Ashley Jones Meeting

[Star Lady]

Weather much as before. A couple more mist showers and even a glimpse of sun, wind has picked up a bit but so far, fingers crossed, nothing to threaten the meeting going ahead.

Forecast on metcheck has actually improved since yesterday.

[Little Star]

Weather much as before. A couple more mist showers and even a glimpse of sun, wind has picked up a bit but so far, fingers crossed, nothing to threaten the meeting going ahead.

Forecast on metcheck has actually improved since yesterday.

Thanks for weather updates SL, very much appreciated. Please keep us informed....gonna be one of those "will it wont it" days I think!

[Bunce]

"Just like to add that Darren Rolph will now be racing in this meeting should be a treat for all to see his all action style."

 

In place of who? I thought both teams had been finalised?

 

Weather in Norwich (1 hour south of Lynn) at 1-30pm, bright with hazy sunshine. Earlier light rain/drizzle has stopped. Met office rainfall radar shows just patchy light drizzle for east anglia this afternoon.

 

Should be a great meeting if the weather stays like this.

 

[tigerblues]

Not sure if it has been mentioned elsewhere but are the profits from this meeting going to anything in particular? I'm sure the David Nix memorial or another meeting for a late rider has done before, just wondering

 

Looks a cracking line-up that will do Ashley proud. Hope the weather holds up and those who can make it to KL tonight have a brilliant night.

[Mimmo]

"Just like to add that Darren Rolph will now be racing in this meeting should be a treat for all to see his all action style."

 

In place of who? I thought both teams had been finalised?

 

Weather in Norwich (1 hour south of Lynn) at 1-30pm, bright with hazy sunshine. Earlier light rain/drizzle has stopped. Met office rainfall radar shows just patchy light drizzle for east anglia this afternoon.

 

Should be a great meeting if the weather stays like this.

 

I wonder if Darren has replaced Sam Martin, who was a doubtful starter anyway.

[MrMungo]

Not sure if it has been mentioned elsewhere but are the profits from this meeting going to anything in particular?

 

Pretty sure it's "Association for Blind Dogs", which has been the case for the last couple of years

[Mimmo]

Pretty sure it's "Association for Blind Dogs", which has been the case for the last couple of years

 

Yes it is Mr Mungo

[2MW]

Raining here now in Peterborough, windy and black skies. So nothing new there then. Hope it is better up the road there.

I'm getting really anxious about this meeting. I never had the pleasure of meeting Ashley or seeing him ride, but have got caught up in the emotion of the event. This must surely be a testament to him. When creating the website it was fitting that the first line should be "Ashley Jones: a Star in our hearts... forever!"

And yes, there will also be a collection for Ashley's favourite charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind.

[crikeythatsfast]

Rain.......what was that <fingers in ears> can't hear you

 

Hope it holds off, blooming weather, always on a flipping Wednesday

 

No rain in Dereham, in fact skies are looking brighter at the mo.

[crikeythatsfast]

All I can say at the moment is ''THANK YOU GOD'' for holding the predicated rain off for young AJ's memorial meeting, my faith has been restored.

 

Can't comment too much on the riders, all gave 100%, they were all there riding in memory of our ''young Star'', a few hairy moments tonight, hope the injured riders are ok.

 

Was also nice to see a fair crowd too.

 

Blooming freezing cold, and am trying to defrost

 

 

[sean blyth]

sensational meeting best ive seen around lynn for years

 

kozza world class

[Andrew E]

A fantastic meeting with loads of great races agree with sean b best ive seen round lynn for years a credit to all the riders. was really impressed with jerran hart looks a fantastic prospect, but kozza was the man of the night excellant performance.

also got to say rye house fans you are so lucky to have tai what a rider

[Greg]

Great meeting show alot of talent out there Jerran is a real star for the furture Tai was awsome but i think he would look better in a Stars race Jacket not a Rye House Rocket one

[Shortcrust]

Tai was indeed awesome tonight. A future world champ in the making if I ever saw one.

 

A fitting tribute to Ash tonight, just a shame the crowd wasn't bigger but I suppose people are having to pick and choose the meetings they attend at the moment due to the ever rising petrol costs. But for those that stayed away they missed a decent enough meeting. Shame Bridger had to withdraw after the very scary coming together with Mitchell, both of whom extremely lucky to come away without serious injury!!

Saw Arlo in pits with an ice pack on his wrist, sincerely hope nothing is broken, he's been improving nicely recently.

 

Good on ya Kozza for your great win over Lambo, a sweet sweet win, nicely hunted down!

 

My only gripe..........that bleeding dust!!!!!

 

 

 

[Star Fever]

Roos win it for Ashley

 

Track - Dried out due to wind

Weather - Still very windy, skies grey & threatening

 

* * *

 

Heats

 

Heat 01: Woffinden, Bridger, Proctor, Rolph 2-4 60.29

Bridger leads from gate but Tai cuts back to take inside on 2nd bend and gets clear after 3rd bend. Pretty spaced out at end.

Heat 02: (rerun) Davey, Hart, Bugeja, Graczonek(FX) 2-4 4-8 64.00

Hart leads from Davey & Bugeja - on 3rd bend Arlo locks up a bit and Graczonek t-bones him - but both soon to their feet. Graczonek rather harshly excluded imo.

FTG in rerun, but this time Hart loses out.

Heat 03: Brundle, Mallett, Holder, Smith(F) 5-1 9-9 62.62

FTG - Lions gate with Kozza close behind but he does a 360 on first bend and thats that. Holder gradually closing on Mallett by the end.

Heat 04: Lambert, Oliver, Graczonek, Bugeja 4-2 13-11 62.10

Lions gate again but Oliver has good battle with Graczonek, passing end lap2.

Heat 05: Woffinden, Brundle, Proctor, Mallett 2-4 15-15 61.19

Brundle gates but Tai keeps gas on round the wide outside and passes spectacularly by 2nd bend. Proctor not far off at the end.

Heat 06: (rerun) Oliver, Rolph, Davey, Bridger(EX) 2-4 17-19 64.62

Bridger does a Kozza on first bend, spinning + sliding into the fence. Davey does very well to miss, squeezing through narrow gap but bounces off fence and also goes down. Both quickly up but Bridger goes down again and receives attention.

FTG in rerun.

Heat 07: Smith, Lambert, Holder, Hart 2-4 19-23 62.56

Cracking race. Lambert just beats Koz to first bend but he's all over him till the last lap, trying a cut-back on 2nd bend but just failing, but then succeeding in fine style on last bend with a dash to the line.

[Now announced that Bugeja to withdraw with wrist injury and Bridger too, with shoulder injury. Very sensible decision by the ref though to allow Bridger to be replaced by ANY other team-mate - hopefully this will be made official one day]

Heat 08: Proctor, Graczonek, Davey(for Bugeja), Rolph(EF) 2-4 21-27 62.84

Roos gate but both Brits soon past Davey along back straight. Davey catches and challenges Rolph who then pulls up with a puncture end lap2.

Heat 09: Brundle, Oliver, DaveyMallett 3-3 24-30 63.79

FTG - Oliver on JB's back wheel most of the race

Heat 10: Smith, Holder, Lambert(for Bridger), Rolph 1-5 25-35 62.71

Holder leads on inside though Kozza soon swoops round to lead and pull clear. Lambert tries everything to pass Holder but just doesnt have the speed it seems - and is a bit miffed at the end.

Heat 11: Woffinden, Proctor, Hart, Lambert 1-5 26-40 61.81

Poor start for Lambo this time and he makes up no ground at all. Hart meanwhile gates with Tai but again his outside line is enough to propel him into the lead. He tries to slow to allow Proctor to join him but Hart is swift to challenge again, so Tai pulls clear, blasting round the outside till the end. Proctor gets the hint and does the same on the last lap to just squeeze past coming to the flag.

Heat 12: Smith, Brundle, Graczonek, Davey 3-3 29-43 63.00

Brundle gates and goes wide bend 1 to thwart Kozza but ends up blocking his partner more. Kozza, unfazed, goes round outside on 4th bend for another classy win.

Heat 13: Woffinden, Brundle (for Bridger), Lambert, Oliver 3-3 32-46 62.35

Another round the boards win for Tai, whilst Lambert darts inside Oliver 2nd bend.

Heat 14: Hart, Holder, Davey (for Bugeja), Mallett 3-3 35-49 63.85

Lions gate, but Holder's tight inside line gets him past Mallett but there's no catching Hart. Davey also past Mallet start of lap3.

Heat 15: Woffinden, Brundle, Smith, Lambert(F) 2-4 37-53

Bit harder for Tai this time as Lions make gate - but not much - as Lambert quickly passed - followed by Koz - and Brundle taken start of second lap with Koz on JB's tail for most of the race. Lambert slides off last lap.

 

YOUNG LIONS = 37

 

1. Lewis Bridger - 2,FX, RR,RR = 2

Shame - was looking good. Hope nothing too serious

2. Darren Rolph - 0,2,R,0 = 2

Not too far off the pace

3. James Brundle - 3,2,3,2,2,2 = 14

Good performance - gating and racing well

4. Darren Mallett - 2*,0,0,0 = 2+1

Not far off either, but like Rolph clearly needs a PL engine rather than a CL one

5. Simon Lambert - 3,2,1,0,1*,Ef = 7+1

Started very well but gradually went off the boil, I'd guess due to bike probs...

6. Jerran Hart - 2,0,1,3 = 6

Impressive - quick out of the gate and no probs with getting stuck in

7. Josh Graczonek - Ex,1,2,1* = 4+1

Steady if not spectacular

 

YOUNG ROOS = 53

 

1. Tai Woffinden - 3,3,3,3,3 = 15

Absolutely flying. Great entertainment.

2. Ty Proctor - 1,1,3,2* = 7+1

Steady start but got stuck in later on

3. Kozza Smith - F,3,3,3,1 = 10

...and talking of entertainment! Great stuff.

4. James Holder - 1,1,2*,2 = 6+1

Also started slowly but better later

5. John Oliver - 2,3,2,0 = 7

Some brave racing early on

6. Mitchell Davey - 3,1,1,1*,0,1* = 7+2

Bit unsteady

7. Arlo Bugeja - 1,0,N,N = 1

Another unfortunate.

 

So a good Aussie win and done in a style befitting the sadly missed Ashley - they did him proud.

 

Of course having Tai on their side certainly helped but overall the Roos were the more solid side, winning all bar 4 races. In retro-spect the result would have been a bit closer if Tai had been with the Lions, with late replacement Graczonek riding for his home team but it didnt matter at all really of course, as it was all done for Ash.

 

Good meeting.

Edited June 18, 2008 by Star Fever

[starpete]

fantastic meeting, brilliant racing, all riders gave 100%, great to see kozza showing brundle the best way around the NA, ash would of been proud

[Bunce]

A very entertaining meeting, with all the riders giving 100%. Tai was a class above everybody else, but what a transformation in Kozza Smith! A totally different rider from the start of the season, he looks fast and relaxed on the bike, with some great first turns and round the boards overtakes. If he can stay injury free he must be Lynns trump card this season.

 

Somebody must have been looking down on us last night, because as soon as the meeting finished, it started to rain. All in all a fitting tribute to a much missed member of the Stars team.

[Bagpuss]

I suppose people are having to pick and choose the meetings they attend at the moment due to the ever rising petrol costs

 

I would imagine the weather forecast had a fairly significant impact on the crowd too.

 

A very, very good meeting despite the dust clouds, just shows what you can achieve with fourteen hungry and motivated young men all desperate to win.

 

All of them had their moments but I would single out Mitchell Davey who looked a lot better than his scores this season suggest, and of course that man Tai Woffinden. He is an absolute pleasure to watch and even at seventeen a superb professional (hopefully becoming an EL and GP rider won't change that!). It was ridiculous how far in front he was in each of his races, and I swear that he missed the gate in heat fifteen on purpose. And he came out with the best quote of the night when asked about track conditions, saying that too many people moan about tracks and that they should just get on with their jobs and give every meeting 100%, whether the track be slick, grippy, wet or dusty

 

All in all a great way to remember Ash and celebrate his short career.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Bagpuss

[Yearbyred]

Saw Arlo in pits with an ice pack on his wrist, sincerely hope nothing is broken, he's been improving nicely recently.

 

Arlo broke his wrist apparently.

[crikeythatsfast]

Arlo broke his wrist apparently.

 

Oh blimey that's not good news, hope he recovers well.