Tigers opened the Scottish speedway season with a 10 point victory over their old foes in front of a big crowd as Friday night speedway returned to Glasgow.
With the newly widened track looking good after recent weather it was a new look Glasgow side that took to the track. Unfortunately Chris Harris had to return home after his wife went into labour and the Tigers had to use R/R.
It took an age to get the first race underway with first Richie Worrall and then James Sarjeant plowing into the tapes. Lewis Kerr taking the win at the third attempt.
Tigers looked like they were going to take a surprise 5-1 in heat 2 but Matt Williamson passed Sarjeant although he couldn’t catch the impressive Jack Thomas.
Tigers were fastest away in heat 3 but again a Monarch split the home pairing for another 4-2.
Erik Riss then took Edinburgh’s first heat win but only after going wheel to wheel with Worrall for a lap in heat 4.
Monarchs then looked as they were going to take control of the meeting with a 4-2 and a 5-1 to lead by two but Glasgow fought back with a 4-2 of their own in heat 7, Paul Starke passing Mark Riss.
They then re-took the lead in heat 8, Kerr getting past Williamson, with Sarjeant picking up third despite losing a chain on the last bend, Max Ruml having falled seconds earlier.
Heat 9 was shared before Glasgow took their first 5-1 of the night in heat 10.
The next two were shared before Edinburgh came roaring back in heat 13, the 5-1 coming after both Tigers got in a fankle on the first bend.
The meeting was on a knife edge now but a superb piece of team riding by Claus Vissing protected the fast gating Thomas as Glasgow took a decisive 5-1 in heat 14 to win the meeting.
This was then followed up with another maximum as Glasgow extended their lead to 10.
Glasgow’s strength in depth amongst their top 4 showed as they restricted Edinburgh to four heat wins, although they all recorded a last place also. With Worrall only scoring six and Harris missing, the home side can only get stronger. And if man of the match Jack Thomas can continue this form, Glasgow may have discovered a new star.
The visitors were well served by their top 2, although Erik Riss, not for the first time at Ashfield, had a match of two halves,looking unbeatable in his first two but failing to win another race(albeit he was paid for a win). Ruml looked tidy and will score points, whilst Andersson and particularly Pickering were disappointing.
The new track served up some good racing and can only get better once the riders get used it and Bomber Harris makes his appearance!
Next home match is in two weeks against Workington.
Glasgow Tigers 50 Edinburgh Monarchs 40 Scottish Cup 1st Leg 23/3/2018 Glasgow Tigers Richie Worrall XT 2 0 3 1 6 Lewis Kerr 3 1 3 2* 0 9 + 1 Paul Starke 1 0 3 3 3 2* 12 + 1 Claus Vissing 3 2 R 3 2* 3 13 + 1 Chris Harris R/R (8) Jack Thomas 3 1 0 0 3 7 James Sarjeant 0 1 1* 1 XT 3 + 1 Ryan MacDonald 0 Edinburgh Monarchs Ricky Wells 2 3 2 3 1 11 Max Ruml 1* 1 0 1* 3 + 2 Mark Riss 2 2 1 2 7 Joel Andersson 0 0 0 0 Erik Riss 3 3 1* 2* 0 9 + 2 Matt Williamson 2 2* 2 1* 1 8 + 2 Josh Pickering 0 0 2 0 2 Heat 1 - (2 re-runs) Lewis Kerr ; Ricky Wells ; Max Ruml ; James Sarjeant (tapes, 15m) ; Richie Worrall (XT) 60.42 TR (3-3)(3-3) Heat 2 - Jack Thomas ; Matt Williamson ; James Sarjeant ; Josh Pickering ; 61.2 (4-2)(7-5) Heat 3 - Claus Vissing ; Mark Riss ; Paul Starke ; Joel Andersson ; 59.85 TR (4-2)(11-7) Heat 4 - Erik Riss ; Richie Worrall ; James Sarjeant ; Josh Pickering ; 59.64 (3-3)(14-10) Heat 5 - Ricky Wells ; Claus Vissing ; Max Ruml ; Paul Starke ; 59.7 (2-4)(16-14) Heat 6 - Erik Riss ; Matt Williamson ; Lewis Kerr ; Richie Worrall ; 59.35 TR (1-5)(17-19) Heat 7 - Paul Starke ; Mark Riss ; Jack Thomas ; Joel Andersson (15m, starting offence) ; 59.9 (4-2)(21-21) Heat 8 - Lewis Kerr ; Josh Pickering ; James Sarjeant ; Max Ruml ; 60.23 (4-2)(25-23) Heat 9 - Paul Starke ; Matt Williamson ; Erik Riss ; Claus Vissing(R) ; 60.17 (3-3)(28-26) Heat 10 - Richie Worrall ; Lewis Kerr ; Mark Riss ; Joel Andersson ; 60.27 (5-1)(33-27) Heat 11 - Claus Vissing ; Ricky Wells ; Max Ruml ; Jack Thomas ; 60.3 (3-3)(36-30) Heat 12 - (2 re-runs)Paul Starke ; Mark Riss ; Matt Williamson ; Jack Thomas ; James Sarjeant (XT) 60.67 (3-3)(39-33) Heat 13 - Ricky Wells ; Erik Riss ; Richie Worrall ; Lewis Kerr ; 60.26 (1-5)(40-38) Heat 14 - Jack Thomas ; Claus Vissing ; Matt Williamson ; Josh Pickering ; 61.85 (5-1)(45-39) Heat 15 - Claus Vissing ; Paul Starke ; Ricky Wells ; Erik Riss ; 60.35 (5-1)(50-40)