topsoil

I'm obviously in the minority here. I enjoyed the meeting on Monday night (far better live than it was on TV). Also enjoyed the meeting tonight, the score was close until heat 14 and there was some good racing. You can go back through every meeting that has been on TV and on this forum you will see fans moaning. What was there not to like about the meeting tonight? A big crowd, plenty atmosphere, a close score. Certainly a lot of promotions could learn from the things Glasgow are doing to raise awareness of the sport. Yes, they have a big budget, but you can still promote the sport heavily by doing it smartly. And good to see they are getting their rewards with big crowds. And just a word about Danny Ayres, it would be great to have more characters like him in the sport. At Berwick a couple of years ago we had Kozza Smith, if he won a race would jump off his bike at the start line and run back to the pits high-fiving the fans, they loved it. Rest easy Elite League fans, we'll be back to the only league that provides decent racing next week ;-)

I can remember Bruce Cribb riding his ice speedway bike around several tracks in the late 1980s breaking several track records on the way. I wonder what kind of speeds he reached back then?

Really hope I am not tempting fate here, but there hasn't been any serious accidents at Berwick this season. How much this has to do with track preparation I don't know. Certainly the track has looked very smooth of late and doesn't seem to be giving the riders any problems. That may well be one of the reasons for a lack of passing, you very rarely see riders make mistakes at Berwick. How many times do you see more mistakes on then the smaller, technical tracks? But I can imagine Berwick being scary to ride as well, simply because of the sheer speeds you will reach on the big track.

For the home meeting would be great if Simon Lambert was available again, but don't know how availability / averages stack up. Danny Ayres has also done well guesting for us in the past.

Berwick may get a more respectable score than in previous years, but I can't see them pulling off another win. R/R instead of a guest weakens Berwick, but I suppose Doolan, Pijper and Wethers, who should all go well at Armadale, will get an extra ride. Edinburgh by 12? Don't know who the guest will be, but Berwick have chosen well this year, so I have confidence in them. Is he missing for Saturday as well?

Arson Fire, if you believe what you read in the Newcastle programme and has already been suggested on here by Newcastle fans, it's easy to understand why they keep coming back. All you need to do is arrange for Nigel and Kelvin to have a stop at Newcastle on their roadshow next winter and Hey Presto a guaranteed appearance on Sky next season. Just need to up your game a bit.

Yes close. Your own fault for giving up after heat 6 I guess. Kenneth Hansen trying every line to get past Danny Gappmaier in heat 7, Mason Campton passing both Berwick riders heat 8, Doolan and Vissing great race in heat 9, Tommy Jorgensen passing Ricky Wells in heat 11 and almost catching Mason Campton and Bellego passing Campton heat 15, then picking up a huge amount of drive and almost pulling off a hell of a pass of Wells in heat 15. Sorry if that's not enough for you. You get nowhere near the experience on TV as you do of live speedway at Shielfield. hope you enjoyed the football.

Couldn't have went much better tonight, Berwick have hit a rich vein of form ever since the tour of Scunthorpe and Rye House. Really did not expect to win by such a big margin tonight, I looked at the Workington line up and thought we would be in for a very tough night. But Berwick seem very confident right now. There was some very fast, close racing tonight, possibly due to the track being slicker than usual. Had a laugh at Vissing spitting the dummy after heat 6 when Bellego pushed him wide. The later race between Doolan and Vissing was brilliant as well, two riders who clearly have a lot of respect for each other. Another great race between new boy Danny Gappmaier (who has made a brilliant start and clearly loves being here judging by his interactions with the fans) and Kenneth Hansen, hansen tried every line to get past, but Gappmaier blocked his every move. David Bellego has been a brilliant guest of late, how good would it be to see him back in Black and Gold next season in this form? Decent crowd considering the football was on, probably kept a few away. Great to see Sky back in Berwick, always love it when they come up, there is a buzz about the place when they are here.

Sky went to Newcastle before and have never returned, there must be a reason why. Arrange a fixture around one rider, then find out he's doubling-up that night? Wouldn't surprise me with Newcastle this season.

Unfortunately the football will probably have an effect on the crowd tomorrow night. But I've said before that crowds at Berwick probably look less that what they actually are, because they can be spread out over such a big area and not compact like at Wolves, Newcastle etc. Looking forward to this one, think it will be a difficult meeting against a very strong Comets side. Sure the promotion have their reasons for not reducing the admission prices, maybe it hasn't worked out for them in the past or something? Got to hand it to them for raising awareness for the meeting though, I spoke to people who have no interest in the sport yesterday, but they knew all about Sky coming because of the adverts on Radio Borders.

I had a chuckle to myself because I find the whole concept of national anthems at sporting occasions a waste of time and unnecessary. I know that will upset a few and many will disagree, but that's my opinion. And the fact that people can get so worked up about it makes me laugh even more. It's so trivial in my opinion. Am prepared to receive a hail of bullets now :-)

Some teams fill in fixture lists with national League fixtures. Could this be the answer to fans who want speedway every week? Those teams who want extra fixtures look at forming a colts team? I realized the National League is not for all and some only want top flight racing, but the chances of expanding the elite league in its current format in my eyes are very slim. Who in their right minds wants to step up?

Haha I saw this as well and had a chuckle to myself. He's a disgrace to Australian speedway and Australia in general. He should be dropped from their squad immediately!

Will probably affect the crowd numbers, just like the Edinburgh match a couple of weeks ago. I remember that and I thought at the time it was a great advert for the sport, a big crowd, it would look far better for TV than wide open spaces on the terraces and it gives would be sponsors huge exposure. It also provides an excellent atmosphere for fans and riders alike. And if the majority of them don't return, so what, some might. But the whole impression of a full stadium does wonders for the image of the sport when it comes to attracting sponsors, new fans and renewing TV deals.

In an idea world I would like to see all Sky matches free admission, with money from TV and a match sponsor meeting costs. That way, attendance are likely to be far bigger for the cameras and the sponsor gets more exposure. I'm sure Sky would let the sponsor in on the act with things like the coin toss, again more exposure. The free entry might attract a few new fans and would certainly add to the atmosphere. Like I say, this would be an ideal world, I have no idea how much money TV brings in towards meeting costs. In an idea world I would like to see all Sky matches free admission, with money from TV and a match sponsor meeting costs. That way, attendance are likely to be far bigger for the cameras and the sponsor gets more exposure. I'm sure Sky would let the sponsor in on the act with things like the coin toss, again more exposure. The free entry might attract a few new fans and would certainly add to the atmosphere. Like I say, this would be an ideal world, I have no idea how much money TV brings in towards meeting costs.

Could be the saviour of British speedway

Basically, what you've just said, was their reasons. Berwick have excellent facilities to accommodate the cameras and so on and every time they have been here they have been impressed with the welcome they have received and the attitude of the club towards them "nothings too much trouble" was the phrase they used. They also claimed that some tracks go in the other direction and moan that Sky are nothing but a hindrance to them, so that could be a reason why certain clubs do not feature very regularly. It was also said a few times early in the season Berwick using covers to ensure a meeting went ahead did nothing to harm their chances. I would imagine this would be a pretty important factor as far as Sky are concerned.

t would be the decent thing for them to do

It's a pity the football is on the same night, because I can see the crowd numbers being affected by this. Certainly the crowd for the meeting against Edinburgh last week looked down on usual because it clashed with an England game. Either way this is going to be a very big test for the in-form Bandits. You know Vissing will be fired up for his return, Wells always goes well at Berwick and Hansen is in a rich vein of form. Workington will be a very tough team and Berwick will need to be on top form to get anything from this.

We save them up for visitors with strange accents

Anybody have any idea how Leon Flint got on in Denmark yesterday?

Don't know who does the updates, but they obviously forgot to mention the great action in heat 11, with Jorgensen chasing Sarjeant, but knowing that the slightest mistake would allow King through. All three were within inches of each other on the 3rd / 4th bend. They also forgot to mention the great ride by Doolan in heat 12 to shepherd Carr home, all the time under pressure from Covatti. good race between Carr and Sarjeant in heat 8, a great second bend ride by Jorgensen in heat 13 and an impressive debut from Daniel Gapmaier in heat 2 going from last to second. It wasn't the best meeting this season, mainly because Berwick were outstanding from the gate for once and after a few races the dirt moved out too far, but ask any Berwick fan and they would be very happy with this win. Disappointed in Ipswich, I really expected more from Sarjeant, Covatti, Risager and Barker. King looked really fast and impressive. Berwick in a rich vein of form at the moment, long may it last. We've had our share of injuries this season, now the riders are back to fitness and clicking.

Don't want to alarm anybody, but this big yellow ball has appeared in the sky. The locals are mystified.

Must be some REALLY sh!te teams sitting below us then eh doylem?

Ipswich were very impressive up here last season, out-gating Berwick consistently. They have a strong heat leader trio in King, Covatti and Barker, who all go well around Shielfield and very good second strings in Sarjeant and Risager. Berwick may hold an advantage at reserve, but who knows how the new signing will perform. I like the booking of Bellego as a guest, he knows Berwick well and has been flying lately, hopefully he will keep that going on Saturday. Berwick will have to be on top of their form to take anything from this, but if they can replicate the performance against Edinburgh they have a chance. Looking forward to this one a lot.