KALLE STARS ON TYNESIDE

NEWS Monday 10th May 2010, 8:44am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Last week Newcastle's Barry Wallace contacted us to praise Andrew Tully's efforts as a guest - this week he's back to laud the efforts of Kalle Katajisto!

Barry told us "This is getting to be a habit . . . but thought you might like to know Kalle was sensational at Newcastle tonight.

"Riding as a guest reserve for Under-21 duty man Jerran Hart, Kalle scored 15 points from 7 rides to basically keep Scunthorpe's Cup hopes alive - just- as they went down, 59 - 31.

"In Heat 1 for instance, Kalle, in as r/r for Joel Parsons, streaked from the gate to beat Kenni Larsen and become the fastest visitor of the season, clocking 62.8. Only Kenni himself has recorded a quicker time in 2010.

"Kalle was out again in Heat 2 but was kept in second place by Dakota North.

"Heat 6 had to be seen to be believed as Magnus Karlsson and Kalle gated and built up a lead of country mile proportions over Larsen and Derek Sneddon. But, with the flag in sight, disaster struck as Karlsson fell on the very last bend, bringing down Kalle as well, as the two Newcastle riders sailed past. Referee Willie Dishington correctly awarded the race to Kalle to give him two wins over Kenni !

"Sneddon and Adam McKinna held a 5 - 1 over Kalle in Heat 8 until he drove round Adam at the end of the first lap.

"Kalle's busy night continued when he took his fifth ride in the next race, Heat 9, gaining a very creditable second spot behind Rene Bach, keeping Jason King behind him in third - the Newcastle skipper's only defeat by a Scorpion all through the match.

"Ride No.6 in Heat 12 was Kalle's only duff one. He made a poor start and could not find a way past his own team-mate Tero Aarnio as the Diamonds took a 5 - 1.

"But he finished off his part in the match in the same way he started it with a superb start-to-finish win over Bach in Heat 14 as the Scorpions registered their only race advantage, 4 - 2, having been on a 5 - 1 until Bach's sensational overtake of 'Wilko' rounding the last bend.

"A score chart showing 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 3 = 15 would look good beside anyone's name, so many thanks to Kalle for providing much entertainment - as well as a few shocks along the way !"