CRAIG THROUGH TO THE NEXT STAGE

NEWS Monday 9th June 2014, 11:55pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Craig Cook is into the semi-final of the Grand Prix qualifiers after scoring 8 points in the Berwick qualifier won by Sweden's Linus Sundstrom.

It was a tight affair although the top ten qualifiers were eventually clear cut with two points to spare over the next man.

The meeting was all about gating, with only three passes in 22 heats, and none of these of any great significance. Craig would certainly like and probably expect to have gated better.

He was impressive in heat 4, with a wide sweep round the first corner, riding side by side with Pawlicki and right up against the fence. He was just squeezed out when they hit the third bend.

His next ride was a disappointment though, in heat 8, when a poor start from gate four left him pointless. He was unable to find a way past Norbert Magosi, and with Jason Doyle in the previous heat having the same experience with Tomas Suchanek, the importance of gating was being emphasised.

After the track grading Craig was out in the next heat and this time got away well, sweeping clear of Chris Harris and Kenneth Bjerre. He eased up before the finish but it was still a quick time.

Heat 15 looked a good opportunity and he did gate quite well from gate 1, but Suchanek was quicker round the outside and went ahead.

Scores were still very tight and it looked as though Craig needed a point from heat 18 to ensure qualification. He had gate 4 again and was away poorly, but cut through on the first corner to go ahead - just as messers Sundstrom and Doyle tangled up and went into the fence. Just as well Craig had not been trying to go round the outside!

He picked up a point in the restart and that ensured qualification.

There were two run-offs to decide the podium places, Maciej Janowski beating Hans Andersen for third, and Sundstrom beating Doyle for first.

Theo Pijper found the pace pretty hot but grabbed a point in his fourth race, then nipped out the start in heat 17 to lead for almost three laps before Janowski passed him. He still headed Chris Harris.

That was one of the overtakes, the other two featured Ty Proctor losing third places.

The event was well staged and presented, the crowd seemed good though it would presumably have been better on Saturday, but the racing was very disappointing after the hotly-contested first two bends. Nevertheless it was good to see some of the big names in action this far north.

Former Monarch Tomas H Jonasson scored a 15 point maximum to win the Abensberg qualifier this afternoon. The semi-finals are on Saturday 21st June.

QUALIFIERS FROM BERWICK: Linus Sundstrom 12, Jason Doyle 12, Maciej Janowski 11, Hans Andersen 11, Kenneth Bjerre 9, David Bellego 9, Craig Cook 8, Lewis Bridger 8, Chris Harris 8.

NON-QUALIFIERS: Tomas Suchanek 6, Matej Kus 5, Norbert Magosi 3, Theo Pijper 3, Richard Lawson 3, Ty Proctor 2, Kyle Howarth (res.) 1.