PL Pairs 8/7/16 (Somerset, Oaktree Arena)

[admin]

Ulrich Ostergaard will be partnered by Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen in the annual event at Somerset on Friday, July 8 (7pm).

Peterborough number one Craig Cook is not eligible for the meeting due to not completing the required eight meetings since joining the club last month.

GROUP A
Glasgow - Richard Lawson & Aaron Summers
Workington - Claus Vissing & Kenneth Hansen
Somerset - Josh Grajczonek & Rohan Tungate
Newcastle - Ludvig Lindgren & Matej Kus
Peterborough - Ulrich Ostergaard & Nikolaj B. Jakobsen

GROUP B:
Sheffield - Simon Stead & Jason Garrity
Edinburgh - Sam Masters & Kevin Wolbert
Ipswich - Nico Covatti & Morten Risager
Rye House - Edward Kennett & Stuart Robson
Plymouth - Jack Holder & Todd Kurtz

[admin]

PETERBOROUGH skipper Ulrich Ostergaard has set his sights on winning another of the major prizes in British Speedway.

The reigning Premier League Riders' Championship king joins forces with 'T Balfe Construction' Panthers team-mate Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen to compete in the Premier League Pairs at Somerset tonight (7pm).

And while Ostergaard admits the Danish duo might not start among the favourites for glory, he is confident they can make their presence felt.
Ostergaard said: "It would be great to win a trophy for everyone connected to the club and that is what we will be trying to do.

"We'll go to Somerset with a positive mind and put in the best performance we possibly can.

"We probably won't be the favourites, but I think myself and Busk can do well.

"I reached the semi-finals last year with Michael Palm Toft and it is an event I enjoy. Hopefully we can make it one step further and get into the final this year."

Peterborough line up in Group A where they will face competition from Glasgow, Workington, hosts Somerset and Newcastle.

Sheffield, Edinburgh, Ipswich, Rye House and Plymouth make up Group B with the top two sides from each section advancing to the semi-finals.

Panthers web

[admin]

I don't buy that the best pair won and they would have won anywhere. They won because it was their own track. Any such competition (and I include the 4TT now that we're unfortunate enough to be in it) should be on a neutral circuit. If any of the semi-finalists had have been at home then I'd say that they would have won:

GROUP A:
SOMERSET 26: Josh Grajczonek 14, Rohan Tungate 12
GLASGOW 18: Richard Lawson 9, Aaron Summers 9
WORKINGTON 17: Claus Vissing 9, Ricky Wells 8
PETERBOROUGH 15: Ulrich Ostergaard 10, Nikolaj B Jakobsen 5
NEWCASTLE 14: Matej Kus 10, Lewis Rose 4

GROUP B:
EDINBURGH 23: Ryan Fisher 14, Sam Masters 9
SHEFFIELD 21: Simon Stead 11, Kyle Howarth 10
PLYMOUTH 20: Todd Kurtz 12, Jack Holder 8
IPSWICH 15: Nico Covatti 13, Morten Risager 2
RYE HOUSE 11: Stuart Robson 11, Cameron Heeps 0

SEMI-FINAL 1: Somerset beat Sheffield 7-2
SEMI-FINAL 2: Edinburgh beat Glasgow 5-4
FINAL: Somerset beat Edinburgh 7-2

[Bigcatdiary]

Jul 9, 2016 4:53:26 GMT admin said:

I don't buy that the best pair won and they would have won anywhere. They won because it was their own track. Any such competition (and I include the 4TT now that we're unfortunate enough to be in it) should be on a neutral circuit. If any of the semi-finalists had have been at home then I'd say that they would have won:

GROUP A:
SOMERSET 26: Josh Grajczonek 14, Rohan Tungate 12
GLASGOW 18: Richard Lawson 9, Aaron Summers 9
WORKINGTON 17: Claus Vissing 9, Ricky Wells 8
PETERBOROUGH 15: Ulrich Ostergaard 10, Nikolaj B Jakobsen 5
NEWCASTLE 14: Matej Kus 10, Lewis Rose 4

GROUP B:
EDINBURGH 23: Ryan Fisher 14, Sam Masters 9
SHEFFIELD 21: Simon Stead 11, Kyle Howarth 10
PLYMOUTH 20: Todd Kurtz 12, Jack Holder 8
IPSWICH 15: Nico Covatti 13, Morten Risager 2
RYE HOUSE 11: Stuart Robson 11, Cameron Heeps 0

SEMI-FINAL 1: Somerset beat Sheffield 7-2
SEMI-FINAL 2: Edinburgh beat Glasgow 5-4
FINAL: Somerset beat Edinburgh 7-2

KUS beat them in their first race but after that it was men against boys as even when they were outrapped they always worked their way past everyone, and TUNGATE invariably trapped in every race.
As I have commented elsewhere the lack of top riders because of the British GP and several who were not eligible seriously helped Somerset as it was clear early doors they would walk it.

Unfortunately a massive gate clearly gives the BSPA no incentive to change anything.
Late withdrawals didn't help either with no reason given on the night for the absentees.
For the Panthers the effort was evident from Ostergaard but Jakobsen was poor and they seemed to have learnt nothing from their recent KO cup action as they both invariably rode the wrong lines.