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Some on here have been saying for quite a while now that Promoters should be Promoting the sport. Workington bring in a female rider and are accused of it being a PR stunt. They just can't win, can they?

Regarding Celina, two things can be true, she can/is absolutely deserving of an opportunity to ride in the Championship because of her exploits on the continent and it can also be true that Workington have a savvy promotion and knew it would be good for promoting the club to get in business with Celina. She deserves every opportunity to perform at this level just like every other 4.00 foreign rider who is new to Britain, if she achieves close to a 4 point average this season then it is a highly successful one. She was certainly on the pace at Northside, away from home will be difficult but again it is for most newbies to Britain. The difference between Celina and most other 4 point newbies to the league is that her results will be much more heavily publicised and scrutinised.

As much as I’ve criticised rogers in the past, how on earth can you blame him for any of the teams performances this season? He didn’t pick the riders this season, the management team as a whole did, rogers merely did the phone calls. as for the way the team is performing, the way the team is being run and the changes being made or, not made on race nights, this is NOTHING to do with Laurence this season. Those decisions are being made by Sam Ermolenko and Chris Adam’s. i didn’t expect t this current 1-7 ( that’s with Pawlicki, not NICHOLLS ), to win a meeting all season but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by our efforts in every meeting up until tonight. So much so, that I went to tonight’s meeting actually daring to think that we were in with the chance to get not only the win on the night but, to also have a chance of getting the bonus point. More fool me !!! This was our worst performance of the season . Three riders should have gone home ashamed of themselves tonight but if you had been there, you would have seen that Flint did well and didn’t deserve to be taken out of his last ride. cook was riding in the team not at reserve where he has done reasonably well so far so, he can be excused to a degree Brennan was outstanding as was Nicholls . how can a rider as experienced as Milik forget to turn his fuel on! What a numpty. You can’t blame Laurence Rogers for that now can you ? you can’t blame rogers if many many top riders turned us down and we had to make the most of those who would ride for us . Ritchie Worrall went on public record as saying it was disgusting that NO TEAM had offered his brother a team place then surprise, surprise, he is suddenly a Birmingham rider …. The one team desperately struggling to sign seven riders…. You can’t surely put the blame for that solely on the shoulders of Laurence rogers now can you ? Pawlicki getting injured pre season, was nothing to do with Rogers. That injury completely altered the way the team would have been set up and meant several riders were having to ride out of their planned position snd, Milik having to ride at number one where he was never going to cope. That was not laurence rogers fault. Pawlicki is back on Thursday and the team should be better balanced . I’ve been to every meeting so far home snd away and will be at kings Lynn on Thursday when our season truly begins. get your backside down to Perry Barr for the next meeting and support both the management snd the riders and let’s all hope our fortunes take a turn for the better

We can all be negative at times but in Speedway and life in general it is far healthier to concentrate and celebrate the positives. It is all to easy to criticise and I have been guilty myself but it is important to support riders and the team as a whole , even more so when they may go through a difficult time. Breaking news: Riders are human beings .

Wow, 1st of April and already it’s a disaster according to some. Give the guys a chance, they’ve not riden as a full 1-7 yet, for some of them getting used to different tyres, and engine setups is a bit of a process. You can’t just copy the next guy. Birmingham haven’t taken a hammering so far, Pawlicki starts next meeting, so I’d see how it goes as they get things sorted. Piling on them after 2 home meetings is a bit stupid really, for so called “supporters” . Sam & Chris they’re switched on guys and they want to win as much as anyone else. There’s a loooonnng way to go yet.

When Stewart assembled the team I liked the look of it and they would really have to have an off night at home to lose. It is refreshing to see the Bandit fans having a team to be excited about and the team has strength in depth especially at reserve ,if a rider in the 1-5 is having an off night. Hope they have an off night this Saturday right enough.

Apologies....for my rant last night...I got hammered and sulked/acted like an immature top-hat! Of course, I don't blame LR for last nights poor performance....'weak' of me to point the finger.... You're quite right...I need to get down there and support, as opposed to criticize!

Let's remember, we had Dayle Wood riding in this league last year. We've seen worse than her.

Christ like a droning stuck record Just shut the idiot up

Blame the weather. Bottlers.

Well said Steve

I'd get Dan T to shave his beard exactly like Joe's so nobody would notice they've swapped!

Is that not true of most riders?

No one can convince me that Celina is getting opportunities based solely on her ability. When she got a wild card for the SGP2 there were many riders who scored more but were overlooked, the Peter Craven memorial has really been for Prem heat leaders / second strings and Aces reserves, so Celina stuck out like a sore thumb there. I can't blame these promotions for trying to get extra publicity / increased attendances & I'm not saying she can't ride at all, but she clearly benefits from being a female. Now I'm sure Workington are hoping she proves a good signing & will score points at reserve, but they must also have considered the publicity she'd bring in too. I'm sure other Champ teams will be pleased she's here, I've already seen comments from people who attended "just to see Celina". I honestly find it insulting to female riders if she gets treated as a "novelty" rather than for her ability. Sadly this is nothing new, I'm sure Kai Huckenbeck wouldn't have got a wild card if he was Polish, and Kolodziej may have got a pick ahead of Kubera if there ages were swapped. I don't like it when riders are picked for anything other than ability, wether that's age, nationality or gender.

Think Celina should just be left to get on with it.She doesn’t deserve all this bickering over whether she is good enough or not,she it giving it her best shot.Time will tell.

Race lasts for 4 laps though , so what’s your point.

I think the general consensus is it’s generated a lot of interest purely because she’s a woman but say for example they had signed Adam Roynon there wouldn’t be half the interest there’s been for Celina so you could call it a bit of a pr stunt I’d say it’s got people talking and social media and other outlets have taken an interest in this signing… Look at the facts though she’s had 13 rides to date in 3 meetings and she’s scored 2 points there are so many unemployed riders who could’ve scored that and better and that’s a fact it’s nothing to do with her gender.

Unless it was an Aussie called "the next darcy ward" Well that certain aussie came from a fair bit back in 4th place to win, blasting round the outside was a joy to watch

Well said.

Fair play and respect to you.

Not at all 'just embarrassed' the next day ! I need to wind my neck in (as they say...) and may be 'drink' less

Fair play to the witches they have put together a cracking side. So no real complaints losing to them. Meeting was lost at reserve for us. Kemp and Thompson only scored 3 between them . That's seriously poor. I still dont think thr RS system is fit for purpose. How can anyone take our league seriously when a few number of teams have national league quality riders riding at 7? Ah well we moce on. That's a gamble SD has taken this year, heavy top 5 and weaker reserves. My only issue with last night issue was the track, they did well in making it super smooth but God knows why they took most of the camber off. You could see Fricke and Douglas trying to find it but now it's gone. That was Leicesters home advantage, the camber.

Sunday was the 1st time competitive racing at this level was ran at GT tyres northside arena, so all riders started at a level playing field, some of the berwick riders have been practicing at the track several times in the last couple of years . All worky riders will get better with more competitive track time

Birmingham's biggest let down tonight was their starting - it was absolutely woeful and Oxford punished them for it.

What a night to be an Ipswich supporter, Witches and tractor boys done us proud. Dan T not just good at Leicester, he's pretty sharp at Foxhall

I would agree with them scores. If he went and scored a maximum, I'm sure the keyboard warriors would still be on here stating that it won't last etc. Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't

I didn't believe it at first considering how many young riders 'announced their retirement' over Facebook on 1st April... I assume in Archie's case it's true though as he hasn't said April fools yet...

The point is though they didn't need to be rising stars. They could have just signed as a reserve by choice of the club. Clubs are forced into having a rider they probably don't want. Brennan, Jenkins, Flint etc would have been picked anyways because there average was low so they could fit in more big guns. You can't tell me Joe T and Ashton are good enough to be in the premier league. Riders like Simon Lambert, Max Clegg etc could have been picked as a number 7 instead.

Didn’t ride ndl last year rode in 22

Think it was just based on previous performances (same happened when Lawson came) although more banking on the track now, which I'm sure him and Hagon appreciate!

Not rare, but how many teams come to Sheffield and win? The team is built to win at home, and I believe at the moment we will be very difficult to beat on our own track. Usually if you win all of your home meeting and accumulate a number of bonus points then you will more often than not make the Play Offs. Once your in the Play Offs its anybody's game as proved last season when 3rd placed Sheffield and 4th placed Ipswich contested the Final. If for any reason it is not working for Sheffield, then expect changes, one thing the Sheffield never afraid to do is make changes and sometimes this can appear to be brutal ask Lewis Kerr.

I really don't why see why you would tell someone to grow up when all the fans want is maybe some reasoning or explanation for a loss. Even if he made something up to hide his frustration at least we are seeing the gaffer speak to us Literally every coach/manager in every sport does it so I don't see the issue ?

Rather than use Nicholls as a guest (where he rides under the 7.50 average of the rider he was replacing), they redeclared the team with Nicholls as part of the 1-6. They've got enough scope in the averages to redeclare when Pawlicki is available.

Susceptible to home defeats can’t really be made an argument when we’ve only kept two riders from last season, one of them being Etheridge who is renowned for being at his best at Shielfield. Hume has scored well at Berwick for the past 3/4 years, and Borke’s now recorded his 2 biggest scores in the UK at Shielfield, along with Hodder who was nigh on unbeatable in the NL at Berwick, and extremely impressive against Workington. I’m not saying Berwick will go unbeaten at home, or even necessarily make the play offs, but they certainly shouldn’t be losing as many as previous seasons.

Dunno we should be heavy favourites obviously, not gonna pretend otherwise, but Leicester’s top 5 are all decent at Foxhall and have won plenty of races between them in the past. Their issue will again be at Reserve. Dan Thompson and Rew will comfortably outscore Kemp and Joe.

I do feel he's too negative, as when Birmingham have been bad, he's pointed it out, which is fair. But when they had a couple of decent away performances, didn't give them any credit.

If Scott is up for it..... you have to offer him what he wants to stick around and replace Cook for me

If it was your team you may feel like venting your feelings too. It was a very poor performance, be grateful you have a competitive team.

Genuine question, does your venting on this thread and the other one make you feel any better?

Nope Charles Wright could go in heat 13 with Tungate, no reserve needed. That's why I questioned it, using a reserve early on gives them less options later on. Obviously in this case didn't harm them. But if I was Klindt I'd be saying, "I scored above my average away from home, why didn't I deserve an extra ride?"

The bizarre thing is had Ipswich not been silly and signed Kemp as their "rs" they wouldn't have dropped him, Leicester wouldn't have had the option to strengthen up by dropping Dan T & he'd still be their "rs" this year. So by perhaps costing themselves the league by using Joe T last year, Ipswich may have helped themselves win it this year by using Dan T.

After seeing Troy ride for us in the openings 2 meetings I can only judge him from what I’ve seen while in the Comets colours and in my opinion he’s not given up he’s given it a go and so far I’m happy with him. 8+2 away 7 at home I’ve seen a lot of worse scores so far from a lot “better” riders ….. so keep an eye on them in fact get them sacked!!! Keep it up Troy and welcome to Workington!

iits prob both . not has Celina opened the eyes up on female riders , she has been welcomed with open arms into uk speedway . lets look at it another way . mr Godfrey invited the new 2024 team and done the fixture list so Workington were the first team to open their season knowing that Celina would attract a few extra on Scunthorpes opening gate .thats smart from him, but it didnt go ahead . more promoters will give Celina space and push she is a lady of talent and will put bums on seats , as they say . Berwick done this when they turned out to be her first team meeting in the uk .. IF Coventry had done something like the , you would be shouying it out . Celina WILL improve and fans will take notice where ever she goes . good luck to her in 2024 .

Can’t see them being susceptible to home defeats this season…..

I can't agree with Berwick being that low. Think a lot of predictions placing Redcar high were before Jorgensen got injured. There was a great many people placing Edinburgh, Workington & Plymouth in the bottom 3, so if that's accurate, it's 6 clubs fighting for the remaining 3 play-offs spots. Poole being certainties for me.

Glasgow Poole Scunny Redcar Berwick Edinburgh Oxford Workington Plymouth Oxford look massively over rated to me!!

Well what can I say after that showing I,m not going back to watch the Comets again......... Stopped reading the posts half way through....what do people really want. Here is what I witnessed , great racing , a big crowd and good weather. Some fine prospects who are already showing that in the future are going to be stars in the sport. Celina and Sam along with Antii and Tate are new to the championship will take time to adjust to the tracks, Cookie , Claus and Batch all showed fighting spirit. Berwick have a decent side and may get some silverware this year but I,m more than happy with the Workington side, optimist maybe , realist definitely. Most of well done to the management and all who help putting on the Workington show.

Sellafield fumes are stronger than ever right now I see!

Gotta agree with these replies, Sam & Freddie are both 6+ NL riders, so no reason why Sam shouldn't be able to beat Freddie. If you think Celina wasn't going to challenge Freddie, then I'd question the wisdom of signing a 4.00 foreigner who isn't expected to beat a 2.00 Brit.

What happens when you have two seven man teams, not even using RR, and there's a four-man pile up in Heats 1 or 2? It's then five a side.... And if they are using RR it then becomes four a side (exactly as it would with six man teams).. However, as four man pile ups occur once every Preston Guild, the vast majority of meetings would never be impacted.. And if it does then "tough luck, but guess what? That is sport"... And, if you run six man (I mean rider teams, sorry Celina) you would then have "subs on the bench" to come in and not need RR in the first place.. The issue facing the sport is too few riders being available at the right ability level that Div 2 want to race at... Div 1 are "just about" getting away with it by having only seven teams in the league.. Any more and they would struggle too...