Glasgow Outshine Diamonds
(Posted 08/04/07)

Tigers got their Premier Trophy campaign off to a good start this afternoon with a surprisingly comfortable victory over Newcastle at Ashfield.

There was no doubting that the main threat to the Tigers this afternoon came from Pepe Franc who absolutely stormed to a comprehensive win in the opening heat in a time only 0.4 outside the track record. Lee Smethills missed the gate and finished at the back, unable to take advantage of an error by Ross Brady on the final bends.

The Diamonds were however quickly brought back down to earth with a comfortable 5-1 for the Tigers reserve pairing from the gate in heat 2. After a level gate, Shane Parker cut between both Diamonds riders coming out of the second bend in heat 3 to sit in behind Robert Ksiezak for the second 5-1.

Although David McAllan got the edge coming out of the gate in heat 4, Christian Henry swept round the outside of the opening bends into the lead. As always, David never gave up and spent most of the race pressing Henry. Possibly as a result of the pressure, Henry made the error coming out of the first bend of the final lap and David seized his opportunity to round the Australian into the lead. Partner Trent Leverington also made the most of it pulling level with his countryman coming out of the second bend and showing determination to come up the inside of him on the backstraight. Both riders gave it their all with Trent just managing to hold on in the run to the line to give Tigers a third 5-1 in a row.

Hopes were high that it may continue when Shane and Robert made the gate in heat 5 but a superb outside swoop by Josef Franc saw him hit the front and go on to win the shared heat.

For those who think George Stancl is merely a gater, he showed an ability to team ride in heat 6, allowing Lee Smethills to go ahead of him after both Glasgow riders made the gate. Christian Henry pressed and did manage to get ahead of George coming out of the second bend of the final lap. George quickly came back up the inside of him at the end of the backstraight however and a desperate last gasp attempt by Henry to go round the outside on the final bend saw him go for a gap that wasn't there and hit the fourth bend fence.

Lee Dicken and Trent Leverington worked hard on the opening bends to come out in front and went on to claim yet another 5-1 for the home side in heat 7 but the good run looked as if it would be coming to an end in heat 8 when the Newcastle pairing outgated Smethills and McAllan. David passed Sean Stoddart coming out of the second bend and rode a couple of laps on Brady's back wheel, testing the lines, before making a good outside pass down the backstraight of the third lap and going on to win, again by a good margin.

Christian Henry comfortably won a well spread out shared heat 9 from the gate, George Stancl doing the same in heat 10 although his partner Lee Smethills claimed the third place to give Tigers a heat advantage.

Understandably Newcastle brought Pepe franc out on a TR in heat 11 although it was to be his partner Ross Brady who made the gate. Brady allowed Franc through on the opening bends. Leverington immediately put pressure on Brady and was able to come through the inside of him on the second bend second time around. David McAllan appeared to have problems with his bike rearing on the fourth bend of the opening lap and this left him off the pace at the back.

Good early bends in heat 12 saw Lee Dicken lead out of bend two with Shane Parker slotting in behind to protect. Jonas Raun was on Shane's back wheel for a couple of laps before over cooking an outside drive at the end of the lap and hitting the fence. To his credit, he did well to clear the track and allow the race to continue with Lee claiming his second win of the afternoon.

Josef Franc had so far looked infallible so it was not surprising that there was a muted cheer from the Tigers fans when he broke the tapes and had to go off 15m in heat 13. Stancl hit the front and a very hard fought but fair opening bend between Henry and Leverington saw Henry come out ahead after the two riders came together. There was to be no more passing and Tigers got the heat advantage.

Carl Wilkinson won heat 14 from the gate for the Diamonds, putting paid to Lee Dickens hopes of his first paid maximum in Glasgow colour's.

In the final heat, Shane Parker shot from the tapes and went on to win by a considerable margin. He was followed home by partner George Stancl who had to fend off Newcastle's star man Pepe Franc for the entire race to leave the Tigers with a 25 point winning margin.

Overall the win was more emphatic than anyone could have hoped for, with Newcastle relying heavily on Pepe Franc. Carl Wilkinson improved as the meeting went on and Christian Henry was worth more points than his total suggests but in reality the home side were rarely troubled.

For the Tigers, David McAllan and George Stancl once again continued their excellent form with Lee Dicken having possibly his best meeting for Glasgow. Considering his spell on the sidelines, Robert did well and Trent Leverington again weighed in with the points. Shane did not let his problems earlier this week with his back affect him and his heat 15 victory was made to look very easy. Lee Smethills did have an off day and seemed to be struggling to get out of the gate. However he spent time after the meeting was closed back out on the track getting some laps in and trying different lines.

Overall a comprehensive victory for Glasgow and one that must give them confidence for the return down at Newcastle tomorrow.