9-4-07 Wolves 54 Belle Vue 39

[Mr X]

From our live updates...

WOLVES 54
1. Peter Karlsson 1* 2* 3 3 = 9+2
2. David Howe 2 3 3 2* 1 1 = 12+1
3. Billy Hamill 3 3 3 2 2 3 = 16
4. Magnus Karlsson 0 1 2* 0 = 3+1
5. Freddie Lindgren R/R
6. William Lawson 2* 0 1 1* 2 = 6+2
7. Theo Pijper 3 1 3 1 0 = 8

BELLE VUE 39
1. Joe Screen 3 2 6 2 2 = 15
2. Ben Barker 0 0 0 = 0
3. David Norris 2 2 1 3 0 = 8
4. Ryan Fisher 1* 0 3 = 4+1
5. Kaj Laukkanen 3 0 1 0 = 4
6. Jason Bunyan 0 1 0 1 = 2
7. Kevin Doolan 1 2* 2 0 0 1 = 6+1

1. Screen, HOWE, P.KARLSSON, Barker. 3-3.
Aces gate from 1 and 3, PK gets pushed wide by Screen on 1st bend. Wolves inside Barker on 4th bend.

2. PIJPER, LAWSON, Doolan, Bunyan. 5-1, 8-4
Easy 5-1 from the gate.

3. HAMILL, Norris, Fisher, M.KARLSSON 3-3, 11-7
Cracking ride from Billy from gate 4, he looks quick tonight. Fisher struggling in 3rd but Magnus can't find his way past.

4. Laukkanen, Doolan, PIJPER, LAWSON(RR) 1-5, 12-12
From the gate. William really struggling at the back.

5. HAMILL, Screen, M.KARLSSON, Barker. 4-2, 16-14
Billy from the gate, pushed hard by Joe Screen. Both look fast tonight.

6. HOWE, P.KARLSSON, Bunyan, Laukkanen. 5-1, 21-15
Easy 5-1 from the gate. Laukkanen very poor after a good first ride. Not very thrilling so far...

7. PIJPER, Norris, LAWSON, Fisher. 4-2, 25-17
Fine first bend from Theo on the Karlsson line on the inside. Good win. Fisher almost hits the fence on 3rd lap, back straight and Will is through. Replay showed Theo hit the fence over the finishing line but held on.

8. HOWE, Doolan, PIJPER, Barker. 4-2, 29-19
Wolves gate, good race as Doolan pushes Theo wide on 2nd lap, 3rd bend and holds on under a strong challenge. David quick at the front.

9. HAMILL, M.KARLSSON, Laukkanen, Bunyan. 5-1, 34-20
Laukkanen gates, rides mid track and Billy goes round him, Magnus underneath on the 2nd bend!

10. P.KARLSSON, HOWE, Norris, Doolan. 5-1, 39-21
Excellent race for 2nd - Norris splits the Wolves pair but David returns the favour on the last lap on the inside. Very good ride by David.

11. Screen(TS), Hamill(RR), Lawson, Doolan. 3-6, 42-27
Screen for double points. Sky are really excited. Another good race as Billy tries everything but Joe hangs on. Good ride by William who beats Doolan for 3rd.

12. Norris, HAMILL, Bunyan, PIJPER. 2-4, 44-31
Rerun for no apparent reason... Billy from the gate but drifts too wide on last lap and Norris is through.

13. P.KARLSSON, Screen, HOWE, Laukkanen. 4-2, 48-33
Good battle for 2nd as Screen and Howe pass and repass.

14. Fisher, LAWSON, Doolan, M.KARLSSON. 2-4, 50-37
Shock win for Fisher who does his team mate no favours and both Wolves are past. Doolan rounds Magnus off the last bend.

15. HAMILL, Screen, HOWE, Norris. 4-2, 54-39
Billy round the outside on the 4th bend, another fine ride from him.

[Mr X]

Ratings

Track: 8 - A little strange to begin with - slick underneath and a little wavy but settled down to produce some excellent racing.

Entertainment: 8 - Meeting never in doubt but good racing.

Wolves Performance: 7 - Easy enough win against weak looking opponents, not totally convincing.

PK: 8 - Pushed wide by Screen in heat 1 but otherwise easy wins. Did David no favours in a later race.

David: 9 - Excellent performance. Mixed it with the top guys.

Billy: 9 - A couple of mistakes cost him the full house but looked quick all night.

Magnus: 5 - Unimpressive against weakened opposition.

William: 7 - In the thick of the action all night.

Theo: 7 - A couple of good wins mixed with a couple of iffy rides. Good points return.

Please add your comments below - the more the merrier.

[Yozza]

The Yozza rider ratings

Peter 7 no more than an average nights work from PK tonight
David 9 this second string thing really is bringing out the best in David, a great nights work
Billy 9 is looking in the best form of his Wolves career at the moment
Magnus 5 seemed to try harder tonight, but still needs to "up it" imho
Will 7 a steady nights work from our "flying scotsman"
Theo 8 an excellent ride to beat Floppy in ht 8...would have had a 9 if he hadn't lost to Bunyan in ht12

M-o-M Billy Hamill very narrowly from David Howe

[The Rangdo of Arg]

Rangdo Ratings.

A good Bank Hol match, much warmer than last week too.

PK - 7, Said he was a bit under the weather and started a little offish
DH - 9, Superb riding, tight inside and sweeping outside. excellent stuff David
BH - 8, The Hamill of Old, excellent nights work
MK - 4, Still not getting any better. haven't we been here before?
WL - 7, Good results all night.
TP - 8, One or two hickups but the win over Floppy was excellent.

I think once the new averages come out, (a way off I know), that Theo will move into the main body and Magnus will again drop to reserve.
"Perhaps a stint at reserve will help boost his confidence"
Heard that one before??

[wingedwolf]

This is my first go at these but hey we'll give it a go.

Peter 7 Under the weather but a reliable skipper's performance.
David 9 Different class this season, especially awesome Ht. 10.
Billy 9 Best of the season possibly best racing in a wolves jacket.
Magnus 5 We see a glimpse every meeting but also a ride like Ht. 2 every week. Frustrating.
Will 7 Think i expect to much sometimes but tonight did what was needed an a bit more.
Theo 8 Victory over Norris was special. Don't want to see him move into the team yet.

M.O.M. David shaded it tonight, just!!

Quick mention to Chris Kerr who was there ready and willing in the pits as No. 8, would liked to have seen him given a ride but still nice to see his enthusiasm for putting on a wolves jacket!!

[dje]

I may be a little biased here but Theo gets low ratings.......but rides well over his average

[Mr D]

dje said:

I may be a little biased here but Theo gets low ratings.......but rides well over his average

Have you read the reports, Theo gets one 7 and three 8's .....I don't think that is low rating,compared to PK who is our Number 1 and Captain of the team who had one 8 and three 7's scored 9+2 where as Theo scored 8 I don't think Theo has done as bad in the ratings as you think he has done.

[grumpyoldgit]

Mine
P.K. 8 Looked a bit slower than normal, but said later he was unwell and felt underpowered.
Howie, 9 Excellent nights work, wasted at number 2, as he and Pete clearly clash at times, they both love that tight swoop under opponents!
Bullet, 9 Best yet I think since coming to the Wolf den! Superb blast around Screeny in 15.
Magnus, 4. Decent ride in 9, but thats all.
Will, 8. Some good racing from the lad, and 3 good rides to beat the inform Ed Doolan.
Theo, 8. Great win over Floopy, but poor ride to get beaten by Bunyan. Just hope he isn't spoiled by riding in the main body of the team so soon.

M.O.T.M. Don't like to give it to the glaringly obvious, Howie and Bullet, so my vote is for William Lawson, the lad tries so very hard every week, and he beat Doolan 3 times.

Move of the match. Joint award between Bullets move around Screeny, and Howies race with Floopy, both superb.

[Mr Fish]

Hoorah! Wolverhampton Speedway have paid the water bill! At least that’s what I thought when finally after 7 dusty, not too spectacular heats when finally the water truck made its way onto the track to give the shale a sprinkling and low & behold the racing improved ten fold with the said sprinkling.

The injury ravaged Ace’s can hold their heads up despite the fairly simple win for Wolverhampton. Joe Screen & David Norris ensured that no home rider went through the night unbeaten, Screen with a heat 1 win inflicting the only defeat on Peter Karlsson. The Wolves skipper missed two excellent races behind him involving David Howe, wheel to wheel over four laps with riders swapping lines, first in heat 10 when Howe edged out the guest, for the injured Simon Stead, Norris and then just losing out to Screen in a similar battle 3 heats later. Norris, a former Monmore Green track record holder had previously been bested by home reserve Theo Pjiper as the man about to move into the team (1-5) scored a surprising heat 7 win, Norris redeemed himself with an excellent win over Billy Hamill in heat 12, stalking and finally passing the American on the inside of the exit of turn 2, lap 4 a race that also featured a good battle at the back between Bunyan & Pjiper.

After an impressive opening 3 wins Hamill will be disappointed to have conceded a T/R loss to Screen and then a defeat by Norris but redeemed himself with an excellent move around the outside of the Ace’s captain on turn 4, lap 1 to win the nominated riders race.

Belle Vue would surely have kept the match closer had Adam Skornicki been available instead of Barker who tried hard but finished with three duck eggs on his scorecard & injured James Wright, Bunyan seemed to provide the plucky Doolan with a mobile chicane in his first ride as the Wolves reserves sailed to 5-1, then do the same to Laukannen four heats later. I’m not sure however if Stead would have scored anymore than Norris did.

Wolves were solid enough from 1-7 or 6 with rider replacement for Fredrik Lindgren, while for Belle Vue Doolan battled , a good race with Pijper in heat 8 & a paid win behind Laukannen in heat 4 the highlights of his busy evening. Laukannen & Fisher had one decent ride each, but Laukannen was never really on the pace, while Fisher made mistakes while in points scoring positions. Wolves probably didn’t miss the talented young Swede tonight with such a comfortable win & guaranteed league bonus point, but Magnus Karlsson continues to frustrate. After a good paid win in heat 9 he trailed in last in heat 14 a heat he should be dominating at home against such opponents.

Rider of the Night: Billy Hamill, tonight was very much about pride for Belle Vue but ‘The Bullet’ showed he still has pride in himself with a determined ride in heat 15 after a busy night.
Most Entertaining Rider: Doolan, Pijper, Hamill, Norris & Howe all in with a shout of this in a determined evenings racing, but I’m gonna give it to Joe Screen.
Gert Handberg team riding award: the ‘Mobile Chicane’ for team mates Jason Bunyan saves PK’s blushes on this score. Several times when struggling Bunyan got in the way of his partners, PK should have allowed Howe the run up the inside during heat 13.
David Ruud gating tart award: Kaj Laukannen. Gated well twice, won one, got overtaken inside & out the second time.

Individual scorers:

WOLVERHAMPTON: Billy Hamill 16, David Howe 12+1, Peter Karlsson 9+2, Theo Pijper 8, William Lawson 6+2, Magnus Karlsson 3+1, Freddie Lindgren R/R.
BELLE VUE: Joe Screen 15, David Norris 8, Kevin Doolan 6+1, Ryan Fisher 4+1, Kaj Laukkanen 4, Jason Bunyan 2, Ben Barker 0.

Heat Results:

Heat 01: Screen. Howe. P Karlsson. Barker. 56.69
Heat 02: Pijper. Lawson. Doolan. Bunyan. 56.96
Heat 03: Hamill. Norris. Fisher. M Karlsson. 56.70
Heat 04: Laukkanen. Doolan. Pijper. Lawson. 57.26
Heat 05: Hamill. Screen. M Karlsson. Barker. 56.68
Heat 06: Howe. P Karlsson. Bunyan. Laukkanen. 56.79
Heat 07: Pijper. Norris. Lawson. Fisher. Score: 57.45
Heat 08: Howe. Doolan. Pijper. Barker. Score: 56.73
Heat 09: Hamill. M Karlsson. Laukkanen. Bunyan. 57.67
Heat 10: P Karlsson. Howe. Norris. Doolan. 57.44
Heat 11: Screen. Hamill. Lawson. Doolan. 58.08
Heat 12: Re-start: Norris. Hamill. Bunyan. Pijper. 57.89
Heat 13: P Karlsson. Screen. Howe. Laukkanen 57.91
Heat 14: Fisher. Lawson. Doolan. M Karlsson. 59.24
Heat 15: Hamill. Screen. Howe. Norris. 58.09

Wolves won the first toss, chose gates 2 & 4 in heat 1, Ace’s won second toss chose 1 & 3 for heat 15, with Screen in Green, Hamill in Blue.