Sheffield Speedway Match Reports 2007
Key: + = from 15m handicap, * = Tactical ride for double points, !
= Tactical substitution from 15m
| Birmingham Mercom 'Brummies' v. Sheffield Window Center
'Tigers' |
Premier League |
16th May |
|
Referee: Ronnie Allen |
01 |
02 |
03 |
04 |
05 |
06 |
07 |
08 |
09 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
Tot+Bp |
| 1. Ulrich Ostergaard |
8.80 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
15 |
| 2. Aiden Collins |
4.80 |
2' |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
4+1 |
| 3. Jason Lyons © |
9.47 |
|
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
f |
6 |
| 4. Jon Armstrong |
6.03 |
|
|
1 |
|
x2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
5 |
| 5. Emiliano Sanchez |
6.15 |
|
|
|
3' |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
2' |
|
|
8+2 |
| 6. Lee Smart |
4.00 |
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
1' |
1 |
|
1 |
|
7+1 |
| 7. Ben Powell |
4.71 |
|
2' |
|
ef |
|
|
|
r |
|
|
|
x2 |
|
|
|
2+1 |
| Graham Drury |
5 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
|
| Birmingham 'Brummies' |
5 |
10 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
25 |
28 |
31 |
35 |
40 |
44 |
47 |
|
| Sheffield 'Tigers' |
1 |
1 |
6 |
9 |
14 |
16 |
21 |
26 |
28 |
31 |
34 |
36 |
37 |
39 |
42 |
|
| Reg Wilson |
1 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
| 1. Ricky Ashworth |
6.76 |
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
ef |
|
|
7 |
| 2. James Birkinshaw |
5.08 |
0
|
|
|
|
2' |
|
|
3 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
5+1 |
| 3. André Compton © |
10.56 |
|
|
2' |
|
|
|
2' |
|
| 1' |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
9+3 |
| 4. Ben Wilson |
5.60 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
1' |
11+1 |
| 5. Joel Parsons |
6.15 |
|
|
|
1' |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
6+1 |
| 6. James Cockle |
3.48 |
|
fx |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0 |
| 7. Paul Cooper |
3.78 |
|
x2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
2' |
|
|
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
4+1 |
Track record = 58.1
Jason Lyons, 6th April |
01 |
02 |
03 |
04 |
05 |
06 |
07 |
08 |
09 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
| 58.5 |
62.1 |
61.3 |
61.5 |
61.1 |
60.7 |
63.3 |
63.5 |
61.5 |
62.1 |
62.3 |
63.4 |
64.0 |
64.5 |
62.6 |
|
The Sheffield
Window Centre Tigers took
on the Brummies, the elements and the referee and unfortunately the combination
of all three was just too much. With rain falling throughout the match it was
never going to be pretty, but Ulrich Ostergaard sped to a win in heat 1 which
was less than half a second outside the track record! James Cockle fell on the first turn of heat
2 planting his team mate Paul Cooper into the fence in the process. Paul was
just about ready to be pushed out when the Sky producer told him the two minute
allowance had been cancelled so Paul called for a dry pair of goggles. He was
then excluded while on the track riding
around to the start gate, thanks Sky! Paul elected to go off a 15m handicap, but referee Ronnie Allen
took out the special rule book used when Sheffield are in town which obviously
includes a revised regulation 18.9.2...
18.9.2 For a
Starting Offence (SR 15.3.2, 15.3.3 & 15.3.4) the Team Manager may in the
re-run of the Heat either replace the excluded Rider with a Reserve (starting
in the original position) or re-instate the excluded Rider, handicapped by 15
metres
15.3.3 It is an offence for a Competitor not being ready to race or
deemed to be under the jurisdiction of the Start Marshal at the expiry of the
2-minute allowance.
...and said no!
So the viewers of the first Premier League speedway to be shown for years on
television were treated to a 2 man race for a 5-0 instead of the prospect of Paul
trying to make up his (television induced) handicap. Wonderful isn't it! (Neil Machin at this juncture
came very close to picking up another £500 fine!) André pushed
Ben all the way home
for a 5-1 in heat 3 with Jason Lyons struggling home last with a sick motor.
Emiliano Sanchez and Ben Powell were set for a 5-1 in heat 4 until Ben suffered
an engine failure at the end of the second lap. Emiliano also stopped just as
he reached the finishing line! Jon Armstrong turned back from the tapes at the
start of heat 5 to clear the mist from his goggles only to find himself excluded
by the time he turned back! Another ridiculous interruption making the presentation
look shabby. Jason Lyons gave everyone half a lap start when the tapes eventually
rose and never looked like getting back into contention as Ricky and Birko picked
up a big 5-1.
Ulrich won heat 6 from Joel, but Ben and André combined for
another 5-1 in heat 7 which put the Tigers in the lead! Birko and Cooperman
shocked everyone when they trapped ahead in heat 8 and by riding a tight line
denied Aiden Collins any chance of getting past. Jason Lyons passed Joel exiting
the second turn in heat 9 (the first racing pass!) and André did the
same to Aiden in heat 10 as he and Ben followed Ulrich home for a shared heat.
Ricky led heat 11 from Emiliano and Birko passed Lee Smart on the first lap,
only to fall on the third bend on the second lap. Word filtered through to the
terraces that the Sky commentators were expecting the meeting to be abandoned
after heat 12 given the incessant rain and appalling visibility. Jason sped
to a win ahead of André with Lee picking up third place leaving the score
Birmingham 35 - Sheffield 36. After a long delay (commercial break I assume)
the two minute siren went and the farce continued. Ricky's bike failed as he
chased Ulrich and then Emiliano was given second place although the video evidence
shows he only passed Joel after they crossed the finish line! Another big thank
you to Ronnie Allen. Jon Armstrong claimed his first win as a Brummie in heat
14 leaving the home team virtually assured of victory which was confirmed by
Ulrich in heat 15. Jason Lyons fell on the first turn and could hardly believe
the race wasn't stopped, only just clearing the track in time.
Not a good advert for the sport. Processional racing in appalling conditions,
but what do you expect given the weather conditions. What you would expect is
that the referee would work in conjunction with the tv producer, not against
him, and that he would at least be able to interpret the rule book accurately!
Praise to all 14 riders for coping with the conditions, and well done to
the Tigers for fighting their way back into the match following a terrible start.
Another match lost which we should have won, but the bonus point should be safe.
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