James Grieves came second in the inaugural Ashfield Classic Individual Event at Glasgow. He snatched second place on the line from Emiliano Sanchez but could do nothing about event winner Carl Stonehewer.
James was denied an automatic place in the final after David Howe passed Ray Morton on the third bend of last lap in heat 20 to secure 12 points. James finiashed on 11 but would have progressed in the event of a tie on the 'count back' principle. James won his first three heats but missed the start in his fourth outing and was stuck in last place. He ran second to Stonehewer in his final heat.
James had to come from behind in the semi-final after David Walsh gated. First Sanchez and then Grieves passed Walsh to secure places in the final.
James, having last choice of gate position for the final, again missed the start from the unfavourable trap 2. Stonehewer made the start for an easy win but Grieves held off Howe and chased Sanchez all the way trying evrything to pass on the wet track. Grieves tried to get past inside and outside several times but fianlly picked up enough drive off the last bend to seize the runners-up place dramatically on the line.
The day belonged to Stonehewer who was in a different class to the rest of the field on the wet Ashfield track. The field was missing star man Jason Lyons who missed his flight from Sweden and was replaced by Claus Kristensen.
Ross Brady was also in action despite reputedly having withdrawn on Friday after suffering with his arm injury sustained at Exeter. He reconsidered and declared himself fit on Saturday. Ross won his first heat, missed the start in his next two outing and won his fourth race. Ross started well in his last heat but was edged out by David Walsh at the third bend. Ross was obviously tiring and slipped from second to last.
|
1. |
Carl Stonehewer |
Workington |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
|
2. |
James Grieves |
Edinburgh |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
|
3. |
Emiliano Sanchez |
Glasgow |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
|
4. |
David Howe |
Peterborough |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
12 |
|
5. |
David Walsh |
Newcastle |
3 |
1 |
E |
3 |
3 |
10 |
|
6. |
Paul Pickering |
Stoke |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
|
7. |
Brett Woodifield |
Ipswich |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
|
8. |
Richard Juul |
Wolverhampton |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
|
9. |
Ross Brady |
Edinburgh |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
10. |
Will Beveridge |
Glasgow |
2 |
3 |
F |
1 |
0 |
6 |
|
11. |
Claus Kristensen |
Berwick |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
12. |
Ray Morton |
Hull |
0 |
1 |
2 |
F |
2 |
5 |
|
13. |
Paul Thorp |
Stoke |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
14. |
Les Collins |
Glasgow |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
M |
3 |
|
15. |
Brent Werner |
Buxton |
0 |
X |
N |
N |
N |
0 |
|
15. |
Robert Nagy |
Unattached |
R |
0 |
N |
N |
N |
0 |
|
R. |
Scott Courtney |
Ashfield |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Carl Stonehewer and David Howe qualified directly to the final.
James Grieves, Paul Pickering, David Walsh, and Emiliano Sanchez qualified for the semi-final.
Emiliano Sanchez and James Grieves qualified for the final ahead of David Walsh and Paul Pickering (excluded).
Carl Stonehewer won the final from James Grieves, Emiliano Sanchez, and David Howe.
The meeting started on a very wet track but this was drying out in as the sun came out. Then a further shower hit the track and turned the surface to sludge. The riders did very well under the conditions to produce some decent and, at times, great racing especailly in the final and semi-final.