The
Pairs - A Comment
Posted 27/06/05
The record books will show that the winners
of the 2005 PL Pairs are Glasgow Tigers, a title they won on their
home track. It will look as if it was another ‘home banker’
to those who were not there but those who were know the reality.
The tremendous effort by Shane Parker to ride at all after
breaking his collarbone in a crash 16 days earlier has been well documented
and rightly so. What is not being so widely reported was the way in
which Shane and George pulled together, covered each others weaknesses
during the meeting whilst riding to their own strengths but never
doing so without checking for their partner.
Throughout the meeting, they were the only pair who constantly
looked for each other on track. There was no ‘gate and go’
from either rider, no reaching for personal achievements.
The pairs event is all about team work, not riding as an
individual. Glasgow fans know that in Shane we have one of the best
masters of the art of team work in speedway. Yesterday George showed
in style he is capable of following Shane’s example.
Throughout the meeting both riders showed not only good riding
ability and track awareness but also tactical nous – just ask
Stoney! Sure there were better individuals on the day but it was not
an individual event. The TEAM who rode as a team on the day were the
rightful winners in the spirit of the competition.
Well done Shane and George on a well worked for and thoroughly
deserved victory.
A full report on the meeting can be found here
whilst a meeting score card can be found here or via the fixtures
page.
