Heavy Defeat at Workington
(Posted 25/03/07)

The Tigers were brought down to earth with a bump as they were soundly beaten by a surprisingly strong looking young Workington side in the clash at Derwent Park.

The meeting started well for the Tigers with Stancl once again winning the opening heat from the gate, beating the 'new' local golden boy James Wright in doing so. With Mattia Carpanese sliding off when in third at the end of the opening lap, David McAllan was able to take advantage and the Tigers opened with a promising heat advantage.

Lee Dicken made another excellent start in heat 2 but Robertson went round him on the third bend and went on to win the shared heat and although Branney was quicker out of the gate, Shane Parker came out of the second bend in the lead in heat 3 and went on to win. Leverington tried hard to pass Hansen at the back but the young Dane held his line and the heat was shared.

Things started to go badly wrong for the Tigers in heat 4 when the impressive pairing of Nieminen and Robertson claimed the Comets first 5-1 of the night. Smethills had got the better of Robertson coming out of the second bend but Robertson never gave up and took full advantage of the grip on bend four to drive past Lee at the end of the third lap.

George Stancl was once again well in control in heat 5 winning comfortably from the gate with Trent claiming third in an uneventful heat. However, the Tigers comeback was short lived with Wright winning heat 6 comfortably from the gate and team mate Carpanese following home for the Comets second 5-1 of the evening.

The next two heats were from the gate with again the Comets taking full advantage - Nieminen winning a shared heat 7 and Carpanese and Robertson recording an easy 5-1 a heat later.

For the second meeting in a row Glasgow called on Shane Parker to go off 15m as a Tactical Substitute. He came in for David McAllan in heat 9 but Craig Branney did well to hold him back until the back straight of the third lap when Parker finally got through. By this time Hansen was well clear and out of reach although Smethills slowed down on the final bend to allow his team mate through for second.

Possibly the best race of the night was in heat 10 when Shane Parker came out of the opening bends ahead of James Wright. Wright was undoubtedly quicker but Parker used his knowledge and skill to cope with everything Wright threw at him and held on for an impressive victory. However it was followed by Stancl's only defeat of the night, Nieminen beating him out of the gate in heat 11 whilst Smethills pulled up at the back.

There was a little bit of controversy in heat 12 with the Tigers camp feeling the referee was incorrect in his call that Jamie Robertson had caught Parker on the line. Hansen won the heat easily but Shane had been team riding with McAllan to try and hold Robertson at the back. Robertson got the drive off the final bend and took advantage of a gap between the Tigers. He clearly caught McAllan but many thought the award of second place over Parker was generous.

It did however mean that Tigers were now 10 points down and with the impressive Stancl out in the next heat many expected him to be wearing the black and white helmet. Inexplicably this did not happen but George duly went on to win the heat comfortably from the gate. Partner Lee Smethills again had bike troubles and failed to finish meaning the Tigers were still 10 points down. With the opportunity to get double points for George's ride missed, Trent Leverington came out in the black and white helmet in heat 14 but the Tigers were to suffer as the Comets pairing of Branney and Charles Wright team rode to another 5-1 for the home side.

Heat 15 was a mere formality but George Stancl once again claimed victory over James Wright and nieminen although Parker trailed in at the back.

Workington's young side certainly surprised the Tigers who were basically a two man team. George was outstanding but outwith the top two there are quite a few cobwebs still being blown away.

Webmaster Note: - Our thanks to Tosca for providing the report on this meeting