Pirate Baz

Davey spells his name Watt.

Have to disagree with you here Skidder me old mate. Firstly we know we can't compare different sports. Racing bike .... kicking leather ..... no comparison. Also the more professional team managers do endeavour to work the race format to gain the biggest advantage. I know of one who not only studies the riders line up in each meeting but also the gate positions. Yes I know everyone gets one ride from each gate, but he will work his line up so he gets the optimum benefit. Even switching reserves to gain advantage where necessary. Personally I think this is good as it is taking a more professional approach, rarely seen in speedway, and taking it to a higher level.

Perhaps you'll use Jack Holder now? Bit of a gamble but it could pay off.

Not in my case .......... the mother in law is coming around.

Not what he indicated at the Presentation evening, when he also gave presents to the promotion and all his sponsors.

....... or an ex-burglar.

He can't get in at Somerset now he's been assessed as a 7 pointer. Somerset had believed he was coming in on a 5 point average.

It's good to read your confidence in your local Councillors, especially with the speedway connections, and we all hope that the Bees can be rehoused somewhere, but I never have the same confidence in local Councils. They are generally made up of people who couldn't hack it in business so this becomes their route into power, plus extra income from some not inconsiderable expenses. Their hands are tied, especially now, by monetary constraints, and they are great people at telling people what they want to hear, even if they know in their own hearts that it can't possibly happen. Your Mayor maybe able to apply some pressure, but how much longer will he be in office, and who will you get next?

Nice to see you're being objective. No pre-conceived opinions from you then.

Give it a rest Starry. It's Christmas, the season of goodwill and all that c**p. Wish everyone a Happy Christmas, go and have a lie down, make a new year resolution (maybe to be objective) and come back in January all smiles and full of sunshine.

Mads for Porsing, a years experience for Lambert behind him, and your guys will take some stopping next year.

If you sign Cook and Worrell that leaves 6.41 to play with. Josh Grajczonek, if not in the Poole line up, at 6.40 and living in Manchester ........... Pure speculation of course.

Do the British riders still get the 2.5% reduction in their averages?

That's helped me plan the dates for my February holiday.

Get a life. You're so desperate to say something against Poole that you have to go back four years !!! This was bled to death at the time and ever since . I agree It was bad at the time but forget it. I don't think Coventry gave us fireworks in 1952 but we don't go on about it. As I've said elsewhere I think it was a good decision. In this case Fricke was clearly taken out by Harris, but why should Coventry get a second chance over an incident that was nothing to do with the Poole riders. OK Havvy I'll be another clairvoyant, but the two Poole lads were never going to be caught, now be honest now, fact not theoretical. The 'professional foul' of riders dropping it and staying down (not in this case I agree) has become a blight on the sport and we need stronger referees who are going to award races in these circumstances to stop the cheats.

Got to congratulate the Pirates on coming through after a tough season, for various much publicised and debated reasons. Great support last night from the Coventry fans last night which helped to create atmosphere. Their youngsters did a great job on the track, slightly let down by the more experienced guys. Not a great decision (with hindsight I accept) to give Max Fricke his Poole debut in an EL Final. Barker looked fine in the bar last night and I'm sure he would have put up more of a fight had he been riding. Also not forgetting the Stars who also suffered some bad injury problems right at the wrong time. The two semi final meetings, both strongly weather affected as has also been discussed and debated, could have gone either way and it could easily have been them celebrating today. Now we all move on the our regular period of Winter debate on next year, and see what comes out of the Promoters Conference on 14th/15th and 16th December. I wait with trepidation. Personally I think it was a good decision, and one which showed some 'bottle' from the referee. With less than two laps remaining when the red lights came on it would have been unfair to give Fricke a second chance from the gate as he was patently 'going backwards' at the time of the incident. Harris surely had to be the one excluded for being the primary cause of the stoppage. We suffered a similar incident at Wolverhampton two or three seasons ago (probably four or five with my memory) when the two Wolves came together on the third lap while Pirates were on a 5-1 and the referee stopped the race as our guys we crossing the line for the final lap' and he ordered a rerun. No need to tell you what the remaining Wolves rider did in the rerun. We sit in front of the referees box at Poole and so get a similar view, and Mick Bates got some 'stick' last night over some of the starts, but having watched the Sky recording most of them were not as bad as they appeared to my (biased) eyes on the night. In general I thought the referee had a pretty good meeting.

Ben announced to the world on Sky last night that he was fit and ready. Surely you're not suggesting that he be persuaded to say that he's not fit purely to strengthen the team with a guest? I thought it was only Poole that cheated?

Of course I'm jesting. By the spirit of the rule they shouldn't have ridden at Poole last night.

Last night was at Poole. Tonight is at Coventry. Different tracks. Also apparently the rule does not apply to number 1's this year. I am personally intrigued how Kennett and King (sounds like a double act) aren't allowed to ride at Poole on Monday due to the eight day rule, yet Harris and Garrity can ride for Coventry.

Get your mummy and daddy to explain sarcasm to you. I know it's a big word but they'll be patient I'm sure.

Ah well another 24 hours to wait. Surely that will get us to the 100 pages. Right let's get going with something original then. Who's going to start it off? Suggestions are Track covers. Hole on the first bend. Poole riders feigning injury. Matt Fords rain dance. Personal attacks on other posters. Surely these haven't been bled to death yet.

As far as I understand it, and I'm neither an expert or trying to be a blindy biased Poole fan, is that following the debacle on the Monday of the original staging, and it was an unfortunate accident despite all the conspiracy theorys, the hole in the track was repaired the next day which was about the only dry day we've had down here in the last two weeks. Since then the weather on the south coast has been very bad. It seems every time it rains that the roads get flooded and it's only October, suggesting that the water table is already very high. Poole Stadium, is as I'm sure most of you know, is next to Poole Harbour (Holes Bay) and is very low, which only serves to accentuate the problem. As I said I'm no expert but have been told by someone who claims to know more than me that while the rain is ever a problem there is also moisture coming up from the high water table. Forgetting speedway for a moment I am dreading a wet winter if it's like this now.

Come on guys it's been teeming down here. I've spent the afternoon in a meeting watching the rain bouncing off the car roofs in the car park. For those who do actually own a brain cell I don't think Matt arranged that, or wanted it having had the track guys working solidly for two days getting the track right. Also he was vilified for the late call off on Monday so as usual it doesn't matter what happens the anti-Poole brigade are always going to say it's Matt Fords fault. Has he called it off to early tonight?

What a naive point of view. You see what Sky want (and allow) you to see and hear. Those in the stadium at Wimborne Road could see the work being carried out.

Don't think so. Scotty has been replacing NKI but riding at 3 for the stars with Bjerre at 1 due to his higher average. This would mean Watty will be at 1. By the same token Pawlicki and King will be in the heat leader berths at 3 and 5. Personal opinion is that I think Shamek will be at 5 (Poole rider in heat 13) with Kennett and Cook at 2 and 4 (either way round but I'd have Eddie at 4). PS Bring plenty of tippex for your programmes.