23rd March Reading v Wolves

[Mr X]

Friday 23 March 2007. 8pm start.

RESULT

Reading Bulldogs 49

1. Greg Hancock 3, 2*, 1, 3, 1*
2. Zdenek Simota R/R
3. Matej Zagar 3, 2, 3, 1*, 2
4. Janusz Kolodziej 1, 1*, 2*, 3
5. Travis McGowan 3, X, 1, 0, 0
6. Mark Lemon 3, 3, 1, 0, 3, 2*
7. Danny Bird 0, 2*, 1, 0, 2

Wolverhampton Wolves 41

1. Peter Karlsson 2, 3, 2, 1*, 3
2. David Howe 1*, 0, 3, 1*
3. Billy Hamill 2, 2*, 3, 3, R
4. Magnus Karlsson 0, 3, 2*, 1
5. Fredrik Lindgren F, R, 1, 2
6. Carl Wilkinson F, 1, 0
7. Theo Pijper 1, 2, 2*, 0, X


Teams are confirmed. Simota is injured after his crash with Mark Loram at Ipswich last night. Reading use R/R, which I believe allows them to use Travis McGowan and the reserves. The way Mark Lemon is riding, this could actually strengthen them.

William Lawson rides for Edinburgh tonight, so Carl Wilkinson makes his Wolves debut, good luck Carl.

Mark Loram has a broken thigh and looks set to miss the season. Get well soon Mark.

JFB on vocals tonight. Weather is dry, track looks like it could be dry and dusty. Car park is full but he thinks they must all be watching London Irish (Rugby) playing next door as the crowd is quite poor. A few more Wolves fans there tonight, including Rich. Also - Lord Vader himself is in attendance.

8.13pm still no racing but its about to start. Danny Bird in as RR, Reading chose gates 2 and 4...

[Mr X]

Heat Details.

1. Hancock, PETER K, HOWE, Bird. (62.78) 3-3
Greg from the gate. David reared, almost fell but held on to 3rd.

2. Lemon, Bird, PIJPER, WILKINSON (F) (64.09) 5-1, 8-4
Theo tried the long run round the outside... and fails. Carl falls on 4th lap while 3rd in a 1-5. Mark Lemon scorches round in a time just 6 seconds outside the track record...

3. Zagar, HAMILL, Koldziej, MAGNUS K. (61.59) 4-2, 12-6
Magnus is riding the GM he finished last night's match on. It splutters away from the start... Billy pushes Zagar hard for a lap or so. JFB says we look OK so far but can't get out of the gate. We've had that problem for at least 20 years! ;D

4. McGowan, PIJPER, Bird, LINDGREN (F) (62.75) 4-2, 16-8
Freddie misses the start and slides off on the 3rd bend trying to make up ground. Easy win for Travis. Track is clearly more difficult than it appears, a few riders having problems.

5. PETER K, Zagar, Kolodiej, HOWE (61.37) 3-3, 19-11
Peter gated - we won a race! David didn't - battled hard but couldn't catch them.

[Mr X]

6. Lemon, Hancock, WILKINSON, LINDGREN (RET) (63.48) 5-1, 24-12
Freddie gates but is passed by both Bulldogs... then has a puncture on the next lap and retires. Carl falls on 3rd lap and remounts for a point.

7. Magnus flew out of the gate (yes, really). He leads for 2 laps before McGowan takes his front wheel away. Magnus up after a while and looks OK. Travis excluded. Apparently, the problem with the track is its wet on the inside, dry on the outside following afternoon rain.


7. rerun- MAGNUS K, HAMILL, Lemon, McGowan(X) (64.07) 1-5, 25-17
Another good start for Magnus who is round Lemon and in the lead. Billy follows him for the 5-1. Great effort from Magnus after his fall. Outside gates look a real advantage now and Wolves have them in the next 3 heats...

8. HOWE, PIJPER, McGowan, Bird. (62.43) 1-5, 26-22
It's gates 2 and 4 again... Wolves fine 5-1 from the gate! WooHoo!

9. Zagar, Kolodziej, LINDGREN, WILKINSON. (61.80) 5-1, 31-23
Freddie crawls out of the start... again. Carl falls... again.

10. HAMILL, MAGNUS, Hancock, Lemon. (62.00) 1-5, 32-28
From the gate (2 and 4 again). Magnus defies all of Greg's efforts to pass!

[Mr X]

11. Lemon, PETER K, HOWE, McGowan. (62.38) 3-3, 35-31
From the gate... gate 4 triumphs again.

12. HAMILL, Bird, Zagar, PIJPER. (61.99) 3-3, 38-34
Wolves 5-1 from the gate (1 & 3 this time). Bird passes Theo on lap 2 and Zagar gets by on the 4th lap.

13. Hancock, LINDGREN, PETER K, McGowan.(62.54) 3-3, 41-37
Freddie gates and goes round Greg, who cuts back inside on 3rd bend.

14. Kolodziej, Lemon, MAGNUS K, PIJPER(FX) 5-1, 46-38
Tight first lap, Magnus gates off 1, Janusz round the outisde, Lemon cuts inside him on 3rd bend. Still a tight race when Theo falls on 3rd lap. Race awarded.

15 line up... Hancock & Zagar v PK and Billy.

15. PETER K, Zagar, Hancock, HAMILL (RET) 3-3, 49-41
Peter from the gate and goes straight for the dirt. Zagar pushes him all the way, PK wins the dash for the line. Billy poor start, pulls up after 2 laps.

[Mr X]

Thanks for following tonight. Some more positive signs ... Billy, Magnus and Peter much improved. David and Theo chipped in with some good points. Carl tried hard, too hard, but gave his all. Freddie still struggling with his setup.

Goodnight.