Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 2nd October 1998
Edinburgh ended a disappointing season with a routine win against a fighting Stoke outfit who always seem to go well at Armadale.
Edinburgh were unchanged with rider replacement operating for Alfonso. The new averages meant that Kevin Little rather than Kenny McKinna had a r/r outing. Stoke were at full strength, although for them it means they have Mark Burrows at heat leader on an average of 5.62!
The track was slick and seemed very tricky early on but settled down and produced a few good races near the end of the match. After last week produced the second lowest attendance of the season (after the Sheffield fixture), the crowd seemed to have held up well on a cold night.
Edinburgh won the toss and opted for gates 1 and 3 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Kenny McKinna, Barry Campbell, Stewart McDonald [58.7]
McKinna gated but McDonald tried to take him on the outside overdoing things on the fourth bend and falling. Stewart was straight up and gained a point when Paul Pickering, in second place fell and the last bend and was excluded after McKinna had finished.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Paul Gould, Rob Clarence, Dean Felton [60.1]
Very easy for the Monarchs reserves team riding while Clarence and Felton battled for third.
(5-1) (10-2)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, Mark Burrows, Barry Campbell [59.1]
Little had to go some to beat a fast gating Burrows who really looked the part as a heat leader. Campbell, in as rider replacement, was secure in third place when Taylor fell on the last bend.
(4-2) (14-4)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Paul Gould, Rob Clarence [58.3]
No problems for Peter Carr, winning from Collins and Gould.
(4-2) (18-6)
Heat 5: Paul Pickering, Kevin Little, Stewart McDonald, Paul Taylor [59.2]
Alan Bridgett felt confident enough to give Paul Taylor a rider replacement outing rather than use Paul Gould. Little was first away but Pickering managed a good outside pass to win.
(2-4) (20-10)
Heat 6: Kenny McKinna, Neil Collins, Dean Felton, Barry Campbell [59.4]
McKinna ran away with the heat but there was a great battle for second. Barry Campbell chased Neil Collins and forced hid way through on the inside of the home straight. Collins produced a great bit of team riding after getting past Campbell and pinned him to the white line to enable Felton to pass on the outside.
(3-3) (23-13)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Craig Taylor, Mark Burrows, Blair Scott [58.1]
An easy win for Carr but Scott was trapped at the back by Burrows.
(3-3) (26-16)
Heat 8: Paul Pickering, Stewart McDonald, Barry Campbell, Paul Gould [59.6]
Paul Pickering replaced Clarence as a tactical substitute and with McDonald proved far too strong for Campbell and Gould.
(1-5) (27-21)
Heat 9: Neil Collins, Kevin Little, Blair Scott, Dean Felton [58.9]
Another race win for Stoke as their fightback continued. Rider replacement Blair Scott beat Felton for third place.
(3-3) (30-24)
Heat 10: Kenny McKinna, Craig Taylor, Mark Burrows, Barry Campbell [59.9]
McKinna won from the gate while Campbell tried everything to get past Burrows after a poor start.
(3-3) (33-27)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Paul Pickering, Blair Scott, Stewart McDonald [58.4]
Peter Carr put an end to Pickering's run of wins and Scott took third to stretch the lead.
(4-2) (37-29)
Heat 12: Kevin Little, Mark Burrows, Neil Collins, Paul Gould [59.8]
Monarchs' eight point lead allowed Neil Collins to come in as a tactical substitute for Felton. Kevin Little gated and never looked like losing.
(3-3) (40-32)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, Paul Pickering, Kenny McKinna, Neil Collins [59.5]
Pickering seemed to be first away but Carr edged past on the back straight with McKinna also trying to pass. McKinna chased and finally passed Pickering only to slip on the fourth bend and allow him to get back into second place.
(4-2) (44-34)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Craig Taylor, Rob Clarence [60.8]
Rider replacement Little and Scott looked good for a 5-1 when Taylor fell on the third bend. The race was stopped and Little excluded. Blair Scott had a great win in the re-run.
(3-3) (47-37)
Heat 15: Peter Carr. Neil Collins, Paul Pickering, Blair Scott [59.2]
Kevin Little's woe continued with a tape exclusion. Blair Scott replaced him and looked good for third until Pickering caught him on the line. Peter Carr completed his second successive full maximum without breaking sweat.
(3-3) (50-40)
|
Edinburgh Ziebart Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
Kenny McKinna |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
10 |
|
Barry Campbell |
2* |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
4+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
2 |
2 |
X |
T |
|
7 |
|
Stefano Alfonso |
Rider replacement |
|
(2+1) |
||||
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
8 |
Paul Gould |
2* |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
3+1 |
|
Paul Taylor |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stoke Radio Signal Potters |
|||||||
Paul Pickering |
X |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1* |
11+1 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
1 |
1 |
2* |
0 |
|
|
4+1 |
|
Mark Burrows |
2 |
1* |
1* |
2 |
|
6+2 |
|
|
Craig Taylor |
F |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
|
Neil Collins |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1* |
0 |
2 |
10+1 |
|
Dean Felton |
0 |
1* |
0 |
|
1+1 |
||
|
Rob Clarence |
1 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
|
2+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carr was untouchable winning most of his heats from the gate. McKinna looked set for a paid maximum until he slipped up in heat 13. Little looked set for a big score until he suffered exclusions in his last two rides. Barry Campbell was flattered by his score with a gifted 2+1 in the first heat. Alfonso's rides produced a poor return. Blair Scott was excellent value for his 8 points. Gould was unlucky to come up against tactical substitutions in his last two rides.
Paul Pickering gets my vote as the most improved rider in the Premier League this year. He moved from being a second string at Stoke to a solid number 1. The track was ideally suited to Pickering's style. Neil Collins provided excellent back-up. The Stoke second strings and reserves picket up the scraps and kept the meeting in doubt until near the end.
Man of the match: Peter Carr, no contest.
Most exciting rider: Paul Pickering for some excellent passing.
Next meeting: None this year!
John Lowe