Speedway: Ace Wright trumps home stars to take Open crown

The 23 year old Englishman dashed hopes of a home winner when he outpaced Monarch pair Ryan Fisher and Andrew Tully in the Grand Final showdown.

Although Wright and Fisher left the tapes on level terms, the Belle Vue rider rounded the Monarchs' No.1 on the second turn and was never in any real trouble on his way to the chequered flag.

Tully's chances ended when he tumbled off on the first bend.

Wright lost out to Fisher in controversial circumstances in the Ashfield Classic last season, and said afterwards: "It was nice to get the luck this time. I was pleased I made the start in the Final.

"I actually started off the meeting quite slowly with a third place in my first ride in the qualifying heats, but I just seemed to get better after that.

"The Armadale track was in excellent shape considering it is so early in the season and I'm so delighted to have won."

It proved a decidedly mixed evening for the rest of the Monarchs contingent, especialy pre-meeting favourite Kevin Wolbert, who had a Scottish Open experience he won't want to repeat in a hurry.

The German rider blew the engine he had intended to use and was forced to switch to his longtrack motor instead, which proved totaly ineffective round the tight Lothian Arena circuit.

Wolbert failed to score and was very lucky to escape unhurt when he was involved in a high-speed collision with former Monarch William Lawson in Heat 20.

Both men clattered into the fence on the third turn with Lawson sustaining a blow to his head.

Monarchs' new Hungarian rider Jozsef Tabaka scored two points in the qualifiers and didn't look too bad and teammate Max Dilger was also quite impressive as he picked up five points but Finn Kalle Katajisto toiled somewhat.

Monarchs skipper Matthew Wethers, after winning his opening heat in splendid fashion, was squeezed out of contention in the semi final when he came off second best against race winner Fisher.

King's Lynn's Kevin Doolan was motoring early on but he, too, lost out in the semi-finals.

The track, despite Wright's praise, did cause a fair few spills and Workington's Andre Compton, the champion in 2002, felt the surface was slippy.

But, after being told that Armadale was still under snow not so long ago, he said: "I'll give them the benefit of the doubt."

Glasgow Tigers fans had been counting on Travis McGowan and James Grieves to make a big impression but the duo never really got going and only scored eight and six points respectively, which put the semi-finals well out of their reach.

But be assured things will be different when the Tigers return on Spring Trophy business on Friday evening