Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Monday, 31 March

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Tonight’s only match was at Reading where the Racers faced Somerset in a Premier Trophy match.


Premier Trophy: Reading 44, Somerset 49.


Reading were again without the injured Danny Warwick and had Mark Burrows at number 7 in his place. Somerset were without Henning Loof so had to use Rider Replacement at number 2 instead.

In a challenge match just two weeks ago Reading comfortably beat Somerset by 17 points but it was a different story tonight as the same two teams met in this Premier Trophy match. Somerset, with an away win at Newport already under their belts, are now red-hot favourites to qualify as winners of their section.

The Rebels posted the warning signs as early as the opening race when Jason Doyle and (R/R) Stephan Katt raced to a 1-5 ahead of Mark Lemon. Reading’s guest, Mark Burrows, gained a 3-3 for the home side by winning the reserves race while Ulrich Ostergaard’s win in heat 3 also resulted in a shared race. Jordan Frampton won heat 4 after an exciting tussle with Mark Burrows while the two heat leaders, Tom P Madsen and Brent Werner brought up the rear. This third shared race on the trot took the score to 10-14.

Ostergaard won again in heat 5 this time beating Jason Doyle but Simon Walker (R/R) got up to pass Chris Mills on the line to keep the Rebels four points to the good. Reading recovered two points in heat 6 when Mark Lemon beat Brent Werner but they were fortunate when Stephan Katt’s bike packed up allowing Tomas Suchanek through for the third place point and a 4-2. Any hopes of a Reading come back were dashed when the Rebels scored another 1-5 in heat 7. Jordan Frampton and Emil Kramer left Madsen and Smith at the gate to put the visitors six points ahead. Mark Burrows demolished the fence in heat 8 and was excluded from the rerun but Tomas Suchanek kept the Racers afloat by winning the race for a 3-3 taking the score to 21-27.

Chris Mills was excluded in heat 9 which meant that Ulrich Ostergaard’s win was only good enough for another shared race and heat 10 was shared too when Emil Kramer won from Suchanek and Lemon. Somerset went further ahead in heat 11 when Jason Doyle beat Tom P Madsen. Jordan Frampton took third as Jaimie Smith had engine problems for a 2-4 which put the Rebels eight points up. Reading suffered another blow in heat 12 when Ulrich Ostergaard was beaten for the first time by Emil Kramer. Mark Burrows took third from Stephan Katt so the Racers at least shared the race taking the score to 32-40.

Jordan Frampton replaced Brent Werner in heat 13 but was excluded after crashing with Mark Lemon causing the race to be rerun. Lemon withdrew from the meeting and was replaced by Mark Burrows in the rerun which was won by Jason Doyle from Tom P Madsen to keep the visitors eight points in front. Ulrich Ostergaard then came into heat 14 as a Tactical Substitute replacing Jaimie Smith and starting from 15 metres back. It took him less than a lap to pass the field and go on to win for the full six points but he got no support as Chris Mills fell leaving Katt and Walker to pick up the three points consigning Reading to defeat. In the last heat Ulrich Ostergaard won again but Tom P Madsen fell as Jason Doyle and Emil Kramer filled the minor places for a shared race giving the Rebels a 5 point win.

Scorers: For Reading – Ulrich Ostergaard 20 (6) (including a 6 point TS), Mark Burrows 7+2 (5), Tom P Madsen 6+1 (5), Tomas Suchanek 6 (4), Mark Lemon 5+1 (3), Jaimie Smith 0 (3), Chris Mills 0 (4).

For Somerset – Jason Doyle 12+1 (5), Emil Kramer 11+2 (5), Stephan Katt 11 (7), Jordan Frampton 9+2 (6), Simon Walker 3+3 (4), Brent Werner 3+1 (3).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Sunday, 30 March

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Five Premier League matches were raced today. First up was the rearranged match at Scunthorpe where the Scorpions faced Redcar while at Newport the Wasps took on Reading. The third match was at Glasgow where the Tigers raced against Workington. Next to start was the match at Mildenhall where the Fen Tigers took on Berwick. Finally at Newcastle the Diamonds had Sheffield as their visitors. All the matches were for Premier Trophy points except the one at Mildenhall which was the first Premier League match of the season.

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Premier Trophy: Scunthorpe 45, Redcar 45

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Scunthorpe were at full strength but James Grieves had not recovered from his chest infection so Redcar used Rider Replacement at number 3.

The teams exchanged 5-1s in the first two races. In heat 1 Gary Havelock got to the front off the first two bends and he was followed by Ty Proctor one bend later for a Bears’ maximum. It looked ominous for the visitors as their reserves lost a 5-1 in heat 2 to Benji Compton and Byron Bekker to level the scores again. Gary Havelock (R/R) won again in heat 3 while Josh Auty took third from Viktor Bergstrom and a 2-4 which restored Redcar’s lead and it stayed that way when Chris Kerr won heat 4 for a shared heat in the next race taking the score to 11-13.

Magnus Karlsson won heat 5 despite a challenge from Havelock on the last bend. Ty Proctor took third so the race was shared as was heat 6 when Chris Kerr won again. He had no support once more so the shared race kept the visitors two points in front. Although Richard Hall led from the first bend to win heat 7, he didn’t get it all his own way as Josh Auty and Ty Proctor (R/R) challenged him hard. The race was shared to keep the Bears two in front. The Scorpions just couldn’t seem to get back on level terms. Although Carl Wilkinson won heat 8, Proctor and Giffard filled the minor places for another shared race taking the score to 23-25.

In heat 9 Chris Kerr and Viktor Bergstrom crashed on the first bend and the interval was taken as Chris Kerr required ambulance assistance. He had to withdraw from the meeting as a result of what was later diagnosed as a broken right leg leaving the Bears with just one heat leader and five fit riders. The Scorpions cashed in with a 5-1 in the rerun. Byron Bekker replaced Viktor Bergstrom and Daniel Giffard replaced the unfortunate Kerr but it was Magnus Karlsson and Byron Bekker who finished ahead of the Redcar reserves to turn a two point deficit to a two point lead. The Bears fought on though with Josh Auty winning heat 10 from Carl Wilkinson and Andrew Moore for a shared race. Heat 11 provided another 3-3. Richard Hall won from the gate but Proctor and Havelock finished behind him as Byron Bekker fell and retired from the race. Still the short-handed Bears clung on. In heat 12 Magnus Karlsson won the race under some pressure from Josh Auty. Daniel Giffard played his part by relegating Benji Compton to the back giving the visitors another shared race and taking the score to 37-35.

Andrew Moore beat Gary Havelock in heat 13 but Havelock passed Richard Hall to take second place and limit the damage to a 4-2 putting the Scorpions four ahead. The Bears came roaring back in heat 14 though with a 1-5 which squared the match. Josh Auty and Daniel Giffard made the gate and headed Byron Bekker home to set up a last heat decider. This was Ty Proctor’s race! With the Scorpions on a 5-1 with Karlsson and Hall leading the race, Proctor passed Richard Hall on the first lap then Magnus Karlsson on the third lap to win the heat. Unfortunately for the Bears, Gary Havelock could make no impression at the back but this was a remarkable result for Redcar after losing Chris Kerr in heat 9 given they were already without James Grieves.

Scorers: For Scunthorpe – Magnus Karlsson 13 (5), Richard Hall 10+1 (5), Andrew Moore 7+1 (4), Carl Wilkinson 6+1 (4), Byron Bekker 5+2 (5), Benji Compton 4+1 (5), Viktor Bergstrom 0 (2).

For Redcar – Ty Proctor 11+3 (6), Gary Havelock 11+1 (6), Josh Auty 11 (5), Daniel Giffard 6+3 (6), Chris Kerr 6 (2), Arlo Bugeja 0 (5).

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Premier Trophy: Newport 34, Reading 56

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Newport were at full strength for this match but Reading had Mark Burrows as a guest at reserve in place of the injured Danny Warwick.

Both teams were at full strength.

After last week’s home and away hammerings by Somerset the Wasps needed a good result here against one of the league’s new teams. Things looked bright when they took a 5-1 from Craig Watson and Paul Clews in the opening race after Mark Lemon had retired then had Jerran Hart leading in the reserves race. However Hart suffered an engine failure at the end of the third lap and it was Jaimie Smith and Mark Burrows who scored a 1-5 to level the scores. Ulrich Ostergaard won heat 3 but the Wasps’ pair of Atkin and Mroz took second and third for a shared race. Mark Burrows was excluded from heat 4 under the two minute time allowance so was replaced by Jaimie Smith. Sebastian Truminski won the race but another last place for Nick Simmons resulted in another shared race with the score at 12-12.

Tomas Suchanek won heat 5 from Marek Mroz but again Mark Lemon finished at the back so the race was shared but when Craig Watson fell in heat 6 Reading stepped in to score a 1-5 as Tom P Madsen and Jaimie Smith won from Paul Clews. The Racers went further ahead in heat 7 with another Ostergaard win this time from Truminski with Chris Mills third. The 2-4 opened the gap to six points and Newport were in big trouble when they lost another 1-5 in heat 8 as Tomas Suchanek and Mark Burrows left Paul Clews in their wake. The score was now 19-29 and the Wasps were looking down the barrel of another hammering.

It just went from bad to worse for Newport. Marek Mroz brought down Jaimie Smith in heat 9 and was excluded from the rerun which was won by Tom P Madsen from Tony Atkin for a 2-4 opening the lead to 12 points. Newport gave Craig Watson a TR in heat 10 but it was a disaster as the Newport number 1 finished at the wrong end of a 1-5 thanks to Chris Mills and Ulrich Ostergaard. Newport were now 16 points behind with little to look forward to in the closing races. Mark Lemon finally came to the party winning heat 11 but Nick Simmons took second and Sebastian Truminski third to share the spoils. Ulrich Ostergaard completed a four ride paid maximum in heat 12 but again the Wasps filled the minor places for another 3-3 which took the score to 28-44.

Craig Watson gave the home support something to cheer about by winning heat 13 from Mark Lemon. Truminski finished third so the Wasps scored a 4-2 but it was back to Misery City for them when they lost a 1-5 in heat 14. Chris Mills and Mark Burrows did the damage leaving Tony Atkin to trail in third. Finally Ostergaard and Madsen capped off an impressive Reading performance with another 1-5 in heat 15 leaving Truminski and Watson to bring up the rear.

Scorers: For Newport – Sebastian Truminski 8+1 (5), Craig Watson 7 (5), Tony Atkin 6+1 (4), Nick Simmons 5 (4), Marek Mroz 4+2 (4), Paul Clews 4+1 (4), Jerran Hart 0 (4).

For Reading – Ulrich Ostergaard 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Tom P Madsen 10+1 (5), Jaimie Smith 7+2 (5), Tomas Suchanek 7 (4), Chris Mills 7 (4), Mark Burrows 6+3 (3), Mark Lemon 5 (4).

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Premier Trophy: Glasgow 47, Workington 43

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Both teams were at full strength.

Workington hit the front in the opening race. Ross Brady made the gate but was passed by the field and it was Daniel Nermark who won the race from Shane Parker for a 2-4. Lee Dicken won the reserves race but there was a three way battle behind him for the minor places with John Branney and Joe Haines edging out Josh Grajczonek for a shared race. Mitchell Davey had a spectacular set-to with the kickboards on the first bend second time round after Charles Wright had fallen in front of him. The race was stopped and Wright excluded from the rerun which was won by Carl Stonehewer for another shared race. Kauko Nieminen won heat 4 from Lee Dicken and Robert Ksiezak and another 3-3 which took the score to 11-13.

Glasgow fell four points adrift in heat 5 as Daniel Nermark sailed off for a comfortable win from Trent Leverington. Scott Smith took third for a 2-4 to the visitors. Heat 6 had to be rerun with all four after Kauko Nieminen fell on the second bend. The Workington rider was none too pleased at Shane Parker’s involvement in his fall. Nieminen won the rerun after seeing off Parker but Ross Brady took third for a shared heat. Josh Grajczonek passed Stonehewer on the second bend of Heat 7. He held off the challenge of the Workington man to win the race. Robert Ksiezak finished third so Glasgow scored a 4-2 to pull two points back. They then hit the front with a 5-1 in heat 8. Ross Brady won the race with Lee Dicken following him home ahead of Scott Smith for the maximum which gave the Tigers a two point lead with the score now 25-23.

There was no change after heat 9. Kauko Nieminen won again this time from Trent Leverington while Mitchell Davey finished third, pipping Joe Haines on the line, for a 3-3. Workington had now provided six race winners from the first nine races yet still trailed by two points! The Comets squared the match in heat 10 however when Carl Stonehewer gated to beat Shane Parker. Charles Wright finished third ahead of a tiring Ross Brady for a 2-4. It stayed all square after Daniel Nermark won heat 11 from Ksiezak and Grajczonek for another 3-3. Heat 12 had to be rerun with all four back after Carl Stonehewer crashed with some help from Lee Dicken. Stonehewer made his displeasure known to Dicken both on the track and off it. He won the rerun from the gate however from Dicken and Leverington for the match’s seventh shared race taking the score to 36-36.

It was building up to a grand finale with Workington represented by the unbeaten Nermark and Nieminen in heat 13 but with Shane Parker to contend with while in heat 14 they had to go with the ineffective Charles Wright and John Branney. Glasgow would have been the happier side to have shared heat 13. Nermark eased to another victory but this time Parker and Ksiezak kept Nieminen at the back for a shared race leaving the Comets to worry about the result of heat 14 in which Lee Dicken replaced Mitchell Davey and Joe Haines replaced John Branney. The Glasgow pair gated for the expected 5-1 which put the Tigers four points ahead going into the last race. Nermark won heat 15 to complete another fine maximum but Parker and Leverington were content to take the minor places to ensure a Glasgow victory. Workington were left to reflect on the statistics which showed that they had 11 first places and 11 zeroes. Indeed the two Glasgow reserves outscored the combined totals of Nieminen, Smith, Wright, Branney and Haines!

Scorers: For Glasgow– Lee Dicken 12+1 (5), Shane Parker 10 (5), Trent Leverington 8+1 (5), Josh Grajczonek 6+2 (4), Robert Ksiezak 5+2 (4), Ross Brady 4+1 (4), Mitchell Davey 2+2 (3).

For Workington– Daniel Nermark 15 (5) (maximum), Carl Stonehewer 11 (4), Kauko Nieminen 9 (4), Scott Smith 3 (4), Joe Haines 2 (4), John Branney 2+1 (4), Charles Wright 1 (4)

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Premier League: Mildenhall 29, Berwick 61

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Mildenhall were again without Shane Colvin and Robbie Kessler so used Rider Replacement for Kessler at number 5 and had John Oliver (King’s Lynn) as a guest at number 2 for Colvin. They nominated Aaron Baseby as their number 8. Berwick, without the injured Shane Colvin, used Rider Replacement at number 2.

This was Mildenhall’s first home match of the season but it turned out to be anything but a happy one! In fact it was a humiliation for the home side who were simply never in the hunt after heat 6 at which point they trailed by only two points. Berwick won the last nine races by 10-52! And rattled up seven 1-5 heat wins. By contrast poor Mildenhall had only two race winners. This must surely be a record away win in a Premier League match.

Adrian Rymel won heat 1 for the Bandits but Kai Laukkanen and John Oliver finished ahead of (R/R) Norbert Magosi to share the heat. The Bandits then took the lead when Magosi won the reserves race from Mark Baseby. Adam McKinna took the third point place from James Cockle for a 2-4. Back came Mildenhall with a 4-2 from John Oliver, who beat Henning Bager, and Jan Graversen. Berwick were back in front after heat 4 though. Michal Makovsky won the race after Casper Wortmann suffered an engine failure for a 2-4 taking the score to 11-13.

Rymel and Makovsky won again in heats 5 and 6 both for shared heats but no less than five consecutive 1-5s for the Bandits put them in Easy Street. Baseby fell in heat 7 as Tero Aarnio and Henning Bager took the first of them from Casper Wortmann then Norbert Magosi and Michal Makovsky banged in another in heat 8 taking the score to 19-29.

Heat 9 provided another Bandits’ 1-5 as Magosi and Makovsky (both out again), headed home Jan Graversen stretching the visitors’ lead to 14 points. Then Kai Laukkanen took a TR in heat 10. The home side’s shambles continued though as Laukkanen suffered a two minutes’ time exclusion resulting in him having to start from 15 metres back. Henning Bager and Tero Aarnio said “thanks” and helped themselves to Berwick’s fourth 1-5 in a row and it went to five when Rymel and Aarnio added another in heat 11 for a 22 point lead. Jan Graversen managed to split the Bager/Magosi pairing in heat 12 so the Bandits had to content themselves with a 2-4 which took the score to 24-48.

At last Mildenhall provided a race winner when Kai Laukkanen won heat 13. It was only good enough for a shared race though as Rymel and Makovsky finished behind him. To add insult to injury though, Tero Aarnio and Adam McKinna raced off for a sixth Berwick 1-5 ahead of a demoralised Baseby and Wortmann before Adrian Rymel and Michal Makovsky brought the curtain down with a seventh 1-5 for the Bandits. Graversen led the race briefly but was brushed aside by Rymel as Makovsky followed him home.

Scorers: For Mildenhall – John Oliver 7+1 (5), Kai Laukkanen 6+1 (5), Jan Graversen 6+1 (5), Mark Baseby 5 (6), James Cockle 3 (4), Casper Wortmann 2 (5).

For Berwick – Adrian Rymel 14 (5), Michal Makovsky 13+4 (6), Tero Aarnio 10+2 (5), Henning Bager 10+1 (4), Norbert Magosi 10 (6), Adam McKinna 4+1 (4).

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Premier Trophy: Newcastle 63, Sheffield 27

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Newcastle were at full strength but Sheffield had Simon Lambert (King’s Lynn) as a guest at reserve in place of the injured Lee Smethills.

The Diamonds opened with a 5-1 as Christian Henry and Ben Powell headed home Joel Parsons as Ricky Ashworth retired. Sheffield’s guest Simon Lambert won the reserves race for them by beating Sean Stoddart. With Sam Martin picking up third the 2-4 cut the gap to two points. Newcastle rattled in another 5-1 from Josef Franc and Jason King in heat 3 against Andre Compton then added another from Sean Stoddart and George Stancl to take the score to 17-7.

Already ten points down Sheffield fell right out of contention when they lost two more 5-1s in heats 5 and 6. Jason King and Josef Franc did the damage in heat 5 as Ashworth again failed to score then Ben Powell and Christian Henry added another ahead of Ben Wilson in heat 6. Andre Compton stopped the rot in heat 7 beating George Stancl and Jaimie Robertson for a shared race then Sheffield got another 3-3 in heat 8 won by Ben Powell from Joel Parsons and Simon Lambert taking the score to 33-15.

The Tigers were rampant now and banged home another two 5-1s in heat 9 as Josef Franc and Jason King won from Sam Mrtin after Ben Wilson had retired, and heat 10 as Andre Compton could not prevent Christian Henry and Ben Powell scoring another maximum. Joel Parsons managed a second place in heat 11 when he finished second to George Stancl and ahead of Jaimie Robertson. In heat 12 Josef Franc completed his four ride paid maximum while Andre Compton finished behind him for a 4-2 to the Diamonds which took the score to 51-21.

Christian Henry fell in heat 13 and the race was awarded to George Stancl from Ashworth and Lambert. Jason King lost out on his paid maximum by finishing third to Paul Cooper in heat 14 when he finished second to Jaimie Robertson. The result was a 4-2 to the Diamonds putting them 32 points in front. Finally Josef Franc completed the rout and a personal five ride maximum accompanied by Christian Henry to bang home another 5-1 against Andre Compton to leave Sheffield in tatters.

Scorers: For Newcastle – Josef Franc 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Ben Powell 10+2 (4) (paid maximum), Christian Henry 10+2 (5), George Stancl 10+1 (4), Jason King 8+2 (4), Sean Stoddart 6 (4), Jaimie Robertson 5+1 (4).

For Sheffield – Andre Compton 8 (5), Simon Lambert 6+2 (5), Joel parsons 6 (5), Ricky Ashworth 2 (4), Paul Cooper 2 (4), Sam Martin 2 (4), Ben Wilson 1 (3).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Saturday, 29 March

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Four matches were scheduled for tonight but the weather ruled out three of them: Workington versus Edinburgh, Stoke versus Scunthorpe, and Rye House versus King’s Lynn – all Premier Trophy matches. The Workington against Edinburgh fixture has been rearranged for next Saturday. This left the sole survivor to beat the miserable March weather the Premier Trophy fixture between Berwick and Glasgow.


Premier Trophy: Berwick 52, Glasgow 44.


Berwick were again without Guglielmo Franchetti so used Rider Replacement at number 2 instead. They also introduced new signing, Henning Bager, to the team at number 5 in place of Manuel Hauzinger. Glasgow were at full strength for the first time this season with the return to the side of Ross Brady.

It was a cold evening at Berwick but at least it was dry with only a shower of rain having fallen since mid-afternoon. Berwick were desperate for a home win after successive defeats at Shielfield Park by Newcastle, Edinburgh and Workington while this was Glasgow’s first official away match of the season. They too really needed to win at the home of the Bandits to keep pace with Edinburgh and Workington if they were to challenge as Premier Trophy section winners.

In the opening race Ross Brady made the gate but within a lap he had been passed by the field and retired leaving Adrian Rymel and Norbert Magosi to score a 5-1 ahead of Shane Parker. Magosi was out again to win the reserves race. However Adam McKinna got stuck at the back of the field so Josh Grajczonek and Lee Dicken filled the minor places for a shared race. All eyes were on Henning Bager in heat 3 but it was Tero Aarnio and Trent Leverington who fought for the lead round the opening two bends. Leverington won that battle and sailed off to win the race while Bager, after a good gate slipped back to third to produce another shared race. It was three 3-3s on the trot with another in heat 4. Michal Makovsky made the gate but once again Adam McKinna ended up at the back leaving Ksiezak and Dicken to share the points taking the score to 14-10.

Henning Bager suffered an engine failure at the tapes in heat 5 but, fortunately for him, the referee had already called a stop to the race after Ross Brady had moved at the start so he was allowed in the rerun. Bager re-emerged on Michal Makovsky’s bike but once again it was Ross Brady who led from the tapes. He was passed by Tero Aarnio and, with Shane Parker at the back, it looked like a 4-2 to the Bandits. However Bager retired from the race leading to another 3-3. Instead of using Rider Replacement for Franchetti in heat 6, Norbert Magosi came in as a reserve replacement instead to partner Adrian Rymel again. This pair produced another 5-1 with both making good gates, Magosi winning the race from Rymel and Ksiezak, increasing the home side’s lead to eight points. Norbert Magosi was out again in the next race, his fourth ride in seven heats! He and Michal Makovsky were fast away for another 5-1 to the Bandits putting them 12 points ahead with Trent Leverington third. Makovsky was out again in heat eight to take the R/R ride. He won the race by the proverbial country mile but once again Adam McKinna could make no impression as a shaky Brady was followed home by Lee Dicken for another shared race. The 3-3 took the score to 30-18.

In heat 9 Robert Ksiezak took a TR and won the race after being passed then repassing Henning Bager now on Adrian Rymel’s machine. Tero Aarnio finished third so Glasgow won the race 3-6 cutting Berwick’s lead to nine points. It increased to 11 when the Bandits scored a 4-2 in heat 10. Adrian Rymel and Tero Aarnio (R/R) made the start but Trent Leverington passed Aarnio on the second bend for second place and a 4-2. In heat 11 Ross Brady was replaced by Lee Dicken. Shane Parker won the race beating Michal Makovsky while Lee Dicken finished third with Magosi well at the back. Glasgow won the race 2-4 cutting the lead to nine points again. In heat 12 Shane Parker came out as a Tactical Substitute from 15 metres back replacing Josh Grajczonek to partner Robert Ksiezak. He won the race too passing McKinna as early as the first bend and Bager on the second lap. With Trent Leverington second Glasgow scored the big 1-8 to cut the gap to just two points with the score now 40-38.

It was three on the trot for Parker as he was in heat 13 too. He won again but this time there was no support from Robert Ksiezak as Adrian Rymel and Michal Makovsky filled the minor places. The 3-3 kept the Bandits two in front with a vital heat 14 to come. Josh Grajczonek replaced Mitchell Davey as a reserve replacement. Norbert Magosi won the race while Tero Aarnio almost lost control when he reared. He lost ground and ended up in a battle with Lee Dicken for third place behind Josh Grajczonek. The Berwick rider prevailed after Lee Dicken made a mess of the fourth bend on the third lap. Berwick recorded a 4-2 stretching their lead to four points and the scene was set for yet another last heat decider at Berwick. Glasgow won the toss for heat 15 and chose the inside gates but it was Makovsky and Rymel who left Parker and Leverington for dead at the gate to score a 5-1 for an eight point win. At last the Bandits supporters breathed a sigh of relief but it was a good effort from Glasgow to force the last heat decider after trailing by 12 points after heat 8.

Scorers: For Berwick – Michal Makovsky 14+2 (6), Norbert Magosi 14+1 (6), Adrian Rymel 12+2 (5), Tero Aarnio 8+1 (5), Henning Bager 4+1 (4), Adam McKinna 0 (4).

For Glasgow – Shane Parker 15+1 (6) (including a 6 point TS), Robert Ksiezak 9 (4) (with 6 point TR), Trent Leverington 8+1 (5), Lee Dicken 4+3 (5), Ross Brady 4 (3), Josh Grajczonek 4 (4), Mitchell Davey 0 (3).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Friday, 28 March

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Three matches were due to be raced tonight but the weather intervened causing the Premier Trophy match at Scunthorpe between the Scorpions and Redcar to be postponed till Sunday. The other two matches did go ahead. At Edinburgh the Monarchs took on Workington while at Somerset the Rebels raced against Newport both matches in the Premier Trophy.


Premier Trophy: Edinburgh 56, Workington 37


Edinburgh were without Thomas Jonasson who had an injured back so used Rider Replacement at number 3. Workington were at full strength.

On a rain-soaked track at Armadale, Edinburgh won by 19 points cruelly exposing the Comets’ weakness in the tail. In fact Scott Smith, Charles Wright, Joe Haines and John Branney didn’t score a ‘genuine’ point between them, contributing just 5 points to the Workington total. On the other hand they did have the outstanding man of the match in Daniel Nermark who seemed completely unfazed by the conditions to rattle up a brilliant and classy 18 point, five ride maximum. He was the only Comet to beat William Lawson and Andrew Tully.

The opening two heats were strange affairs. In heat 1, Daniel Nermark shot from the tapes to lead the race. Ryan Fisher, in pursuit, lost his seat (the one on the bike) on the fourth bend of the second lap and crashed into the fence, just as Daniel Nermark’s bike gave up the ghost. Scott Smith (the forgotten man of the race), a good distance behind, slid into Fisher as the Edinburgh man tried to get to his feet. The red lights came on immediately before any of the riders had crossed the line to start the third lap with Derek Sneddon now leading the race. The referee, Barbara Horley, correctly excluded Fisher but awarded the race to Nermark from Sneddon and Smith for a Workington 2-4! Then in heat two there was a very poor piece of refereeing. Andrew Tully and Aaron Summers led for an Edinburgh 5-1from the second bend. John Branney fell on the fourth bend of the opening lap and, although, he got to his feet, he couldn’t get the bike off the track and was stranded on the middle of the fourth bend as Tully charged into the third bend on the next lap. He baled out just as the red lights came on, far too late. Again the race was awarded, this time as a 5-1 to the Monarchs. Carl Stonehewer led heat three from the tapes and, with Charles Wright behind him, things looked bright for the visitors. However William Lawson raced past both of them and Derek Sneddon followed two laps later for another home 5-1. Matthew Wethers gated to beat Kauko Nieminen in heat 4 while Aaron Summers passed Craig Branney on the second lap for third and a 4-2 taking the score to 16-8.

Nermark shot off again in heat 5 for an easy win ahead of Fisher and Lawson but a halt was called to the meeting at this point for a ‘5 minute’ regrading of the track to take the top surface off. 30 minutes later heat 6 started. Kauko Nieminen made a fast start to head home Fisher and Lawson but a very fast start by Andrew Tully in heat 7 saw him beat Carl Stonehewer by some distance in the fastest time of the meeting. Matthew Wethers third place produced another 4-2 for a ten point lead. Heat 8 provided a comfortable 5-1 from Sneddon and Summers and Edinburgh were almost out of sight at 31-17.

Heat 9 provided an excellent tussle between Matthew Wethers and Kauko Nieminen as the riders passed and repassed each other. Wethers came out on top while William Lawson made his move a lap later lining up and shooting past the Workington man in some style for another 5-1. Carl Stonehewer made another fine gate in heat 10 but Ryan Fisher made an inside pass on the second lap for a 4-2 to the home side who now led by 20 points. Daniel Nermark took a TR in heat 11 and scored all six points although a determined ride by Andrew Tully kept him on his toes. Workington took a 3-6 from the race but lost another 4-2 in heat 12 which was rerun after Joe Haines came to grief on the first bend. In the rerun Carl Stonehewer was fast away again but William Lawson reeled him in and got up to pass him on the line in what must have been a tight decision. With Summers third the score now stood at 47-28.

Daniel Nermark left them all for dead in heat 13. Ryan Fisher with clutch problems made a dreadful gate to drop out of contention while Matthew Wethers slotted into second place. This gave the visitors a 2-4 advantage but they lost the expected 5-1 in heat 14 to Lawson and Tully. Finally Daniel Nermark completed his maximum. He made another jet-propelled start while William Lawson gave chase but attempting an outside pass on the fourth bend, Lawson overslid to lose ground. Stonehewer finished third from Matthew Wethers so the Comets ended the match as they had started it with a 2-4. It was the in between heats that weren’t so good for them!

Scorers: For Edinburgh – William Lawson 14+1 (6), Andrew Tully 10+1 (4), Matthew Wethers 10+1 (6), Derek Sneddon 9+2 (5), Ryan Fisher 7 (5), Aaron Summers 6+2 (4).

For Workington – Daniel Nermark 18 (5) (with 6 point TR) (maximum), Kauko Nieminen 7 (4), Carl Stonehewer 7 (5), Charles Wright 2 (4), Joe Haines 2 (5), Scott Smith 1 (3), John Branney 0 (4)..



Premier Trophy: Somerset 67, Newport 26


Both teams were at full strength.

Well this was a bit of an annihilation. The two Somerset reserves between them scored only three points less than the entire Newport team. In fact had it not been for Craig Watson’s successful TR in heat 11 they would have equalled them.

In heat 1 the unfortunate Henning Loof was brought crashing down by Paul Clews while third behind Doyle and Watson. The race was awarded but Loof took no further part in the meeting. A comfortable reserves race 5-1 to the Rebels was followed by another maximum heat advantage after Simon Walker came through the field to join Emil Kramer up front. A third easy 5-1 in heat 4 left the crowd in little doubt that it was just a case of how many for Somerset (and how few for Newport!) as the score went to 19-5.

Heat 5 produced an excellent race between Craig Watson and Emil Kramer with the Newport man winning it to stop the rot by sharing the points. Then Truminski led heat 6 until the last bend but Jason Doyle got past him on the run in to the line albeit all out of control after hitting the fence then falling after the finishing line! This resulted in a 4-2 but a fourth 5-1 for the Rebels in heat 7 saw the lead stretched to 20 points. There was another good race in heat 8 won by Stefan Katt but the real action was at the back between Paul Clews and Jordan Frampton. This ended when Frampton lost a chain on the last bend. The 4-2 took the score to 35-13.

Two more 5-1s went Somerset’s way in heats 9 and 10 before Craig Watson took a TR in heat 11. He gated for the full six points, beating Brent Werner in the process, to provide Newport’s solitary heat advantage – a 3-6. It was business as usual in heat 12 as Kramer and Katt rattled up the Rebels’ seventh 5-1 taking the score to 53-22.

Craig Watson briefly led heat 13 but was passed by Jason Doyle for a 4-2 but the Rebels took their 5-1 tally to nine with maximum heat wins in heats 14 and 15. Jason Doyle completed a fine maximum in the process as Somerset recorded their biggest home win ever. Emil Kramer, Simon Walker and Brent Werner were only beaten by Craig Watson who scored more than half of the visitors’ total.

Scorers: For Somerset – Jason Doyle 15 (5) (maximum), Stefan Katt 13+3 (6), Emil Kramer 13+1 (5), Jordan Frampton 10+2 (5), Brent Werner 8+1 (4), Simon Walker 7+4 (4), Henning Loof 1 (1).

For Newport – Craig Watson 14 (5) (with 6 point TR), Tony Atkin 4 (5), Sebastian Truminski 3 (4), Nick Simmons 3 (4), Paul Clews 2 (4), Marek Mroz 0 (4), Jerran Hart 0 (4).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Thursday, 27 March

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Tonight’s matches were at Redcar where the Bears raced Newcastle and at Sheffield where the Tigers took on Stoke both in Premier Trophy matches.



Premier Trophy: Redcar 45, Newcastle 45


Both teams were at full strength.

The Bears made an excellent start with Gary Havelock and Ty Proctor scoring a 5-1 in the opening race. Ben Powell was excluded under the two minute time allowance and was replaced by Sean Stoddart. Since the track had had some surgery altering its length the time of 55.5 became the new track record. Stoddart was out in the reserves race and led from the start. Arlo Bugeja passed him coming out of the second bend to go on and win the race but the Diamonds followed him home for a 3-3. Josef Franc then won heat 3, lowering the track record further to 54.9, while Josh Auty and James Grieves filled the minor places after Jason King fell chasing Grieves. That race was shared too but the Diamonds pulled two points back in heat 4. George Stancl gated to beat Chris Kerr and the 2-4 took the score to 13-11.

The Bears went four in front again thanks to a James Grieves win in heat 5 supported by Josh Auty, who almost caught Christian Henry, in third for a 4-2. In heat 6, George Stancl made another fast start but was passed round the pits bends by Ty Proctor. Stancl fought back and managed to repass Proctor on the line. Gary Havelock, in third, had a good view of the action as the race finished as a 3-3. Newcastle got back to within two points again with a 2-4 in heat 7. Josef Franc won again ahead of Chris Kerr and was supported by Jason King in third but they lost a 5-1 in heat 8 as the impressive Ty Proctor shot from the tapes while Daniel Giffard held off Ben Powell for the maximum which put the Bears six points ahead at 27-21.

Redcar looked like going ten points in front when James Grieves and Josh Auty led George Stancl but, on the third lap, Auty crashed into the fence on the last bend. The race was stopped and awarded as a 3-3 but the Bears scored a 4-2 in heat 10 to go eight in front. George Stancl had lost his unbeaten run in the previous heat and this time it was Josef Franc who did likewise after Gary Havelock had gone to the front on the opening bends. Heat 11 saw the Diamonds storm back into the match with a 1-5 after Chris Kerr had fallen and been excluded from the rerun in which Christian Henry and Ben Powell led Arlo Bugeja home. This cut the home side’s lead to four points and things began to look even more precarious for them when James Grieves withdrew from the rest of the meeting suffering from a chest infection. This meant that Redcar had to track their two reserves in heat 12 against Josef Franc and Jaimie Robertson. They lost a 1-5 and suddenly Newcastle were back on level terms again with the score at 36-36.

Redcar weren’t finished though and replied with a 5-1 from Chris Kerr, who lowered the track record further to 54.8, and Gary Havelock who battled past Stancl for second place to put the Bears four points ahead again. Newcastle responded by winning heat 14 by 1-5 with Jason King and Sean Stoddart heading home Bugeja and Auty. This tied the scores again going into the last heat. All looked well for the home side as Chris Kerr was fast away and had the race under control. Behind him Gary Havelock fought his way through to third place for what looked like a 4-2 but he lost a chain and fell causing the race to be stopped. In the rerun Chris Kerr repeated his performance from the gate for the win and 3-3 which tied the scores.


Scorers: For Redcar – Chris Kerr 10 (5), Gary Havelock 9+2 (5), Ty Proctor 8+1 (4), James Grieves 7+1 (3), Arlo Bugeja 5 (5), Daniel Giffard 3+1 (4), Josh Auty 3 (4).

For Newcastle – Josef Franc 13 (5), George Stancl 10+1 (5), Christian Henry 6 (4), Sean Stoddart 5+1 (5), Jaimie Robertson 4+3 (4), Jason King 4 (4), Ben Powell 3+1 (4).



Premier Trophy: Sheffield 51, Stoke 41.


Both teams were at full strength.

Ricky Ashworth won the opener for the Tigers while Ben Barker had a great race with Joel Parsons to take second place for a 4-2 but the Potters wiped out the home side’s two point advantage and took the lead with a 1-5 in the reserves race won by Barrie Evans and Mark Burrows. It was all square again when Andre Compton beat Lee Complin who forced his way passed Paul Cooper for second place and a 4-2. Ben Wilson won heat 4 from Emiliano Sanchez while Mark Burrows passed Lee Smethills on the third lap to share the race so the score went to 12-12.

Sheffield took a two point lead again with another Andre Compton win this time from Ben Barker who swooped round the outside of Paul Cooper on the last bend for a 4-2 and they added another in heat 6, won by Ashworth from Sanchez with Parsons third, to increase their lead to four points. Back came Stoke with a 2-4 in heat 7 won by Lee Complin from Ben Wilson. Jesper Kristiansen got on the score sheet by taking third place from Sam Martin and there were just two points between the teams again. Heat 8 was a blow for the Potters. Based on previous results they had high hopes of levelling the match with a 2-4 but lost a 5-1 instead when Joel Parsons and Lee Smethills headed home Ben Barker to take the score to 27-21.

Stoke dropped out of contention when they lost another 5-1 in heat 9 scored by Andre Compton and Paul Cooper from Emiliano Sanchez. The Potters were now ten points adrift and it stayed that way after Ricky Ashworth won heat 10 from Lee Complin. In heat 11 Ben Barker took a TR. Ben Wilson won the race but Barker and Jakobsen finished behind him for a 3-5 cutting the Tigers’ lead to eight points. Andre Compton then won heat 12 for a 3-3 taking the score to 41-33.

Ashworth remained unbeaten by winning heat 13 but Sanchez and Jakobsen relegated Wilson to the back for another 3-3. Stoke pulled another two points back with a 2-4 in heat 14. Lee Complin won from Paul Cooper but this success was too little too late as Sheffield were still six points ahead going into the last race in which Compton and Ashworth completed their maximums with Complin third.

Scorers: For Sheffield – Andre Compton 15 (5) (maximum), Ricky Ashworth 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Ben Wilson 8 (4), Paul Cooper 6+1 (4), Joel Parsons 5 (4), Lee Smethills 3+1 (4), Sam Martin 0 (4).

For Stoke – Lee Complin 11 (5), Ben Barker 9 (5) (with 4 point TR), Emiliano Sanchez 7 (4), Mark Burrows 4+2 (4), Jesper Kristiansen 4+1 (4), Barrie Evans 4+1 (4), Klaus Jakobsen 2+2 (4).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Wednesday, 26 March

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Tonight’s matches were at King's Lynn where the Stars raced Rye House and at Birmingham where Mildenhall were the visitors. Both fixtures were Premier Trophy matches.


Premier Trophy: King’s Lynn 61, Rye House 31


Both teams were at full strength.

The Rockets got off to a bright start. Chris Neath beat Tomas Topinka for a shared race then Danny Betson and Robert Mear followed Simon Lambert home in the reserves race for another 3-3. The Rockets’ chances however were killed stone dead in heat 3. Tai Woffinden fell and was withdrawn from the meeting with cuts and muscle damage. To compound things, Tommy Allen didn’t even complete a lap before withdrawing from the race with engine trouble. This gave the Stars a 5-0 and they followed that with a 4-2 won by Simon Lambert from Stefan Ekberg. This took the score to 15-8.

It didn’t get any better for Rye House when Chris Neath was excluded from heat 5 for touching the tapes and was replaced by Robert Mear. Kings’ Lynn banged home an unchallenged 5-1 and they followed it with another in heat 6 from Tacey and Topinka. The Rockets had hopes of a heat advantage in heat 7 when Tommy Allen worked his way to the front on the opening lap. With John Oliver slipping to the back it looked like a 2-4 but Rusty Harrison swept round the outside of Allen on the third lap to win the race and share the points. A Tacey/Lambert 5-1 in heat 8 then took the score to 33-14.

Heat 9 saw Jaimie Smith make a mess of the first bend. He couldn’t recover but Kevin Doolan won the race for a 3-3 then King’s Lynn scored their fifth five pointer in heat 10 through Topinka and Tacey. Chris Neath took a TR in heat 11 and produced the goods by holding off a strong challenge from Rusty Harrison for the full six points. Luke Bowen could offer no support so the result was a 3-6 to Rye House but the Stars hit back with another 5-1 in heat 12 when Doolan and Lambert finished ahead of the Rockets’ reserves taking the score to 49-25.

Chris Neath, in sparkling form (apart from the tape touch) won heat 13 beating Tomas Topinka again. Rusty Harrison took third from Stefan Ekberg so a shared race was the result. An exciting heat 14 ended with Simon Lambert winning from Tommy Allen and Kozza Smith for a 4-2. Lambert had completed a five ride paid maximum so was nominated for heat 15 with the other maximum man, Kevin Doolan. Chris Neath made the gate but was passed by Simon Lambert and Kevin Doolan on the first lap as the Stars finished with another 5-1 to top the 60 point mark.

Scorers: For King’s Lynn – Simon Lambert 16+2 (6) (paid maximum), Kevin Doolan 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Shaun Tacey 9+2 (4), Tomas Topinka 9+1 (4), Rusty Harrison 7+1 (4), Kozza Smith 5+2 (4), John Oliver 1 (3).

For Rye House – Chris Neath 13 (5) (with 6 point TR), Rob Mear 5+3 (7), Tommy Allen 5 (4), Stefan Ekberg 5 (5), Danny Betson 2 (5), Luke Bowen 1 (4), Tai Woffinden 0 (1).



Premier Trophy: Birmingham 60, Mildenhall 33.


Birmingham were at full strength while Mildenhall, still without Robbie Kessler, again used Rider Replacement at number 5. They were also without Shane Colvin so had Jaimie Smith (Reading) as a guest at number 2. Rob Smith was nominated as their number 8.

Mildenhall didn’t exactly get off to a good start. After sharing the opening race they dropped two points behind in the reserves race although Mark Baseby passed Lee Smart for second place. Birmingham then produced two 5-1s increasing their lead to 10 points at 20-10 and it looked like being a long night for the Fen Tigers.

There was some respite for the visitors in heat 5 when Adam Roynon suffered engine failure. Kai Laukkanen and Jaimie Smith shared the points behind Jason Lyons then James Birkinshaw got into the act by winning his first race for the Brummies in heat 6. Kyle Legault was content to follow him home and another 5-1 went the home side’s way. Another comfortable 5-1 for the Brummies followed in heat 7 but the visitors shared heat 8 when Jaimie Smith made a fast start to head home Birkinshaw and Smart taking the score to 33-15.

Birmingham added another 5-1 in heat 9 from Lyons and Roynon but heat 10 was shared. Casper Wortmann was excluded under the two minute time allowance and went from 15 metres back. Kyle Legault won the race but, when James Birkinshaw fell, the Fen Tigers’ pair took the minor places for a shared race. Kai Laukkanen took a TR in heat 11 and won the race by rounding Phil Morris. Hargreaves finished third after Jaimie Smith had fallen so the result was a 3-6 to the visitors. Their joy was short lived. In heat 12 Lee Smart and Jason Lyons gated to another 5-1 taking the score to 49-26.

Kyle Legault fell in heat 13 trying to pass Laukkanen and was excluded from the rerun which was won by Laukkanen from Phil Morris for a 2-4 to the Fen Tigers. The Brummies cancelled that with a 4-2 in heat 14. Adam Roynon won the race while Jack Hargreaves fell and remounted on the second lap. He was rewarded when James Cockle fell on the third lap for Hargreaves to take the third place point. Finally Kai Laukkanen fell on the opening bend of heat 15 leaving Lyons and Legault to sail off for the Brummies seventh 5-1 of the match.

Scorers: For Birmingham – Jason Lyons 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Kyle Legault 10+2 (5), Phil Morris 9+1 (4), Jack Hargreaves 8+1 (4), Adam Roynon 7+2 (4), Lee Smart 7+2 (4), James Birkinshaw 5 (4).

For Mildenhall – Kai Laukkanen 13 (5) (with 6 point TR), Jaimie Smith 6+2 (5), Casper Wortmann 6+1 (6), Jan Gravesen 4 (4), Mark Baseby 2 (5), James Cockle 1 (4), Rob Smith 1 (1).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Monday, 24 March

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Today’s matches were at Rye House where the Rockets raced Mildenhall and at Workington where the Comets took on Berwick. Both were Premier Trophy matches.


Premier Trophy: Rye House 59, Mildenhall 33


Rye House were at full strength but Mildenhall were without Robbie Kessler so used Rider Replacement at number 4. They were also missing Shane Colvin so had Lee Smart as a guest at number 2. Aaron Baseby was nominated as their number 8.

There’s really no hope when you lose the first six heats by 5-1 to trail by 24 points but Mildenhall recovered sufficiently only to lose another two points over the remaining nine races.

There was just no stopping the Rockets over the early heats although James Cockle’s exclusion in the reserves race then Jan Gravesen’s exclusion in heat 3 for causing Tommy Allen to fall didn’t help the Fen Tigers. Lee Smart looked like breaking the run of Rye House maximums in heat 4 but he was passed on the last bend by Robert Mear for the fourth 5-1 taking the score to 20-4.

Kai Laukkanen was at the wrong end of another 5-1 in heat 5 then Mark Baseby was excluded for falling in heat 6 as another maximum went the home side’s way. The tide finally turned in heat 7 when Stefan Ekberg was excluded for causing Jan Gravesen to fall. Gravesen won the rerun from Danny Betson for a 2-4 to the Fen Tigers. Lee Smart then won heat 8 for a shared race but it might have been a 1-5 until James Cockle fell on the third lap while on the maximum with his partner. The score now stood at 35-13.

Mark Baseby fell and was excluded from the rerun of heat 9 which resulted in Rye House’s seventh 5-1 from Woffinden and Allen ahead of the Mildenhall number eight, Aaron Baseby. In heat 10 the visitors responded with a 1-5 from Jan Gravesen and Casper Wortmann from Luke Bowen and Chris Neath. Back came Rye House in heat 11. It looked like it might be another 5-1 when Ekberg and Betson led but Kai Laukkanen got up to pass Betson on the line to limit the damage to a 4-2. Jan Gravesen then took a TR in heat 12. He finished second to Tai Woffinden and with Robert Mear in third the race was shared 4-4 taking the score to 45-21.

Laukkanen split the Ekberg/Neath pairing in heat 13 for a Rockets’ 4-2 then heat 14 was shared. Tommy Allen broke the tapes and went from 15 metres back. James Cockle was the early heat leader but he was passed by Danny Betson for a 3-3. Tai Woffinden fell in the last race leaving Stefan Ekberg to lead home Jan Gravesen and Kai Laukkanen for another shared race.

Scorers: For Rye House– Stefan Ekberg 12 (5), Tai Woffinden 11+1 (5), Luke Bowen 8+1 (4), Danny Betson 8+1 (4), Tommy Allen 7+2 (4), Robert Mear 7+2 (4), Chris Neath 6+1 (4).

For Mildenhall– Jan Gravesen 12 (5) (with 4 point TR), Kai Laukkanen 7+1 (5), Casper Wortmann 6+2 (5), Lee Smart 4 (5), James Cockle 2 (4), Aaron Baseby 1 (2), Mark Baseby 1 (4).



Premier League: Workington 53, Berwick 40.


Workington were at full strength while Berwick, without Guglielmo Franchetti and Manuel Hauzinger, used Rider Replacement at number 5 and Jaimie Robertson as a guest at number 2.

The match was dominated by Workington’s heat leaders and they pulled steadily away with a number of early 4-2s. Nermark and Smith kicked off with the first in heat 1 as Rymel finished second then heats 2 and 3, won by Magosi for Berwick and Stonehewer for Workington after Charles Wright had fallen and been excluded, were shared. Kauko Nieminen won heat 3 after passing Magosi with Scott Smith third for another 4-2 which took the score to 14-10.

Carl Stonehewer beat Rymel in heat 5 with Charles Wright third for Workington’s third 4-2 then Norbert Magosi took second to Daniel Nermark in heat 6 for a fourth. Michal Makovsky won heat 7 for Berwick from Nieminen for a shared race to stop the rot then Norbert Magosi won heat 8 for another share of the spoils. This took the score to 28-20.

Heat 9 was another home 4-2. Carl Stonehewer won for the third time while Tero Aarnio finished second. The Comets were now ten points ahead. Michal Makovsky, having beaten Nieminen in heat 7 now did likewise to Daniel Nermark in heat 10. Makovsky and Aarnio made the gate in this race but Nermark passed Aarnio to limit the damage to a 2-4. If Berwick had played their TR card they could have reduced the deficit to five points instead of eight. As it was they didn’t now have the option of a TR. Adrian Rymel fell and was excluded from the rerun of heat 11. This left Norbert Magosi to go on his own but the Comets took the first 5-1 of the match as Nieminen and Joe Haines headed the Hungarian home. Carl Stonehewer completed his four ride maximum in heat 12 against Magosi and Makovsky and the score now stood at 42-30.

Berwick continued their policy of using Michal Makovsky in heat 13 as Rider Replacement ensuring he has three hard races in four heats at the end of a match. This tactic may well have cost them a point against Workington at Berwick on Saturday when this extravagant use of resources was nullified by a Comets’ 1-5. It failed yet again in this match when Nieminen and Nermark cashed in with another 5-1. Rymel was relegated to third as he was passed by first Nieminen and then Nermark. This stretched the Comets’ lead to 16 points. Finally Berwick played their TR card. They gave it to Tero Aarnio in heat 14 and he duly delivered by winning the race. Even better for the Berwick fans he was followed home by Norbert Magosi after both Berwick riders had made the gate. The big 1-8 was welcomed by the visitors but it was too little too late as the gap was narrowed to just nine points going into the last heat. Aarnio was rewarded with a heat 15 nomination to partner Michal Makovsky but it was Carl Stonehewer, completing a full five ride maximum, who won the race with Kauko Nieminen following him home for a last heat 5-1 to the Comets.

Scorers: For Workington – Carl Stonehewer 15 (5), Kauko Nieminen 13+1 (5), Daniel Nermark 10+1 (4), Joe Haines 6+2 (4), John Branney 4+1 (4), Scott Smith 3+1 (4), Charles Wright 2 (4).

For Berwick – Norbert Magosi 15+1 (7), Tero Aarnio 11 (6) (with 6 point TR), Michal Makovsky 9+2 (6), Adrian Rymel 5 (4), Adam McKinna 0 (3), Jaimie Robertson 0 (4).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008
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Sunday, 23 March
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Four matches were raced today. At Newport the Wasps faced Somerset while at Newcastle the Diamonds took on Redcar both in the Premier Trophy. The other two matches were at Glasgow where the Tigers raced against Edinburgh in the second leg of the Spring Trophy and at Reading where the Racers took on the Isle of Wight in the second leg of the Chalfont Coaches Trophy.


Premier League: Newport 43, Somerset 50


Newport, racing their first home match of the season, introduced newcomers Paul Clews, Marek Mroz and Jerran hart to the side while welcoming the return of Craig Watson. Somerset were at full strength.

The Wasps were never in the hunt in this match and were never likely to be with only five race winners. After losing a 1-5 in the opening heat to Jason Doyle and Simon Walker it was an uphill struggle to reach respectability. Two more 2-4s had them already eight points down although Sebastian Truminski raised their hopes by producing the first Newport race winner in heat 4 which produced a 4-2. The score after four heats stood at 9-15.

Further 2-4 heat advantages to the Rebels in heats 5, 7 and 8 put Somerset out of sight at 18-30 with Jason Doyle and Emil Kramer both unbeaten after eight races.

You would have thought that the Wasps might have used their TR in a heat where neither Doyle not Kramer were out for Somerset, for example in heat 9 when Atkin and Mroz scored a 5-1 over Katt and Werner to pull four points back and cut the deficit to eight but you would have been wrong. Kramer won again in heat 10 which produced another 2-4 after Craig Watson had retired leaving the home side ten points behind again. Truminski took the TR in heat 11 but it was Jason Doyle who continued his winning run although Truminski and Simmons finished second and third for a Newport 5-3 cutting the lead to eight points again. Another Somerset 1-5 in heat 12 from Kramer and Katt finished the Wasps off with the score now at 31-43.

Doyle’s colours were finally lowered in heat 13 when Craig Watson beat him. Truminski’s third place gave the home side a 4-2 then Watson came into heat 14 as a Tactical Substitute from 15 metres back in place of Nick Simmons but it was Tony Atkin who won the race for the Wasps. Stephan Katt took second with Watson third after Jordan Frampton had fallen causing the race to be awarded. This gave Newport a 5-2 while the last race, also won by Watson, resulted in Emil Kramer dropping his only point of the meeting in a shared race.

Scorers: For Newport – Craig Watson 11 (6) (with 2 point TS), Sebastian Truminski 10 (5) (with 4 point TR), Tony Atkin 10 (4), Paul Clews 5 (4), Nick Simmons 4 (4), Marek Mroz 2+1 (4), Jerran Hart 1 (3).

For Somerset– Emil Kramer 14 (5), Jason Doyle 12+1 (5), Stephan Katt 10+1 (5), Simon Walker 4+1 (4), Jordan Frampton 4+1 (4), Brent Werner 3+1 (4), Henning Loof 3 (3).



Premier Trophy: Newcastle 52, Redcar 38


Both teams were at full strength for this local derby match. Newcastle opened up an early lead in this match and Redcar were never able to get within touching distance although there were only six points in it after eleven heats. The Bears main problem was that neither reserve was able to beat an opponent so they were effectively a five man side.

Redcar led 2-4 after Gary Havelock won the rerun of the opening race from Christian Henry but Newcastle responded with a 5-1 in the reserves race despite Sean Stoddart having to start 15 metres back after touching the tapes. This turned the score around with the Diamonds now leading by two points instead. James Grieves, returning to his former stamping ground, won heat 3 for a shared race but Newcastle took a 4-2 in heat 4 when Chris Kerr could only split the Stancl/Stoddart pairing. This took the score to 14-10.

Gary Havelock touched the tapes in heat 5 and was replaced by Arlo Bugeja. Jason King won the race while Ty Proctor took an excellent second place ahead of Josef Franc. This gave the home side another 4-2 while heat 6, won by Chris Kerr who passed Christian Henry, was shared. James Grieves won heat 7 from George Stancl and this time was backed by Josh Auty for a Bears’ 2-4 cutting the difference to four points then Ty Proctor won heat 8 for a 3-3 taking the score to 26-22.

Newcastle increased their lead to six points again with a 4-2 from Franc and King in heat 9 while Christian Henry ended James Grieves’ hopes of a maximum by winning heat 10. Josh Auty took third so the race was shared as was heat 11 won by Stancl from Havelock and Proctor. The Diamonds extended their lead to eight points with another 4-2 in heat 12. James Franc beat James Grieves with Stoddart third taking the score to 40-32.

Christian Henry broke the tapes in heat 13 so had to go from 15 metres back. Stancl won from Kerr and Havelock so the heat was shared. Still eight points down Redcar gave Chris Kerr a tactical substitute ride, replacing Daniel Giffard, from 25 metres back in heat 14. This was not a success as Jason King and Sean Stoddart took a 5-1 to clinch the points for the home side. A 4-2 went to the Diamonds in the last race when Stancl beat Grieves with Henry third.

Scorers: For Newcastle – George Stancl 14 (5), Sean Stoddart 9+1 (6), Josef Franc 9 (4), Jason King 8+1 (4), Christian Henry 8 (5), Ben Powell 2+2 (3), Jaimie Robertson 2+1 (3).

For Redcar – James Grieves 12 (5), Chris Kerr 10 (6), Ty Proctor 7+1 (4), Gary Havelock 6+1 (4), Josh Auty 2+1 (4), Daniel Giffard 1 (4), Arlo Bugeja 0 (4).



Spring Trophy (second leg): Glasgow 41, Edinburgh 49 Edinburgh won the trophy on aggregate by100-79


Glasgow were without Ross Brady and again used Rider Replacement at number 2. Edinburgh were at full strength.

Edinburgh regained the Spring Trophy after completing the double over Glasgow to win on aggregate by 21 points. Although the Monarchs’ early lead was wiped out mid-match they pulled away again in the latter stages to win comfortably.

There was a shock in the opening race. Mitchell Davey (R/R) shot round the first two bends to enter the home straight with Ryan Fisher. Fisher pulled away leaving Davey and Derek Sneddon to contest second place as Shane Parker got caught in the traffic at the back. Sneddon passed Davey down the back straight of the second lap as did Parker on the second bend of the third lap but the Glasgow captain could make no impact on Sneddon who followed Fisher home for a 1-5. Aaron Summers headed the field down the back straight in the reserves race but was passed round the outside of bends 3 and 4 by Josh Grajczonek who went on to win the heat. Andrew Tully was third so the race was shared. Thomas Jonasson won his first race for Edinburgh when he hit the front and pulled away in heat 4. Trent Leverington was content to remain behind with Mitchell Davey covering the gaps to prevent William Lawson from passing either of them. This produced another 3-3 but Edinburgh scored another 1-5 in heat 4. Matthew Wethers gated well to lead Robert Ksiezak. Andrew Tully gave chase and passed Ksiezak on the second bend, second lap to follow his partner home for the maximum taking the score to 8-16. It was interesting to note that both Edinburgh 1-5 successes had been off the inside gates.

In heat 5, Derek Sneddon fell on the first bend and stayed down until the referee stopped the race much to the disgust of the Glasgow fans and referee alike. He was excluded from the rerun won with ease by Ryan Fisher after a brilliant opening two bends which took him round the outside of Mitchell Davey then up the inside of Trent Leverington on the second bend (if you’ll pardon the expression!) . This race was shared but Glasgow pulled two points back in heat 6 when Robert Ksiezak made a fast start with Matthew Wethers in pursuit. Shane Parker got stuck behind this pair and with Wethers challenging Ksiezak all race Parker was unable to improve his position and finished third. The 4-2 cut the lead to six points and Glasgow now had the benefit of the inside gates for the next four heats. They certainly took full advantage in heats 7 and 8 with 5-1s in both. Ksiezak (R/R) and Grajczonek were quickly away from Thomas Jonasson who briefly hampered William Lawson. Grajczonek rode an excellent race to follow Ksiezak home and he was out again in the next race for a similar result. This time it was Trent Leverington (R/R) who led from the start while Josh Grajczonek slotted in behind him. Andrew Tully chased him all race long but couldn’t pass so the maximum not only wiped out the Monarchs lead but put the Tigers two points in front at 25-23. At this stage Josh Grajczonek was still on a paid maximum after three rides.

Trent Leverington won again in heat 9 but there was no joy for Mitchell Davey who trailed home behind Matthew Wethers and Aaron Summers for a shared race. William Lawson made the start in heat 10 to lead Shane Parker home while Josh Grajczonek passed Thomas Jonasson for third and a shared race. Edinburgh were now back on the inside gates and made them work in heat 11 when Derek Sneddon and Ryan Fisher left Robert Ksiezak behind for a 1-5 reversing the two point advantage by putting the Monarchs two ahead. A Trent Leverington win in heat 12 from Jonasson, Tully and Grajczonek resulted in a shared heat which took the score to 35-37.

Another excellent first two bends by Ryan Fisher took him past Robert Ksiezak in heat 13 while Matthew Wethers led Shane Parker out of the second bend for an Edinburgh 2-4 putting them four points ahead. Glasgow were now in the same position as they had been last week in the match against Berwick but this time there was no magic 5-1 from the two young Australians in heat 14. William Lawson stormed to a tapes-to-flag victory and would have been followed home by Andrew Tully had he not shed a chain on the last bend of the third lap. This resulted in a 3-3 which meant a last heat decider. The match was over when Edinburgh won the toss and took the favourable inside gates. Ryan Fisher completed an impeccable paid maximum while Matthew Wethers followed him home for a 1-5 and an eight point victory. Trent Leverington finished third while Shane Parker, off the graveyard gate 4 for the second time in the match, retired on the last lap while at the back. Indeed gate 4, despite providing two winners (Ksiezak and Fisher), produced only 14 points from 15 heats.

Scorers: For Glasgow – Trent Leverington 13+1 (6), Josh Grajczonek 10+3 (6), Robert Ksiezak 10 (5), Mitchell Davey 4+2 (5), Shane Parker 4 (5), Lee Dicken 0 (3).

For Edinburgh – Ryan Fisher 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Matthew Wethers 10+1 (5), William Lawson 7 (4), Andrew Tully 5+3 (5), Derek Sneddon 5+1 (4), Thomas Jonasson 5 (4), Aaron Summers 3+1 (3).



Chalfont Coaches Trophy (second leg): Reading 56, Isle of Wight 36 Reading won the Trophy on aggregate by 103-84.


Reading had Sam Martin (Sheffield) guesting again at number 7 in place of the injured Danny Warwick. The Isle of Wight were at full strength.

After Reading had reduced the Islanders’ 14 point lead in the first leg to a mere one point they were expected to win the Trophy comfortably. So it transpired. With Mark Lemon and Ulrich Ostergaard going through the card unbeaten and Tom P Madsen dropping only one point to the Islanders’ sole race winner, Jason Bunyan, it was one way traffic. The visitors were left to scrap for the minor places and produced 11 second places to prevent an even heavier defeat.

Cory Gathercole looked as if he might get the Islanders off to a winning start but he fell while leading leaving the Racers to take a 4-2. This was the first of four 4-2 race results which put Reading eight points ahead after four races at 16-8.

The visitors held on well over the next four heats. Jason Bunyan and Cory Gathercole followed Ulrich Ostergaard home after Chris Mills had fallen in heat 5 then a Lemon/Suchanek 4-2 put the Racers ten points ahead so the Isle of Wight gave Krzysztof Stojanowski a tactical ride in heat 7. He finished second to Mark Lemon but Paul Fry’s third place gave the visitors a 3-5 advantage cutting the deficit to eight points again. Suchanek won heat 8 for a share of the points so the score stood at 29-21.

Ostergaard and Mills took a 5-1 in heat 9 to stretch the lead to 12 points and it stayed that way after a Lemon win produced a shared heat 10. Then came the Islanders sole success of the night. Jason Bunyan beat Tom P Madsen in heat 11 while Cory Gathercole took third for a 2-4 cutting the gap to 10 points. Ulrich Ostergaard won again in heat 12 for a shared race so the score moved on to 42-32.

It was curtains after that for the visitors as they conceded two 5-1s and a 4-2 over the last three heats to stretch the winning margin to 20 points.

Scorers: For Reading – Mark Lemon 15 (5) (maximum), Ulrich Ostergaard 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Tom P Madsen 10+1 (4), Jaimie Smith 6 (4), Tomas Suchanek 5 (4), Chris Mills 4+1 (1), Sam Martin 2 (4).

For the Isle of Wight – Krzysztof Stojanowski 11 (5) (with 4 point TR), Jason Bunyan 8 (5), Glen Phillips 5 (4), Cory Gathercole 4+1 (4), Paul Fry 4+1 (4), James Holder 3+1 (4), Andrew Bargh 1+1 (4).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008
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Saturday, 22 March
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Three matches were raced today. At Berwick the Bandits faced Workington in a Premier Trophy match. At Stoke the Potters took on Redcar also in the Premier Trophy while on the Isle of Wight the Islanders raced against Reading in the first leg of the Chalfont Coaches Trophy.


Premier Trophy: Berwick 44, Workington 46


Berwick had Jaimie Robertson as a guest for the injured Guglielmo Franchetti and used R/R for the injured Manuel Hauzinger. Workington introduced their new signings Scott Smith and Joe Haines.

The teams exchanged 5-1s in the opening two heats. Daniel Nermark rode a ruthless first two bends against Adrian Rymel and Jaimie Robertson then Scott Smith passed Rymel to join Nermark for a 1-5 to the Comets. It was a different story in the reserves race when Magosi and McKinna jetted to the front for a 5-1 to the Bandits despite a late challenge from John Branney. A fine race between Stonehewer and Makovsky went the Comet’s way for a shared race but the visitors got their noses in front again in heat 4. Norbert Magosi took the R/R ride but it was Kauko Nieminen who shot from the gate to win the race. John Branney passed McKinna so the Comets took a 2-4 taking the score to 11-13.

Daniel Nermark made the start in heat 5 but it was Tero Aarnio who took up the challenge by passing both Scott Smith and Michal Makovsky almost catching the Workington man. The result was a shared race keeping the Comets two points in front however it was all square after heat 6 when Adrian Rymel led Kauko Nieminen home with Jaimie Robertson third for a 4-2. Berwick used Adam McKinna as R/R in heat 7 so went with an all reserve pairing. Again Stonehewer made the gate while Magosi finished second ahead of Charles Wright. This gave the Comets a 2-4 and they were back in front again at 20-22. Jaimie Robertson rode an excellent race to round Scott Smith to win heat 8 but John Branney got the better of Adam McKinna again so the result was a shared race taking the score to 23-25.

It was all square again after heat 9. Michal Makovsky passed Kauko Nieminen on the opening bend while behind him Tero Aarnio battled hard to pass Joe Haines on the last bend giving the Bandits a 4-2. Carl Stonehewer made the gate in heat 10 but this time Adrian Rymel roared round the outside on the opening two bends to lead down the back straight and head off for a comfortable win. With Jaimie Robertson retiring from the race the points were shared and the two sides remained on level terms. Berwick chose to go with Tero Aarnio as R/R in heat 11 but this was not a success as Workington gated for a 1-5 from Nermark and Smith to take a four point lead at this crucial stage in the match. Berwick were not about to cave in though and replied with a 5-1 from Michal Makovsky and Norbert Magosi, replacing Adam McKinna, ahead of Carl Stonehewer to level the score which now stood at 36-36.

Michal Makovsky took the R/R ride in heat 13 to join Adrian Rymel against the unbeaten Nermark but it was the Comets’ pair who gated to another 1-5 leaving the Bandits trailing by four points once more. Back came Berwick though with a 4-2 from Norbert Magosi and Tero Aarnio split by Charles Wright to leave the home side trailing by two points going into the last heat decider. It was not to be for the Bandits though as Daniel Nermark won the race completing his paid maximum while Makovsky and Rymel finished in the minor places for a shared race.

Scorers: For Berwick – Norbert Magosi 13+1 (6), Michal Makovsky 12+1 (5), Adrian Rymel 8+1 (5), Tero Aarnio 5+1 (5), Jaimie Robertson 4 (4), Adam McKinna 2+1 (4).

For Workington – Daniel Nermark 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Kauko Nieminen 10 (5), Carl Stonehewer 9 (4), Scott Smith 6+2 (4), Charles Wright 4+1 (4), John Branney 3+1 (5), Joe Haines 0 (3).



Premier Trophy: Stoke 49, Redcar 41


Stoke were without Klaus Jakobsen and used Rider Replacement at number 1. Redcar riding their first match of the season introduced newcomer Ty Proctor.

Gary Havelock got the Bears off to a winning start, beating Ben Barker, while Ty Proctor took third for a 2-4. Mark Burrows was the reserves race winner but the Redcar pair of Giffard and Bugeja finished behind him for a shared heat. The Potters levelled the scores with a 4-2 in heat 3 when Lee Complin defeated James Grieves while Claus Kristensen took third from Josh Auty. However Redcar were back in front again with a 1-5 in heat 4 which was won by Chris Kerr with Daniel Giffard passing Mark Burrows for second. The score now stood at 10-14

The Bears stretched their lead to six points after a great race between Lee Complin and Gary Havelock won by the Redcar skipper. Ty Proctor took third for a 2-4 to the visitors then heat 6, won by Lee Complin, resulted in a shared race. The Potters pulled back two points with a 4-2 in heat 7 when the hitherto pointless Barrie Evans won the race from Josh Auty while Emiliano Sanchez relegated James Grieves to the back. The home side then shaved another two points from Redcar’s lead with another 4-2 in heat 8 when Ben Barker won from Ty Proctor and Mark Burrows picked up third place. This took the score to 23-25.

Heat 9 won by Lee Complin was shared as was heat 10 won by James Grieves then, in heat 11 Gary Havelock fell and was excluded from the rerun. Ty Proctor was excluded from the rerun for touching the tapes so Daniel Giffard came into the heat as the lone Bear as reserve replacement. Sanchez and Evans made no mistake in the second rerun with a 5-1 which wiped out Redcar’s lead and put the Potters two points ahead. James Grieves won heat 12 but with Bugeja finishing last behind Burrows and Kristiansen it was only good enough for a shared race taking the score to 37-35.

It was some time before the rest of the match took place. First of all the lights failed then, when they were sorted and racing was due to resume, the ambulance was called away and they had to wait for another. Eventually the last three heats were raced. Emiliano Sanchez registered his first win beating Gary Havelock in the process. With Ben Barker taking third place as Chris Kerr fell the 4-2 increased the Potters’ lead to four points. They wrapped the win up with a 5-1 from Complin and Evans in heat 14 for an eight point lead. In the last heat Chris Kerr was excluded under the two minute time allowance rule but elected to start from 15 metres back. Finally a very long evening was brought to a conclusion with a shared race won by James Grieves from Barker and Complin.

Scorers: For Stoke – Lee Complin 15+1 (6), Ben Barker 9+1 (6), Emiliano Sanchez 9 (5), Barrie Evans 7+2 (5) Mark Burrows 7 (4).

For Redcar – James Grieves 11 (5), Gary Havelock 8 (4), Chris Kerr 7 (5), Daniel Giffard 5+1 (5), Ty Proctor 4 (4), Arlo Bugeja 3+3 (4), Josh Auty 3 (4).



Chalfont Coaches Trophy (first leg): Isle of Wight 48, Reading 47


The Isle of Wight introduced newcomers Paul Fry and James Holder in this their first home match of the season. Reading had Sam Martin (Sheffield) as a guest reserve in place of the injured Danny Warwick.

The Racers drew first blood when Mark Lemon gated from Jason Bunyan. Tomas Suchanek took third as Cory Gathercole’s bike began to slow on the approach to the line so the visitors opened with a 2-4. Reading’s guest reserve, Sam Martin, won heat 2 for a shared race and Ulrich Ostergaard did likewise in heat 3. The Islanders were back on level terms again after heat 4 when Glen Phillips won the race from Tom P Madsen with support in third from James Holder for a 4-2 taking the score to 12-12.

Heat 5 was won by Mark Lemon again for a 3-3 but the Islanders finally took the lead in heat 6 with a 5-1 from Cory Gathercole and Jason Bunyan for a four point advantage. They increased it to six points in heat 7 as Ulrich Ostergaard had an engine failure while leading the race. This allowed Glen Phillips through for the win while Chris Mills passed James Holder on the last bend to limit the damage to a 4-2. The home side continued their run of success with another 5-1 in heat 8 thanks to Cory Gathercole and David Bargh from Tomas Suchanek putting them ten points ahead at 29-19.

The Islanders forged further ahead with another 5-1 in heat 9 this time from Krzysztof Stojanowski and Paul Fry against the weak Reading third pairing. They now led by 14 points but Reading responded with a 2-4 in heat 10 when Ulrich Ostergaard passed Jason Bunyan to win the race. Cory Gathercole fell leaving Chris Mills to pick up the third place point. Mark Lemon took a TR in heat 11 but it was Glen Phillips who won the race. Lemon was second with Suchanek third so the Racers won the race 3-5 to pull another two points back. Ulrich Ostergaard won heat 12 from Stojanowski and Jaimie Smith for yet another 2-4 to chip another two points from the Islanders’ lead taking the score to 41-33.

Glen Phillips scored his fourth win of the match in heat 13 beating Mark Lemon. Jason Bunyan took third so the Islanders took another 4-2 to restore their ten point lead. In heat 14 Ulrich Ostergaard took a Tactical Substitute ride from 15 metres back replacing Sam Martin. He delivered the goods too! By the second lap he had already passed James Holder and Chris Mills. He then chased down and passed Paul Fry on the third bend, third lap to go on and win the race. Chris Mills was third so the Racers scored a 2-7 from the race to cut the home side’s lead to five points. Heat 15 was a disaster for the Islanders. Glen Phillips failed to complete his maximum and only scored a point after Jason Bunyan’s bike gave up the ghost on the second lap when he lay second. This left Lemon and Ostergaard to pick up a 1-5 leaving the Islanders with a one point victory for their efforts.

Scorers: For the Isle of Wight – Glen Phillips 13 (5), Krzysztof Stojanowski 8+1 (4), Paul Fry 7+2 (4), Jason Bunyan 7+1 (5), Cory Gathercole 6 (4), Andrew Bargh 4+1 (4), James Holder 3+1 (5).

For Reading – Ulrich Ostergaard 17+1 (6) (with 6 point TS), Mark Lemon 15 (5) (with 4 point TR), Chris Mills 4 (4), Tomas Suchanek 3+1 (4), Sam Martin 3 (3), Tom P Madsen 3 (4), Jaimie Smith 2 (4).

Around the Premier League Tracks 2008

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Friday, 21 March

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The Good Friday programme was hit by two call-offs when the Premier Trophy match, due to take place between King’s Lynn and Birmingham, was declared victim to a waterlogged track as was the return match between the same two sides at Birmingham. Nonetheless three other matches were raced. At Edinburgh the Monarchs faced Berwick while at Scunthorpe the Scorpions took on Sheffield both in Premier Trophy matches. The other match was the second leg of a Challenge Match at Somerset where the Rebels had Reading as their visitors.


Premier Trophy: Edinburgh 56, Berwick 35


Edinburgh were at full strength for this match as were Berwick who had Manuel Hauzinger in the side (briefly) having supposedly recovered from his broken collar bone.

Berwick gave a much better account of themselves than the scoreline suggests particularly when they were down to just five men by heat 4. In the opening heat Derek Sneddon and Ryan Fisher looked set to open with a 5-1 when Adrian Rymel and Guglielmo Franchetti crashed into the second bend fence. It was end of the action for the unfortunate Italian who was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collar bone. Rymel gated to win the rerun for a shared race. The Berwick reserves shot from the tapes to lead out of the second bend in heat 2 but by the time the riders reached the third bend both had been passed by Andrew Tully and Aaron Summers in brilliant style. However Tully spoiled the effect by sliding off on the third bend. Summers went on to win the race for another 3-3 but the Monarchs hit the front in heat 3. William Lawson, whose times were over a second faster than anyone else all night, won by a distance from Michal Makovsky with Thomas Jonasson third for a 4-2 and two point lead. Then we had the sad case of Manuel Hauzinger. What do you make of a rider who, in his first ride, leaves the tapes and withdraws from the heat before even turning into the first bend then withdraws from the meeting with a sore shoulder? Matthew Wethers and Andrew Tully cashed in with a 5-1 which took the score to 15-9.

Down to just five men, the Bandits gave it their best shot. William Lawson left Adrian Rymel well behind in winning heat 5 for a 4-2 but a lightning gate and excellent ride from Norbert Magosi in heat 6 was enough to see off Sneddon and Fisher for a shared race. Aaron Summers rode an excellent race in heat 7 to head home an ever-pressing Michal Makovsky for a home 4-2 then Norbert Magosi replaced Guglielmo Franchetti in heat 8 and took a TR at the same time. He jetted from the gate again chased by Sneddon and Tully. Tully dived under him on the third bend just as Magosi tried to close the door and the Berwick rider fell with no apparent contact between the riders. Tully was rather harshly excluded but in the rerun Derek Sneddon made sure that Magosi wasn’t going to leave him trailing at the gate again by making a fast start ahead of him. Andrew McKinna then came to life with a stunning outside pass of the Hungarian to take second but cost his side a point as Magosi’s tactical ride produced only two points instead of four. Berwick took a 3-4 from the race and the score stood at 29-20.

Edinburgh then pulled away with two comfortable 5-1s increasing their lead to 17 points but a fine tapes-to-flag win from Adrian Rymel shared heat 11. Heat 12 was rerun after Magosi and Jonasson came off on the second bend. Magosi was fortunate not to be excluded but the rerun produced a stunning effort from Andrew Tully. Michal Makovsky made the gate and looked to have the race under control but he was stalked on all four laps by Tully who finally caught him in the run in to the line to get the verdict. This gave the Monarchs another 4-2 taking the score to 46-27.

Determined rides by Ryan Fisher and Matthew Wethers made sure that Rymel’s good start in heat 13 was not going to produce another win for the Berwick captain. The 5-1 put Edinburgh 23 points ahead. William Lawson had looked a racing cert for a maximum but in heat 14 his ignition box failed at the gate and his bike didn’t leave the start. Adam McKinna and Tero Aarnio took advantage of a poor gate by Aaron Summers to race off for a 1-5 to give Berwick some crumbs of consolation. In fact McKinna had improved all night and looked fast and assured taking the heat win. Ryan Fisher and Matthew Wethers stormed off in heat 15 to lead the Berwick pair but Rymel fell on the third bend while at the back and the race was rerun without him. Fisher again made a determined start and held off Makovsky to win the race with Wethers third for a final 4-2 to the home side.

Scorers: For Edinburgh – Ryan Fisher 11+2 (5), Derek Sneddon 9+1 (4), Matthew Wethers 9+1 (5), William Lawson 9 (4), Aaron Summers 8+1 (4), Thomas Jonasson 5+1 (4), Andrew Tully 5+1 (4).

For Berwick – Adrian Rymel 9 (5), Michal Makovsky 9 (5), Adam McKinna 8+1 (7), Norbert Magosi 7+1 (7), Tero Aarnio 2+1 (4), Guglielmo Franchetti 0 (1), Manuel Hauzinger 0 (1).



Premier Trophy: Scunthorpe 41, Sheffield 48

Both teams were at full strength fielding the same sides as last night at Owlerton although Andre Compton and Ricky Ashworth swapped places with Compton moving to number 1 and Ashworth to number 3.

The Scorpions made a disappointing home start to their Premier Trophy campaign losing to Sheffield by seven points. They led briefly through heats two to four but Sheffield pulled away in heat 8 and never looked back. The home side’s problem was a lack of race winners managing only four over the 15 races.

Sheffield opened with a 2-4 in a race won by Joel Parsons from Andrew Moore and Andre Compton but the Scorpions took a 5-1 from the reserves race after Benji Compton had got up on the line to pass Lee Smethills and follow his partner, Byron Bekker, home. Two shared heats followed won by Ricky Ashworth and Richard Hall to give the Scorpions a two point advantage at 13-11.

Sheffield turned the score around with a 1-5 in heat 5 as Parsons and Compton led Magnus Karlsson home but the home side squared the match again in heat 6 after Wilkinson fended off the challenge of Ben Wilson for a 4-2. Richard Hall won again in heat 7 holding off the challenge of Paul Cooper for a 3-3 but Sheffield struck with another 1-5 in heat 8. Joel Parsons and Lee Smethills gated ahead of Carl Wilkinson and that was that. The score was now 22-26.

A Sheffield rider won every one of the last seven races giving the Scorpions no chance of pulling back the deficit. Ben Wilson started with a win over Magnus Karlsson in heat 9 then Ricky Ashworth did likewise in heat 10 both for shared races. There were only two finishers to heat 11. With Sheffield on a 1-5 Richard Hall fell and was excluded from the rerun in which Joel Parsons suffered an engine failure for a 2-3. Ricky Ashworth then had a comfortable win from Karlsson and Compton in heat 12 taking the score to 33-38.

Andre Compton led home Moore and Hall in heat 13 and Paul Cooper repeated this in heat 14 with a win from Bekker and Bergstrom in heat 14. Both races were shared but the visitors finished with a 2-4 in the last race as Andre Compton scored his third race win on the trot and Ricky Ashworth finished third behind Richard Hall.

Scorers: For Scunthorpe – Richard Hall 9+1 (5), Byron Bekker 7 (4), Magnus Karlsson 7 (5), Andrew Moore 6+1 (4), Carl Wilkinson 6 (4), Viktor Bergstrom 3+3 (4), Benji Compton 3+2 (4).

For Sheffield – Andre Compton 12+1 (5), Ricky Ashworth 11+1 (5), Joel Parsons 9 (4), Ben Wilson 7 (4), Paul Cooper 5 (4), Lee Smethills 4+2 (4), Sam Martin 0 (4).



Challenge Match (second leg) : Somerset 52, Reading 41 Reading won on aggregate by 95-89


Somerset opened their home campaign at full strength but Reading were without the injured Danny Warwick and had Robert Mear (Rye House) as a guest at reserve.

The Rebels had a 17 point deficit to overcome from the first leg of this Challenge match at Reading last Monday where they lost 37-54. They were on course when they led by ten points after heat 6 but a massive 1-8 for the Racers in heat 8 left them with too much to do.

Jason Doyle got his Somerset career off to the perfect start by winning heat 1 from Mark Lemon in a shared race then the Rebels rocketed into a four point lead with a 5-1 in the reserves race after Jaimie Smith had packed up on the first bend. Simon Walker retired in heat 3 so Emil Kramer’s win was only good enough to share the race. Tom P Madsen made a good start to heat 4 but Brent Werner rode round him on the third bend to take the lead. This gave the Rebels a 4-2 stretching their lead to 15-9.

The tapes then packed up and after a lengthy delay the meeting was restarted by using elastic at the start line. This seemed to suit the Rebels who scored a 5-1 when Walker and Kramer beat Mark Lemon for a ten point lead. Jason Doyle won again to keep it that way but Ulrich Ostergaard took a TR in heat 7 and gated well with Chris Mills. Despite a massive race-long attempt by Jordan Frampton to pass the pair of them the Racers’ pair held on for the big 1-8 which cut the lead to only three points. Stephan Katt passed Tomas Suchanek going into the last lap for a 3-3 which prevented the Racers from making further inroads to the deficit. This took the score to 27-24.

The two teams exchanged 4-2s in the next two heats then Mark Lemon finally won a race in heat 11 for a 3-3 which kept the lead at three points. Time was running out for Somerset to claw the 17 points back but in heat 12 it looked as though they might take a 5-1 when Katt and Kramer led Ostergaard. However the Reading man passed Kramer and managed to hold him off to restrict the damage to a 4-2 taking the score to 40-35.

Brent Werner made a fast start to win heat 13 while Mark Lemon kept Jason Doyle in third place for another 4-2. Simon Walker and Jordan Frampton then sealed victory on the night for the Rebels by taking a 5-1 in heat 14 before Brent Werner finished the proceedings with a heat 15 win in an exciting race with Lemon and Ostergaard as Doyle retired at the back.

Scorers: For Somerset – Brent Werner 10+1 (5), Stephan Katt 10 (5), Emil Kramer 9+1 (4), Jason Doyle 9 (5), Jordan Frampton 7+2 (4), Simon Walker 7 (4), Henning Loof 0 (4).

For Reading – Ulrich Ostergaard 14+1 (5) (with 6 point TR), Mark Lemon 10 (5), Tom P Madsen 5+1 (4), Chris Mills 4+2 (4), Tomas Suchanek 3+1 (4), Jaimie Smith 3+1 (4), Rob Mear 2 (4).