Last Gasp Defeat for Tigers
by Casper, Posted 07/05/06

Glasgow paid their first visit to speedways newest league track on Thursday night and with the help of the track conditions managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Danny Bird was one of three riders to fall on the practice lap - Dicken and Tresarrieu the other two. When he fell at the exact same spot in heat 1, alarm bells were ringing - as was the referee's phone with Glasgow requesting a track inspection. The referee decreed the meeting continue and Redcar recorded a 5-1 in the re-run in a time significantly slower than those recorded in previous meetings.

Tigers reserves responded with a 5-1 of their own in heat 2, thanks partly to both Redcar reserves falling at almost the same instant, Robert and James winning what became basically a 'last man standing' heat.

Robert Ksiezak took the r/r in heat 3 and gated well. However, Tomas Suchanek swept round the outside of him at the end of the first lap and went on to claim victory. The heat was shared with Matt Tresarrieu being the rider to fall this time. It was followed by a heat reminiscent of James Cockle's earliest rides at Glasgow as he was all over the place out in front on the dodgy surface. Shane settled in behind him, Glasgow claimed their second 5-1 of the night and we had a heat with no fallers.

Heat 5 saw Glasgow claim a heat advantage , Danny Bird winning from the gate with David McAllan claiming a valuable 3rd place, passing Jack Hargreaves on the inside. Redcar hit back with a heat advantage to them in heat 6 with Robert Ksiezak suffering an engine failure on the start line.

Danny Bird came in as rider replacement in heat 7 and recorded his second race win from the gate. However Lee Dicken was unable to hold off Jack Hargreaves at the back and the heat was shared.

Although the track was beginning to look better, heat 8 saw two fallers, one quite costly for the Tigers. Coming into the final lap with McAllan leading and Cockle in second, James came down allowing Giffard through into second. James quickly remounted and was still able to claim third spot ahead of Matt Tresarrieu who had fallen previously and was well behind.

With heat 9 shared from the gate, James Cockle took r/r in heat 10 giving Gary Havelock a fright challenging him off the gate. Unfortunately he forgot to watch Tresarrieu however, the Frenchman coming under him going into the third bend to give Havelock and Tresarrieu their second 5-1 of the meeting.

Glasgow got a heat advantage from the gate courtesy of Bird and McAllan before Suchanek won heat 12 from the gate with Hargreaves being yet another faller at the rear.

For some unknown reason, Redcar then announced a 'short break' which turned into 40 minutes as the track was butchered - sorry, regraded - and returned to the state it had been in at the start. Shane Parker had looked unhappy at the decision to re-grade, both captains looked perplexed at the result.

When racing finally recommenced, Parker and Bird hit the front. An error by Bird on that third bend again gave Havelock the opportunity he was waiting for to slip through into second. With Shane well in front, Danny again had problems with the third bend next time round, this time falling with Kerr doing well to lay down his bike and avoid him. the race was re-run, Havelock gating but Shane made his trademark outside swoop on the third and fourth bends and went on to claim the victory.

Heat 14 turned out to be a bit of a disaster for the Tigers, conceding their third 5-1 of the meeting. Cockle gated but had wobbled on the second bend allowing Giffard through. The impressive Suchanek then swept round the outside of Cockle on the 4th bend then marshalled his team mate home.

With the scores tied, Havelock hit the front in heat 15 pursued by Shane. Danny was in third but suffered a puncture at the end of the penultimate lap which allowed Suchanek to pass underneath him giving Redcar the heat advantage they needed. In all honesty, Suchanek had been challenging Bird for most of the race and looked as if he may have got past even without the help of Danny's puncture.

Redcar has the makings of a decent little set up given time but unfortunately it fell short this time with even the track staff admitting the track was not raceable. However, the Bears stuck to the task leaving Glasgow to rue throwing away what had on a few occasions been a comfortable looking 6 point lead. From a Glasgow perspective however it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where things went wrong as points wise most riders did at least as well as was expected of them with David, James and Robert in particular doing well.

The track did catch particularly Danny out but perhaps it was just one of those nights. Hopefully the weather will be kinder for our next visit and the track surface more conducive to allow the kind of racing the circuit looks like it deserves.

Tiger Performance Points:-
(based on expectations)

R003