Comets Outgate Tigers in PT Opener
(Posted 05/04/09)

The Premier Trophy campaign didn't get off to the greatest start as Glasgow went down by 54-41 at Workington on a very slick track which put the emphasis very much on gating.

There were some plus points - Anders and Mitchell both rode well - but if this is an indication of how away tracks will be prepared this season it makes it imperative that the Tigers work on their gating.

The only passing tended to happen due to mechanical problems or failure and that certainly seemed to be the case in the opening heat when Ross Brady's bike seemed to get slower as the race went on resulting in him finishing at the back despite a good gate. Shane Parker won the race from the tapes.

The following two heats were very much from the gate and fairly spread, Tigers getting a 3-3 in heat 2 but loosing a 5-1 in heat 3.

Heat 4 saw some bad luck go Tigers way when James Grieves suffered an engine failure going down the back straight of the second lap whilst he was sitting comfortably in second place. Partner Anders Andersen looked sharp however as he took over second spot and held it relatively easily to minimise the damage.

It was back to 'from the gate' stuff in heat 5 before the bad luck hit Workington in heat 6. This time is was Doolan's bike that packed up in almost exactly the same spot as Grieves had two heats earlier. It gave Tigers a let off however as the home side were on a 5-1 at the time.

Heat 7 was again well spread from the gate before the bike gremlins struck again in heat 8. Brady and Andersen had gated but on the third lap Brady's bike seemed to start playing up. Partner Andersen did his best to try and team ride Ross round but it became clear by the final lap that he could not risk loosing the win and he had to leave brady on his own. Ross tried very hard to hold the quicker John Branney off but Branney just managed to pip him on the line for second place.

The home side got a 4-2 followed by a 5-1 from the gate in the next two heats to open up a considerable advantage and it was no real surprise that Stewart brought Shane out as a TR in heat 11 to try and pull back into the meeting. Anders Andersen, who had been looking very impressive, also came in to replace Ross Brady whose equipment seemed to be causing most of his problems.

Shane gated and was gone with Anders alongside Compton and Priest. Anders got pushed very wide on the opening bend, sending him to the back and although he tried to pressure he was unable to find a way passed the slower Luke Priest.

Anders was back out again in heat 12 in place of Peter Juul but was beginning to look tired and he and Mitchell Davey ended up on the wrong side of a 5-1. Mitchell however rode an excellent race and can consider himself unlucky after holding off Adrian Rymel's challenges for three laps before the Czech managed to squeeze past.

With Tigers 15 down there was surprise that they didn't bring James Grieves out as a TR in heat 13, a heat that arguably provided the best entertainment of the night. Grieves gated fractionally ahead of Doolan and held it for all four laps although the riders were never more than half a bike length apart for the entire race.

The second TR finally made its appearance in heat 14, Grajczonek wearing the black and white and being partnered by Mitchell Davey in as a reserve replacement for Anders Andersen. It looked initially to have failed when the Comets gated on a 5-1 but Grajczonek worked hard to pull off only the second genuine pass of the night to go inside Lawson on lap 3. He looked a lot quicker than Wright and was all over him on the final lap, trying his favoured inside line again, but there was no passing line and he had to settle for second place.

Heat 15 was a formality but all four riders gave it a go although once again there was no actual passing. it finished as it started, with a win for Grieves but Shane Parker stuck at the back after a poor gate.

Tigers were always going to struggle on a gaters track and although they went down by 13 there were still positives, in particular the performances of the Glasgow reserves. James grieves started slowly thanks to bike troubles but once again finished very strongly, denying Adrian Rymel his maximum in the final heat.

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