Tigers Halt Bandits
By Gary
(Posted 29/03/09)

Berwick must have arrived at Ashfield today quietly confident of a victory on the back of their away win at Brough Park last week and given the Tigers injury problems. But the home side went about their business quietly and efficiently to secure all three points and severely put a dent in the Bandits hopes of PT progression.

The track looked in good condition prior to the start, although the menacing black clouds overhead looked ominous.

Shane Parker produced a lightning start in heat one and was joined up front by rider replacement Mitchell Davey, who had made an equally good start. It was pretty obvious that Parker had his sights set on beating his track record, but for the third week in a row he only just missed out, this time by 0.3 sec's. Aarnio passed Lawson for third place at the back, but both men were a long way behind the second placed Davey.

The crucial reserves race was comfortably won by Mitchell Davey who made another excellent gate and was well clear by the back straight. Bugeja rode a fine second bend to come under Danny Warwick into the third place. Warwick chased up Arlo for the remainder of the race without quite looking as though he would manage to pass him.

Another superb gate by a Tiger, this time Josh, saw him speed to an easy victory in heat three. With Clews holding a comfy second place all eyes were on the battle for third, where Peter Juul, after making a shocking gate, was keeping Josef Franc honest throughout the entire race until on the last lap a minor slip by Franc exiting the second bend allowed Peter the chance to charge up the inside and both men were neck and neck as they powered round the third and fourth bends, with Francs momentum on the outside just giving him the edge on the run in to the line. A great effort from Peter though.

A flier from Franchetti in the next heat saw him joined at the front by Makovsky with James Grieves giving chase, Makovsky was doing a fine job of blocking Grieves until up front the erratic Franchetti clipped the fence on the back straight sending him sprawling across the track and only some magnificent avoiding action from the closely following Makovsky and Grieves prevented carnage, even Arlo Bugeja who was a long way back had to take evasive action. The race win was awarded to Makovsky.

Heat Five saw William Lawson win comfortably from the gate, with Josh and Peter filling in the minor positions, although a slight mistake by Josh allowed Juul to slip by into second by this time it looked as though Josh was losing power which gave Aarnio the opportunity to take third. Josh eventually retired on the third lap.

By this the time rain was getting steadily heavier, which probably explained why Shane settled for a safe second place behind the faster starting Makovsky in heat six, although Adam McKinna, who was taking the R/R, rode a clever race to nip up the inside of the drifting Danny Warwick to clinch third place on the line.

With rain easing off Stewart Dickson brought in Arlo Bugeja to heat seven as a reserve replacement for Davey, giving him his third ride and obviously with an eye on heat eight. A pretty routine heat saw James make a good gate, ride a hard first and second bend to race of into the distance.

As expected our Aussie youngsters teamed up for heat eight and didn't disappoint as they both flew from the tapes and into a five one position only for Aarnio to enter the third bend with too much speed to turn sending him straight into his team mate Franchetti, who although trying his best to stay upright, came a cropper then decided to take his time getting up preferring to wait for the red lights which weren't immediately forthcoming. Aarnio was rightly excluded. In the rerun the Italian got a flier which was called back. Obviously having not learned his lesson he tried it again, this time earning an exclusion much to his annoyance and the crowds amusement. Danny Warwick replaced him and was tailed off at the back as Josh and Mitch completed as easy a five one as you are likely to see. Although, for reasons best known to himself, the wee man decided to embark on a couple of laps of honour, possibly forgetting he was out in the very next heat.

In heat nine Makovsky once again made an impressive start, but a superb burst up the inside exiting the second bend saw Josh power away into a commanding lead he held until the chequered flag in a quick time. Franchetti once again looked slightly erratic in third, but Peter couldn't get himself into a position to capitalize.

Heat ten saw Shane blast around everyone to power to a comfortable three points in an uneventful heat.

James Grieves was first away in heat eleven, with Lawson challenging briefly on the second bend, Mitchell easily took third place.

As expected Clews donned the black and white with Franchetti teaming up with him in a reserve switch for heat twelve, which can be a weak heat for the Tigers. Not today though as young Mitch made a text book start and an equally text book ride to take the win, he was briefly joined by Peter Juul, until Clews passed him around the third and fourth bends.

Heat Thirteen once again produced the customary five one, although not without a scare as William Lawson entered the third bend carrying a bit too much speed leaving him with two options, keep going and collecting Shane's back wheel or just drop it, thankfully William chose the latter, just cementing the fact I have always thought of him as an intelligent young racer, because there are a few riders out there who wouldn't have taken such action. He did remount to complete the race.

With one point the best the Bandits could hope for Franc donned the black and white for heat fourteen and won at a canter, our Aussie youngsters sensibly settled for the three points. Although not without a wee scare as Josh made a slight error on the apex of the first and second bend of the final lap almost coming to grief, Mitch held back in third but thankfully Franchetti was too far back to punish it.

The final heat saw Franc and Makovsky take on the top two Tigers and after a pretty even gate Shane Parker pulled of a sublime move to slice up the inside of everyone coming out the second bend, although surprisingly James Grieves was left trailing at the back, cue a Grievesy special. He quickly made up ground on Franc to pass him then set off after Makovsky, after trying everything to pass Makovsky, who was riding a clever race around the outside, James was just about to give it one more final blast around the outside on the final bend only to find Makovsky going wider leaving him no option but to cut back up the inside and an ever so slight wobble by Michal allowed James to pip him right on the line and just reward for yet another 110% effort James Grieves.

As said it was a very businesslike performance from the Tigers and a man of the match display from Mitchell Davey, who had a lot of pressure on his shoulders to perform and he was the difference between the two teams today.

 

 

 

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