2004 Tigers... A Year
On
Posted 01/03/05
Today sees the official start of the 2005
speedway season – or at least it does for most riders. However,
at present two of last years Tigers are still looking for team spots
for 2005.
Three of last years starting Tigers have returned
to Glasgow – Shane Parker, George Stancl and Paul Bentley. All
will play an integral part in how the Tigers do in 2005 and they provide
a very experienced backbone for this years team. They have been joined
by James Cockle, who impressed at reserve at the end of last season
and whom many expect to improve his average dramatically.
Graham Jones retired last July and will this season
form part of the management at Wolves. He retains links with Glasgow
however as he will also be looking after George Stancl and Jamie Birkinshaw’s
bikes.
James Grieves meanwhile felt the time was right for
a move away from Ashfield and made his intentions clear before the
end of last season. Instead this season he will line up for Newcastle
in their new blue colours at the track he received the injury that
ended his 2004 season. It will be a difficult task as the Newcastle
team building strategy means he is the second highest average rider
in their team.
Glasgow born Barry Campbell started the season at
reserve but struggled. After a career plagued with serious injury
problems, Barry has now retired from the sport and taken up music
with his band the P45’s.
The other initial reserve, Corey Blackman, quit the
Tigers in July after an arson attack on his van. Although he initially
returned South and rode a few meetings for Weymouth in the CL he returned
to Australia less than a month later. He had already stated that he
did not intend to return to the UK in 2005 but aimed to return in
2006. Since, he received crushed vertebrae in his back whilst competing
in Australia before Christmas. Thankfully he is now well on the road
to recovery.
Young American Eric Carrillo joined the Tigers midway
through the season with Grieves and Jones playing a part in his signing.
He joined on a 3 point average which everyone accepted was false and
quickly racked up the points at reserve. His scoring in the main body
of the team was less impressive however and it looks like the young
Californian will be sitting out at least the start of the 2005 campaign.
Sadly another rider who also looks like missing out
on the start of 2005 is David McAllan. David came back into the team
towards the end of last season and whilst he gave his all his points
scoring was not enough to see him offered a team slot. In addition,
he looks as if he will be one of the victims of the new grading system
in the conference league.
Mixed fortunes for last years Tigers. At the start
of last season whilst much hype surrounded Glasgow, eventual league
winners Hull were tipped to finish in mid table mediocrity. This year,
expectations at Ashfield are a lot lower but predictions mean nothing
when the tapes go up.
