Post by Lawt on Apr 8, 2005 17:24:29 GMT
IPSWICH 55 WOLVES 40, KNOCKOUT CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND 2nd LEG,
THURSDAY 7TH APRIL, Aggregate Score 108-77
Parry’s International Wolves:
Mikael Max 1 1 6 0 =8
Ronnie Correy 0 0 1 2' =3+1
Freddie Lindgren fex 2 2 6 1 =11
Steve Johnston 2 0 0 1 =3
David Howe 1 2 0 1 0 =4
Magnus Karlsson 2 0 3 2' 3 =10+1
Krzysztof Pecyna 1' 0 0 =1+1
Evening Star Witches:
Hans Andersen 3 3 3 2' 2' =13+2
Karol Baran 2' 1 2' 1 =6+2
Kim Jansson fex 2' 1' 1 =4+2
Chris Louis 3 3 2 2 =10
Pepe Protasiewicz 3 3 f 3 3 =12
Daniel King 0 1 1 0 =2
Robert Miskowiak 3 2' 3 f =8+1
So a few stalwart Wolves fans made the long journey to Ipswich, probably against their better judgement and definitely with the sounds of ridicule, from those with better sense, ringing in their ears. But when we arrived all seemed well: our team were prepared for a slick track and the Ipswich promotion obliged and provided one, we won the toss and chose gates one and three, and our team were fired up and ready to repay their opponents for the mauling received on Monday.
That’s set the scene for you. If you would like to finish reading this report with a smile on your face – stop right here!
Masochists – read on….
Heat 1: Andersen, Baran, Mikael, Ronnie - 5-1 - 61.3
Ipswich gated and were gone! Mikael almost collected Baran on turn one but played no further competitive part in the heat and Ronnie followed his ‘lead’ (sorry).
Heat 2: Miskowiak, Magnus, Krzys, King - 3-3 8-4 – 61.8
Miskowiak gated, Magnus got close and almost hit him at the end of the first lap which compromised the rest of his race. Krzys held a good, and tight line through the race.
Heat 3: Louis, Johnno, Fred (fell exc), Jansson (fell exc) 3-2 11-6 – 61.5
Three attempts to run this heat. 1. Wolves gate, Jansson falls, race is stopped - Jansson excluded as PCS. 2. Freddie falls on the first bend (off gate 1) and appeared not to be able to turn. Later investigation reveals that Louis (off gate 2) has knocked, or kicked, Freddie’s right foot off his foot peg and caused the fall. The referee told Freddie that he did not see anything wrong and Freddie was excluded. 3. Louis gated Johnno and was loads faster.
Heat 4: Protasiewicz, Miskowiak, David, Krzys 5-1 16-7 – 62.5
From the gate. David not far behind throughout the race but the Poles team rode well and David never really challenged.
Heat 5: Louis, Jansson, Mikael, Ronnie 5-1 21-8 – 61.8
I only wrote one word in my program next to this race – CRAP! And looking back I think I was very restrained.
Heat 6: Andersen, David, Baran, Magnus 4-2 25-10 – 61.9
David made the gate but Andersen passed him easily round the outside on turn two. Baran all over David for 4 laps but he managed to keep him at bay.
Heat 7: Protasiewicz, Lindgren, King, Johnno 4-2 29-12 – 61.7
Protasiewicz from the gate, Freddie passed King on the second bend and tucked in behind Pepe. Johnno passed King on the second lap but King retook the place at the beginning of lap three.
Heat 8: Miskowiak, Baran, Ronnie, Krzys 5-1 34-13 – 62.4
The Poles gated and team rode for four laps. Ronnie was on their pace but made no serious challenge.
Heat 9: Magnus, Louis, Jansson, David 3-3 37-16 – 62.2
At last something to cheer - Magnus won from the gate after an excellent ride around the outside of turn one from gate 4. Louis was all over him but Magnus cleverly blocked every attempt to pass. David was out of it.
Heat 10 : Andersen, Freddie, Baran, Johnno 2-4 41-18 – 62.1
Ipswich were on a 5-1 for 3¾ laps but Freddie nips under Baran on the last bend for a good second place! After they pass the chequered flag all three riders (Not Johnno – he was too far behind!) finished up attached to the airfence on the second bend.
Heat 11: Mikael (T/R - 6), Ronnie, King, Protasiewicz (fell) 1-8 42-26 – 62.6
Protasiewicz loops just out of the start and presents us with a very easy 8-1. Wolves’ FIRST heat advantage!
Heat 12: Freddie (T/R - 6), Magnus, Jansson, Miskowiak (fell) 1-8 43-34 – 62.7
The Wolves gated and won easily. Miskowiak fell on the last bend while in last place. Thank God for these two Wolves riders who were the only source of pride or pleasure to be found in our team in this meeting.
Note: I have not come across a meeting before where there were two consecutive 8-1 results. Obviously you have to be a mile behind for it to happen and in our case it only brought us within 9 points of Ipswich anyway but has anybody seen it before?
Heat 13: Protasiewicz, Andersen, David, Mikael 5-1 48-35 – No time announced
From the gate, again! Mikael did not appear to be interested and was well off the pace with his head down. David was a bit quicker and almost matched the pace of the Ipswich pair but again was completely unable to mount an effective challenge.
Heat 14: Magnus, Louis, Johnston, King 2-4 50-39 – 63.2
Wolves gated and were on a 5-1 for half a lap. Louis caught Johnno easily and then went after Magnus. Louis was obviously faster but Magnus once again blocked his every move! He held him out for three laps and treated the Wolves fans to lots of hand signals (NICE ones!) and a lap of wheelies!
Heat 15: Protasiewicz, Andersen, Freddie, David 5-1 55-40 – No idea!
I expected our line up to be Freddie and Magnus – the only two riders who had earned a heat fifteen ride. Anyway, Ipswich gated and won from the tapes. Freddie was close to them but had no opportunity to pass.
Those of us at the track certainly expected to see a much more gritty and determined performance than the one that was delivered. Mikael, David, Steve, and Ronnie should be deeply ashamed of their efforts, especially after the rumoured talking-to by the management in the time between Monday’s shambles and last night. On Monday the track preparation was blamed and I accepted that as part of the explanation for the poor result and even tried to support the team by posting it on the Fans’ Forum, but last night the track was exactly as everyone expected! So what is the explanation now?
A reserve and a second string scored more than half of our ‘real’ points, how can that be explained? Our top rider only managed to beat the opposition number 7 (a 3.00 point rider), how can that be explained? Our final score – crap as it is – actually flatters Wolves quite a lot because of the gifted points and the tactical rides. In reality, without those extras, I think the score was 55-34 and if you add that to the score at Monmore Green we lost the cup-tie 112-71!!
It will depress me too much to look any closer at the meeting so I will finish by congratulating Freddie Lindgren and especially Magnus Karlsson for their excellent riding and for embarrassing the remainder of the team. Thank you to those two blokes – without them taking the day off work and making the long journey east would have been a complete and utter waste of time and money.
Five Star Ratings:
Weather: *** Unbelievable! We travelled down through torrential rain, sleet, thunder and lightning and kept ringing for weather updates but when we got to the track the place was bone dry and stayed like it all evening!
Track conditions: ** Slick as expected. I only recorded 5 passes (but that could have been ‘cos we were crap and Ipswich always gated!)
Attendance: *** Better than in the past – a medium weasel.
Wolves Performance: * Dire
Entertainment value: ** Poor
Man of the Match: Magnus Karlsson for bucking the team trend and riding his socks off.
Referee (Jim Lawrence): *** Poor decision to exclude Freddie Lindgren in heat 3 when all 4 back was available. Otherwise reasonable.
Rider Ratings:
Note – I consider three stars to be that rider’s average performance.
Mikael Max: * I’ve never given zero stars but came close tonight. Only beat King!
Ronnie Correy: * Only beat King!
Fredrik Lindgren: *** I would have liked to see Fred beat one of their top three.
Steve Johnston: * Only beat King!
David Howe: * Only beat Baran!
Magnus Karlsson: **** Excellent performance to top score (all ‘real’ points) and show most of the rest of the team how to approach a difficult match. Well done Magnus.
Krzysztof Pecyna: ** Hadn’t seen that track before and rode it as well as I expected.
Whatever CVS and Peter Adams do or say next, it had better be bloody good!!
See you on Monday when we meet Poole (you know them – 2004 League Champions!). How will the Green be prepared – for Wolves and for racing, or for Sky, Poole, the weather, and for another thrashing.
Lawt
Proud to be a Wolf
*Thanks to Lupus for parts of this report ripped off from the Live Updates (mainly for races where I was too annoyed to write much!)
THURSDAY 7TH APRIL, Aggregate Score 108-77
Parry’s International Wolves:
Mikael Max 1 1 6 0 =8
Ronnie Correy 0 0 1 2' =3+1
Freddie Lindgren fex 2 2 6 1 =11
Steve Johnston 2 0 0 1 =3
David Howe 1 2 0 1 0 =4
Magnus Karlsson 2 0 3 2' 3 =10+1
Krzysztof Pecyna 1' 0 0 =1+1
Evening Star Witches:
Hans Andersen 3 3 3 2' 2' =13+2
Karol Baran 2' 1 2' 1 =6+2
Kim Jansson fex 2' 1' 1 =4+2
Chris Louis 3 3 2 2 =10
Pepe Protasiewicz 3 3 f 3 3 =12
Daniel King 0 1 1 0 =2
Robert Miskowiak 3 2' 3 f =8+1
So a few stalwart Wolves fans made the long journey to Ipswich, probably against their better judgement and definitely with the sounds of ridicule, from those with better sense, ringing in their ears. But when we arrived all seemed well: our team were prepared for a slick track and the Ipswich promotion obliged and provided one, we won the toss and chose gates one and three, and our team were fired up and ready to repay their opponents for the mauling received on Monday.
That’s set the scene for you. If you would like to finish reading this report with a smile on your face – stop right here!
Masochists – read on….
Heat 1: Andersen, Baran, Mikael, Ronnie - 5-1 - 61.3
Ipswich gated and were gone! Mikael almost collected Baran on turn one but played no further competitive part in the heat and Ronnie followed his ‘lead’ (sorry).
Heat 2: Miskowiak, Magnus, Krzys, King - 3-3 8-4 – 61.8
Miskowiak gated, Magnus got close and almost hit him at the end of the first lap which compromised the rest of his race. Krzys held a good, and tight line through the race.
Heat 3: Louis, Johnno, Fred (fell exc), Jansson (fell exc) 3-2 11-6 – 61.5
Three attempts to run this heat. 1. Wolves gate, Jansson falls, race is stopped - Jansson excluded as PCS. 2. Freddie falls on the first bend (off gate 1) and appeared not to be able to turn. Later investigation reveals that Louis (off gate 2) has knocked, or kicked, Freddie’s right foot off his foot peg and caused the fall. The referee told Freddie that he did not see anything wrong and Freddie was excluded. 3. Louis gated Johnno and was loads faster.
Heat 4: Protasiewicz, Miskowiak, David, Krzys 5-1 16-7 – 62.5
From the gate. David not far behind throughout the race but the Poles team rode well and David never really challenged.
Heat 5: Louis, Jansson, Mikael, Ronnie 5-1 21-8 – 61.8
I only wrote one word in my program next to this race – CRAP! And looking back I think I was very restrained.
Heat 6: Andersen, David, Baran, Magnus 4-2 25-10 – 61.9
David made the gate but Andersen passed him easily round the outside on turn two. Baran all over David for 4 laps but he managed to keep him at bay.
Heat 7: Protasiewicz, Lindgren, King, Johnno 4-2 29-12 – 61.7
Protasiewicz from the gate, Freddie passed King on the second bend and tucked in behind Pepe. Johnno passed King on the second lap but King retook the place at the beginning of lap three.
Heat 8: Miskowiak, Baran, Ronnie, Krzys 5-1 34-13 – 62.4
The Poles gated and team rode for four laps. Ronnie was on their pace but made no serious challenge.
Heat 9: Magnus, Louis, Jansson, David 3-3 37-16 – 62.2
At last something to cheer - Magnus won from the gate after an excellent ride around the outside of turn one from gate 4. Louis was all over him but Magnus cleverly blocked every attempt to pass. David was out of it.
Heat 10 : Andersen, Freddie, Baran, Johnno 2-4 41-18 – 62.1
Ipswich were on a 5-1 for 3¾ laps but Freddie nips under Baran on the last bend for a good second place! After they pass the chequered flag all three riders (Not Johnno – he was too far behind!) finished up attached to the airfence on the second bend.
Heat 11: Mikael (T/R - 6), Ronnie, King, Protasiewicz (fell) 1-8 42-26 – 62.6
Protasiewicz loops just out of the start and presents us with a very easy 8-1. Wolves’ FIRST heat advantage!
Heat 12: Freddie (T/R - 6), Magnus, Jansson, Miskowiak (fell) 1-8 43-34 – 62.7
The Wolves gated and won easily. Miskowiak fell on the last bend while in last place. Thank God for these two Wolves riders who were the only source of pride or pleasure to be found in our team in this meeting.
Note: I have not come across a meeting before where there were two consecutive 8-1 results. Obviously you have to be a mile behind for it to happen and in our case it only brought us within 9 points of Ipswich anyway but has anybody seen it before?
Heat 13: Protasiewicz, Andersen, David, Mikael 5-1 48-35 – No time announced
From the gate, again! Mikael did not appear to be interested and was well off the pace with his head down. David was a bit quicker and almost matched the pace of the Ipswich pair but again was completely unable to mount an effective challenge.
Heat 14: Magnus, Louis, Johnston, King 2-4 50-39 – 63.2
Wolves gated and were on a 5-1 for half a lap. Louis caught Johnno easily and then went after Magnus. Louis was obviously faster but Magnus once again blocked his every move! He held him out for three laps and treated the Wolves fans to lots of hand signals (NICE ones!) and a lap of wheelies!
Heat 15: Protasiewicz, Andersen, Freddie, David 5-1 55-40 – No idea!
I expected our line up to be Freddie and Magnus – the only two riders who had earned a heat fifteen ride. Anyway, Ipswich gated and won from the tapes. Freddie was close to them but had no opportunity to pass.
Those of us at the track certainly expected to see a much more gritty and determined performance than the one that was delivered. Mikael, David, Steve, and Ronnie should be deeply ashamed of their efforts, especially after the rumoured talking-to by the management in the time between Monday’s shambles and last night. On Monday the track preparation was blamed and I accepted that as part of the explanation for the poor result and even tried to support the team by posting it on the Fans’ Forum, but last night the track was exactly as everyone expected! So what is the explanation now?
A reserve and a second string scored more than half of our ‘real’ points, how can that be explained? Our top rider only managed to beat the opposition number 7 (a 3.00 point rider), how can that be explained? Our final score – crap as it is – actually flatters Wolves quite a lot because of the gifted points and the tactical rides. In reality, without those extras, I think the score was 55-34 and if you add that to the score at Monmore Green we lost the cup-tie 112-71!!
It will depress me too much to look any closer at the meeting so I will finish by congratulating Freddie Lindgren and especially Magnus Karlsson for their excellent riding and for embarrassing the remainder of the team. Thank you to those two blokes – without them taking the day off work and making the long journey east would have been a complete and utter waste of time and money.
Five Star Ratings:
Weather: *** Unbelievable! We travelled down through torrential rain, sleet, thunder and lightning and kept ringing for weather updates but when we got to the track the place was bone dry and stayed like it all evening!
Track conditions: ** Slick as expected. I only recorded 5 passes (but that could have been ‘cos we were crap and Ipswich always gated!)
Attendance: *** Better than in the past – a medium weasel.
Wolves Performance: * Dire
Entertainment value: ** Poor
Man of the Match: Magnus Karlsson for bucking the team trend and riding his socks off.
Referee (Jim Lawrence): *** Poor decision to exclude Freddie Lindgren in heat 3 when all 4 back was available. Otherwise reasonable.
Rider Ratings:
Note – I consider three stars to be that rider’s average performance.
Mikael Max: * I’ve never given zero stars but came close tonight. Only beat King!
Ronnie Correy: * Only beat King!
Fredrik Lindgren: *** I would have liked to see Fred beat one of their top three.
Steve Johnston: * Only beat King!
David Howe: * Only beat Baran!
Magnus Karlsson: **** Excellent performance to top score (all ‘real’ points) and show most of the rest of the team how to approach a difficult match. Well done Magnus.
Krzysztof Pecyna: ** Hadn’t seen that track before and rode it as well as I expected.
Whatever CVS and Peter Adams do or say next, it had better be bloody good!!
See you on Monday when we meet Poole (you know them – 2004 League Champions!). How will the Green be prepared – for Wolves and for racing, or for Sky, Poole, the weather, and for another thrashing.
Lawt
Proud to be a Wolf
*Thanks to Lupus for parts of this report ripped off from the Live Updates (mainly for races where I was too annoyed to write much!)
Aperfect reflection of the nights 'racing'. 
