Comfortable Win for Tigers
Posted 23/04/06

Glasgow recorded a comfortable 20 point victory against a weak Stoke side at Ashfield this afternoon. It wasn't a classic meeting, but the Tigers got the points that give them an excellent chance of claiming the bonus in the return leg.

The meeting started with a fall, Mark Lemon coming down heavily on the opening bend of the opening race, with David McAllan doing well to lay down his bike quickly to avoid him. The referee decreed all four back and Lemon was able to take his place in the race after lengthy treatment. Danny Bird won from the tapes with Lemon second despite a very determined effort in the first half of the race by David McAllan to pass him.

Glasgow's reserves got the expected 5-1 from the gate in heat 2, this being followed by a well strung out shared heat from the gate in heat 3 with the fast gating Robbie Kessler.

It was beginning to look a little processional and another two 'from the gate' heats followed in heats 4 and 5, being won by the fast gating Stoke pair of Mogridge and Lemon respectively. Both heats were shared, although Alan Mogridge rode well to fend off the challenge from Parker in heat 4 whilst Michael Coles sliding off at the back in heat 5 on the second bend of lap 3.

The track seemed to start settling down in heat 6. Bird and McAllan made the gate but the impressive Mogridge passed McAllan on the second bend. McAllan himself gave chase although he wobbled badly on the third bend, something acknowledged by Mogridge as he pulled clear. McAllan chased back to challenge Mogridge and it looked as though the action would be for second place with Bird out in front. However, on the third lap Bird appeared to have a problem with his bike on the pits bend and only just managed to stay on. A lap later the same thing happened again allowing Mogridge and McAllan to catch up, both overtaking him on the final bends although Bird limped home for third.

It was back to vintage Shane Parker in heat 7. Ksiezak gated and Shane settled in behind him blocking Kessler as he did so. Clews tried to find a way through but Shane once again rode a superb protecting race, covering every inch of the track in doing so, to hold Clews back whilst ushering Robert to the heat win. Kessler meantime retired on the third lap when already well off the pace at the back.

Cockle and McAllan won an easy 5-1 from the gate in heat 8, well clear of both Stoke riders. As expected, Stoke then brought the so far unbeaten Alan Mogridge out as a TR in heat 9. The opening two bends of the heat were very tough with Nieminen and Mogridge fighting it out at the front and Dicken and Evans doing likewise behind them. Nieminen got the better of Moggo and was able to pull clear to inflict the first defeat of the day on the Stoke captain by quite a comprehensive margin. Lee, who had ridden competently so far, unfortunately made a small mistake allowing Evans through and no matter what he tried he was unable to regain third place.

Heat 10 provided what was undoubtedly the ride of the meeting from David McAllan despite him possibly making one of his worst ever gates. He was well off the back with partner Danny Bird out in front when the gremlins struck at the end of the first lap, Danny's bike packing up. It looked as though Tigers may be about to suffer a 1-5 but David gave chase in determined manner. He came round the outside of Robbie Kessler on the pits bend of lap two as if Kessler was not even there then chased down Clews, tracking his every move. It looked as if Clews may just be too fast for him but David executed a superb cut inside and drive up the inside on the fourth bend, passing as they went up the home straight. Clews tried very hard to claim back the lead but David held him off for the final lap to claim a well deserved victory.

With Stoke 12 points down, Lemon came out as a TR in heat 11 but it was all to go wrong for him on the opening bends. Shane Parker gated slightly ahead of his fellow Aussie and went wide. Lemon tried to do the same but wobbled coming out of the pits bend, was unable to straighten and collided heavily with the fence post just past the pits entrance, the rider himself coming to rest half way up the back straight. Thankfully Mark was able to walk back to the pits after some attention but unfortunately was to take no further part in the meeting. In the re-run with 3 riders only, Lemon technically being excluded as the cause of the stoppage, Robert Ksiezak completely missed the gate allowing Coles out in front of him. Coles used his experience to keep the glasgow reserve behind him although both were well behind race winner Shane Parker.

Glasgow surprisingly elected to bring Ksiezak out again in heat 12 in place of Lee Dicken, possibly due to the Yorkshireman still suffering the after effects of last weeks accident. Ksiezak and Cockle gated although Clews did manage to momentarily pass Cockle on the third bend of the first lap, Robert went wide to produce a nice blocking move and allow his partner to re-claim second spot. Glasgow looked to be on a relatively comfortable 5-1 although a wobble by Cockle at the end of the third lap may have been an indication of what was to come. It allowed Clews to pull close and by the time they reached the final bend both Cockle and Clews were pushing hard for the line. Cockle was undoubtedly going to win the battle until his engine casing cracked yards from the line, throwing him heavily onto the track. Credit has also to be given to Paul Clews for his actions in avoiding James.

Stoke elected to bring Priest in to replace Lemon in heat 13 in stead of Evans but the result was academic. Danny Bird gated and was away. Despite missing the gate, Shane Parker chose to cut up the inside of Alan Mogridge on the second bend and the Glasgow paring powered away for a comfortable 5-1.

Robbie Kessler was very quick out of the gate in heat 14 and must have felt that he would claim the victory despite the close attentions of Nieminen. Kauko shadowed him trying the inside line at the end of the first lap followed by the outside line at the end of the second but to no avail. The end of lap three saw Kauko try the inside line again and drive down the home straight, beating Kessler into the first bend of the final lap and going on to claim the victory.

Heat 15 saw Bird and Parker line up against Kessler and Mogridge. Parker and Kessler hit the front, leaving Bird and Mogridge to fight it out for third place. Despite Bird getting the better start, Mogridge swept round the outside of him on the third bend of the first lap and no matter what Danny tried he was unable to return the compliment. Shane won the heat to finish with a 3-3.

The meeting was disappointing in the early stages with very little racing or passing although it improved significantly from heat six onwards. there is no doubt that Glasgow suffered some bad luck with engine failures, particularly the expensive one of James Cockle's. Stoke were hampered by the loss of Mark Lemon after two hefty crashes although this would not have affected the result, merely given the Potters a chance at narrowing the margin. Alan Mogridge was undoubtedly their best man today and he will be missed when he retires at the end of the season. Kessler picked up points but in all honesty Moggo had little back up from his team mates for one reason or another.

Overall Glasgow will be happy with such a comfortable win and with the points being spread throughout the team once more. Danny is still struggling a little to get back to form and it was heartening to see him take to the track after the meeting with Kauko Nieminen (although Kauko still looked quicker).

Tiger Performance Points:-
(based on expectations)

R003