A SUNNY NIGHT AND A GOOD WIN

REPORT Friday 17th May 2013, 11:20pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It felt like summer at last as the Scotwaste Monarchs eventually overpowered Plymouth 56-36, though not before the Devils had given us a scare in the early stages.

The visitors took the lead in heat 4 and were still level after six races. Who was going to produce the ride that would turn the match in our favour?

Well it turned out to be Mitchell Davey, in his first match for the Monarchs, who leapt from the tapes to lead all the way in heat 7, with Claus Vissing backing up for the 5-1.

Mitchell had a more than satisfactory debut, also taking a good point from Chris Schramm in heat 11 and finishing with a healthy 5 points.

That heat 7 ride boosted everyone and we took control of the match, scoring 32 points in 7 heats to kill off the Devils' challenge.

Of course Craig Cook and Theo Pijper were the dominant forces and they both finished unbeaten from 5 rides. Craig did have to work hard in heat 10 when Mark Lemon on a TR nipped past Craig and Derek Sneddon, but Craig swept past with a big drive down the home straight at the end of lap two.

Once again Theo gave a masterclass in apparently effortless Armadale riding, and you could say the same for Jozsef Tabaka. Unfortunately he suffered a puncture in heat 4 which was the first of two 5-1s for the Devils on the night, but other than that he was again in remarkable form.

His move in heat 12 was one of the highlights of the night. He made a poor start off gate four, but as we were wondering what kind of challenge he might mount later in the race, he turned back and powered up the inside of the back straight past Lemon and Kurtz. He arrived very tight to the third corner but effortlessly turned and secured second place.

Claus Vissing on a new engine was unbeaten after his first race, but for different reasons it was a tough night for Derek Sneddon and Max Fricke.

Derek was the innocent victim of a pileup after Ty Proctor fell while leading heat one. Derek hit the fallen rider and wrecked a new frame he had had since last weekend. "It didn't even last a lap" he said.

Even on his second bike though Derek scored vital points.

For Max the match was a little bit of a setback after recent promising shows. He scored just one and was out for second half practise under the watchful eye of Craig Cook.

Plymouth should be applauded for putting in plenty of effort. They really stretched Monarchs in the early heats though they were eventually overpowered, but they never gave up.

Ty Proctor can never have put in more effort for just 6 from 5 rides. He seemed to be permanently on the tail of a home rider, trying everything to pass.

Corey Gathercole started well but faded after breaking the tapes in heat 9, and Mark Lemon's best ride was his TR.

It was left to reserve Todd Kurtz to hit the highest score for the visitors, and he looked useful all night.

There were plenty of talking points but once again it was the home side who were much the stronger in the end.

Full Result Details