Sheffield Speedway Match Reports 2006

There had been some rain at Owlerton, but nothing compared to other parts of the city and it was very lucky that we got the meeting on at all. No parade, straight down to the action. Ben Wilson made a sweet start to heat one and Ricky Ashworth rounded Henrik Moller to join him at the front. Theo Pijper took a full two laps to weigh up the track and then suddenly moved up a gear, taking Moller on lap three and very nearly catching Ricky napping. Benji couldn't get his bike to run for heat 2 and with one minute remaining big brother rushed his own bike out onto the track. I laughingly said to my Dad, "I bet he's warning him not to bend it!". Cooperman, back on his best engine made a beautiful start and sped away into the lead, but all eyes were on Benji at the back of the field but attacking the track with a vengeance. He switched back and sped past Derek Sneddon exiting turn two on the third lap, but carried just too much momentum into the third bend and overslid. Derek passed him OK but Sean Stoddart laid down and his bike hit the prostrate bike and rider. It all looked innocuous, but Benji emerged with a gashed thumb and was out of the meeting. Emiliano Sanchez found himself the meat in a Monarchs sandwich on the first corner of heat 3, but he stuck to his line and had second place consolidated by the end of the first lap, following Kyle Legault home for a big 5-1. Paul Cooper trapped again to lead heat 4, looking much better on his best engine. Rusty Harrison had other ideas and passed Paul on the inside exiting turn two on the second lap. Paul went high looking for drive and was able to return the compliment in the same spot on the next lap to retake the lead. André had made up ground to pass Derek Sneddon and was all over Rusty's rear wheel but it looked like finishing as a 4-2, until Paul picked up unexpected drive exiting the last turn and threw his bike into the fence! After a short delay while the fence was repaired the action continued with Theo Pijper taking a good win from Kyle and Emiliano.

Ricky won heat 6 at a canter, but Rusty Harrison closed in on and then passed Ben Wilson round the second turn on the last lap. Paul was back on his spare machine for heat 7, and try as he might he couldn't keep pace with the Monarch's second-strings. Theo won heat 8 comfortably from Ben, and Derek finished third ahead of the struggling Paul who took the injured Benji Compton's ride. Rusty won heat 9 from Kyle and Emiliano, and Ricky won heat 10. Ben Wilson seemed content with third place making no attempt to catch William Lawson, but Matthew Wethers was obviously hungrier and he powered through into third place on the third lap.

André dominated heat 11, winning from Theo and Henrik Moller earned a point ahead of the pedestrian Paul. Paul was out again in heat 12 deputizing for Benji, and while Emiliano took an easy win from Derek, Paul used every inch of the track trying to get the better of Matthew, but to no avail. Henrik made a lightning start and led heat 13, briefly. Ricky went around him on the second turn and in doing so nearly stuffed his own skipper into the fence! André had little option but to shut off and found himself stone-dead last. Don't ask me how he managed it but he came from nowhere to blast around Rusty out of the pits turn and then picked off Henrik on the second lap to follow Ricky home for the 5-1. With the lead extended to 10 points for the first time it was no surprise to see William in the black & white in heat 14. He led too, until Kyle relegated him with a lovely first turn on the second lap. Theo was the first to show in heat 15 although Ricky wasted little time before rounding him into the third turn on the first lap. André passed Rusty wide out of the last turn and then set off in pursuit of Theo, who he passed by diving through on the inside of the first turn on the third lap.

The Monarchs attacked the track and were rewarded for it, unlike some visitors we've had already this season. Ricky carded a paid maximum, Ben looked somewhat subdued, Emiliano's 7 (paid 10) is his best home score so far this season and I see no reason to doubt he will improve on it before long. (I don't know where Malcolm has been standing but I've only heard good things said about Potty!) Kyle picked up a good solid 10 points, and André's only reversal was in his first race after Benji had modified his bike for him when he dropped it in heat 2. Paul was flying and had re-passed Rusty Harrison before he crashed in heat 4. After that he was back off the pace as his spare machine is just not up to Owlerton. His best engine, just returned from Sean Wilson, managed just one finish and is now scrap. Benji gashed his thumb when he fell in heat 2 and couldn't grip the throttle, but hopefully will be recovered sufficiently to ride at Loomer Road on Saturday.

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