Thanks for the scorechart MM2 - no need to delete it! Now for the report.......
OXFORD 47 WOLVES 41, AIR TEK CHALLENGE, THURSDAY 17TH MARCH
The 2005 season is finally here (it has been a long break hasn’t it?), and Wolves put up an encouraging performance in what looked set to be a tough opener. Freddie was absolutely flying until mechanical problems set in, while Krys exceeded many fans’ expectations, only hitting trouble due to a lack of track knowledge.
There was an interesting event before the match, as two Harley Davidsons rode onto the track through clouds of dry ice. It looked like an important personality was about to enter the arena – but it turned out to be Nigel Wagstaff
, accompanied by 1950 world speedway champion Freddie Williams.
Due to the poor PA on turn three, the winner of the toss is unknown, but Wolves had one and three in heat one.
Heat 1: Hancock, Max, Correy, McGowan. 3-3, 3-3.
The 2005 season got underway with a procession, despite McGowan closing on Rocket on the final lap.
Heat 2: Madsen, Pecyna, Karlsson, Puodzuks. 3-3, 6-6.
From the start once again.
Heat 3: Johnston, Lindgren, Iversen, Dryml. 1-5, 7-11.
Puk and Freddie appeared to touch on the first turn , with Johno joining them, and all three ran close in the early stages. By lap two the Wolves pair were in front, and they took a great 5-1.
Heat 4 (re-run twice): Howe, Puodzuks, Hamill (f.exc), Pecyna (f.exc). 2-3, 9-14.
Krys locked up on turn two on the first attempt, flipping over his bike and taking a nasty fall, with Pudsey (thanks to Lawt for that one!) piling into him. Everyone feared the worst but the Polish newcomer was soon up and OK. Take two saw Hamill slide off on turn two (possibly after slight contact from David), with the Spoon going under the air fence to earn an exclusion. The resulting match race re-run saw David head Pudsey all the way.
Heat 5 (re-run): Max, Iversen, Dryml, Correy. 3-3, 12-17.
Leaving the start Dryml and Rocket hooked together and came down in an awkward tumble. All were back for the re-run except for Dryml’s machine, with Mikael leading all the way and Rocket failing to catch an out-of-sorts Dryml for third.
Heat 6: McGowan, Hancock, Howe, Karlsson. 5-1, 17-18.
The early good run stopped as McGowan went from third to first around the outside of David and Hancock for the lead on lap two.
Heat 7 (re-run): Hamill, Johnston, Lindgren, Puodzuks (f.rem). 3-3, 20-21.
The Wolves pair gated, so an unsatisfactory start was called. Hamill led all the way at the second try as Johno tried everything he knew to get on terms with the Spoon. Pudsey fell on lap one, but finished.
Heat 8 (re-run): McGowan, Correy, Pecyna (f.exc), Madsen (exc, not under power). 3-2, 23-23.
Ronnie led the first start from Madsen, but the latter’s bike failed and appeared to delay McGowan handing Krys second. On the second lap the new Wolf slid into the turn two air fence, with the race being stopped just as he was picking his bike up. The Pole was excluded, as was Madsen for not being under power when the race was stopped. Ronnie led McGowan in the re-run, but appeared to hit a rut on turn four handing the Aussie the lead and the win, bringing the scores level.
Heat 9: Howe, Karlsson, Iversen (f.rem), Dryml (ret). 1-5, 24-28.
David gated, with Dryml (who did not once look anything like a GP rider all night) falling and remounting on the second lap. Magnus clashed with Puk on lap three, with the Dane falling at turn three and almost taking Magnus with him. Dryml pulled off as Wolves recorded a fine 5-1.
Heat 10: Lindgren, Hancock, McGowan, Johnston. 3-3, 27-31.
The Wolves gated once again (yes, really!), and were briefly on a 5-1 until Johno was taken by both home riders in quick succession. Freddie, however, produced one of his best rides in the UK to date, holding on for the win and claiming the notable scalp of Hancock!
Heat 11: Hamill, Max, Correy, Madsen. 3-3, 30-34.
From the gate.
Heat 12: Karlsson, Madsen, Dryml, Lindgren (fell). 3-3, 33-37.
Freddie and Magnus gated, and for three and a half laps another 5-1 looked on the cards, but heading down the back straight for the final time Freddie’s bike slowed. Magnus tried to hold out the home riders and protect the advantage, but on the last turn Freddie’s engine seized, dumping him onto the shale. If the match was lost for Wolves in just one heat then this was it – although no-one was to blame.
Heat 13: Hancock, Hamill, Howe, Max. 5-1, 38-38.
The “Old Firm” returned with a vengeance in this one, with many supporters’ predictions of Heat 13 weakness proving correct.
Heat 14: Iversen, Johnston, Madsen, Pecyna. 4-2, 42-40.
Puk, Madsen and Johno ran very close around the first lap, with Johno leading until the Oxford pair went either side of him on turn four. Johno, to his credit, did not give up, and snatched second right on the line after a fine outside move on Madsen.
Heat 15: Hancock, Hamill, Max, Lindgren (ret). 5-1, 47-41.
The Spoons led from the start once again, with Freddie’s bike failing again, although to his credit he toured round until lapped in case of any mishaps up front.
Five Star Ratings:
Weather: **** Dry but cold.
Track conditions: ** Uneven, and balding in the later stages (that’s the track, before you say anything!).
Attendance: *** A small stoat of a crowd.
Wolves Performance: **** Silenced many critics with a good all-round display.
Entertainment value: *** About as good as it gets for Oxford…
Man of the Match: As Sugababe is currently trying to throttle me, it’ll have to be
Freddie Lindgren for his impressive speed all night.
Referee (Mick Posselwhite): ***** Called every decision correctly.
Rider Ratings:
Mikael Max: **** Couldn’t catch the Spoons in heats 13 and 15.
Ronnie Correy: *** An encouraging comeback.
Fredrik Lindgren: ***** Let down only by mechanical problems (look out Mark Harvey!!)
Steve Johnston: *** Looked slightly off the pace in places.
David Howe: **** A good, solid performance.
Magnus Karlsson: **** Looked surprisingly quick.
Krzysztof Pecyna: **** An impressive debut, and could have gone further given more track time before the meeting.
All in all, it was good to see the Wolves in action once again. Something tells me this season will be more successful than initially predicted. Let’s see what the club’s home form is like on Monday in the return leg!
Once a Wolf, always a Wolf
Pieman.
, accompanied by 1950 world speedway champion Freddie Williams.
Glad to see the knack hasnt vanished during the Winter 
?? We are just a bunch of faceless cowards!!!!
;D
. 
