Arena Essex 43: Edinburgh Monarchs 47
Premier League
Arena Essex Raceway, Purfleet
Saturday 27th May 2000
The depleted Edinburgh side won their opening Premier League match at Purfleet after yet another last heat decider.
Monarchs were six points down going into heat thirteen but Eriksson and Carr took a maximum to reduce the gap. Kevin Little and Jon Swales when levelled in heat 14 paving the way for Eriksson and Carr to produce another 5-1 to take the points.
This was a pulsating match that was dominated by Edinburgh's top three, Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr and Kevin Little who only dropped four points between them in sixteen rides.
Edinburgh were still without David McAllan and Christian Henry through injury. Jon Swales and Like Clifton stood in. Blair Scott was also left out in favour of new signing Will Beveridge. Blair will be back at reserve next week when the new averages permit at the expense of McAllan. Arena Essex have been decimated this season following injury to number one Leigh Lanham, reserve Nick Simmons, and key rider Matt Read had some good news with the return of Read at reserve.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Colin White, Gary Corbett [61.2]
Will Beveridge was an early casualty after tangling with Corbett at the start. The race was allowed to continue as Beveridge retired. Eriksson scorched ahead to win from White and Corbett.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Jon Underwood, Matt Read, Luke Clifton, Jon Swales [60.7]
This heat produced a hardly unexpected maximum for the Hammers as Jon Swales overdid things on the last bend but remounted to finish.
(5-1) (8-4)
Heat 3: Kevin Little, Jan Pedersen, Ross Brady, David Mason [61.7]
Edinburgh reduced the margin with Kevin Little beating Jan Pedersen and Ross Brady taking third.
(2-4) (10-8)
Heat 4: Troy Pratt, Peter Carr, Matt Read [60.1]
Arena hit back with an impressive win over Peter Carr. Matt Read took third and Luke Clifton retired.
(4-2) (14-10)
Heat 5: Jan Pedersen, Robert Eriksson, Jon Swales, David Mason [61.6]
Will Beveridge hadn't been able to sort out his bike after the heat 1 incident and was excluded under the two minutes rule. Jon Swales came in to replace him. Pedersen took the heat but Eriksson and Swales took the minor places ahead of Mason.
(3-3) (17-13)
Heat 6: Peter Carr, Colin White, Gary Corbett, Jon Swales [61.0]
This was another tied heat won by Peter Carr ahead of White and Corbett.
(3-3) (20-16)
Heat 7: Troy Pratt, Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Jon Underwood [60.7]
This heat was rerun after an 'unsatisfactory start'. Pratt won his second race ahead of Little and Brady. Underwood fell and restarted.
(3-3) (23-19)
Heat 8: Gary Corbett, Matt Read, Jon Swales, Will Beveridge [61.3]
Arena Essex stretched their lead after Corbett and Read took a 5-1 ahead of Swales. Will Beveridge in his first ride had difficulty getting around and fell but remounted to finish.
(5-1) (28-20)
Heat 9: Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Jan Pedersen, David Mason [61.2]
Robert Eriksson replaced Jon Swales as a tactical substitute and led Peter Carr to a 5-1 ahead of Pedersen.
(1-5) (29-25)
Heat 10: Kevin Little, Colin White, Ross Brady, Gary Corbett [61.2]
Kevin Little produced a win over Colin White. Ross Brady took another third place ahead of Corbett to reduce the Gap to two points.
(2-4) (31-29)
Heat 11: Troy Pratt, Robert Eriksson, Will Beveridge, Jon Underwood [60.7]
Troy Pratt continued his winning run but Will Beveridge took third behind Eriksson to secure his first point and tie the heat.
(3-3) (34-32)
Heat 12: Jan Pedersen, Matt Read, Ross Brady, Luke Clifton [62.3]
This was always going to be a dodgy heat for Edinburgh with Brady and Clifton lining up against Pedersen and Read. Ross did his best and made a good start but eventually lost position and slipped to third.
(5-1) (39-33)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Colin White, Troy Pratt [61.0]
Eriksson and Carr brought Monarchs back into contention with a big 5-1 in the top heat.
(1-5) (40-38)
Heat 14: Kevin Little, David Mason, Jon Swales [62.3]
There were two reserve changes for this heat. Jon Swales came in for Clifton and Matt Read replaced Underwood. Kevin Little made the start and was chased by Read with Mason holding third ahead of Swales. Read harried Little until the pit bend of the third lap when Little wobbled somewhat and Read fell. The race was allowed to continue by referee Frank Ebdon. Kevin Little duly secured an unchallenged win with Swales remounting to take third behind Mason and level the scores.
(2-4) (42-42)
Heat 15: Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Jan Pedersen, Troy Pratt [61.2]
Eriksson and Carr secured the favourable inside gates and made the start to win a heat maximum and the meeting.
(1-5) (43-47)
|
Arena Essex |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Colin White |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Gary Corbett |
1* |
1* |
3 |
0 |
|
|
|
5+1 |
|
Jan Pedersen |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
10 |
|
David Mason |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Troy Pratt |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
9 |
|
Jon Underwood |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Matt Read |
2* |
1 |
2* |
2* |
F |
|
|
7+3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
16 |
|
Will Beveridge |
R |
M |
0 |
1* |
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
1 |
1* |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
4+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Peter Carr |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
2* |
|
|
11+3 |
|
Jon Swales |
0 |
1* |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
3+1 |
|
Luke Clifton |
1 |
R |
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
For once Monarchs had three riders on song together. Peter Carr and Robert Eriksson continued their usual form and were backed up by Kevin Little to score 38 points between them. Ross Brady had a fair meeting scoring in every ride although still looking a bit exposed at heat leader. Will Beveridge had a bad start with a retirement, and two-minute exclusion and a fall in his first three rides. He did get amongst the points in his last ride. Jon Swales scored some useful points.
Matt Read made a great comeback for Arena Essex with a double figure paid score. The home heat leaders got very little change out of the top three visitors although Troy Pratt started like he was going to go through the card before losing out in the heats 13 and 15. Arena certainly look like they need some strengthening up at the top end come the new averages.
Thanks to Mike Hunter and Bryn Williams for heat comments.
Man of the match: Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, and Robert Eriksson!
Next meeting: v Reading, Premier League, Armadale on Friday 2nd June 2000
John Lowe