Cockle
Stars
Posted 23/04/05, by Casper
The spoils were shared at Loomer Road in
a competitive and entertaining meeting on a well prepared circuit.
Its a result that Glasgow would have been happy with before tapes
up but may feel a bit disappointed in the end not to sneak the win.
For the Tigers, at the end of the night there was
absolutely no doubt in the mind of the Glasgow fans that although
it was a team effort one rider stood out-James Cockle.
The contrast between the track tonight and the track
at the last Glasgow away meeting at Berwick could not be more marked
and the Stoke track staff should be praised for the part they played
in tonight's entertaining meeting.
Stancl started the meeting with a win from the front
but team mate Matt trailed in last. Glasgow received what could have
been seen as a major blow at the start of heat 2 when Trent's engine
gave up the ghost on the first bend. James Cockle did all that was
asked of him however and the heat was shared. Disappointingly Glasgow
were yet again to concede an easy 5-1 in heat 3.
Despite Mogridge gating first in heat 4, Shane took
just over a lap to reel him in before passing him on the second lap
whilst James Cockle, in for Trent, did an excellent blocking job at
the back to ensure third place and a heat advantage. Things got better
in heat 5 when Matt gated and George was to mix it with Kessler for
three laps before passing him on the final lap to claim the 5-1 for
Glasgow.
In a clear indication that all was not well with
Trent, he came in for James Cockle in heat 6 on what looked like Shane's
second bike and was to trail in last. Shane won the heat for a share
of the spoils. Unfortunately there was another clear indication in
heat 7, this time it being that Bentley and Birkinshaw are not a good
pairing. Lying on a 3-3, Bentley appeared again to hinder his team
mate allowing Grant to take advantage and sneak through for third.
Matt was looking good after his heat 5 win and paired
with Cockle, in place of Trent, in heat 8 the two Glasgow youngsters
rode superbly to get round Evans and claim another Tigers 5-1. Trent
came in for James in heat 9, a heat Shane won comfortably from the
front for a share of the spoils. Glasgow were brought back down to
earth with a bump however with Stoke claiming an easy almost unchallenged
5-1 in heat 10 and the overall scores were tied.
Wethers and Stancl were both looking good but Alan
Mogridge for Stoke was in superb form and claimed the win in heat
11 thanks to an excellent piece of overtaking to get past Matt. On
paper heat 12 looked weak for Glasgow but James Cockle made an excellent
gate. In a clear indication of what he can do when allowed the room,
Birkinshaw came from the back to claim second spot behind his team
mate. It was an unexpected boost to the Tigers and suddenly the meeting
was there for the taking.
On a night of good racing, heat 13 was perhaps the
best of the night with all four riders in close contention. An excellent
advert for the sport and all four riders deserve credit for that,
it was just unfortunate for Glasgow that Stoke were to claim a heat
advantage at the chequered flag.
It wouldn't be complete without a little bit of controversy
and that was to come in heat 14. The first attempt to run it saw Grant
push Cockle wide out towards Peter Carr, leaving Carr with nowhere
to go. Bentley had gated well and must have felt a little frustrated
but the referee correctly called all four back. In the re-run, Bentley
again flew from the gate and was followed by his partner. Carr fell
at the back completely on his own and with the red lights not going
on immediately it was clear Carr would be excluded. With Glasgow on
a 5-1, Carr failed to clear the track and the race was again stopped.
Third time lucky and again Bentley gated but this time Grant got the
better of a tiring Cockle and James was unable to claim the second
spot.
Stoke needed a 5-1 in the final heat to draw the
meeting and they did just that courtesy of good team riding by their
star man Alan Mogridge and guest Rusty Harrison. Shane tried hard
in another excellent race but the Stoke riders held out to the delight
of their fans.
Overall it can't be said often enough that this was
a cracking meeting with plenty passing, good clean racing and a well
prepared track. From a Glasgow point of view Matt Wethers had a great
night apart from his first ride and if it had not been for the phenomenal
display by James Cockle he would have been our rider of the night.
It is refreshing and encouraging to see the two youngsters shine.
George and Shane both started well but faded towards the end of the
night although that could be said to be in some part due to the form
of Mogridge and Harrison. The Birkinshaw/Bentley partnership was shown
up once again as a flawed one. Both rode far better when not riding
with each other and it is surely time now to split them up. You have
to feel for Trent on his return to Stoke in a meeting that he would
no doubt be fully up for and he will feel very frustrated after tonight.
As for James Cockle, the word that was constantly
used for him tonight was awesome. On a track he is not familiar with
and as we know still riding with an injury, he gated, he passed, he
held up the opposition, he came from behind. A superb performance.
Credit should however go to all riders tonight for
their part in an entertaining meeting, if only Sky had been there.
The scorecard and heat details can be found here.
Tiger Performance Points:
| George Stancl |
*** |
Good performance, faded a little |
| Matthew Wethers |
**** |
Excellent after a poor start |
| Jamie Birkinshaw |
** |
Blocked again by Bentley, better heat 12 |
| Paul Bentley |
** |
Good gate in heat 14 |
| Shane Parker |
*** |
Looked unbeatable early on but faded |
| James Cockle |
***** |
Undoubtedly Tigers Man of the Meeting |
| Trent Leverington |
* |
Frustrating for him |
