Open Target
Posted 05/08/05
Two Glasgow riders plus another Glasgow
asset will be amongst the riders challenging for the Scottish Open
title at Armadale this evening.
Shane Parker and George Stancl were amongst the first names
announced for the event and they were joined yesterday evening by
Glasgow asset David McAllan who has been called in to replace the
injured James Grieves.
Shane will be one of the fancied riders and is the only previous
winner in the field following the late withdrawal of Andre Compton.
George has shown recently that he is capable of riding Armadale and
was unlucky last year so cannot be ruled out as an outside bet.
David Howe has always entertained at Armadale and despite
coming back from injury must surely be favourite to win. His last
two visits have seen him finish 3rd then 2nd so this could just be
his year. Former Glasgow favourite Jason Lyons and his Belle Vue team
mate Ronnie Correy are the other two Elite league riders in the field.
Naturally there is a strong presence of home riders taking
part. Theo Pijper is making his return from injury and he is joined
in the line up by team mates Rusty Harrison, Cameron Woodward, Daniel
Nermark and William Lawson - the latter taking the place of Andre
Compton. Harrison in particular should be in contention.
There is usually an outsider in these events and, if he can
be termed as such, James Wright could well be the one who upsets the
form book and mounts a challenge. Mark Lemon will be making the long
trip up from Exeter to visit the track for the first time since his
Somerset days.
The line up is completed by 3 foreign riders, who are all
hoping to ride in the UK next season. Pole Rafal Kowalski is joined
by Anders Nielsen, back racing after 9 years out of the sport due
to a serious injury, and Nikolai Klindt, a youngster recommended to
Monarchs by Frede Schott.
The meeting is a 20 heat format followed by a semi final
and final.
