Sean Wilson, as expected, capitalized on home advantage to win the Premier League Riders' Championship at Sheffield on Sunday.
After 20 heats, Sean Wilson and Carl Stonehewer qualified for the final. Jesper Olsen, Craig Watson, Michael Coles, and Paul Pickering made it to the semi-final. Olsen and Watson then qualified for the final after the early leader Pickering pulled up with tyre problems. Wilson won the final ahead of Jesper Olsen, Craig Watson and Carl Stonehewer.
Peter Carr missed out on at least a semi-final place due to an engine failure in his first heat. Carr had a specially prepared engine for the event. He passed Paul Pickering and was closing in on the heat leader, Craig Watson, when his engine seized on the last bend. He had to revert to his slower engine set up for Armadale. He won his second heat and finished second in his final three rides. This left Carr one point adrift of a semi-final place.
James Grieves, whose dislike of the Sheffield track is well known, had another poor day. He ran in second in his first heat but failed to score after that.
There were two late changes with David Meldrum replacing Scott Lamb as the Berwick representative and Phil Morris substituted for Petri Kokko as the Reading standard bearer.
The stand out performance has to be second place by Jesper Olsen on a track which is not really his favourite. The full points details are given below:
|
1 |
Sean Wilson |
Sheffield |
3 1 3 3 3 |
13 |
|
2 |
Jesper Olsen |
Newcastle |
2 3 3 3 2 |
13 |
|
3 |
Craig Watson |
Newport |
3 2 2 0 3 |
10 |
|
4 |
Carl Stonehewer |
Sheffield |
3 3 3 1 3 |
13 |
|
5 |
Michael Coles |
Exeter |
3 1 1 3 3 |
11 |
|
6 |
Paul Pickering |
Stoke |
2 3 3 2 1 |
11 |
|
7 |
Peter Carr |
Edinburgh |
E 3 2 2 2 |
9 |
|
7 |
Glenn Cunningham |
Swindon |
2 2 2 1 2 |
9 |
|
9 |
Les Collins |
Glasgow |
1 F 2 2 2 |
7 |
|
10 |
Anders Henriksson |
Newport |
1 0 1 3 1 |
6 |
|
11 |
Phil Morris |
Reading |
1 1 1 2 0 |
5 |
|
11 |
Paul Bentley |
Glasgow |
1 2 0 1 1 |
5 |
|
13 |
Leigh Lanham |
Arena Essex |
E 2 0 1 1 |
4 |
|
14 |
James Grieves |
Edinburgh |
2 0 0 0 0 |
2 |
|
15 |
Neville Tatum |
Isle of Wight |
0 1 1 0 0 |
2 |
|
16 |
David Meldrum |
Berwick |
0 0 0 0 0 |
0 |
Edinburgh have been extremely competitive this year in all competitions. They have reached the finals of two knockout competitions, pushed Sheffield for the Premier League title and qualified well for the Fours, the Pairs, and the Premier League Riders Championship. However on the day in the big shared events, they have failed to deliver.
Monarchs were rather unlucky in the Premier League Pairs at Newport. Peter Carr pulled out with an injured ankle and his replacement Kevin Little retired from the meeting after two falls in three rides. James Grieves was far and away the best rider on display and after a diabolical exclusion when knocked off by Frank Smart in his first ride, he went through the card. Frustratingly, Peter Carr produced 14 points from 5 rides a week later at Newport in the Premier League.
Monarchs failed to qualify for the finals at Peterborough in the Fours. James Grieves was not really fit and Ross Brady and Peter Carr were not off the boil and only Kevin Little was seriously troubling the scorers.
Now Peter Carr and James Grieves have completed the hat trick and failed to make it through the Premier League Riders' Championship.
Edinburgh have done well in the past in such shared events with two Fours victories, one win of the Pairs and Peter Carr's triumph in the Premier League Riders Championship two years ago.
The Premier League Trophy count stands at Sheffield 3 (Premier League, Fours, Premier League Riders), Workington 2 (Pairs, Silver Helmet). Edinburgh have the chance to clock up two Trophies over the next two weeks.