18 March 2011
Posted in
Birmingham Brummies
On the night that top grade speedway returned to the Second City for the first time since 1983, Birmingham Brummies had to settle for a narrow two point defeat against the 2009 Sky Sports Elite League champions Wolverhampton.
Danny King made a steady if not spectacular start to his 2011 season at Perry Barr on a dry slick surface as the rain threatened but thankfully kept away on the night. Everyone scored solidly in the Brummies side although the occasion was marred somewhat by a wrist injury suffered by Danish reserve Claus Vissing in heat 14. Although Monday’s return leg at Monmore Green is expected to be a lot tougher proposition, the prospects look bright for a decent season on home shale for the Brummies on the evidence of this performance.
Danny struggled all night with his starting but certainly looked quick enough during the races themselves and will definitely benefit from a bit more moisture in the track and a much grippier surface to help him attack opponents from the back. Heat three saw a maximum performance from Ben Barker and Danny as the Cornishman jetted from the gate around the first two bends, whilst King had to work a little harder to power off of turn two ahead of Ty Proctor and Tai Woffinden. A 5-1 at that stage gave Birmingham an 11-7 advantage.
Danny faced Grand Prix star Freddie Lindgren in his next outing in heat 5 but after a slow start he had no answer to the stylish Swede and indeed followed in Ben Barker once again after fighting his way past Ludvig Lindgren for a third place finish. Heat nine saw Danny up against 41 year old Wolverhampton legend Peter Karlsson and although he made a better start he was unable to keep the Swede at bay. Barker followed in behind for another 3-3 to leave the score nicely poised in the Brummies favour at 31-23.
Danny looked a lot sharper in his last ride against Tai Woffinden after initially having a coming together with team mate Claus Vissing on the first lap in the original staging of the heat. Vissing was excluded from the re-run leaving King to fight the Brummies cause alone, and he was more on the pace with Woffinden than anyone else had been in Tai’s previous two race victories. That heat ended in a 4-2 to Wolves leaving the score at 43-41 to the Brummies and a last race decider for the spoils. With both Freddie Lindgren and Peter Karlsson to come in heat 15 it was always going to be tough for the new boys and indeed Wolves snatched the required 5-1 win on the night at the death to lead for the first time at the right time to win 46-44.
Overall, it was a satisfactory start to the season for Danny with 7 plus two bonus points (2*, 1*, 2, 2) in a challenge meeting which are designed to iron out any problems either mechanically or with fitness. This was certainly the case with the controversial re-introduction of the quieter exhaust system on the night which very few riders approve of and they seem to be giving all riders teething problems. Danny had this to say on last night’s performance,
“I was happy overall with my performance in terms of points scored, but I’m fully aware that I need to sharpen up on my gating. I’m struggling with my set-ups at the moment due to the introduction of the new exhausts but I will use these challenge matches to sort out which set-up works best for me so I’m ready for the league meeting against Poole Pirates at the end of the month”.
He now turns his attention to next week when the Brummies take on Wolverhampton at Monmore Green in the return leg on Monday before home and away challenges with fellow new boys King’s Lynn (Wednesday 23rd, Thursday 24th respectively) and then he rounds off next week with an appearance in Adam Skornicki’s testimonial meeting, again at Wolverhampton next Sunday 27th March.
Birmingham 44. Krzysztof Kasprzak, 7+2, Ales Dryml 7+2, Ben Barker 9+1, Danny 7+2, Daniel Nermark 3+1, Claus Vissing 5 and James Wright 6+2.