Three Maximums as Tigers Beat Rye
Posted 10/07/06

Glasgow started this meeting as favourites for the victory but all the talk was about whether Danny Bird would complete a superb weekend by going unbeaten by an opponent for the third meeting in a row. Not only did Danny achieve this with a paid maximum but he was joined by Shane Parker and Kauko Nieminen on full maximums against a disappointing Rye House side.

Danny shot out of the gate in the opening heat and it was basically all over. Partner David McAllan finished in third, his bike spluttering to a halt shortly after crossing the finishing line. Unfortunately both Glasgow riders missed the gate in heat two with Danny Betson showing them how it should be done. Robert Ksiezak got round Dan Giffard on the second bend then gave chase and passed Betson on the inside of bend three before going on to win the heat by a considerable margin. James Cockle kept up the challenge on Giffard at the back and cut inside him on the second bend of lap two to ensure third place.

Tommy Allen struggled to make the 2 minutes for heat 3 with bike gremlins causing his bike to cut out on the way to tapes, Danny Betson being quick to lend him his machine for the race. Kauko Nieminen won the heat from the gate with Tommy Allen second and Lee Dicken made it another heat advantage thanks to a determined move starting on the third bend of the opening lap culminating in him getting past Ross Brady on the second bend of lap 2.

Heat four required a re-run with Chris Neath warned for moving at the start and although he and Shane Parker gated side by side in the re-run, Shane pulled clear coming out of bend two and went on to win the heat with ease. The 4-2 trend continued with James Cockle getting third spot well ahead of Dan Giffard.

The trend was broken with a 3-3 from the gate when Kauko Nieminen won heat 5 but heat 6 saw the familiar score return, again from the gate, with Danny Bird winning comfortably and David McAllan third.

The start of heat 7 was delayed when, with the riders at tapes, one of the tractors decided to do another lap despite all the efforts of the remaining pit staff to call him in. Shane understandably had words at the pit gate over the faux pas but it was obviously put down to one of those things and certainly did not appear to affect the Glasgow pairing as Shane went out and won the heat from the gate. The impressive Tommy Allen thwarted his attempt to move him out to allow Robert through into second on the opening bends and although Robert did pass both Rockets on the third bend, he was quickly the victim of a pincer movement by both on the fourth bend which left him at the back. not one to give up, Robert continued to chase and re-claimed third place by passing on the inside of Ross Brady on the third bend of lap 2.

Both Glasgow riders gated in heat 8 and although Boxall got round the outside of James Cockle on the second bend, he was unable to catch David McAllan.

Rye House naturally brought Chris Neath out as a TR in heat 9 but although he challenged for all four laps he was unable to get round a stylish Kauko Nieminen and had to settle for second place. After a very poor gate, Lee had to fight his way back into the race and after challenging on lap 1 bend three finally got past Danny Betson for third as he crossed the start/finish line. Betson went on to become the only faller of the night, sliding off on his own at the back on the first bend of lap three and full credit to him for quickly clearing the track.

Even David McAllan looked a bit sorry for Tommy Allen at the end of heat 10. Danny Bird was well in front again and David had come up the inside of Ross Brady on the third bend to claim second. Allen had completely missed the gate leaving him at the back but he wound it on from the third bend of lap two going round the outside almost up against the boards getting the grip and speed to get past first his team mate and finally David McAllan over a lap later on the final bend of lap three. It was an excellent piece of riding but unfortunately on the very final bend of the race he just went too wide, clipping the fence and allowing David through into second.

George Stancl came out as a TR in heat 11 against Shane Parker. George challenged for the first three bends but the heat ended well spread out with Shane winning comfortably.

Heat 12 saw the only Rye House victory of the entire meeting and surprisingly it came from Ross Brady-from the gate. Both Glasgow riders had missed the gate but Cockle past Betson on the second bend. Lee Dicken lined up a pass on him on the back straight but unfortunately James moved over and blocked him. Lee wasn't able to recover and ended up well at the back, his bike looking as if there was a small problem on the third lap.

Heat thirteen can be summed up in six words - Shane Parker and Danny Bird untouchable. they won comfortably from the gate.

Kauko Nieminen won heat 14 by a considerable margin to record his first full maximum for Glasgow in style. It was however almost eclipsed by the battle for second place between Tommy Allen and Robert Ksiezak. The youngsters gave no quarter, giving each other just enough room to race in a very close fought contest which Tommy Allen was to win. Both deserve great credit for the way they rode and the entertainment given in that race.

With Parker and Bird out again in heat 15 against Stancl and Neath it was almost a carbon copy of heat 13, the only difference being Neath got third instead of Stancl.

It was an excellent performance from the Tigers and very difficult to chose a man of the match for. The sponsors gave it to Kauko and who could argue after a flawless first maximum for the tigers. Equally though you could not argue if it had gone to Danny Bird for his third meeting in three days unbeaten by an opponent or indeed Shane Parker who recorded another maximum with apparent ease. David McAllan rode well and although Lee's points tally was only two he once again gave his all. He is still struggling to get out of the gate but he did seem to have more power this week when it came to passing. Both reserves also weighed in with important points to help Glasgow to a more comfortable win than most could have expected and give a very realistic chance of the bonus point in the return leg in just under two weeks time.

Tiger Performance Points:-
(based on expectations)

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