Premier League Campaign Starts
(Posted 19/05/07)

Tigers become the last side to get their 2007 Premier League campaign up and running when they take on Mildenhall at Ashfield tomorrow in a meeting that may be a bit tougher than some expect.

Although they appear to lack an out and out number 1, Mildenhall have a solid top three of Legault, Jirout and Tom P Madsen.

Madsen last rode at Ashfield in Bandits colour's in 2005 when Berwick defeated the Tigers at home, although his points haul of 8 that day was mostly gained by beating the Tigers reserves. Legault looked comfortable on his visits to Ashfield last season but he may still be having nightmares about Shane Parker's superb TS pass of him to gain an 8-1 in the Sheffield meeting! Legault and Madsen are high on confidence at the moment, both having increased their averages, but in all honesty round Ashfield should be no match for Shane and George.

Mario Jirout is a complete enigma. On his day he can be one of the best entertainers around, at other times he struggles to compete. He could and should provide a stern test for the Glasgow middle order and with three decent scores behind him in the Fen Tigers opening Premier League fixtures his confidence will be high.

Shaun Tacey is another who comes to Ashfield for the first time in a couple of years having had mixed success in the past, whilst the final rider in the main body of the team, Jason King, was well off the pace on his last visit in 2006 and could be a weak link for Mildenhall.

At reserve, Glasgow should be able to capitalise especially if David McAllan has been able to overcome his troublesome knee injury. Mildenhall had hoped to use Edinburgh's Daniele Tessari as a guest for the injured Jamie Smith but a spill for Tessari on Friday whilst riding for Edinburgh put paid to that. At short notice they have instead drafted in Jamie Robertson who would be one of the first to acknowledge Ashfield is not one of his favoured tracks.

He will be partnered at reserve by a rider who in the past has stepped in to help Glasgow as a reserve guest on a few occasions, Mark Thompson. Mark has only really started riding in the Premier league full time this season and although he has done better than many expected, most of his decent scores have been at home and against the Glasgow reserves it should be a lean day for him.

Once again the middle order will be crucial for Glasgow if they are not only to win this meeting but build up a decent lead to take to Mildenhall for the return meeting the day after the Cardiff Grand Prix.