The 2009 winners Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

8 FOR RYAN AS HOME MAN WINS AGAIN

NEWS Sunday 27th September 2009, 1:34am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Ryan Fisher won heat 20 of the Premier League Riders' Championship at Sheffield but his total of 8 wasn't enough to reach the semi-final in a meeting won by home rider Ricky Ashworth.

He was the best man on the night but this was yet another home winner in a PL major event, the scourge of the system.

The crowd seemed OK, the track and presentation were good, but the racing was fairly disappointing with positions at the second bend generally being maintained.

Ryan was off gate 4 in heat 1, at which stage the inside gates were dominant - the red helmet came home first in heats 1 to 4 though Ward did have to come from the back in heat 4. He had to settle for third spot in that opening heat.

Ryan took a second behind Ty Proctor in heat 8, but it was heat 12 which virtually ended his hopes.

At the first attempt he was away well, moving to the outside line to make life hard for Ashworth and Compton who were outside him.

Ashworth actually fell before he reached the bend but the ref declared an all four rerun.

This time Ryan was slowly away and could make no headway.

He made a terrific effort in heat 16 to squeeze round the outside of Darcy Ward but eventually had to settle for second. In heat 20 he made the gate off the outside and won the heat, riding the outside line.

William Lawson started well and looked quick all night, finishing on 10 points. He made the semi in which he came third behind Howe and Proctor, and the result of the final was: Ashworth, Ward, Proctor, Howe.

Darcy Ward made up ground on Ashworth but was just short at the finish. However for a 17 year old, runners-up spot is a tremendous achievement.