Title Partner
REPORT Sunday 11th May 2008, 10:00pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
Everyone said we would win at Mildenhall, which is pressure of a sort, but we made no mistake with a record-equalling 30 point triumph.
Eight 5-1 heat advantages in the first 10 heats left no doubt as to who was going to some out on top, and it was only a small consolation for the Fen Tigers to take 3 of the last 5 race winners.
The Fen Tigers had added Michal Rajkowski to their side during the week and were looking a bit stronger, but the first two heats suggested we were well up to the task.
Andrew Tully was truly spectacular as he led heat 1, with William content to sit in second, and it did look likely to be a fast time. However we never found out because on lap three Gravesen reared up and lost control on the pits bend, causing new man Rajkowski to fall awkwardly. Fortunately he was OK.
Andrew raced away again in heat 2 with Aaron Summers backing up. At 10-2 perhaps it was all over already?
Well no, it wasn't. Laukkanen and Loof led the way in heat 3 and it looked from Ryan's riding and eventual retirement that he might not have sorted out his problems from the night before.
Matthew got stuck on the outside of the first corner in heat 4 as Kessler won from Aaron. Matthew couldn't pass Kyle Hughes and remarkably we were only 13-11 up now!
Have we ever recorded six 5-1s on a row away from home? Unlikely, but that was what we did over the next 6 heats. Heat 5 was one of the highlights; William passed Kaj Laukkanen down the back straight and after chasing for most of the race, Aaron brilliantly pulled off a similar move near the end of the race.
Heat 6 was more routine (Tully and Wethers) which prompted Fen Tigers to give fast gating Robbie Kessler a TR in heat 7.
He was battling with Derek Sneddon round the opening bends when Ryan Fisher appeared from nowhere to burst between them and go clear. Sneddon subdued Kessler and we had completely nullified the TR.
Summers and Sneddon took 5 in heat 8, then we had a long delay for track grading and an interval. This was perfectly acceptable on a very hot day and the one-man track preparation team seemed to know what he was doing.
There was a tumble on the first corner of heat 9 with Laukkanen hitting the boards as all four got to the bend together.
Kaj took a while to get up, and trailed at the back as Tully and Wethers took the score to 38-16.
Problems again in heat 10 when Gravesen took out Rajkowski on the first turn, and earned an exclusion. Derek and Ryan took 5 with some neat team riding though the Raj kept up a strong challenge.
Amazingly we didn't get a 5-1 in heat 11, as Robbie Kessler won it under pressure from Ryan. This heat was William's only defeat, in third spot.
Laukkanen gated in heat 12 but the heat was stopped when Makinen brought off Sneddon who was passing him on the outside. The ref had the best view and excluded Makinen, much to the annoyance of the home Barmy Army. At least they were still paying attention.
Kaj won the rerun from Andrew who gave a powerful chase, but dropped his first point.
William won heat 13 from Kessler, and it looked like Ryan was going to take a hard fought heat 14 as he cut through to lead down the back straight. However he still seemed to lack a bit of speed and was caught at the end of lap three by a good ride from Makinen.
William sliced past Kessler for a good heat 15 win, and Andrew also put on some pressure but had to settle for third.
A very good display by all the Monarchs, and a good enough meeting even though it was one-sided. As at Rye House, the home fans were welcoming and sporting.
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Bathgate Road
Armadale
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