Title Partner
Edinburgh Monarchs
Team Manager: Alan Bridgett |
58 | ||||||||
| 1. Ryan Fisher | 3 | 2* | 3 | X | 8 | 1 | |||
| 2. Matthew Wethers | 2* | 3 | 3 | 2* | 1 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 3. Kevin Wolbert | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 4. Kalle Katajisto | F | 1* | 2* | 3 | 6 | 2 | |||
| 5. Andrew Tully | X | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |||
| 6. Arlo Bugeja | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 7. William Lawson | 3 | 2 | 2* | 1 | 8 | 1 | |||
King's Lynn Stars
Team Manager: Buster Chapman |
31 | ||||||||
| 1. Oliver Allen | X | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2. Adam Roynon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1* | 2 | 1 | |||
| 3. Lasse Bjerre | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 4. James McBain | 1* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 5. Tomas Topinka | 3 | 1 | 1 | X | 5 | 0 | |||
| 6. Jamie Courtney | F | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 7. Cal McDade | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |||
The tie was already done and dusted prior to the second leg, but Monarchs did an efficient job of completing their qualification for the semi-final with an aggregate win of just under 50 points.
We were quickly in control in spite of a couple of early wobbles. Our powerhouse opening pair of Fisher and Wethers swept past Oliver Allen on the second turn of heat 1 and a 5-1 was never in doubt.
William Lawson quickly imposed his authority on heat 2, though Cal McDade comfortably beat the man who replaced him in our side, Arlo Bugeja, for the second spot.
Kalle Katajisto was away well enough in heat 3 but fell on the first corner, leaving Kevin Wolbert to romp home. Lasse Bjerre got round fine in his first Armadale ride, looking just like his elder brother.
Next Monarch to bite the dust was Andrew Tully when his front wheel came into contact with Topinka?s back one round the first turn. William Lawson actually sped through to lead but the heat was stopped. Andrew wasn?t happy but he was ruled out, and the Stars took a 4-2 in the rerun.
Oliver Allen took the win in heat 5 but it was interesting to see Kevin really chasing, making up ground and finishing right on Allen?s tail.
Fisher and Wethers were away in heat 6 and when Fisher closed the outside line gap sharply, Topinka?s wide challenge petered out.
Tully led home Bjerre in heat 7 with Bugeja taking the point from McBain (standing in for Smith). In fact Arlo got a decent start here but throttled back disappointingly down the back straight. Next there was a very easy 5-1 for Wethers and Lawson in heat 8.
Same again in the next two heats, Wolbert and Katajisto over Topinka, and Fisher / Wethers over Bjerre. The score was 41-19 and it was exhibition stuff.
Oliver Allen was easily the most likely visitor to win a heat, but he was well beaten by the flying Tully in heat 11. Alen concentrated on sitting with partner Roynon, but there was in any case no real challenge from Bugeja.
Wolbert won heat 12 but in spite of a good start, Lawson dropped behind Bjerre and was well back in third by the end.
Heat 13 was rather over-eventful. Allen and Topinka were away well the first time but Andrew caught Topinka off the second turn, then Fisher bundled under him going into the third bend. Topinka was just too slow, and he slid off into the fence, while at the same time Allan lost it and almost went into the pits.
Topinka was out of the rerun and this time Allen gated again but was passed immediately by the two Monarchs. Unfortunately Ryan went too fast into the third bend, gave Andrew nowhere to go and the result was Andrew down into the fence.
Ryan was out this time, and attempt three went to Allen in spite of a strong challenge from Tully.
Kalle won heat 14 easily with McDade again beating Bugeja with a bit to spare.
We saw the best of the resurgent Wolbert in the final heat as he raced after race leader Allen and swept under him on the pits corner. Great pass. Matthew chased all the way but could not get by, so his maximum was lost ? we had no unbeaten riders.
Fans would be wrong if they think this Friday's KO Cup quarter final second leg tie against King's Lynn at Armadale (7.30) is a dead rubber. The Stars are still hurting after their first leg drubbing and have already built an exciting new side.
They may be 22-points in arrears, but they will be looking to put a serious dent in that lead and to record their second win at the Scotwaste Arena this season, having won by a clear eight points with their 'old' team three months ago.
With their star No.1 Rider, Kevin Doolan, out for the season with injury, the Stars had a fire sale, getting rid of another FOUR riders. Out went Joe Haines, Chris Mills, Casper Wortmann and Darren Mallet. Only Tomas Topinka and Kozza Smith were retained.
And while most sides tend to patch over the cracks one at a time as riders become available at this stage of the year, King's Lynn had obviously been shrewdly keeping their eye on some super replacements who will give the Stars back a real cutting edge.
Ryan Fisher will have to be at his sharpest at No. 1 where he faces Norwich-born Oliver Allen who was replaced at Swindon by Chris Slabon, both of whom impressed in the recent Scottish Open. Allen looked by far the sharper of the two.
Allen's career has been regularly held back by a string of injuries, but he is a top performer at Premier League level and showed the Armadale fans some super-quick Elite League starts as well as effortlessly finding the quickest way round the 'Dale.
If Matthew Wethers retains the No.2 spot he will be paired against another exciting rider whose career has been held back even more by a string of serious injuries, Adam Roynon from Barrow who has been signed for two years to show what he can do.
Kevin Wolbert is back in town this week which should help steady Monarchs' wobbly home form. His opposite number is a sensational signing for the future, Lasse Bjerre, the 16-year-old brother of Danish Grand Prix star Kenneth Bjerre.
Lasse won a couple of races in his first UK match and you can rest assured that he will not lack support, either financial or technical, if he continues to show such promise, something that could not be said of one or two recent Monarchs' signings.
Unfortunately the hard charging Kozza Smith misses this match and his absence will be covered by a National League rider, which gives an enormous advantage to Super Kalle Katajisto who will want to make up for unluckily dropped points last week.
Andrew Tully will be expected to match the silky smooth style of Czech Republic rider Tomas Topinka who has returned to the club he first joined on arriving in the UK in 1993. Tomas will be looking to use all his experience to record a double-figure score.
Many people say King's Lynn look weak at reserve where they track Jamie Courtney and Cal McDade. But Monarchs have not exactly been setting the heather on fire with their two recent reserve signings, Arlo Bugeja and William Lawson.
So Monarchs should have the edge at home, especially with rider replacement not available for Kozza Smith, but it will be fascinating to see the new Stars in Cup-tie action. If they can put early pressure on the Monarchs, it will test their resolve ? again!
Likely line-ups:
Edinburgh Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Arlo Bugeja, William Lawson.
King?s Lynn ?Roger Warnes Transport? Stars: Oliver Allen, Adam Roynon, Lasse Bjerre, guest for Kozza Smith, Tomas Topinka, Jamie Courtney, Cal McDade.
Wednesday 18th August 2010, 8:34am
The Scotwaste Monarchs face an interesting, new-look King's Lynn team in the KO Cup quarter final second leg at Armadale this Friday.
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Bathgate Road
Armadale
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