Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

REPORT Friday 1st April 2011, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This was the best Scottish derby for a long time with some great racing, all riders fully committed and a last heat, last bend pass by Kevin Wolbert which gave Monarchs a dramatic and deserved victory.

Wolbert was probably the happiest man in the stadium after a performance which wiped out memories of last week's problems. He was skilful and aggressive throughout, and had another pass on James Grieves which limited the points from the TR.

Two of Monarchs pairings worked extremely well, and showed themselves capable of some powerful overtakes. Ironically the best overtaker of the first meeting, Kalle Katajisto, was out of touch and down on power this week, and it was his display which allowed Tigers back into the match.

For the visitors Joe Screen was excellent - riding like this he will be one of the top men in the league. James Grieves recovered from a bad first ride to score well though he didn't look all that quick, and found Wolbert irresistible.

Nick Morris was again very lively at reserve, and Theo Pijper was the other success for the Tigers, improving with every ride.

Matthew Wethers was quickest off the mark in heat 1, setting the fastest time of the season with Screen on his tail. Kevin Wolbert was squeezed out on the run to the first bend but looked much livelier than last week as he closed in on Screen late in the race.

Tigers' reserves led the way in heat 2 with Nick Morris winning easily, but Ashley Morris did well to pass Rajkowski as the Raj drifted across the corner.

Craig Cook was the early leader in heat 3, quickly joined by Andrew Tully as he bustled his way past the Tigers' pair. Grieves finished at the back.

The scores were levelled though through Grajczonek and Rajkowski in heat 4. Kalle Katajisto had had a problem with his cutout on parade, and emerged on a Wethers bike. He didn't get it going too well and never really challenged.

Joe Screen gated in heat 5 and initially Pijper was in second. However Cook was round him on the pits bend, and Tully raced through also entering the second lap.

Tigers were gating well and Grajczonek was away best in heat 6, only for first Wethers then Wolbert to peg him back. Josh looked unhappy and went to the back.

Grieves was much steadier in his second ride of the season, but Katajisto (now on his own bike but looking slow) and Ashley Morris relegated Christian to the rear.

Rajkowski lost a chain on the first bend of heat 8 and ran into Jay Herne who was knocked from his bike. In fact he was knocked unconscious, and lengthy treatment was followed by an ambulance ride and a switch to another ambulance to be ferried to Hospital.

A delay of over half an hour on a cold night was no fun for anyone, least of all the young Scandinavians hoping to be involved in the second half.

Eventually racing resumed and we had a good race between Wethers and Pijper, Theo almost catching Matthew napping. Ashley came in for Jay to collect the point.

Grajczonek found the going hot again in heat 9 in spite of leading for two laps. Tully caught him off the second bend on lap three, and Cook followed suit with a hard dive into the last turn. Grajczonek again was unhappy and looked pleadingly as he passed the referee, who was unmoved.

Tigers might have delayed the TR for the promising looking heat 11, but they didn't, and sent our Grieves in black-and-white. He led the way but Wolbert had the bit between his teeth. Riding very wide, he got great surges of power onto the straight and shot through at the end of lap two to lead.

Katajisto though was again depressingly slow in heat 11, and it was a very easy 5-1 for Pijper and Screen, cutting Monarchs lead to 6.

We added two more to that in heat 12 as Tully led Nick Morris and Ashley Morris easily took the third ahead of Rajkowski who was now looking out of sorts.

8 up with three to go - would it be enough with Tigers having a strong looking finish?

Kevin very nearly clamped Joe Screen to the line on the first corner of heat 13 with a determined effort, but he drifted and Joe was away. Kalle trailed again so that was two points off the lead.

In heat 14 Tigers were on a 5-1, but once again Cook's determination paid dividends as he rounded Nick Morris.

He was closing on Grieves when there was a clatter at the back - Ashley had hit the fence and come down awkwardly on the centre green.

The race was awarded and so we were 4 up going into the last race. Yet again, Tigers made the gate with Screen ahead of Grieves. That could have been that - but it wasn't thanks to the determination of Kevin Wolbert. He gradually reined in Grieves and was right on his tail entering the last half-lap. A tight turn as Grieves drifted, and he was through and over the line in second place, about a length ahead of Grieves.

Full Result Details