Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs 45 : Reading Racers 44

Edinburgh opened their Premier league campaign with a very narrow win after a stirring late fightback when all seemed lost. Reading dominated the early heats and even after Edinburgh came back into contention with a couple of 5-1 heats, the Racers seemed to have the match within their grasp until a dramatic last two heats. Reading probably deserved something from this match through solid scoring all down the line.

This match had the lot close action, passing, crashes, controversial decisions and was a great advert for Premier League speedway.

Edinburgh were at full strength while Reading used Frank Smart as guest for the injured Lee Richardson.

The track seemed very slick on the inside but with quite a lot of dirt out really wide where no-one usually ventured. The weather was dry at the start although rain started falling after Heat 10 and the track was very slippery for the last five heats.

The conditions may well have convinced McKinna to go for gates 2 and 4 in the first heat after winning the toss.

Heat 1: Dave Mullett, Robert Larsen, Peter Carr, Justin Elkins [56.6]

Peter Carr made one of the worst starts I have ever seen in speedway as Dave Mullett edged ahead of Larsen on the back straight. The referee called it an unsatisfactory start and called all four back. The same happened again with Carr way behind Elkins in last place. Mullett easily beat off a challenge from Larsen to equal the fastest time of the season. By accident or design, Larsen held back Elkins to allow Carr to make up the lost ground. Carr finally managed to force his way inside Elkins on the last lap.

(3-3) (3-3)

Heat 2: Blair Scott, Krister Marsh, Lee Driver [awarded]

Blair Scott and Barry Campbell swept ahead of Marsh at the gate. Campbell looked comfortable until he went too wide on the exit from the fourth bend allowing Marsh to slip inside him going into the last lap. Campbell tried to get back but went far two wide on the second bend and fell collecting Driver. The race was stopped and awarded.

(3-3) (6-6)

Heat 3: Petri Kokko, Kevin Little, Phil Morris, Paul Gould [58.8]

A fast start from Kokko ensured him a win over Kevin Little while Phil Morris headed Gould.

(2-4) (8-10)

Heat 4: Kenny McKinna, Frank Smart, Lee Driver, Barry Campbell [57.8]

Frank Smart was first away with McKinna making a powerful sweep from gate 4. Smart appeared to move across the block McKinna and brought him down. Kenny needed a medical inspection before continuing. The referee called all four back. McKinna gated and held on despite being in some pain. Barry Campbell was beaten away by Lee Driver and made no impression.

(3-3) (11-3)

Heat 5: Dave Mullett, Kevin Little, Justin Elkins

Mullett gated won with ease while Paul Gould was caught on the line by Elkins for a second Reading heat advantage.

(2-4) (13-17)

Heat 6: Frank Smart, Peter Carr, Krister Marsh, Robert Larsen [88.3]

Carr made another horrendous start and was again way behind. He managed to pass Marsh but you cannot give an rider of the calibre of Smart that sort of lead and expect to get anywhere near. To add to Monarchs' misery, Marsh passed Larsen for another heat advantage.

(2-4) (15-21)

Heat 7: Phil Morris, Kenny McKinna, Blair Scott, Petri Kokko [59.5]

Morris gated and despite looking uncomfortable at times was able to stay ahead of the toiling McKinna. Surprisingly, Kokko remained at the back.

(3-3) (18-24)

Heat 8: Robert Larsen, Blair Scott, Justin Elkins, Lee Driver [59.4]

Edinburgh replaced the struggling Campbell with Blair Scott in a reserve change. This turned out to be masterstroke as Larsen and Scott won a maximum.

(5-1) (23-25)

Heat 9: Frank Smart, Paul Gould, Kevin Little, Krister Marsh [59.1]

Frank Smart won again with ease with Kevin Little looking very slow but just staying ahead of Driver.

(3-3) (26-28)

Heat 10: Robert Larsen, Peter Carr, Petri Kokko [58.9]

Larsen made a fast gate although Carr was last to the first bend yet again. Carr then produced a stunning manoeuvre and went between Kokko and Morris on the first lap to join Larsen for a maximum to put Monarchs in the lead for the first time.

(5-1) (31-29)

Heat 11: Dave Mullett, Justin Elkins, Blair Scott [60.1]

Just when Monarchs seemed to get back in control it all went wrong again. As the rain started Kenny McKinna suffered an engine failure on the line. Blair Scott made an outside charge from gate 4 and appeared to be taking second place behind Mullett when Elkins nearly lost it on the fourth bend and Blair had to go wide to avoid contact and was never able to get back into contention.

(1-5) (32-34)

Heat 12: Krister Marsh, Kevin Little [62.2]

This looked like a Monarchs 5-1 as Little and Campbell gated while Kokko was left on the line with a engine failure. Campbell, who was well ahead of Marsh, fell on the fourth bend and was so slow getting up that the race ought to have been stopped. He managed to wheel his bike onto the centre green just as Little and Marsh came round. Marsh pursued Little and amazingly managed to pass on the back straight of the last lap as the rain poured down.

(2-3) (34-37)

Heat 13: Peter Carr, Frank Smart, Dave Mullett, Kenny McKinna [60.2]

Carr finally managed a start and was followed by Smart and McKinna. McKinna did not look comfortable and was finally passed on the line by Mullett.

(3-3) (37-40)

Heat 14: Paul Gould, Blair Scott, Phil Morris [awarded]

Reading replaced Lee Driver by the in-form Krister Marsh as a reserve change for this crucial heat. Gould and Scott gated and were well ahead of Morris on the second lap when Marsh fell at the back and stayed down. Gould and Scott came into their third lap when the race was stopped. This is a familiar scenario in Edinburgh-Reading clashes. Graham Reeve was having none of it and used his discretion to award the race.

(5-1) (42-41)

Reading predictably went with Mullett and Smart. Edinburgh surprisingly opted for Larsen to partner Carr in preference to Kevin Little and Blair Scott. This turned out to be a tactical masterstroke. Carr gated from the inside trap and Larsen swept round to join him. Larsen held off Mullett for two laps re-passing on one occasion. By the time Mullett did manage to pass Carr was 'outasight' and an improbable victory ensured.

(3-3) (45-44)

All the Edinburgh heat leaders had problems. Carr couldn't get out of the gate (until his last two rides). McKinna was clearly suffering from his tangle with Smart and Little looked very slow and couldn't gate either.

Paul Gould made a bad start but came good in the end with a match saving ride in Heat 14. Robert Larsen rode well thoughout apart from Heat 6. Blair Scott was probably the real match winner with three paid wins. Barry Campbell was obviously low on confidence and fell twice in three outings.

Dave Mullett turned in his usual Armadale display. Frank Smart was a great choice of guest. Petri Kokko had a good start but had real problems after that. Elkins looked quite good at times, Morris appeared unsteady but did get some points. Krister Marsh had a great meeting until falling in Heat 14. Lee Driver finally got into the points against Edinburgh after two blanks in the Premiership. The first was a gift after Campbell fell but the second was well earned following a good ride.

Reading won 8 out of 15 heats and came last in only 6 heats, Edinburgh won the meeting by getting more second places (10 out of 15).

Man of the match: Blair Scott

Most exciting rider: Peter Carr

John Lowe