Reading
Preview
Posted 26/09/05
Glasgow head to Reading this evening for
the re-staging of the Premier League clash rained off at the end of
August.
Neither team have anything other than pride left to ride
for but as it is expected to be Readings last meeting this season
they will want to go out on a high. The teams are also tied on 26
points in the league and Glasgow's remaining abandoned meeting against
Hull looks unlikely to be re-run.
Reading, or perhaps more accurately Danny Bird, have been
badly hit with injuries this season and once again will be operating
rider replacement for Bird. Any travelling fans will get a treat however
as they are expected to get sight of that rare phenomenon Matej Zagar.
He has attained a reputation again this season for missing meetings
at Northern tracks and Rye House - in fact including his home track
he has only ridden half this seasons Premier League tracks - but there
is no doubting his quality round Smallmead. He has scored no fewer
than 8 home maximums and only missed out on another 3 due to engine
failure.
Young Czech rider Zdenek Simota has done well since coming
to the UK and whilst Andrew Appleton's average has dropped this season
he has recently shown good form. Matt Tresarrieu completes the middle
order and is usually solid around his home track. At reserve Reading
have another Czech, Richard Wolff who has perhaps not had the best
of seasons but is one of the strongest home reserves in the league.
His partner Chris Johnson is considerably weaker however and has struggled
of late.
Glasgow have called up Matt Wright, who guested for us on
the Isle of Wight in the main body of the team, as a guest to replace
the injured Adam Roynon. Matt has ridden Smallmead competitively before
in 2003 in the BLC. Of the remainder of the Glasgow side, only James
Cockle has ridden to his average there in recent times. George and
Shane are both average and will find it very difficult against Readings
home team specialists. Claus and Trent both struggled on their last
visits, albeit they were last season, whilst Stefan has not ridden
the track before. With Glasgow only holding a 10 point lead from the
home leg, it looks as if even the bonus point will be out of the Tigers
reach-unless of course Zagar suddenly finds a foreign meeting to ride
in!
