Glasgow 53 Scunthorpe 37 Premier League Monday 4th August 2014
Tigers finally got their match against the Scorpions run at the third attempt and picked up a surprisingly easy 3 points.
Glasgow had new signing Victor Palovaara at no1 while the visitors were using rider replacement for Josh Auty, who on past performances, was their best rider at Ashfield.
Whilst most eyes were on the two respective number ones both making their debut, it was their partners who led the way, with Theo Pijper a comfortable winner ahead of Jorgensen. Nicolai Klindt took third with Palovaara not that far behind.
The Scorpions gated in heat 2 but both Tigers were swiftly past Matt Williamson and Kasper Lyyke took up the chase and passed David Howe on the inside at the end of the second lap. In the end he won by a large margin. Dimitri not that far behind Howe at the end.
Ryan Douglas was the R/R in heat 3 and he led for the first lap until Anders Thomsen drove under him coming out of bend 4, very close to crossing the white line!! Douglas didn’t look too comfortable at times but Kevin Wolbert was never close enough to take advantage.
Heat 4 saw Berge lead into the first turn but Douglas and Rusty Harrison passed him and then Rusty stalked him for a lap before sailing around him on the second lap. The 4-2 taking Glasgow’s lead to 15-9
After a false start in the first running it was Anders and Kevin who both gated in the re-run of heat 5 and took an easy 5-1 over Douglas and Howe.
With the gap now 10, the inevitable Tactical ride appeared in heat 6 in the shape of Douglas. Howe also came in, whilst Glasgow opted not to replace Victor.
Victor took a tumble on the opening bend and after a short time walked away. Theo had actually split the Scorpions with Douglas in third at the time of the stoppage. It looked bad for the Tigers in the re-run when both visitors made the start and looked set for an 8-1 once Howe looked for his partner. He never got the chance, with Douglas taking an awkward fall entering the third lap. Theo took the re-run and Glasgow now led 23-12.
Jorgensen looked like he would break Tigers heat winning run in heat 7 but Rusty was on a charge and his outside runs finally paid off with a superb pass at the start of the third lap. Kasper taking the third place.
Scunthorpe were now 13 behind so it was TR time again with Thomas Jorgensen in black and white. Theo again foiled the double pointer by winning, whilst Dimitri had an eventful race, losing control on the second bend and then when pressing Jorgensen he nearly crashed at the end of the second lap. He ended up retiring soon after. Jorgensen getting ahead of Howe at the end of lap 3 for their first heat advantage.
Both Tigers gated in heat 9 but Anders’s shove on Douglas allowed the visitor to ride around him for second. Kevin was an easy winner. Score was now 34-21
Theo took his fourth win in heat 10 ahead of Howe and Birks, whilst Victor wasn’t too far behind Birks at the end.
Heat 11 was the best heat of the night with Rusty picking off first Jorgensen in lap 1 and then riding the fence on the 4th bend to pass Klindt next time round. Kasper picked up third after Jorgensen pulled up.
Kevin Wolbert took another easy win in heat 12 ahead of Howe, Williamson third ahead of Dimitri who pulled up with bike problems having held third.
Rusty was looking to continue his winning run in heat 13 but Klindt took the lead. Rusty twice looked as if he had passed him on the first bend of laps 3 and 4 but Klindt hung on for Scunthorpe’s first heat winner. Behind him Victor took a good third ahead of Douglas.
Scunthorpe took another win in heat 14, with either Anders or Kasper getting close to Howe.
Heat 15 was probably one of the most bizarre races ever at Ashfield!! The tapes seemed to go up almost as soon as the green light went on also just as Kevin’s bike gave up the ghost. Klindt didn’t move either, expecting a re-run, leaving the other two not entirely sure what was going on. Rusty did keep going (only after a rogue red flag from a raker nearly caused him to stop) whilst Douglas slowed also expecting a re-start. By the time Klindt realised that the race wasn’t being stopped, he had been lapped and was excluded. Rusty eventually taking the heat in the slowest time of the night.
The evening start allowed a grippy track to be prepared and maintained, allowing the Tigers to overcome their poor gating and provide some good entertainment. Rusty Harrison especially made good use of the extra grip with some thrilling around the boards riding, just missing a maximum. Captain Theo Pijper kept his good run going with Glasgow’s first maximum of the season and his first as a Tiger, while Anders and Kevin chipped in with 9 points each. New signing Victor looked all at sea in the early heats but took a point in his last race, riding a wider line.
Scunthorpe only looked at ease near the end of the meeting and their disaster in heat 6 effectively finished their challenge.
Glasgow: V Palovaara 1+1, T Pijper 12, K Wolbert 9+1, A Thomsen 9, R Harrison 14, K Lykke 6+1, D Berge 2
Scunthorpe: N Klindt 6+1, T Jorgensen 9, A Birks 1+1, R/R (6), R Douglas 8, M Williamson 1+1, Howe 12+1
<Meeting Report by Derek Watson>