Match Report: Reading Racers vs Swindon Robins - 28/05/01 - Premier League

Reading Scorers
1.Charlie Gjedde : 2,3,3,3,xur = 11
2.Paul Clews : 1',1,3,1 = 6(1)
3.Phil Morris(c) : 1,2',2,2 = 7(1)
4.Dave Mullett : 3,3,1',1 = 8(1)
5.Armando Castagna : 1,1,3,2',1 = 8(1)
6.Chris Schramm : 3,0,0,ret = 3
7.Will Beveridge : 1,0,0,1' = 2(1)
Team Manager : Tim Sugar

Swindon Scorers
1.Claus Kristensen : 3,0,2',2,2,1 = 10(1)
2.Martin Dixon(c) : fx,2,1,2,1' = 6(1)
3.Oliver Allen(r/r)
4.Alan Mogridge : 0,3,0,3,2',2' = 10(2)
5.Paul Fry : 3,2,3,0,3,3 = 14
6.Mark Steel : f/ex,f/ex,withdrew = 0
7.Ritchie Hawkins : 2,2',1',0,f/ex = 5(2)
Team Manager : Mick Bell

SCB Referee : Mr Tony Steele.

Martin Dixon won the toss and elected to take gates 1 and 3.

Heat Details
Heat 1  (re-run)Claus Kristensen (62.30) Charlie Gjedde, Paul Clews, Martin Dixon(fx). 3-3, 3-3 
In the first run Clausy gated and held the lead when Dicko slides off on the second lap, he tries to remount
but his bike is stuck underneath the fence. In the re-run Clausy gates again but loses the lead to Gjedde on 
lap 2 and slips behind Clews on the 1st turn of lap 3, but sweeps under both Clews and Gjedde on the second 
bend, but drops back behind Gjedde, stays there before driving around Charlie on the very last turn for a 
great win in a great race.  
Heat 2  Chris Schramm (65.24) Ritchie Hawkins, Will Beveridge, Mark Steel(fx). 4-2, 7-5 
Something happens on the start line and Ritchie Hawkins fails to start until the others are on the 1st bend, 
he chases hard and is closing in on Beveridge as race leader Steel drops behind Schramm on the second lap, he wins 
it back as Beveridge, under pressure from Hawkins falls on the second bend of the third lap, allowing Ritchie through, it
looks rosy for the Robins until on the third bend of the third lap Steeler gets into troble and coming out of the third turn
clips the fence on the home straight and flies across the finish line trying to wrestle back control of the bike, he fails and 
goes forward over the handlebars and lands chest first on the centre green, tangled in his bike and almost hitting a steward. 
After lengthly treatment the ambulance is brought out, which has the Robins fans worried, but then Steeler climbs to his 
feet and refuses the ambulance ride, opting instead to gingerly walk back to the pits. Steeler is excluded but the race had 
been finished by all of the other three riders so it didnt have to be awarded.            
Heat 3  Dave Mullett (62.05) Martin Dixon(r/r) Phil Morris, Alan Mogridge. 4-2, 11-7
Moggo gates and is away but Mullett has him at the end of the first lap, he holds this until he drops to last
at the end of the third lap, he nearly re-passes Wizzer on the line but pays for his mistakes with a 0.            
Heat 4  Paul Fry (62.83) Ritchie Hawkins, Armando Castagna, Will Beveridge(f/r). 1-5, 12-12
Fryer gates and goes on to win, Beveridge falls on the second turn. Castagna holds second with Ritchie in hot 
pursuit, when Mando makes a mistake on the third/fourth bend of the second lap Ritchie flies up the inside and 
grabs a paid win, great ride from the ever progressing 17 year old. 
Heat 5  Dave Mullett (62.79) Phil Morris, Martin Dixon, Claus Kristensen. 5-1, 17-13
Clausy and Mad Dog gate and look like taking Mullett one either side, but Dicko locks up in front of Clausy,
messing them both up and letting Wizzer through for a 5-1.
Heat 6  (re-run)Charlie Gjedde (62.46) Paul Fry, Paul Clews, Mark Steel(fx). 4-2, 21-15
In the first run Fryer came out of turn 2 leading and had a real ding dong battle with Gjedde for the lead 
when going into lap 4 Steeler once again clips the fence coming out of the third bend and goes over the 
handlebars, hes straight on his feet but excluded, he later withdraws from the meeting due to a thumb injury.
In the re-run its tapes to flag, though Fryer is closer to Gjedde. 
Heat 7  Alan Mogridge (63.15) Claus Kristensen(ts) Armando Castagna, Will Beveridge(res-rep). 1-5, 22-20
Tapes to flag.
Heat 8  Paul Clews (63.89) Martin Dixon, Ritchie Hawkins, Chris Schramm(res-rep). 3-3, 25-23
Tapes to flag.
Heat 9  Paul Fry (64.18) Phil Morris, Dave Mullett, Ritchie Hawkins(res-rep). 3-3, 28-26
Fryer tapes to flag, Hawkins chases hard but can't find a way past.
Heat 10 Charlie Gjedde (64.15) Claus Kristensen(r/r) Paul Clews, Alan Mogridge. 4-2, 32-28
The Robins miss the gate, Kristensen passes Clews. Mogridge after a disasterous first bend flies around until he 
gets caught in a dust cloud and shuts off, effectively ending his race.
Heat 11 Armando Castagna (64.21) Claus Kristensen, Martin Dixon, Chris Schramm. 3-3, 35-31
Tapes to flag though Clausy was close.
Heat 12 Alan Mogridge(r/r) (Awarded) Phil Morris, Will Beveridge, Ritchie Hawkins(fx)(res-rep). 3-3, 38-34
Moggo gates, loses the lead to Morris but wins it back on lap 3, Ritchie falls whilst comfortably leading 
Beveridge, he is pretty mad, he even punts the kickboard!! OOoooOOOooohhhHHHhhh!!
Heat 13 Charlie Gjedde (63.90) Armando Castagna, Claus Kristensen, Paul Fry. 5-1, 43-35
Fryer misses the gate and nearly stops, Clausy chases but never makes an impression.
Heat 14 Paul Fry(ts) (65.61) Alan Mogridge, Dave Mullett, Chris Schramm. 1-5, 44-40
Tac sub Fryer and Moggo go from the gate to shut out Mullett to put the Robins within reach of a draw.
Heat 15 (re-run)Paul Fry (66.90) Alan Mogridge, Armando Castagna, Charlie Gjedde(fx). 1-5, 45-45
In the first run the Robins gate and are team riding to shut Gjedde out, it becomes almost impossible to see the 
race in the cloud of dust that envelopes the track, this make the pivotal moment of the meeting very vague, as on 
lap 2 Gjedde goes underneath the Robins and is adjudged to have taken Moggos line as both Robins go down and end 
up trapped underneath their bikes, Gjedde is excluded and it leaves Castagna as the lone Racer against the Robins,
as the tapes rise Mogridge and Fry try to keep Mando out, slowing up to cut him off but he still manages to pass
Moggo, but the veteran ensures that this derby match isnt over by re-passing him on the back straight of the final 
lap to win the Robins a draw, great ride, great match, great entertainment, great speedway!!!

	Blistering hot bank holiday Monday yeilded a great local derby match, the racing in the first 6/7 heats was 
top notch, none better than Clausy coming from the back to pass both Gjedde and Clews in heat 1 and superstar Ritchie
Hawkins tracking and passing ex GP star Armando Castagna in the fourth heat. It was disappointing for the Robins to 
lose Mark Steel after two rather inexplicable falls. The controversy in heat 15 spiced up the match, this is getting 
to be a regular thing. Its great that the two team are now at a level where they can compete, unlike last year.  

Final Result: Reading Racers - 45 Swindon Robins - 45

Back to 2001 Results