Swindon v Wolves 29/8/2004

[Mr X]

Sunday 29 August 2004 Swindon 49 Wolves 47 Elite League (B)
Wolves win bonus point by 10 points.

Swindon Robins
1. Leigh Adams 3 6 3 3 3 = 18
2. R/R for David Ruud
3. Andy Smith 0 1 2* 2* 2 = 7+2
4. Charlie Gjedde 1 3 6 3 3 2* = 18+1
5. Steve Johnston 1 1 1 2* = 5+1
6. Olly Allen 0 0 0 0 0 = 0
7. Glenn Cunningham 0 1 0 0 0 = 1

Wolves
1. Mikael Max 2 0 3 1 = 6
2. R/R for Daniel Nermark
3. Fredrik Lindgren 2* 2* 2 0 3 1 = 10+2
4. Sam Ermolenko 3 3 1 1* 0 = 8+1
5. David Howe 2* 1* 0 0 = 3+2
6. Adam Skornicki 1* 2* 2 1 1 = 7+2
7. Simon Stead 3 3 2 1* 2* 2 = 13+2

Wolves headed to Blunsdon for a rare 6pm Sunday match defending an 8 point lead from the match at Monmore. However with the home side missing David Ruud and Peter Ljung and Wolves including Swindon track specialist Simon Stead at reserve, hopes were high amongst the travelling fans for a vital away win in the chase for the playoffs.

1. Adams, Max, Skornicki, Cunningham. 3-3, 3-3
From the gate, Adams pulls away from Mikael at the front for an easy win.

2. Stead, Skornicki, Cunningham, Allen. 1-5, 4-8
First time of asking Allen jumps the start and all four are recalled for a rerun. This time, Adam makes an excellent start from gate 1 and controls the first corner… he’s glancing over his shoulder all the way round the turn waiting for Simon to join him at the front and Steady doesn’t disappoint, charging round the outside to the front. Great ride from our two for an emphatic 5-1, no challenge from the Swindon pair.

3. Ermolenko, Lindgren, Gjedde, Smith. 1-5, 5-13
Sam makes the gate from gate 4 but goes too wide into the first bend allowing Gjedde through… but Sam turns sharply and cuts to the inside down the back straight, driving inside a surprised Gjedde into the 3rd bend. Freddie is inspired by this and charges under Gjedde on the 2nd lap, 2nd bend. A very aggressive move by Freddie who took Gjedde’s line forcing him to shut off. Wolves 8 points up… what a start.

4. Stead, Howe, Johnston, Cunningham. 1-5, 6-18.
Here we go again! Great start from the Wolves pair, Stead hits the front and rides his trademark wide line, pulling away to win by a distance in impressive style. David fills in behind him, riding a safer line to keep a subdued Steve Johnston at bay. 12 points up and we have to win this match from here…

5. Gjedde, Stead, Smith, Max. 4-2, 10-20
In retrospect, this was the turning point of the meeting even at this early stage. On paper this looked a potential 5-1 to Wolves which would have given us a 16 point lead and the match was virtually over. As it was, Gjedde made a fine start to round Simon the the first bend and pulled away for a very easy win. Steady couldn’t keep pace in this one but held 2nd… but at the back Mikael made a very poor start and first two bends to trail Andy Smith badly. The expected challenge never happened as Mike seemed powerless and Smith beat him easily. Very poor ride from Mikael.

6. Adams(T/R), Skornicki, Howe, Allen. 6-3, 16-23
Swindon use their first tactical move and predictably it’s Adams for double points. However the Wolves pair make another fine start (when did we learn to gate like this?) and held the 5-1 down the back straight. Adams is something else round his home track though and sweeps around David on the 4th bend of lap 1. Adam looks very determined at the front though and is riding an excellent outside line… but Leigh won’t be denied and finds an even wider line off the 4th bend of lap 3 to take the lead. Excellent overtaking from Adams but a great effort from Skornicki.

7. Ermolenko, Lindgren, Johnston, Allen. 1-5, 17-28
The demon duo are out again to extend the lead to 11… another great start from the Wolves pair and Sam pulls away for an impressive win. Freddie isn’t quite so convincing but still does enough to hold out Johnston who makes a mess of trying to pass him and fades badly.

[Mr X]

8. Gjedde (T/R), Lindgren, Stead, Cunningham. 6-3, 23-31
Swindon use their second tactical move bringing Gjedde in for double points. Yet again it’s the Wolves first away from the tapes for the 5-1 down the back straight… but Gjedde is very determined and sweeps around Simon on the 3rd bend before switching to the inside to surprise Freddie with an aggressive move on the first bend of lap 2. Impressive stuff from Charlie.

9. Gjedde, Smith, Skornicki, Howe. 5-1, 28-32.
This one’s a shock to the system, a fine start from Gjedde and Smith swoops around the outside of Adam on the back straight to join him for the 5-1. Poor ride from David who isn’t in contention and then his bike stops going over the finish line leaving him the long push back to the pits.

10. Adams, Smith, Ermolenko, Lindgren. 5-1, 33-33
Where has the lead gone? A dismal start by the Wolves pair who crawl away from the tapes and never challenge Smith for second place. The match is now level and we may have thrown this one away.

11. Max, Stead, Johnston, Allen. 1-5, 34-38
Wolves strike back! Simon comes in as rider replacement and joins Mikael at the front for the easy 5-1. This is the 3rd 5-1 that Johnston has conceded in three races… a real nightmare meeting for him.

12. Lindgren, Smith, Skornicki, Cunningham. 2-4, 36-42
A terrific result and a great ride from Freddie who makes a fine start to pull away from Smith for the win. Adam holds on for third as the Wolves reserves continue to dominate their opposite numbers. Wolves are now 6 point in front with 3 heats to go and the gameplan is clear… shut out Johnston in the next, then Allen in heat 14 and the away win is ours!

13. Adams, Johnston, Max, Howe(ret). 5-1, 41-43.
Disaster! Many Wolves fans were expecting to see Simon in this heat but Peter Adams keeps faith in David… Adams makes the gate but Johnston misses it completely from the outside. But on the first bend, Mikael flies out to the outside line, taking David out with him right out to the fence. What is he thinking? Johnston can’t believe his luck and having switched to the inside, has enough room to drive a number 79 bus through the gap Mikael has left. Again there is no challenge from the Wolves number one and Johnston beats him easily. David retires at the back on the last lap and has every right to feel aggrieved at his team mates tactics.

14. Gjedde, Stead, Ermolenko, Allen. 3-3, 44-46
This is so close to being another awful result for Wolves… the completely ineffective (until now) Olly Allen outgates our pair to join Gjedde for the 5-1. For two laps the result doesn’t look in doubt and Wolves look to have completely blown it… but Simon doesn’t give up and rides a very brave outside line to find his way past on the 3rd lap, 4th bend. Entering the last lap Sam is 30-40 yards behind Allen but he’s inspired by Simon’s ride. Somehow he closes the gap and gives it everything round the last two bends, risking everything to make the pass. Thrilling stuff from our two and we’re still in with a chance.

So everything hinges on heat 15. Adams and Gjedde look like automatic choices for Swindon and have their last four races each. Who have we got to stop them? Terrace opinion is that Mikael doesn’t deserve the nomination after two awful rides, Simon looks our fastest rider and Sam probably edges out Freddie and Adam as our 2nd choice. The riders are announced, and it’s Sam and Freddie! Why has he not picked Simon as he still has one more ride to come? If he wasn’t going to use him in heat 15, why did Adams not put him in heat 13 rather than David? This looks a very contentious decision…

15. Adams, Gjedde, Lindgren, Ermolenko. 5-1, 49-47.
Adams makes no mistake from the start and Gjedde is behind him in second. But Sam switches to the outside and passes Gjedde coming out of the second bend. Freddie spots his chance and surprises Gjedde on the inside going into the 3rd bend and Wolves have the 3-3 they need for the win. However Gjedde won’t be denied and returns the favour on Freddie driving inside him going into lap 2 bend 1. Now it’s a 4-2 and a possible draw. Coming out of the second bend going down the back straight, Sam looks over his left shoulder expecting Freddie to be there and instead sees Gjedde who spots his chance and flies past the Wolves man down the back straight. Sam slows and Freddie passes him but the home fans go crazy as their men have the match wrapped up at the front. What a sickener for the Wolves!

The Inquest
How on earth did we lose this one? If we lose second place in the table and home advantage in the playoffs then this will be the match that it was lost in. Wolves had the match under control with an 11 point lead after heat 7 and 6 points up with 3 heats to go but still lost. Fingers will certainly be pointed at Mikael, David (to a lesser extent) and to Peter Adams who failed to give a superb Simon Stead his full quota of rides.

Five Star Ratings

MIKAEL: * - Sorry Mikael but this was awful. Nowhere near the standard needed from a number one rider in this league, and his terrible heat 13 where he lost to an out of touch Steve Johnston and put David out of the race in the process ultimately cost us the match. The track should have suited him, well prepared with a fast outside line and when he hit the front he was quick… but when he didn’t he looked very poor.
FREDRIK: ***** - I can’t fault him at all. Had one poor ride but more than made up for it with some superb, aggressive racing that belies his inexperience. Who would have thought he would be selected for a heat 15 rather than Mikael?
SAM: **** - Started like a house of fire. Missed out to Andy Smith in heat 10 which was disappointing but his outside pass of Allen on the last bend of heat 14 shows he’s still prepared to put it all on the line for Wolves. A great effort.
DAVID: ** - A poor return after a paid win in his first ride. I have sympathy with him for heat 13 but overall doesn’t look convincing away from Monmore and certainly not a number 5.
ADAM: **** - Great to see his teamwork in heat 2 and a fine points return. Faded a little at the end otherwise it would have been five stars.
SIMON: ***** - An awesome performance… we simply have to sign this guy. Rides his fast, wide line in thrilling style and to be fair looks better suited to Blunsdon than Monmore as a home track… but I don’t care, he should be a Wolf! And he should have been in heat 15!

Track: ***** Brilliant. Smooth, well prepared with lots of passing lines.
Weather: **** Well the rain held off during the meeting but it’s damn cold on top of that hill.
Crowd: ***** A stoat. Yes, really. We’ve seen some good crowds at Swindon this year but this was the best.
Entertainment Value: ***** Putting aside the desparate disappointment of the final result, this match was a classic which had everything – drama, great racing, an amazing comeback and a last heat decider. Great unless you were a Wolves fan!
Wolves Performance: *** How can you quantify this? Brilliant at the start but threw it away and the match could have should have been won.
Man of the Match: Freddie, Sam and Adam were all excellent but Simon gets the nod for a thrilling night’s racing. Sign him up!

Mark Rowe.

[*~SpeedwayBabe~*]

thanx, excellent report.

[JJ]

cheers MM2

[Jasper]

Thanks MM2 - I was awaiting that report with interest and you didn't disappoint
It must have been sickening to watch that last heat...............................

[Yozza]

superb report MM2, summed up the evening perfectly.......shame about the result, but its one track I will definately go back to!

[Lawt]

Cracking report Mark. I saved reading it in full until today and I could feel the excitement and then disappointment very clearly. However, I still don't understand how we lost the match.......

[Mr Putt]

Great report MM2 but boy did that hurt recalling those final heats as I red through

[stevebrum]

pretty precise and accurate assessment to me - great one mm2.

[Mr X]

Thanks guys. Since writing the report we have heard from two reliable sources that Peter Adams selected Simon Stead for the last heat but he declined to ride, stating that he wasn't confident of doing well and he didn't want to let the team down.

This raises all sorts of questions... should Peter Adams have put him in heat 13 if he knew he didn't want to ride in the last heat (or did he not know at that stage)?

Should it be up to the rider to refuse, i.e. shouldn't the team manager simply say "go out and do your best - you're our best chance"?

The plot thickens...