topsoil

That's certainly my outlook. I'm there to see four riders, any four riders, hopefully with close racing. I don't get hung up on guests, rider replacement, doubling up, tactical rides, because it's still four riders dong four laps. I also go for the social side, a laugh with the group I'm with. As a result of this, I enjoy the meetings I go to.

Not much fun being a Berwick fan this season. The team most matches these days is unrecognisable due to injuries. Granted, Brough Park is never one of our happier hunting grounds, but I thought that with the absence of Lambert and Worrall (S) we would get more than usual. Had it not been for Richard Lawson that would have been very embarrassing. Whether or not Lewis Bridger is returning or not is questionable. If he isn't, then there is no question, that something has to be done, or else this season is going to rapidly down the drain and fans will disappear even more. There are still nine home meetings left, so there is still time to get something out of this season, even if it is just a run of wins at home.

And to think there are those who say Tai does nothing for British speedway

After the injuries he's suffered and the enthusiasm he still has for the sport, I wouldn't deny him anything.

No rain offs at Berwick yet this season, all due to covers. There would have been 4 or 5 meetings called off without these. Not to sure if any other clubs have avoided a cancellation yet this year.

Well, a difficult task just got a whole lot harder, without Lewis Bridger and now Nick Morris. Hopefully a good guest can be found at short notice. Looking back to the last Redcar visit there are a few talking points. Jason Garrity got a 4 ride maximum, obviously he is missing this time, although MPT goes well at Berwick. Ellis Perks was a match winner at reserve, but now he is up into the main body of the team. Ben Barker is in great form right now. And if he puts in a similar performance to Kevin's testimonial last week we will be in for a treat. Jye Etheridge missed the last meeting through injury and David Howe withdrew from the meeting with injury. Berwick will look for both of those to score well as they are both in decent form. Danny Gappmaier also suffered from back pain that night and scored only 1. Good weather forecast for tomorrow, hopefully a good travelling support, more of the cracking racing we've seen in the past few weeks and please no incidents like the David Howe / Danny Ayres crash the last meeting. Got some good racers spread through the two teams, looking forward to it.

39 points at Peterborough is a very decent effort considering the injury to Morris and already with Bridger injured. Joe Jacobs did okay with 5, but have to say David Howe and Jye Etheridge have turned out to be good signings. Captain Kev played his part as well. Luck has to change soon for Bandits.

Breaks in the races are necessary really, to prepare the track, but what needs to happen is the fans needs to be kept entertained in these periods. During the past year or so I have been lucky enough to go to a number of different sports, ice hockey, basketball, T20 cricket, rugby league, all of these sports have breaks in play, but in these breaks the fans are kept entertained by various things. It doesn't take a lot of effort or money. Interviews, quizzes, sponsored giveaways (tickets, T shirts), to even daft little things (this was at the rugby league) like two fans fighting with pillows in a ring, to fans racing on space hoppers. Ten minutes should be easy to fill, have the weekly raffles during one of them. I don't see the need for an interval after heat 10 if there is a track grading break after heats 4, 8 and 12 say.

Both Matty Wethers and Joe Jacobs rode at Kevin Doolan's testimonial last night and would both do a job for somebody I reckon

The sun shines on the righteous. Good night of entertainment, some good racing, Ben Barker was a star, all sorts of goings on, beautiful weather, a big crowd, the day went really well for one of the good guys of the sport.

Cracking night for it, been scorchio here all day. Took a detour through Shielfield this afternoon while running an errand, very impressed with the garden party set up. Hopefully things will go well tonight and still get a decent turn out.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the basic product. People get hung up on guests, doubling up and how this can be explained to newcomers. Well don't. Let them concentrate on the basic product of four fast, dangerous bikes. But fans need to be entertained for the 90 minutes / two hours the meeting lasts. How do you keep fans entertained during the breaks between racing? There are various ways, music, interviews, competitions, whatever you choose. But never let the public get bored. That is a cardinal sin. Basic facilities are also important. Remember you are competing against football, rugby and other sports clubs with beautiful all-seater stadiums. Knowing the clubs will do everything in their powers to ensure the meetings go ahead is also important. How many fans have given up travelling because they have been bitten before travelling to an away meeting, only to find it postponed. The most basic of principles, give the fans value for money and a night / day out they will enjoy. The sport also needs to build a lot of bridges with the national press. I still find it hard to believe in this day and age how a highlights package can't be put together for TV. Or a podcast available for fans to download and listen to. Anything that gets the sport more exposure. Promoters also needs to promote the sport more, both locally and the BSPA on a national basis.

I don't think there will be any instant improvements, it could be a long haul, but I honestly do think there are green chutes, because there are some good young riders being introduced to league speedway, who came through the youth championships. Long may this continue. I also think the Championship is a good product this season. Almost every team has a couple of cracking riders. The riders championship, pairs and fours have the potential to be great meetings this year. Personally I don't mind doubling up / down, as long as it doesn't affect too many meetings with absentees. I have nothing against Nick Morris riding for both Berwick and Swindon, I can put up with him missing a couple of meetings a season. In an ideal world you would have every rider having only one team, but until more riders are brought into the sport that might be more difficult. I am also very impressed with the use of covers at Berwick. Hopefully other tracks will follow suit. Yes there is still a lot wrong with the sport and there is a long way to go, but there has definitely been positives coming out of the season so far.

Berwick offered free admission to helpers on Friday night. It normally take around a team of 12 to lay covers. It's £15 admission for adults. Therefore effectively it should cost £180 (lost takings). Compare that with the cost of a rain off. Any promotion not considering this would be daft.

No Bridger, no worries. I will be the first to admit I thought a defeat was on the cards when I heard Lewis was missing, but what a performance to get the win tonight. Jye Etheidge must be in the form of his life. Great win for Luke Ruddick as well. Everybody chipping in with points is the pleasing part. Must be a huge sigh of relief for the promotion. Looks like the club have turned a corner. Covers got the meeting on (again), nice night, good crowd, good win.

The sun is shining, the covers win again. And as a bonus a bus load of Glasgow fans are coming over after the match at Workington was postponed. How valuable have these covers been this season?

No doubt Edinburgh have a top prospect in Josh Pickering. He was very impressive at Berwick as well. Took two rides to size the place up, the flew around in his last two rides. Then I saw him at Armadale against Peterborough but he didn't look nearly as comfortable. He will be a steal on his average next season I reckon.

Maybe waiting to hear from Lewis Bridger, David Howe, Danny Gappmaier and Lee Payne on their injuries, giving them every chance to get fit before Saturday, before making any premature announcements? Just a thought. Hope Lewis is fit because it will be very difficult to replace his scoring potential on his low average. Should be another cracking meeting with the likes of Morris, Bridger (if fit), Lambert and Worrall going head to head. I still rank Newcastle as one of the strongest teams in the league. Hopefully the forecast rain clears up in time and we get a big crowd.

Full maximum for Liam for Birmingham against Eastbourne tonight

Stop taking it all so seriously. All presenters are much the same. They are only trying to wind up visiting fans. Peter Waite used to get pelters up at Edinburgh, he would just laugh it off.

If Danny Gappmaier and Jye Etheridge continue their current form it would be a big boost

That phrase was mentioned by the centre green announcer last night. I wondered where it came from. Chuffed for Jye this weekend, the scores will have done his confidence the world of good. Quite happy with the win last night and 38 points tonight, given that Lewis Bridger was missing. Green chutes of recovery appearing?

Really good win for Berwick tonight, being honest I didn't think they would get the three points but very welcome. Lots of taking points. Craig Cook still in my book the best rider around Shielfield in a long time. Two nice moves past Morris tonight. How Morris managed to miss him in heat 1, great reflexes. Some great racing by Bridger tonight. Excellent passes on Jorgo, Sarjeant and Proctor. Actually a bit disappointing when he made the gate in heat 8. Looked a very nasty one he got in heat 11. Hope there is no lasting damage. Jye Etheridge the rider of the night for me. Three excellent heat wins. And what a piece of team riding by Morris! I was sure Doolan got second in heat 14. In the end it didn't matter but great effort anyway. Good to see Jorgo again. Won't forget his efforts as a Bandit the past couple of years. Decent crowd tonight, swelled by a good travelling support. Always good to see a few visitors over, adds to the atmosphere. Track slick and dry tonight but understandable. Forecast gave for showers round about tea time so they covered the track as a precaution. Showers never really came to anything. If anything a bit of rain might have helped the track. Sods law though. If it hadn't been covered it would have rained for ages. Signs tonight though that the team are coming together.

This should be another close meeting. Once again there are some cracking visitors. Craig Cook, in my book the top rider in the Championship, flies around Berwick, going to have to go very quick to beat him tonight. The return of Jorgo! I would loved to have seen him come back to Berwick this year. What sort of return will Ty Proctor have? He's been in good form lately. And in Matt Williamson they have one of the best reserves in the league. Good to hear a bus load coming over, it always adds to the atmosphere. None of the incidents of last week please.Looking forward to the likes of Morris, Bridger, Doolan, Cook, Jorgo, Proctor. Should be another good one.

Some people will not like this post but every promotion should take a look at the Berwick Bandits facebook page. Four meetings saved this season by track covers. They have made reference before that it takes a team of 8 of them an hour to lay the covers and the same time to lift them. Take a look at the photo they posted on Saturday night of the helpers. Amongst the group (including Kevin Doolan) are women and kids (which goes against the argument you need a team of strapping lads to do it). Think of the money lost by Swindon today. All the income lost from a Bank Holiday crowd, all the expense incurred. You can put forward all the arguments you want, not being able to get a group of volunteers together, can't get access to the stadium, too much work involved. Just excuses. You need to take a more professional outlook. It's been proved you can do it. By of all teams, a "tin pot outfit" as labelled by Jon Cook. If you wanted to do it, you would find a way.