Newport Wasps 52 Leicester Lions 40.

NEWPORT Mike Manning Audio Wasps' brilliant British Premier League win at Queensway Meadows Stadium was marred by an after-meeting, trackside brawl.

At the conclusion of the 15th and final heat, Leicester's Swedish star Magnus Karlsson rode around the whole of the 285-metre track to remonstrate with start marshall Ken Petherick.

Pre-race, fans witnessed Karlsson and Petherick involved in a verbal disagreement when the Newport official wanted the Swede to move his bike at the gate.

The rider was still on his machinery when he was seen to kick out at Petherick, who put his hands up to the Swede in a defensive action.

As the pair struggled, other track officials and members of both camps ran on to the track to try and separate the duo.

Around a dozen people where involved and some 15 minutes later, heated arguments were still taking place in the pits area.

Match referee Margaret Vardy took both Karlsson and Petherick into a side room, but refused to comment other than to confirm she will be reporting the incident to the Speedway Control Board.

Wasps were magnificent in recording their eighth win from their last 11 fixtures with four riders - skipper Leigh Lanham, Jason Doyle, Charlie Gjedde and Todd Kurtz - all managing double-figure scores.

The teams now head for Leicester for a quick-fire return at the Lions' Beaumont Park Stadium home on Saturday night at 8.00pm.

Newport Mike Manning Wasps 52: 1 - Jason Doyle 11(5); 2 - Justin Sedgmen 1(3); 3 - Robin Aspegren 5+3(4); 4 - Charlie Gjedde 10(4); 5 - Leigh Lanham (capt) 12(5); 6 - Mark Jones 3(4); 7 - Todd Kurtz 10+1(5).

Leicester Lions 40: 1 - Kauko Nieminen (capt) 9(5); 2 - Jan Graversen 4(4); 3 - Iliya Bondarenko 5(4); 4 - Henning Bager 4(4); 5 - Magnus Karlsson 12(5); 6 - John Oliver 3(4); 7 - Charles Wright 3+1(4).

* Four Newport Drillerman Hornets are also in action on Saturday when skipper Jay Herne, news signings Brendan Johnson and Steve Jones plus Richard Andrews, will contest the National League Four-Team Championship at Stoke - 7.00pm start.

The following day, the quartet will be joined by Todd Kurtz, Matt Bates, and James White-Williams as the Hornets entertain Isle of Wight Islanders in a NL fixture - tapes up at 2.30pm.

ENDS