off a wonderful weekend which saw the Tigers take 10 points from a possible 11 and go level on 46 points with Somerset at the top of the league.
Lunna – who has racked up paid 37 points this weekend – said of his heat 14 heroics: “On the last lap I went as far as I could around the outside and I felt so fast. I was thinking, ‘I’m too fast and I need to go past him’.
“It was only a few centimetres from the fence but I was happy with the result and I made it.
“A 4-2 was enough to win the match but I was so much faster and he was slowing down, so I just went on the outside to pass him.
“It’s been so busy recently – with a lot of travelling and a lot of meetings. I’m not tired really, my body is just a bit sore after yesterday’s crash. But I can ride so it’s no problem.
“The team is coming together now – everyone is a good team player and everyone is riding well. If someone is not, then the other guys are doing even better, that’s how the team works.”
Another positive for the Tigers was the return of broken wrist victim Danny Ayres, who was steady with three third places before Lunna took his fourth programmed ride.
Glasgow now turn their focus to their biggest match of the season so far – a top-of-the-table showdown with Somerset at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium next Sunday.
The Rebels have three matches between them and now, including two away from home, which will go a long way to determining where they finish ahead of the play-offs.
Tigers scorers: Richie Worrall 15, Aaron Summers 11+1, Nike Lunna 9+4, Richard Lawson 7, Coty Garcia 5+1, Danny Ayres 3+1, Rene Bach R/R.