topsoil

Speaking as a neutral (I support a Championship team) I cannot understand the annual whinge about the playoffs. Why do they do nothing for the integrity of the sport? It isn't cheating or anything underhand. Why are the "happenings difficult to understand"? It's there in black and white, top 4 teams into the playoffs, semi finals and final. Every U S sport does it this way, rugby union (all countries across the board), rugby league (both here and Australia), there are probably others, but I don't follow that many. Does it do "nothing for the integrity" of those sports? Fans don't just go to watch the final, the playoffs just attract more casual fans because the meetings are more important.

So your solution to covering injuries is?

It's been a tough season scoring wise for Kyle Bickley, but credit to him, the club and the fans for sticking to it. I suppose it helps when the rest of the team are scoring enough points to still win, had Workington been struggling, would the same scenario be true? But riding for your home town team certainly gains you a bit more leeway with fans etc.

I can't see why Berwick wouldn't be the best option for him on the next step of his career. He would get all the support he needed from local fans, he would be popular, Berwick have shown in the past they stick by their riders, he would have plenty of local sponsors. If he (hopefully) progresses further, then he moves on.

His crash at Berwick was one of the worst ive ever seen. How anybody could come back from that beats me.

Great way to end the season for a team that was supposed to finish last.

Exactly, but because this is Poland and Poland can do no wrong, nothing is said. Must admit, this was my first taste of Polish speedway this season, usually I haven't got time to watch anything, but tonight I had a bit of spare time. I watched the first half dozen heats, all processional, massive long gaps of silence in the commentary and when he does speak, he shouts at nothing exciting at all. For all that moan at the Sky / BT coverage, they should get a load of this and be thankful for what they have. i switched off after heat 6, I couldn't take any more of the shouting and the racing was boring me. Give me live action, where I can speak away to friends after races any day. Had this been a British meeting there would have been no end of "another nail in the coffin" comments.

Was always going to be the case, as other teams catch up with their games in hand. Might sneak 7th but more likely to be 8th, unless unexpected away points can be picked up. Decent finishing position, given that we were expected to finish bottom by many in pre-season predictions. Finished the season strongly at home with cracking big wins against Edinburgh, Glasgow and Peterborough, all possible playoff teams.

I would be very surprised if we see GP riders in Britain for a long time and I am happy with that, if it means security for the clubs in the long run, as it is obvious it would be financial suicide to try and match the wages riders can attract in Sweden and Poland, along with their other demands. I could see a few fans being attracted back, but not near enough to meet the additional costs. There has been a lot said about the 8 point rule and I don't know if this rule is the cause of this, but the league table, minus one team, is a lot closer than usual this season, which should, in turn, have created a more exciting finish to the season.

I think you misunderstood me, I would like to see every team run a junior side as part of second half racing, not as a separate team on a different night. These juniors would be part of the NJL, MDL, SJL set up, rather than National League. It would be set up for riders starting off in the sport and on 125, 250 and 500cc, a stepping stone towards the National League. I realise in the past many clubs have tried to run second teams in the National League and yes, it is very tough financially. Only clubs who are lucky enough to own their stadiums can really justify it, which is a shame, because I still think in the long run, it is the best way to establish riders in the sport.

I would like to see every team run a junior team and have fixtures every week. Every team should enter into the NJL, MDL or SJL, even if it means adopting teams like Reading, Weymouth etc. This gives younger riders much more track time and lets them develop quicker. Would probably encourage more youngsters into the sport if they knew they were guaranteed more track time as well and would be a natural stepping stone into the National League.

They may well end up chasing the big money, if they attract the interest from Poland. Good on them if they do, they should come back better riders, with more experience of continental tracks and big match pressures if that is the case.

A Bordernapolis meeting was announced last night

Mel Gibson must have snuck in when nobody was looking. FREEDOM!

Not a bad performance. Add in Robert Lambert and we would have been a lot closer to second. Considering "the sport is dying" and the number of nails in the coffin, there is actually a decent future for the country at national level, if we can continue to give them support, guidance and leadership. Runners-up at senior level, third at U21 level and a possible world individual champion. We've had worse seasons!

Great to see tonight the Supporters Club make a donation to the club. Makes total sense that the two parties pull together. The Supporters Club have a lot of members who are daft for the club. Can only be good for the future.

A great way to finish the season, with big wins over Glasgow, Edinburgh and Peterborough. By the time everybody else catches up, I can't see it being enough to qualify for the playoffs, but even if it isn't, this team has over-achieved this season. No big names, no egos, just a good team ethic. Strength in depth has been the watchword all season and tonight again it was reserves that made the difference. The racing was better tonight than of late. Coincidence that there has been a bit of rain this week? Scott Nicholls was a class above. Outgated a few times, but a nice cutback on NBJ in heat 15, a swoop round Theo in heat 11 and a hard move inside Jye in heat 5. But for me the move of the night was David Howe and his cutback up the inside of Simon Lambert in heat 11. Pure class.

Peterborough will miss Ostergaard, but they are still full of Berwick specialists. Be great to finish the season with a win, but will be a tough one.

Has there ever been any news on the training track that Glasgow were looking to start, on the land next to Ashfield? That would be an ideal start in the search for local riders. I like the fact that both Edinburgh and Glasgow have teams in the NJL this season. Small steps I suppose. Both these teams (along with my own, Berwick) really need to concentrate on producing young, local riders, to engage fans. Regular second half racing, NJL matches and training days will all help.

Tell them to embrace the unpredictability of it all

You're right that the track is a hell of a lot smoother and easier to ride than in days gone by. The sight of opposition riders failing to turn the bikes going into the bends no doubt provided a huge home advantage, but provided little in the way of a spectacle.

Two theories? Maybe you only remember the good parts of the meetings, the rest is forgotten? Or perhaps as bikes develop and get faster, the quality of racing deteriorates, especially around fast, narrow tracks like Berwick? Maybe when the bikes were a bit slower, the racing was better?

Nothing will ever change regarding the racing at Berwick as long as there is a football pitch inside the track. Just something you have to live with.

Look what you could've won

Cracking win against a team who I still think won't be far away at the end of the season. Reserves definitely the difference tonight. I suppose that's the upside of not having a couple of big scoring heat leaders. Decent crowd as well including good travelling numbers.