Around the Premier League Tracks 2007
.
.
Tuesday, 19 June
If you wanted speedway action tonight you needed to travel across the Solent to the Isle of Wight where the Islanders took on Stoke in a Premier League match.
Premier League: Isle of Wight 48, Stoke 42.
Both the Isle of Wight and Stoke were at full strength for this match.
The Isle of Wight were looking for a big win tonight to wipe out the memory of last week’s televised home defeat at the hands of King’s Lynn while Stoke were keen to build on some recent impressive away displays. However it wasn’t long before, for the second week running, the Islanders were hit hard by injuries. They lost both Jason Bunyan and Chris Holder in the first half of the meeting and had to go with only one rider in two heats. Nevertheless they rallied to shake off their handicap and beat a Potters team which had looked threatening.
Under leaden skies this match was pushed through at a faster pace than usual to beat the impending rain. The home side were keen to reach a winning margin as quickly as possible and they started well by taking the opening heat 5-1. Chris Holder and Cory Gathercole did the damage against Ben Barker and Glenn Cunningham. Things didn’t go so well for them after that though. The home reserves looked destined to add another maximum in heat 2 when Andrew Bargh and Chris Johnson led the race but Bargh suffered an engine failure allowing Barrie Evans and Jack Hargreaves to follow Johnson home for a share of the points. Proceedings came to an abrupt halt in the next race, however. The original running was pulled back for an unsatisfactory start then, at the next attempt, Claus Vissing picked up grip and reared into the fence taking Jason Bunyan with him. Vissing was excluded while Bunyan needed a check by the medics to make sure he was alright. In the second rerun Krzysztof Stojanowski won the race from Lee Complin while Jason Bunyan finished third for a 4-2 increasing the Islanders’ lead to six points. Rusty Harrison provide Stoke’s first race winner when he won heat 4. It was only good enough for a 3-3 since Glen Phillips and Andrew Bargh finished behind him with Jack Hargreaves at the back. This took the score to 15-9.
It was turning out an unfortunate night for Jason Bunyan when he fell on the second lap in heat 5 while chasing Glenn Cunningham for the lead. Cunningham won the race with Stojanowski second. Ben Barker picked up the third place point for a 2-4 to the Potters which cut the gap to four points. Things continued to go badly for the home side when Chris Holder slipped to last place in heat 6 with what appeared to be machine problems. Cory Gathercole won the race though to keep the Islanders four points in front while Rusty Harrison and Barrie Evans shared the points behind him. The Potters continued to hold their own in heat 7 by sharing this race, too. It was Andrew Bargh who won it for the Isle of Wight but Lee Complin and Claus Vissing took the minor places ahead of Glen Phillips. There was then a hold up when Chris Johnson needed medical attention after falling in the pits and hurting his head As a result he was withdrawn from the meeting. Even worse for the Islanders, Jason Bunyan had to withdraw, too, since he had injured his wrist when he fell in heat 5. This left the Islanders seriously depleted and things didn’t get any better when Stoke, sensing the prospect of victory, shared heat 8. Ben Barker won the race, beating Andrew Bargh, with Cory Gathercole finishing third. This took the score to 26-22.
Heat 9 was run with only three riders since Jason Bunyan could not take his place and reserve, Andrew Bargh, could not cover for all of Bunyan and Johnson’s remaining rides. The home side were struggling when Rusty Harrison and Barrie Evans took a 1-5 after Krzysztof Stojanowski crashed into the fence while leading on the opening lap and could only coast round at the back on a damaged machine. The scores were now tied at 27-27 with the Isle of Wight facing an uphill struggle for the second week running. They dug in, however, and regained the lead in heat 10 with a 4-2. It looked like being a 5-1 when Chris Holder and Cory Gathercole led until the very last bend when Lee Complin passed Gathercole to take second place. Back came the Potters with a 2-4 from Glenn Cunningham and Ben Barker separated by Glen Phillips to level the scores again at 33-33.
It was clear that the Islanders could only field Andrew Bargh in a crucial heat 12 but he kept the home flag flying by winning the race from Claus Vissing and Barrie Evans. This gave the home side a massive boost since they could now finish by tracking two riders in the last three races with Chris Holder in two of them. Things looked even brighter when Chris Holder and Glen Phillips recorded a 5-1 in heat 13 ahead of Rusty Harrison and Glenn Cunningham to give the Islanders a four point lead. Stojanowski then won heat 14 to keep the home side four up going into the last heat. Lee Complin and Barrie Evans took second and third as Andrew Bargh retired with engine trouble for the 3-3. Finally, the Isle of Wight claimed victory with a last heat 4-2. Chris Holder won it from Lee Complin while Krzysztof Stojanowski finished third ahead of Rusty Harrison.
Scorers: For the Isle of Wight – Chris Holder 12 (5), Krzysztof Stojanowski 10 (5), Andrew Bargh 9+1 (7), Cory Gathercole 7+2 (4), Glen Phillips 6+1 (4), Chris Johnson 3 (1), Jason Bunyan 1 (2).
For Stoke – Lee Complin 10 (5), Rusty Harrison 9 (5), Barrie Evans 7+4 (5), Glenn Cunningham 6 (4), Ben Barker 6 (4), Claus Vissing 3+1 (4), Jack Hargreaves 1+1 (3).
If you wanted speedway action tonight you needed to travel across the Solent to the Isle of Wight where the Islanders took on Stoke in a Premier League match.
Premier League: Isle of Wight 48, Stoke 42.
Both the Isle of Wight and Stoke were at full strength for this match.
The Isle of Wight were looking for a big win tonight to wipe out the memory of last week’s televised home defeat at the hands of King’s Lynn while Stoke were keen to build on some recent impressive away displays. However it wasn’t long before, for the second week running, the Islanders were hit hard by injuries. They lost both Jason Bunyan and Chris Holder in the first half of the meeting and had to go with only one rider in two heats. Nevertheless they rallied to shake off their handicap and beat a Potters team which had looked threatening.
Under leaden skies this match was pushed through at a faster pace than usual to beat the impending rain. The home side were keen to reach a winning margin as quickly as possible and they started well by taking the opening heat 5-1. Chris Holder and Cory Gathercole did the damage against Ben Barker and Glenn Cunningham. Things didn’t go so well for them after that though. The home reserves looked destined to add another maximum in heat 2 when Andrew Bargh and Chris Johnson led the race but Bargh suffered an engine failure allowing Barrie Evans and Jack Hargreaves to follow Johnson home for a share of the points. Proceedings came to an abrupt halt in the next race, however. The original running was pulled back for an unsatisfactory start then, at the next attempt, Claus Vissing picked up grip and reared into the fence taking Jason Bunyan with him. Vissing was excluded while Bunyan needed a check by the medics to make sure he was alright. In the second rerun Krzysztof Stojanowski won the race from Lee Complin while Jason Bunyan finished third for a 4-2 increasing the Islanders’ lead to six points. Rusty Harrison provide Stoke’s first race winner when he won heat 4. It was only good enough for a 3-3 since Glen Phillips and Andrew Bargh finished behind him with Jack Hargreaves at the back. This took the score to 15-9.
It was turning out an unfortunate night for Jason Bunyan when he fell on the second lap in heat 5 while chasing Glenn Cunningham for the lead. Cunningham won the race with Stojanowski second. Ben Barker picked up the third place point for a 2-4 to the Potters which cut the gap to four points. Things continued to go badly for the home side when Chris Holder slipped to last place in heat 6 with what appeared to be machine problems. Cory Gathercole won the race though to keep the Islanders four points in front while Rusty Harrison and Barrie Evans shared the points behind him. The Potters continued to hold their own in heat 7 by sharing this race, too. It was Andrew Bargh who won it for the Isle of Wight but Lee Complin and Claus Vissing took the minor places ahead of Glen Phillips. There was then a hold up when Chris Johnson needed medical attention after falling in the pits and hurting his head As a result he was withdrawn from the meeting. Even worse for the Islanders, Jason Bunyan had to withdraw, too, since he had injured his wrist when he fell in heat 5. This left the Islanders seriously depleted and things didn’t get any better when Stoke, sensing the prospect of victory, shared heat 8. Ben Barker won the race, beating Andrew Bargh, with Cory Gathercole finishing third. This took the score to 26-22.
Heat 9 was run with only three riders since Jason Bunyan could not take his place and reserve, Andrew Bargh, could not cover for all of Bunyan and Johnson’s remaining rides. The home side were struggling when Rusty Harrison and Barrie Evans took a 1-5 after Krzysztof Stojanowski crashed into the fence while leading on the opening lap and could only coast round at the back on a damaged machine. The scores were now tied at 27-27 with the Isle of Wight facing an uphill struggle for the second week running. They dug in, however, and regained the lead in heat 10 with a 4-2. It looked like being a 5-1 when Chris Holder and Cory Gathercole led until the very last bend when Lee Complin passed Gathercole to take second place. Back came the Potters with a 2-4 from Glenn Cunningham and Ben Barker separated by Glen Phillips to level the scores again at 33-33.
It was clear that the Islanders could only field Andrew Bargh in a crucial heat 12 but he kept the home flag flying by winning the race from Claus Vissing and Barrie Evans. This gave the home side a massive boost since they could now finish by tracking two riders in the last three races with Chris Holder in two of them. Things looked even brighter when Chris Holder and Glen Phillips recorded a 5-1 in heat 13 ahead of Rusty Harrison and Glenn Cunningham to give the Islanders a four point lead. Stojanowski then won heat 14 to keep the home side four up going into the last heat. Lee Complin and Barrie Evans took second and third as Andrew Bargh retired with engine trouble for the 3-3. Finally, the Isle of Wight claimed victory with a last heat 4-2. Chris Holder won it from Lee Complin while Krzysztof Stojanowski finished third ahead of Rusty Harrison.
Scorers: For the Isle of Wight – Chris Holder 12 (5), Krzysztof Stojanowski 10 (5), Andrew Bargh 9+1 (7), Cory Gathercole 7+2 (4), Glen Phillips 6+1 (4), Chris Johnson 3 (1), Jason Bunyan 1 (2).
For Stoke – Lee Complin 10 (5), Rusty Harrison 9 (5), Barrie Evans 7+4 (5), Glenn Cunningham 6 (4), Ben Barker 6 (4), Claus Vissing 3+1 (4), Jack Hargreaves 1+1 (3).
No comments:
Post a Comment