Title Partner
Although our performance was not a solid one, we managed a better score at Berwick than most were predicting.
In fact it was our Scottish trio who did most of the good work. William Lawson had his best ever Berwick meeting and showed exceptional ability to ride the outside line dirt.
He actually grew in confidence, winning his final two rides, which included a heat 15 hammering of the previously unbeaten Makovsky and Burza. Having gone round them on the first turn, they never looked like regaining the lost ground.
Derek gated well and worked hard, winning heats 2 and 8 and leading heat 6 until the last lap, when Makovsky went round him. The outside was the place to be; to keep it up for four laps was another matter, and when attempting his third ride in four races Derek ran out of steam and failed to capitalise on a good heat 9 start.
The other success was Andrew Tully! He joined Derek for a 5-1 in heat 2 after Compton had fallen, took third places in heats 4 and 8 ? and rode a terrific heat 14. In this he led Michael Coles all the way before holding too tight a line on the final bend and finding Coles flying by.
It wasn?t so much the quality of the riders he beat ? the Bandits? reserves ? as how steadily he rode and how close to the better quality riders he got.
We were just four points down at heat 8, though we have often managed something similar before fading over the latter stages as the big guns come in.
To some extent that did happen, and by heat 11 we were 12 down. The decision to use Ronnie Correy as a TR in this heat, which featured the unbeaten and very impressive Burza, did not meet with the approval of many, though everyone must have expected a second place. In fact he was at the back when he packed up.
Most people?s choice would have been William in the weaker heat 12, and sure enough he won easily. Although William hadn?t won his earlier heats he had turned in impressive chases.
Ronnie didn?t really get to grips with the track, winning only his second heat. Matthew started very poorly, changed bikes and improved.
Henrik made one start but never looked comfortable, Daniele made no starts and never looked remotely comfortable. It will be a happy day when we get everyone going at the one time.
Hot on the heels of a home defeat, we travel to Shielfield hoping to put up a good show.
This year?s Bandits side look well equipped to be very tough to beat at home. The East European trio of Stan Burza, Jacek Rempala and Michal Makovsky have no difficulty thundering into the first bend, taking no prisoners, which is the key to success in the borders.
Even if our riders get in front they must grit their teeth, bounce round and hang on as they are likely to be kept under pressure. Riding the right line, which includes not going too tight on the high pits bend, should ensure that you stay ahead.
Andreas Bergstrom is a clever rider, not quite as forceful as the above trio but hard to beat, and Michael Coles is enjoying reasonable returns so far.
At reserve, the unpredictable Benji Compton has also scored well at home.
Which of our riders will do well? The only one who could be called a Shielfield specialist is Derek Sneddon, who won a couple of heats in their opening challenge. Derek?s gating should bring him points.
Obviously we are hoping that Ronnie will do everywhere, even if big deep tracks may not be his forte. Past performances of William, Matthew and Henrik are modest, though all are capable of heat wins, as Daniele should be as well. How many of these will we get?
Common sense would suggest that we are not likely to get a Saturday night win. A good fighting show and maybe 40 points would be satisfactory and would help to convince people that we are less of a soft touch than we looked at home against Redcar.
© Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway 2024
Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
