Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears

REPORT Friday 8th April 2011, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Redcar seemed to have the personnel to push the Scotwaste Monarchs close, but that didn't prove to be the case as Monarchs cruised to a comfortable victory.

The Bears didn't have much luck, certainly - Jason Lyons stopped while leading heat 11, and Matej Kus also ran into problems while ahead of the following race, although these two were off the pace in their other outings.

Gary Havelock too has had many better days, and his modest score of 6 was boosted by a TR 4 pointer.

Aaron Summers (using a Havvy engine) was quite brilliant and even won heat 15 after losing his footrest, and there was some exciting riding from Adam Roynon at reserve which suggests that he is in for a good year.

Both Peter Juul Larsen and Robert Branford had some good moments and these two youngsters will be worth watching in the months ahead.

The home side were pleasingly solid with Andrew Tully having his best match of the season, even gating pretty well. There were race wins for six of the side and a very good showing for guest reserve Simon Lambert who was involved in some of the best racing.

Overall the racing did not come up to the standard of the previous week.

Monarchs were off to a strong start with a comfortable 5-1, set up by a powerful drive into the first corner by Wolbert blocking any attempted run round the outside by Jason Lyons.

Robert Branford was the early leader of heat 2 but Simon Lambert moved ahead of Adam Roynon. Not content with that our guest gradually moved in on Branford and eventually squeezed inside to edge ahead, with Branford swinging too wide and coming off.

Matej Kus had an unfortunate introduction to Armadale when he spun off on the first corner of heat 3. He was quickly off as the others sped away with the Monarchs' pair leading. On the pits bend of lap two Gary Havelock also fell, taking ages to clear the track.

The race was stopped and unless the rule has changed in this year's book, common sense over-ruled legality as a 5-0 was awarded.

At 14-3 it was already looking as if Redcar were not going to put in the expected challenge. However Aaron Summers looked superb in heat 4, rounding Kalle on the first corner and winning by miles. He clearly was going to be a threat.

A hard first turn by Tully in heat 5 left Lyons stranded out at the fence, and Jason pulled on to the centre as Monarchs sped to another 5-1. 22-7.

Things took a different turn in the next one though - Summers was away again, and this time he was backed up by Adam Roynon. Wolbert kept on his tail throughout but though he was close several times he could not squeeze past.

The TR had been held back for Havvy in heat 7, presumably targeting Kalle, but the Finn was away fast to restrict the damage to 4-4, with Ashley Morris easily heading the struggling Kus.

Heat 8 was an easy 5-1 and at 32-17 we were well clear.

Aaron took his TR in heat 9 but this time Andrew Tully got an excellent start from gate 4 and eased round the outside to lead. Aaron kept up the chase and there was a good battle too between Cook and Roynon for the point, also going to our man.

Havelock and Kus were well back again as our opening pair notched another easy 5 in heat 10.

Jason Lyons finally came to life to lead heat 11, and he looked set for a win over Kalle until he shed a chain late in the heat. Larsen rode well in this one to keep Kalle under pressure but it was a lucky win for our no. 5.

The next heat was a good one and looked like going against us. Kus led the race with Roynon second and Tully trying to squeeze under him. Andrew got into second but then turned too tight trying to catch Kus, letting Roynon come back round him.

Then Kus hit trouble on the last ap, drifting wide and pulling up, so it was a shared heat.

Summers won again in heat 13 in spite of a big effort by Wolbert, but Katajisto trailed badly.

Craig Cook took a good win from heat 14 and lined up for the last race with his regular partner Tully against Summers and Roynon.

It was a good heat with Summers leading, challenged hard first by Cook and then Tully. He held on though, and it transpired that he had lost his footrest at the start of the race! Rather than a good win, that made it a brilliant win as Aaron showed just what a talented rider he is.

Full Result Details