Glasgow Suffer Rout at Redcar
Posted 16/06/06

It was a disastrous night for Glasgow at Redcar last night as all they came away with was the unenviable record of being on the wrong end of the Bears record win. Even the bonus points looks as if it may be out of reach.

And yet things started off so well with Danny Bird beating Gary Havelock from the gate in the first heat. With partner David McAllan claiming third spot.

After an unsatisfactory start, the score was reversed in the second heat thanks to a win from Redcar's Jack Hargreaves. James Cockle did try to challenge round the outside on the second bend but came to grief, having his first fall of the night. A similar fate was to befall Kauko Nieminen in heat 3 when he tried the outside line on the opening bends, crashing heavily into the safety fence. When Lee Dicken gated second in the re-run it looked as if he would limit the damage to a certain extent but for some inexplicable reason he drifted wide on the third lap allowing Kevin Little through on the inside and the Bears had their first 5-1 of the evening.

With the track already proving not to have an inside line things were already looking worrying for the Tigers and heat 4 did nothing to allay the fans fears. Dan Giffard gated and although Cockle had made a good start he was to fall for the second time on the second bend of the second lap. Shane managed a second behind Giffard but looked far from comfortable.

Danny Bird made another electric gate in heat 5 and quickly settled on the inside line. He was challenged all the way by Suchanek but as Danny held that inside line Suchanek could not find a way through.

The battle's between Havelock and Parker had been keenly awaited but with Shane's bike again clearly giving him problems, Havelock won comfortably with his partner Tresarrieu able to pass the Glasgow captain on the third lap to make it a 5-1.

Now ten down, Stewart Dickson understandably elected to bring Kauko out as a TR in heat 7 and it looked as if it would pay off when Kauko gated. However, Kerr made one of the few passes of the night coming out of the second bend and Kauko had to settle for second.

James Cockle's night was to continue to be a disaster when he fell whilst leading heat 8 and took an ambulance ride back to the pits. The re-run saw McAllan gate but both Bears got round him on the opening bends and there was no way back for David.

Things were to go from bad to worse with Redcar making it three five wins in a row from heats 9 and 10. Shane's bike again looked to be causing problems in heat 9 whilst Lee Dicken became a member of the fallers club in heat 10 whilst trying too hard to catch Suchanek.

As expected, Danny came out as a TR in heat 11 and recorded his third race win of the evening with relative ease. There was to be no reprieve though as Redcar recorded yet another 5-1 from the gate, both riders passing Ksiezak on the opening bends.

Danny surprisingly missed the gate in heat 13, Havelock was out in front from start to finish although Shane looked a little more his old self as he challenged. Danny claimed third and the heat was shared.

Nieminen won heat 14 from the gate riding a very unusual inside line and earning him a heat 15 slot alongside Danny Bird. However Havelock gated with Bird second and it was meeting over.

The result was a disastrous one for Glasgow and makes the bonus point look almost out of reach. Redcar's track did only have one line - an inside one - and most of the time was a gaters paradise. However on quite a few occasions, Tigers riders did make the gate only to loose it on early bends. After running Redcar so close the last time Redcar certainly shocked the Tigers but are a greatly improved side and fully deserved their win. Tigers now have to pick themselves up and put it behind them but disappointingly the bonus point also looks as if it will now be out of reach.

Tiger Performance Points:-
(based on expectations)

R003