Easy Win for Tigers
Posted 21st May

Glasgow recorded a very comfortable victory over a Bandits side missing one of their heat leaders in a meeting that certainly was not a classic. Technically it means Glasgow still have a slim chance of progressing in the Premier Trophy although realistically third is the best they can hope for.

Berwick were, as previously posted, without recent Polish signing Stanislaw Burza. Peter Waite has certainly not been popular amongst the Glasgow support with last minute rider changes and objections over the past couple of seasons and not surprisingly he was at it again claiming he was not aware of Burza's unavailability until a good few hours after it had been discussed on the unofficial Berwick forum.

The meeting started with a win from the gate by Danny Bird with Meldrum second and McAllan third. The initial start of heat 2 saw the Glasgow reserves gate well, leading into the opening bends. However the referee called it back as unsatisfactory and Berwick's Danny Warwick out gated the Glasgow pairing to lead. Cockle and Ksiezak gave chase and James Cockle squeezed up the inside of Warwick coming out of the fourth bend of lap two, Cockle getting past as the crossed the start/finish line. On the second bend of the third lap, it was Roberts turn to come up the inside of Warwick, both Glasgow riders then pulled away to record the 5-1.

Robert came in as rider replacement in heat 3, getting a flier in the first attempted running which the referee correctly called back. Unfortunately both Glasgow riders missed the gate and although Ksiezak did manage to get past Makovsky coming out of the second bend, the Czech returned the compliment a lap later on the back straight and Berwick gained their first 5-1of he afternoon.

Heat four was won from the gate by a very fast looking Shane Parker in the fastest time of the season so far before we had another re-start in heat 5 after David Meldrum fell on the opening bend. There were a few in the crowd unhappy as they felt Meldrum came down on his own and not due to first bend bunching. As often happens in these cases, Meldrum then gated in the re-run, winning a shared heat from he gate.

Glasgow's second 5-1 of the afternoon came from the gate in heat 6 courtesy of Danny Bird and and David McAllan, Danny winning by a considerable distance, David having to work hard to hold off Bergstrom on a charge to the line.

The third 5-1 came in the next heat with Shane Parker once again starring as the team riding king. Ksiezak had missed the gate but fought hard on the opening bends to get past Smethills then passing Makovsky on the back straight. Parker had been pulling clear but immediately dropped back to allow the youngster through and once again protected him from any challenge from the Berwick pairing.

Berwick brought David Meldrum out as a TR in heat 8 and although both Glasgow riders beat him out of the gate, he executed an inside pass on Cockle coming out of the second bend. McAllan however was well clear and the heat was shared.

The only thing of note in heat 9 was a wobble by Danny Warwick on bend 2 which Lee Dicken took full advantage of to claim third, Danny Bird winning from Bergstrom in second.

It took three attempts to run heat 10 with the referee deciding for some reason to hold the tapes for an eternity. Bird and McAllan had got to the front in the first running but there was no doubt the tapes had been held far too long. For some reason the tapes were again held too long for the re-start, David McAllan was left at the tapes, the red lights came on and all of a sudden David was on the ground with the medics rushing over to him. It was later announced that he received an electric shock. The referee called all 4 back again, a decision which seemed generous as technically David was not under power when the red lights came on. It was to be academic however, David coming in last when the heat finally went ahead. Makovsky made a good gate and took Danny Bird wide, allowing his team mate Smethills through and Berwick were to claim a 5-1.

The referee again took centre stage in heat 11, excluding David Meldrum for moving at the tapes. Meldrum went off 15m but the race was won relatively comfortably by the Australian pairing of Parker and Ksiezak.

Dicken and Cockle both missed the gate in heat 12 and had no chance of catching eventual winner Lee Smethills. However, both Glasgow riders shadowed Danny Warwick, James Cockle passing on the inside of bend 2 on the third lap, Lee Dicken passing him two bends later and the heat was shared.

Once again Shane and Danny recorded an easy 5-1 from the gate in heat 13 before Berwick brought Makovsky out as a TR in heat 14.Branney came down on the opening bend of the heat and everyone waited for the red stop lights. These did not come and Makovsky won the race from the gate to claim 6 points although it did seem harsh on Branney that first bend bunching was not given. Once again, Shane and Danny came out to win heat 15 very comfortably to give the Tigers a winning margin of 19 points.

It was not a particularly good meeting. For the Bandits, Meldrum, Smethills and Makovsky were the main threats although mention must go to John Branney who as a conference League guest was certainly not off the pace.

Again, Glasgow put in a team performance. Shane once more was the perfect captain on and off track and Robert Ksiezak put in an excellent display to gain his best points total yet for the Tigers. Heat 10 cost Danny his paid maximum and if you wanted to pick holes he is still looking a little unsure on the pits bend but overall it was another good show from him. David McAllan scored when it mattered, particularly in heat 8 and Lee Dicken is continuing to pick up the points. James also continued to score well.

With the team as a whole now starting to pick up points and Kauko Nieminen expected to come back for the start of the league campaign next Sunday there is quite a positive feel amongst the fans at the moment. The only downside today was the crowd which looked poorer than of late, whether due to the weather, Berwick bringing an under strength team or there being virtually no chance of Glasgow qualifying.

Tiger Performance Points:-
(based on expectations)

R003