Reading vs Redcar PL 19/05/08

[marron]

Should be a good meeting with a few of the Bears making their first visit to Smallmead.

Teams:

Racers

1. Mark Lemon
2. Chris Mills
3. Ulrich Ostergaard
4. Tomas Suchanek
5. Tom P Madsen
6. Jamie Smith
7. Nicki Glanz (G)

Bears

1. Gary Havelock
2. Joni Keskinen
3. James Grieves
4. Dan Giffard
5. Ty Proctor
6. Josh Auty
7. Arlo Bugeja

I assume the Racers' reserves will be fit by Monday.

We have a strong top 3 with Josh also looking good on Thursday but Ostergaard obviously has a good chance to go another meeting unbeaten by the opposition and he will prove very tough to beat for the Bears riders. Lemon is a top rider whilst Reading's 2nd strings can be very handy on a good night.

Prediction: 50-40 to the Racers. I cannot see us winning as we could be carrying Dan, Budgie and Joni.

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Jamie Smith hopes to return on Monday, will be a guest reserve again in place of Danny Warwick.

[marron]

Glanz or Haines i assume

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Nicki Glanz replaces Danny Warwick. Jamie Smith rides.

Looking at the line up's, Reading should wipe the floor with Redcar at home, but we have been a bit unpredictable as well so if Havvy's on form it'll only take one or two other Bears to take a liking to the Smallmead track and it could be close.

[marron]

Agree Wacks, i think our strong top 3 may just keep us 'in it'

[marron]

Well we were battered 57-35

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Good all round performance from the Racers tonight. The 2nd strings need to keep their confidence up for Somerset next week as I think they may find the opposition a bit tougher. Can't ask any more of Nicki who's just stepped into the side and is scoring above his average, but we need Smiffy back to race fitness quickly.


Havvy still not doing too bad for an old boy, Grieves & Auty battled for the Bears, bit disapointed in Procter after hearing about his recent form, but guess it was his first visit to the track.

Can see a proper hammering for Redcar on the Island tomorrow night.

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OMG I actually really enjoyed the first half of this match with some cracking races on display. Bears were much more competitive than the scoreline suggests and there were some real close finishes on the night.

Sadly the track didn't seem to cope with all the thrills and spills it had served up as the last few races were fairly processional. Was disappointed that Havvy wasn't wheeled out off 15 metres in heat 8 as the speed he had tonight I reckon he might have done something.

God knows how the track will cope with 2 meetings in 2 days next week - by Tuesday night it could be set up perfectly for Rye House lads.

I'll be along with the little un for next Monday's meeting - hoping for more of the same track action. Even Suchanek was passing riders - now there's a novelty.

Rico

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Have to say the scoreline flatters the effort that Redcar put in (certainly in the 1st half). Havvy doesn't seem to get any older and his pass on Lemo in heat 1 was quality.

Well impressed with the Sooch, who tried several different lines other than the regular 'Kolodziej' one. Tom P's new engine seemed to work a treat and do we suspect absenze di benzina for Mr Ostergaard in heat 15??

Spoke to Danny W who seemed a bit down, can't blame the fella, fractured shoulder blade never a good injury to get

Monday's gonna be a tight one

Pip