topsoil

For years fans have wondered why exact crowd numbers aren't published, but does it really matter? And even published figures are open to debate. For instance, do you include season ticket sales, even if the supporter doesn't attend that particular meeting? What about the under 16s who get in for free at the likes of Berwick, do you include those or just the paying public? Published crowd figures, like every other statistic, while handy to be used for comparison purposes, are just another cause for debate. Rather than just crowd numbers, the sport should be concerned about core values like rider numbers (current and future), media exposure, keeping costs under control, providing entertainment, safety etc.

Another tight one in prospect tonight I reckon. On paper you would think Berwick have the upper hand amongst heat leaders, Bridger and Vissing should score well tonight. Scunthorpe have a bit of depth about them though, Michael Palm Toft is a cracking rider and Carl Wilkinson has been round Shielfield enough times to know the quickest route. Bringing in Mark Riss will also help Scunthorpe, he scored well for Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago. Forecast for a decent day, rain yesterday but I think that might have helped the track as we've never had any for a while. There will no doubt be a drop off in crowd levels tonight as Scunthorpe, understandably, won't bring nearly as many travelling fans as Edinburgh or Glasgow. Hopefully the racing will be up to the standard it's been so far this season. Here's to the first win of the season.

Four very good crowds so far this season at Berwick, the one exception was Ipswich in the Cup, but even that was bigger than most of last season. Far better racing this season as well. Just a pity about results. It has also been good weather this season so far, which helps a lot. The next two meetings will probably have a drop-off, Scunthorpe and Ipswich won't have many travelling fans (understandable). So far the presentation and racing has been far better this season. The new promotion are getting a lot of things right. It just needs results to follow now.

Different fans want different things. I just think that a lot of things people have asked for, faster paced meetings, better racing, we are getting this season so far, but the results aren't there.

Disappointed to lose tonight especially after an 8 point lead. The edge was taken off a bit by the fact there was some really good racing tonight. Gappmaier and Perry in heat 2, Doolan's third to first in heat 3, Summers' cut back to drive up inside Vissing, heat 14 between Gappmaier and Lunna, all great to watch. R/R certainly worked for Berwick tonight and Gappmaier had his best meeting of the season, really impressed with him tonight. If I was a neutral tonight I would have come away pretty impressed with that tonight. Good crowd, plenty of close, hard racing, passing in most races, 21 heats including 6 junior races in a touch over 2 hours on a well-prepared track. I have to say the track preparation has been far better this season. Even the junior meeting provided some good racing, the young lad McGurk gong from last to second off the last bend. But there was a lot of talk around tonight of fans won't be coming back because of results. That's their choice of course. Each to their own. Will be interesting to see the crowd level next week.

You can drop Berge and Carr all you want, but that doesn't mask the fact that Berwick heat leaders don't beat opposition heat leaders and we don't provide enough heat winners throughout the team. One heat win last night and around half a dozen in away meetings in total so far this season. Edinburgh have riders who are struggling too, Davey and Clegg. The difference is the rest of the team makes up for that.

Relay what is said above, a real shame for Ryan Blacklock. Only got to see him in Berwick colours for a couple of matches, but what I saw I liked, a real 100% effort trier, who it's so easy to get behind, you want your team to be full of characters like this. As for the meeting on Friday, Bridger should score well, Doolan and to a lesser extent Vissing will take points off the second strings and reserves, any other points are a bonus. 60-33.

This is where good management and support system around the team kick in. If a rider is struggling, work with him, help him, if there are problems, sort them out. Gating seems to be a problem throughout the team, is it something to do with set-ups? Gating looked better against Ipswich, when the starting gate was like a ploughed field. Do they need to make the starting gate deeper? The riders apparently under pressure have talent, look at Berge in the World under 21 last year, look at the way Liam finished last season. They don't suddenly become poor riders. They may lose confidence, they may be on machinery which is not working as well as it once was. That's when the riders / management need to work together and re-build confidence, work at things. Then at least id things still don't work out, you have given it a good chance, then look to make changes, if the right riders are available.

Or Adam Pietraszko and Jak Rempala?

60-33 Lewis Bridger putting in a Graham Jones type performance from the 70s

Can't see Berwick getting more than 30 next Friday. Only Bridger (don't know if he's been to Armadale before), with his liking for technical tracks and to a lesser extent Doolan are effective there. Unless there is a turn around in form I'm expecting another very tough night next Saturday.

Must admit I'm not fully up to speed with the rules, but can a 2 point rider be dropped for a higher averaged rider, or are they there for the season?

Pickering looks a hell of a signing based on tonight. Just too many Berwick riders under performing right now. Edinburgh gave a lesson in gating tonight. Some good races, Lewis Bridger produces a cracking ride in heat 10 to pass the brothers Riss. I'm not one for pushing the panic button but unless some riders improve you can see things slipping away. Crowds have been excellent so far, helped by travelling fans, but a run of defeats will start to affect attendances. Well done to Luke Ruddick as well, biggest cheer of the night from the home fans.

Another tough one in prospect for Berwick. Masters and Wells will score big, but I can see Mark Riss being the trump card at reserve, probably getting six or seven rides. Mitchell Davey is a very decent number 7 as well. Pickering? who knows. The Berwick newbies Bridger and Berge will have one more week experience under their belt. Need everybody on top form tomorrow night. Forecast seems good so hopefully a big crowd swelled by some travelling fans. Been some good racing so far this season, hopefully continues tomorrow night.

First things first, the promotion and helpers deserve a great deal of credit for getting this meeting on. A lot of rain overnight and up to early afternoon. Had it not been for covers the meeting would have been off. Given the conditions there was also some good racing as the track dried out as the meeting went on. Ipswich are an impressive outfit with a very strong top three. Danny King alwys goes well round Berwick and his ride to go round Kevin Doolan was just like his British Final win. Liam looked better tonight, cracking paid win in heat 1 and a win in heat 8. First time I've arrived early at the track this season. I like the way the riders are introduced, something different and a good way for the fans to get close to the riders. I also liked the presenting tonight, some interviews with riders and fans and again the meeting was run at a decent pace. No crashes helps and again that is a compliment to the track.

Sounds like your standard speedway transaction

The same did go through my head, as this cost Newcastle on numerous occasions last season, but I would have thought the promotion would have tried to minimise fixture clashes this season.

It's been a while since Berwick posted a good score at Brough Park and I didn't expect much last night, but from what I've seen so far (very early I know, but I'm also basing it on the finish to last year), Newcastle are going to be right up there this season.

One week into the job and you want them sacked. Nothing like giving somebody a chance :-) Give them time and I reckon they will get a decent act together. It's a good format between races, a bit of crack about the race, up to the box for the result, a blast of music, the line up for the next race, a bit of crack about the next race, the race. Couple of interviews thrown in. It was always going to have a strange feel to it, after so long being used to Dick Barrie. At least the promotion are trying something different. Lot of new things brought in this season. It's working so far.

Cracking meeting, the races between Vissing and Lambert worth the admission alone. Track looked really good, with a few new lines. Another big crowd, good presentation, no real gaps between the races (finished before half 8) with lots of time for the youngsters to train afterwards. A good nights speedway all round.

This is the type of thinking that is turning off so many fans. It could be Darcy Ward, it could be any promoter. But if you promise to put on a show and don't deliver, you have to take a hit. You can't expect people to pay money to watch something, even if it is for a good cause, and then still charge them when you can't put on a show.

I ask as a naive fan "who was responsible for meeting the costs of the meeting last night"? Is it a case of the Poole promotion meeting costs, any profits go to the fund? Or doe the fund meet the costs and take all the proceeds? As this was a different type of meeting to your standard league match I was interested in how these things work. Any ideas?

Can see this being very tight tomorrow night. Robert Lambert and Steve Worrall very impressive round Shielfield, Ashley Morris scored a lot for Peterborough last season, Ludvig Lindgren always chips in. Might take Lewis Bridger and Dimitri Berge a couple of weeks to settle in. Hopefully Claus Vissing can carry on from where he left off last week. Lots of intriguing individual match ups. Personally I think Newcastle have the advantage in the heat leaders, Berwick (at home) in the second strings and reserves. As usual it might come down to heats 13 and 15. Looks like a decent forecast for tomorrow. Hopefully a big travelling support to boost the crowd. A good start for the new promotion last week, hopefully the momentum continues.

Given the rain that fell Friday night and all Saturday afternoon it was a minor miracle this meeting went ahead, tremendous credit to the track staff. Very enjoyable meeting given the conditions. Good to see queues to get in, full car park, very healthy numbers in corporate boxes and a good crowd in the stadium. Good to see Claus in fine form on his return. Will be very happy if he can keep up that sort of form. For the visitors both Worralls, Ricky Wells and Jason Garrity were impressive. Josh Grajczonek looked fast when out in front. Lets face it, you were never going to get the cut and thrust of league racing in an individual event, but there was still some good racing. Speedway season is back and there are a lot of positive things happening with the new promotion.

So what about the like of Kevin Doolan at Berwick? Doesn't ride anywhere else. Does he come under the ban? A brilliant servant to Berwick and British speedway.