Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 7th May 1999
Ever since Stoke returned to senior speedway in 1997 they have generally made Monarchs work hard at Armadale. While they have rarely had the firepower at the top end to challenge the home heat leaders, they have kept matches tight by solid team riding and picking up points from the minor placings.
On this occasion, the team went toes up and suffered a real doing by an in-form Monarchs team without any apparent weaknesses. Paul Pickering, Jon Armstrong, and Paul Fry provided some resistance early on. Monarchs quelled this and finished with six straight 5-1 wins.
Monarchs changed their race order on the issue of the first Green Sheets of the season. Ross Brady moved up to number 4 on his elevation to second string. Stewart McDonald dropped to reserve and took the number 7 jacket.
Armadale along with much of Central Scotland was shrouded in mist and there was a very light drizzle in the air at the start of the meeting. Visibility was restricted. Gate position B was used with Edinburgh off gates 2 and 4 in heat 1.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Blair Scott, Mark Burrows, René Aas [58.6]
Grieves and Scott gated for an easy heat maximum.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Stewart McDonald, Jon Armstrong, David McAllan [60.6]
McDonald gated from Jon Armstrong with McAllan just ahead of Rob Clarence. McAllan lost his way somewhat and Clarence passed to tae third place. The Monarchs youngster recovered to pass Clarence who later stopped.
(4-2) (9-3)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, Paul Fry, Tony Atkin, Ross Brady [60.4]
Ross Brady celebrated his promotion to number 4 by totally missing the start as Fry and Atkin hit the front. While Brady remained stuck at the back, Kevin Little surged from last to first.
(3-3) (12-6)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Stewart McDonald, Jon Armstrong [60.2]
Paul Pickering suffered a failure on the line. Carr gated from Armstrong but McDonald passed him on the second bend of the opening lap.
(5-1) (17-7)
Heat 5: Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Mark Burrows, René Aas [62.4]
Brady blasted ahead from the gate and was backed up by Little. Mark Burrows chased hard for four laps without getting on terms.
(5-1) (22-8)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Paul Pickering, Rob Clarence [60.1]
Grieves headed Pickering with Scott close behind. Scott lost control on the second bend and fell causing the race to be halted. In the second attempt, with Scott excluded, Pickering was first away. Grieves rounded him on the second bend of the first lap for another untroubled win.
(3-3) (25-11)
Heat 7: David McAllan, Peter Carr, Paul Fry [60.4]
McAllan and Carr blasted ahead going out of the second bend. Peter Carr helped McAllan all the way and allowed him to take the flag. Tony Atkin fell on the third bend. Paul Fry was really toiling at the back.
(5-1) (30-12)
Heat 8: Paul Pickering, Stewart McDonald, Blair Scott, Mark Burrows [59.9]
Stoke put in Paul Pickering as a tactical substitute for Jon Armstrong. Pickering gated and Stewart McDonald and Blair Scott were unable to do anything about it. Mark Burrows managed a full 360 degree spin and managed to stay on his bike and ride off.
(3-3) (33-15)
Heat 9: Paul Pickering, Kevin Little, Paul Fry, Ross Brady [59.7]
Paul Fry came in as a tactical substitute for Clarence. Brady missed the start once more and never challenged but Little managed to split Pickering and Fry.
(2-4) (35-19)
Heat 10: James Grieves, Blair Scott, Paul Fry, Jon Armstrong [59.1]
Jon Armstrong came in as a reserve change for the injured Tony Atkin. Grieves and Scott secured another maximum.
(5-1) (40-20)
Heat 11: David McAllan, Peter Carr, René Aas [Awarded]
McAllan made another start and was shadowed by Peter Carr. Mark Burrows came to grief on the second bend after a very spectacular crash. The race was stopped as McAllan and Carr entered their last lap and awarded.
(5-1) (45-21)
Heat 12: Stewart McDonald, Kevin Little, Paul Fry, Rob Clarence [61.3]
Paul Fry made the gate and headed McDonald and Little. McDonald led the change and eventually rounded Fry coming out of the second bend. Little then chased and managed to pip Fry on the line. Unfortunately, most of the spectators will have missed out on this as the fog thickened and visibility was reduced.
(5-1) (50-22)
Heat 13: James Grieves, Peter Carr, Paul Pickering, René Aas [60.2]
Grieves and Carr secured a routine maximum chased all the way by Pickering.
(5-1) (55-23)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, David McAllan, Jon Armstrong, Rob Clarence [63.1]
Stoke put in Rob Clarence for Tony Atkin to join Armstrong. The two Stoke reserve were no match for Ross Brady and the increasingly confident David McAllan.
(5-1) (60-24)
Heat 15: James Grieves, Kevin Little, Paul Pickering, Paul Fry [60.1]
James Grieves surged ahead from the gate ahead of Pickering and Little to secure his second successive full maximum. Little never gave up and managed to pass Pickering on the line.
(5-1) (65-25)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Blair Scott |
2* |
X |
1* |
2* |
|
|
5+3 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
2* |
2 |
2* |
2* |
|
11+3 |
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
2* |
2* |
2* |
|
|
9+3 |
|
David McAllan |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
9+1 |
|
Stewart McDonald |
3 |
2* |
2 |
3 |
|
|
10+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stoke Potters |
|
|
|
||||
|
René Aas |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
|
Mark Burrows |
1 |
1 |
0 |
X |
|
|
2 |
|
Paul Fry |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
|
Tony Atkin |
1* |
X |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Paul Pickering |
E |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
|
Rob Clarence |
R |
1* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1+1 |
|
Jon Armstrong |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
James Grieves had to wait eight years for his first full maximum in league speedway. His second came only one week later. Peter Carr produced his fourth successive paid maximum at Armadale. He also had time to help David McAllan round to two wins. Kevin Little was denied a paid maximum by Pickering in heat 9. He produced some great passing.
Ross Brady found the move to second string difficult. He missed two starts and ran last on both occasions. Nevertheless, two race wins are an acceptable score for a second string. Blair Scott had a good day apart from a fall in heat 6.
The real stars for Edinburgh were the McReserves. Jon Armstrong headed David McAllan in heat two. Amazingly, this cost McAllan a paid maximum. McDonald was impressive throughout and was only beaten by tactical substitute Pickering in heat 8.
Stoke displayed little of the teamwork and effort they have produced at Armadale in the past. Pickering was good value for his 10 point haul and deprived Little and McDonald of maximums. Paul Fry plugged away without much reward although sometimes off the pace. René Aas was way off the pace. Atkin was injured in his second ride.
Burrows tried early on but hit difficulties in his last two rides. Jon Armstrong looked impressive in heat 2 but faded. Rob Clarence never looked comfortable on the track.
Man of the match: David McAllan for his best performance to date
Most exciting rider: Kevin Little for some great passing.
Next meeting: v Arena Essex, Premier League, Purfleet on Saturday 8th May 1999
John Lowe