Edinburgh Monarchs 60: Arena Essex 30
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Saturday 23rd June 2000
Edinburgh produced their biggest win of the season against an Arena Essex side returning to Armadale less than two weeks after their previous visit.
The evening was warm but had several threatening clouds overhead but remained dry throughout.
Despite the big margin of victory there were a few decent heats.
Both teams were at full strength. Arena Essex had Savalas Clouting back after injury and new signing Justin Elkins.
Colin White won the toss and took gates 1 and 3 in the opening heat.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Colin White, Gary Corbett, Will Beveridge [58.1]
Robert Eriksson and Will Beveridge were first away but Beveridge got into trouble on the second bend under pressure from White and slipped to last. He tried to get past Corbett on the third bend but fell.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Blair Scott, Christian Henry, Justin Elkins [60.1]
All four riders were closely bunched going into the second bend when three of them became tangled up. Barrie Evans was rather unfortunate to be excluded from the re-run. Blair Scott made the gate and was followed by Justin Elkins and Christian Henry who were side-by-side. This continued for a lap or so until Henry finally seemed to have got his nose in front. Justin then characteristically slowed down with apparent engine failure before getting going again when half a lap behind.
(5-1) (8-4)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Jan Pedersen, Matt Read [58.3]
Carr and Brady made starts and took an easy heat maximum. Ross Brady appeared to blow his engine after crossing the line.
(5-1) (13-5)
Heat 4: Kevin Little, Savalas Clouting, Christian Henry [58.9]
Justin Elkins suffered an engine failure on the start line. Kevin Little made an outside sweep to head Clouting. The former Ipswich rider never gave up and pushed Little all the way.
(4-2) (17-7)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, Colin White, Gary Corbett [57.7]
Ross Brady was excluded under two minutes and Blair Scott came in. Peter Carr headed the field with Scott third behind White. Corbett managed to slip inside Scott to tie the heat.
(3-3) (20-10)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Savalas Clouting, Barrie Evans [58.7]
Eriksson led from Beveridge with Clouting trying everything to pass. Beveridge managed to stay ahead right through to the last lap when he suffered mechanical problems going into the third bend. Barrie Evans finished the heat but was later ruled out of the meeting by the track doctor.
(3-3) (23-13)
Heat 7: Blair Scott, Kevin Little, Jan Pedersen, Matt Read [59.2]
Scott and Little took another easy 5-1 from Pedersen.
(5-1) (28-14)
Heat 8: Colin White, Gary Corbett, Christian Henry, Will Beveridge [60.1]
Colin White replaced Elkins as a tactical substitute. This reunited the White-Corbett partnership and enabled Arena Essex to hit back with a 5-1 to reduce the margin to ten points.
(1-5) (29-19)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Ross Brady, Justin Elkins [61.4]
Justin Elkins came in as a reserve replacement for Evans. He had a decent race chasing the fast gating Ross Brady all the way. Savalas Clouting retired when lying fourth.
(5-1) (34-20)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Jan Pedersen, Will Beveridge, Matt Read [59.3]
Robert Eriksson gated ahead of Beveridge. Jan Pedersen passed Beveridge second.
(4-2) (38-22)
Heat 11: Blair Scott, Kevin Little, Colin White [59.9]
This was probably the best race of the night with Blair Scott, Kevin Little and Gary Corbett battling it out ahead of Colin White. Corbett had one last try to get at least second place when he hit the fence on the last bend.
(5-1) (43-23)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Gary Corbett, Christian Henry, Justin Elkins [58.2]
Gary Corbett replaced Matt Read as a tactical substitute and Justin Elkins came in for Evans as a reserve change. Peter Carr won easily from Corbett and Henry.
(4-2) (47-25)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little, Colin White [58.9]
Eriksson and Little surged ahead for another heat maximum.
(5-1) (52-26)
Heat 14: Blair Scott, Jan Pedersen, Matt Read, Ross Brady [59.6]
Matt Read replaced Elkins as a tactical substitute. Ross Brady made the gate but hit problems on the second band and lost a lot of ground. Blair Scott came through to lead and held off Pedersen. Ross Brady was unable to make up the ground he lost on the second bend.
(3-3) (55-29)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Colin White, Gary Corbett [58.4]
Colin White made the gate but Carr and Eriksson swept past him, one on either side for another easy win.
(5-1) (60-30)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
|
|
14+1 |
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Ross Brady |
2* |
M |
2* |
0 |
|
|
|
4+2 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
2* |
2* |
2* |
|
|
|
9+3 |
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
12 |
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
5+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arena Essex |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Colin White |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
10 |
|
Gary Corbett |
1* |
1* |
X |
F |
|
|
|
2+2 |
|
Matt Read |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Jan Pedersen |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Savalas Clouting |
2 |
2 |
R |
R |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Barrie Evans |
X |
1* |
N |
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
|
Justin Elkins |
1 |
E |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
The three Edinburgh heat leaders all recorded maximums without much difficulty. Ross Brady also looked good for a paid maximum but suffered a two-minute exclusion and messed up heat 14. Blair Scott was also denied a full maximum by Brady's exclusion by running last when he replaced Brady in heat 5. Blair won all his scheduled rides.
Will Beveridge was again desperately unlucky. He rode quite well but only collected one point. He was denied a paid win in heat 6 by a last lap breakdown. He did appear to find the second bend tricky. He is due a big payday and it will come sooner rather than later. Christian Henry was not quite happy with new his ex Ivan Mauger engine describing it as 'flat'. He certainly looked competitive.
Colin White and Gary Corbett never gave up for Arena Essex and battled for every point. Corbett was unlucky not to get something out of heat 12 when he fell on the last bend. Savalas Clouting started with five straight heat wins at Purfleet before getting injured. He found out how hard Premier League racing can be in his first visit to Armadale.
Pedersen posted a score of 6 but should have been able to score more from second string. Matt Read had another miserable Armadale meeting. Barrie Evans withdrew early on. Justin Elkins had a typical meeting that reminded everyone of his spell with Edinburgh last year.
Man of the match: Take you pick!
Next meeting: v Workington, Premier League, Derwent Park on Saturday 24th June 2000
John Lowe