MD

Disappointed Glasgow never got a point tonight having been ahead earlier in the meeting. Superb return from Howarth less so some others. Wonder if Danny has picked up an injury having gone well but not appearing after ht9.

We have no idea what the track decision maker thought, hence so much debate on here since. On the other hand the weather predicted for Sunday was known days in advance but not reflected in the track.

It wasnt fit for purpose, the temperature is irrelevant.

So why prepare it like it was, the hot weather was known about having been forecast since the previous Monday.

Fair point Did you honestly get any enjoyment from yesterday? If home track advantage means what we got yesterday whats the point. Im still lost as to what we feared from Plymouth we had to do that to the track, like you said in a previous post Kurtz, Simota and Perks are poor. It must have taken days rather than hours to pack in. Maybe the team manager isnt so confident in his riders or he may be under pressure to win whatever the cost or there may be another reason we are not aware of. Whatever it is I cant go it like that much more. We will have to wait and see what Sunday brings.

Its very clear we are, a tactic we used to resort to during the 2000's when we had weaker teams and there was a sniff of an away win. Too often it backfired catching out our riders more so than the opposition. The season we asked Trent to step up to cover for the injured Parker springs to mind. The home boys should go in to their opening heat in full knowledge and agreement as to how the track has been set up, not as yesterday where they had a team meeting after four heats to discuss how the f**k they were going to ride it. The track is different one week to the next, this negates so called home track advantage and does nothing for the confidence of our lower order who IMO want to race rather than ride.

That obviously justifies the track the way it was as i was bored out of my skull for the next 9 heats. Yesterday flies in the face of Glasgows growing reputation of doing things right. The marketing strategy is superb but yesterday there was more entertainment off track than on, and that is within our control to change.

A well prepared track is within Glasgow's control. If they had half the amount of dirt down it wouldnt exactly have been described as slick. I made it to the track in time to hear the team managers interview that he prepared a heavy track last week to unsettle Newcastles less experienced riders. WTF, thats so defensive, prepare it positively the way the home riders want and you'll get more out of them. An attitude like that doesnt suggest he has a high degree of confidence in his riders. If last week was a heavy track this week was far worse. Lawson and Perks gave up on the third lap of their opening heats, Garcia went sideways along the first third of the home straight in ht2 and Lunna twice came to grief exiting the fourth bend. I dont pay to see riders hobbling around looking like amateurs on a dirt track and question the mentality that has more than once this season made the track this way, when we have had nothing to fear from the visiting team. Summers was out during the meeting directing the tractors during a regrade and Worrall has openly criticised it in the post match interview, so why does it keep being prepped so deep? There was zero entertainment today other than Barker in ht10 and to a lesser extent Nielsen in ht 13. Id be embarrassed if we presented todays track to Sky at the end of the month.

A wiser team manager in the away side would have asked for a track inspection and demanded it be bladed especially the fourth bend where it was dry on the surface but sodden underneath.

An unremarkable meeting without a pass until ht10 with Barker coming through from last. Both sides uncomfortable with another overly deep track in the first half of the meeting otherwise I wont go there. Definitely not a meet to win any newbies over. Barker checked out with double figures, too late for him after his fate was sealed at NCL last week. A similar return at Ipswich on Thursday would be most unwelcome.

Barker's first meeting for Ipswich will be on Thursday when Glasgow visit!

Looking at the press release it says the change will take effect from Monday which presumably means Barker will ride this Sunday against Plymouth. That being the case Bach's first meetings will be away to Ipswich and PB next week.

Kneejerk reaction, Bach has been stale in the UK for years, and supposedly wasnt doing over here this year. I think we could have bidded our time for a bit longer for a better rider or stuck with Barker for a few more weeks. There will be a raft of team changes elsewhere at the end of the month that could potentially give more choice.

A classic Campbell motivational piece, clearly designed to unsettle Etheridge further by making him feel even more under pressure and unwelcome in the hope he quits of his own accord as he cant be sacked. There is no other reason to publish a story like this, the timing is impeccable, laying the groundwork for a team change. Perhaps Campbell should direct his verbal volley at those who carried out the diligence on his behalf in Australia. As it is Etheridge is here and has statutory support to continue turning out for the Monarchs.

Fair point, he has his issues right now and I believe a new engine was returned as unsatisfactory. If he can come good he will bring in decent points its just how long do you give it to happen. We have been resoundly pumped at play off challengers Sheffield and Somerset and travel to Ipswich and PB the following week where we cant carry any passengers if we are to collect any points.

Looking at the early part of the meeting a point is more than acceptable. We now dont have a meeting until Sunday for the riders to rest up and Barker hopefully to sort his machine issues.

Sedgmen or Nick Morris?

Lunna is 0.85 above Garcia from the next set of averages effective from 1 June.

Really needs to work on his gating though is exciting to watch when he chases riders down. He was really lucky not to have been injured in his charge after Rose who momentarily slowed up on turn four and Lunna ran into the side of him. We are getting to the bit of the season we need him to come to the fore as he's not going to get a shot at reserve.

He was good when he gated otherwise ...... Standard Ashfield performance from Kus though Lewis Rose was excellent as was Steve Worrall though his gate in ht13 wouldve embarrassed Sarjeant. No need for it either as he is very good at GLA. Glasgow will be battered after that, Garcia off to get his hand x-rayed, Barker having yet more engine issues that threw him off, Summers heavily visiting the fence in 15 and it looked like Lawsons bike packed up after that same heat. Guest choices for Garcia on a 3 will be very limited tomorrow if required. Hopefully we can keep it close enough to take a point.

Tabaka for Etheridge.

Job done, manky mob next up once they have redeclared.

It seems it wont be. Be interesting to see how they manage to drop a rider you are not allowed to drop.

Absolutely, bring it on, I think we need it. Its all become a bit expectant that we win hugely at home every week, complacency can bring its own problems.

Not the best meeting ever seen at the Stade but enough from Lunna and Garcia to keep you interested. Ht15 was a reminder that you never get it your own way as Bellego superbly blocked Summers run on the outside and swept past Lawson for a fine win. Had Bjerre been at the races it could have been much better. We should be through to meet the dark side barring disaster on Thursday night, though which 1-7 that is remains to be seen.