topsoil

I'm hoping for a similar Peterborough performance to last night but I can't see it. Totally different tracks. I can see Shielfield specialist Simon Lambert taking 7 rides tonight. A crucial match-up could be him against Jye Etheridge, who will also probably get 6 or 7 rides. Nick Morris v Steve Worrall will also be another key to the outcome. Shame Bomber isn't riding I would have liked to see him around the banking. Nick Morris and David Howe will both get 6 rides, to cover for NBJ. Hopefully Captain Kev will have sorted out the machinery troubles. Tested stuff out after the Stars of Tomorrow and scored well at the 4TT so here's hoping. Will need to be firing on all cylinders to beat a Peterborough team who always go well here. All through their team they have riders who do well at Shielfield. Heavy fine rain at the moment but forecast to clear up this afternoon and tonight.

The SGB website gives the line ups on the morning of the meeting.

That's been my thoughts for a long time. Clubs over here need to concentrate on producing their own local talent, rather than expensive imports. Look at rugby league, how many times have you seen a player tempted over to rugby union by a big pay cheque? It doesn't seem to affect rugby league clubs, they have an impressive conveyor belt of young local talent just waiting to come through. Hopefully one day speedway will cotton on and be in a similar position.

Can we use r/r for the fours? Surely there isn't much more that can go wrong this season for injuries?

Heard the same rumour last night, that both riders had arranged to ride in Poland after hearing Berwick had originally been left out of the meeting. NBJ definitely out now with injury.

Another eventful meeting. Sheffield building a lead, the Berwick curse strking NBJ in heat 4, obviously trying too hard in his first race, that looked a bad one, especially when he never moved for a while. Then the comeback. Cracking bit of team riding between Doolan and Etheridge to keep the much faster Howarth out. Berwick got a point ahead at the interval. Then heats 11 and 12 where Sheffield twice gained an advantage from 3-3 positions. Heat 14 I thought Jye just ran out of steam, certainly cannot fault his effort, he has been a great signing along with David Howe who also rode well tonight. Sheffield look very solid throughout, while Berwick just carried too many tonight. NBJ will hopefully score a lot more, he had to be affected by his first ride fall. Even though the track was a bit one lined, there was still some cracking races, passing in more than half the races. At least the juniors won.

Saturday and the sun is shining. At the start of the season I had Sheffield down to win the league, I thought they were stronger in every department and I still think that is the case. Their first visit to Shielfield this season, but Grajczonek and Kurtz have already guested for Berwick. Three strong heat leaders and very decent second strings. I also thought they were strong at reserve (especially round Berwick, where Rob Branford flies), but injury put paid to that. Looking forward to seeing Busk Jakobsen in Berwick colours, he normally goes well around here. Berwick have shown plenty of fight in the meetings against Ipswich and Glasgow, so if that continues we should be in for a good meeting. Hopefully the weather will get a few along and there is always a decent following from Sheffield. I know the promotion have been working hard to bring the kids in during the school holidays.

Easy formula, 5 team, 10 race semi-finals, 4 riders in a race, each team races in 8 and sits out 2. Same formula for the final. Overall 30 heats in the day instead of 28 as it was. To announce all 10 teams are in it, then change their minds within a week takes some believing. But let's face it... Hot on the heels of the bad press after the fours were cancelled. Feel sorry for the fans who have booked holidays and arranged travel and hotels. Positive thinking, that's the spirit.

I agree that some form of meeting should be held at Somerset the night before the GP. As to which meeting, that is open to discussion.

After speaking to a championship promoter at the fanzone on Saturday, big likelihood of it being at Belle Vue. Makes sense in every way, great track, national stadium, within driving distance for almost every club competing.

Nobody else listens

Very feasible Yip

Shame about last night because a lot of people would have worked hard to try and get the meeting on, but if theyhad used decent covers and covered the whole track like Berwick do then the meeting would have been on. The rain stopped and cleared up by 6 30 and it stayed dry the reat of the night. People may scoff at Berwick being a "tin pot" club, but they are streets ahead of anybody else when it comes to this matter. A lot of money was lost last night. With a few phone calls to ask for advice it may have been saved. I'm now waiting for the posts saying they are sick and tired hearing about the covers at Berwick, but when yoy actually do something well, you should be proud of it.

Certainly at home the last couple of meetings he has been getting more used to the track and scoring better. Good win over Lawson on Saturday night.

Is there a curfew?

People love to think they are in the know. People like to give their opinions on what they think is a rideable track, when riders themselves say it isn't. People like to think they know how to prepare a track when there are only a very few who actually can. It's all part of the increasing our value of self worth. Pity heat 15 never took place, it could have rounded off a great meeting. As is usually the case when Glasgow are down it was full of incident and fine racing.

Love the last three posts

Happy clapping the decision :-)

Having heard David Howe speaking on a few occasions he's about as honest as they come, if he reckons the track was dodgy it probably was. Disappointing way to end the night sure, but understandable when you hear that.

Got to admit I was very surprised when heat 15 wasn't run after heats 12-14 were run in the rain. It was all set up for a last heat decider and then the announcement. Don't think anybody saw that coming. Mind you it was a cracking meeting before that, the races between Perry and Jacobs then Morris and Worrall the highlights for me. Big improvements from Jacobs and Gappmaier tonight, with wins over Lawson and Summers. Very impressed with Dan Bewley tonight, looked smooth in his first couple of rides and his attempt to slow the race in heat 14 showed great maturity for a teenager. Good crowd again tonight, mainly due to a big travelling support. Meetings against Glasgow tend to be full of incidents. There was a rumour going around about a carry on before the meeting. How much truth there is anybody's guess.

The forecast video says otherwise, but I'm hoping it stays dry obviously

Probably because I'm tired of the whining. But I'm a happy clapper.

Hope I'm wrong, but the BBC weather satellite forecast does not look good for tomorrow night. Always look forward to Glasgow coming down, the meetings are usually entertaining and they bring a big travelling support. I admit I have a soft spot for Glasgow, because of their fans. I remember a few years ago when they were struggling, the days of Wolbert and Palovaara, they still brought a good following down and I had a good crack with some of their fans in the Brewers Arms. That being said it's going to be a big ask to beat Glasgow, who are strong throughout.

Can't wait to see you when you come back

Laughable in so many ways Not seen you at the speedway for a few years. Thankfully.