Sheffield Speedway Match Reports 2005

Key:   + = from 15m handicap    * = Tactical ride for double points    ! = Golden Double Tactical Substitute from 15m
Sheffield PIRTEK 'Tigers' v Workington Thomas Armstrong 'Comets' Premier Trophy 28th April
Rider010203040506070809101112131415Tot+Bp
Sean Wilson © 9.46 3 2 3 2 1' 11+1
Ben Wilson 4.96 1 0 2 2' 5+1
Richard Hall 5.38 2' 2 1 3 8+1
Ricky Ashworth 8.31 3 1' 3 2 9+1
André Compton 8.70 3 3 3 1' 2 12+1
Paul Cooper 3.00 2 2' 1' 1 0 6+2
Jan Jaros (G) (4.00) 0 1 - 1 2
Reg Wilson 4 2 5 4 3 2 5 3 4 5 4 4 3 2 3  
PIRTEK 'Tigers' (42) 4 6 11 15 18 20 25 28 32 37 41 45 48 50 53 95
Workington 'Comets' (55)  2 6 7 9 12 16 17 20 22 23 25 29 32 36 39 94
Graham Drury 2 4 1 2 3 4 1 3 2 1 2 4 3 4 3
Carl Stonehewer © 9.56 2 3 *0 3 3 11
Kevin Little 5.76 0 0 0 - 0
Scott Robson 6.84 1 1 - 0 2
Kauko Nieminen 6.83 ef 0 0 1 1
Shaun Tacey 7.01 2 3 2 0 0 7
James Birkinshaw (G) (5.61) 3 1 3 - 1 2 *4 3 17
Danny Norton 3.00 1 0 - 0 x2 1
Heat
times
01020304050607 0809101112131415
61.262.262.462.662.5 62.361.462.463.063.0 60.562.461.862.762.3

The track looked in good condition once again, but just like last week it transpired to be fast rather than grippy and the quality of racing was compromised. Sean won heat 1, in the fastest time of the season, from Stoney who shook off the attentions of Ben with Kevin Little a long way behind and riding very erratically. Guest Jan Jaros went very well for Hull on the opening night but was way off the pace in heat 2 which was won by Birko ahead of Paul Cooper. Danny Norton managed to avoid the fence to collect his solitary point. Ricky and Richard took a maximum in heat 3 ahead of a pedestrian Scott Robson after Kauko Nieminen dropped a chain at the start. After a poor start André powered high and wide around both Danny and Jan on the first lap of heat 4, and then passed Shaun Tacey on the same pits bend at the end of lap 2. Stoney gated to win heat 5 with Richard Hall unable to make any impression around the outside.

Shaun Tacey trapped ahead of Sean in heat 6 and that's the way they crossed the finish line with Birko easily out pacing Ben, but André wasted little time in passing Scott to join Paul for another maximum in heat 7. Graham Drury put Birko in place of Danny Norton and he duly won heat 8 with Kevin Little completing his embarrasment for the evening. Ricky trapped to take heat 9 from Shaun and Richard, and Ben sparkled to follow his skipper home ahead of Birko in heat 10.

In heat 11 Stoney displayed what a gating tart he's become. André sped into the lead ahead of the overworked Birko and Paul exited the second turn in third place. Stoney, wearing the black & white helmet colour, was on double points but he was content to follow right on Paul's back wheel for a couple of laps before losing interest when it became evident that Paul was going to defend the inside line. I bet that impressed Graham Drury! Birko was given a tactical ride in heat 12 but Richard Hall rode a perfect line which even Birko couldn't better and the Tigers were three points ahead on aggregate with three heats remaining. The gating tart trapped to win heat 13 but Shaun Tacey was trailed off at the back and the aggregate lead didn't change. Birko was earmarked for heat 14 but had some mechanical hiatus in the pits so Graham Drury bought him some extra time by sending Danny Norton out to earn himself an exclusion for exeeding the time allowance. It worked and Birko dived under Paul on the third turn making such a big hole that Kauko followed him through. Birko wasn't finished though and he blasted around Ricky Ashworth to claim the win and narrow the aggregate margin to just one point. Thankfully that completed Birko's rides for the evening, and although the tart gated to win heat 15 the home pair comfortably shared the heat ahead of Shaun Tacey to claim all three points.

The aggregate point maintained interest in a curiously humdrum meeting. Good to see Kyle in attendance although I hope he doesn't attempt to ride in his U21 qualifier in three weeks time! I hate to think what damage might entail...

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