Defeat on the Island but Bonus Point Secured
Posted 09/08/06

An entertaining meeting at Smallbrook saw the home side come out winners after Glasgow went to pieces in the middle of the meeting but an astute use of tactical rides and a late comeback by the Tigers saw them claim the bonus and run the Islanders close.

As often happens these days, Danny Bird won the opening heat from the gate. In one of the evening's only uneventful heats, David McAllan finished at the rear.

It looked good for Glasgow in the reserves race with James and Robert gating and looking comfortable out front. However, on the third lap Robert locked up slightly and his error allowed both Islanders through for a shared heat. Heat 3 looked as if it would also be shared with Kauko Nieminen leading guest Troy Batchelor but Batchelor pushed all the way and despite Kauko's best attempts he executed an excellent outside pass of the Glasgow man on the final bend to give Isle of Wight the first heat advantage of the night.

Once again Glasgow lost the chance of a heat advantage in heat 4, Parker winning comfortably but Cockle surrendering third place to Nick Simmons on the final lap after a good battle.

The next three heats were to be disastrous for the Tigers, loosing three 5-1's on the trot. Danny Bird ended up off 15m in heat 5, touching the tapes after they seemed to take an eternity to rise. Stojanowski gated for the Islanders, Batchelor settled in behind him and the Glasgow pair were well beaten. Holder and Bunyan repeated the feat in heat 6 against Parker and Ksiezak and when Holder and Bunyan followed suit in heat 7 things were looking very bleak for the Tigers - especially as they had been unable to take advantage of a TR ride by Kauko in heat 7.

James Cockle led from the tapes in heat 8 closely pursued by Nick Simmons. Jason Bunyan and David McAllan were doing battle at the back when almost at the same instant both had bike troubles on the third lap. Full credit has to be given to both for trying to push for home but they were lapped in their attempt. Meantime, out front, Nick Simmons took advantage to pass James Cockle to win the heat 3-2 for the Islanders.

Troy Batchelor won heat 9 for the Islanders although Shane chased him all the way and with Robert claiming third spot the heat was shared, as was heat 10 with Kauko and reserve replacement James Cockle finishing second and third respectively behind the fast gating Holder.

Glasgow's long awaited second TR came in heat 11 with Danny Bird wearing the black and white helmet cover. An electric gate saw him claim the six points although Robert Ksiezak, in as reserve replacement for David McAllan, was unable to add to this.

Heat 12 produced some excellent racing from all four riders. Lee Dicken gated and spent the majority of the race blocking and counter blocking Troy Batchelor in a display of clever riding. However, just when it looked as if he would claim victory, Batchelor made a final last gasp attempt on the final bend and squeezed through to win. His team mate for the night, Nick Simmons, got the better of James Cockle in the battle for third place.

If Glasgow had been blowing hot and cold before the interval, they certainly turned on the heat after it. First of all, Danny and Shane claimed an impressive 5-1 from Batchelor and Holder in heat 13, doing so virtually untroubled. Tigers then played their final tactical option by bringing Shane Parker out as a tactical substitute off 15m in heat 14 at the expense of James Cockle. An 8-1 would have meant Tigers still had a chance of winning the meeting. Kauko made a good start but unfortunately Stojanowski chose this heat to make his best start of the night and ride his best race of the night. Shane worked his way up from the back into second relatively easily but try as he may was unable to get past him. The resultant 3-5 meant that both the bonus point and meeting outcome were settled - the former going to the Tigers, the latter to the Islanders.

Heat 15 was a carbon copy of heat 13 in almost every respect with Shane this time taking the win, Danny second, ahead of the Islanders pairing of Holder and Batchelor.

In a very entertaining meeting, the Tigers did well to overcome the bad spell in the middle of the meeting to still remarkably have the chance of winning going into heat 14, albeit thanks to tactical rules. As expected, Danny did very well whilst James Cockle continued his return to form. Apart from one race, Shane also rode well. It's a meeting that David and Robert may however wish to forget.

Tiger Performance Points:-
(based on expectations)

R003