MD

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.

Sounds like a team change coming up. Wonder if the wee Hungarian has agreed dates.

If we get through over the 2 legs we will meet the 0131 in the next round. It may be prudent to make our home leg the Sky meeting on Wednesday 29th June which would make it more of an occasion. We are at Armadale on the Friday before this for a PL meeting. If this could also be changed to the KOC meeting then it would be much more of a spectacle for the cameras with the overall winner progressing to the next round.

Laying the groundwork there i think. Perhaps dates cant be agreed with Tabaka yet.

Berwick told Garcia they werent bringing him back for 2016 rather than let him just sign for someone else. He has had a lot of help at GLA which has accelerated his progress which may not have been foreseen at Shielfield.

If there is a track he could do with a bit of practice on its Glasgow. Seems Bridger and Newman must have had van loading issues as well.

He's withdrawn from the British semi at GLA.

Was Clegg injured last night?

Absolutely true, no excuse intended or inferred.

The other end of Ayres, Garcia and Lunna are inexperienced riders who are finding their way. The top 4 are experienced riders who have to make the bulk of the points and like you say if one isnt at the races the whole team suffers. Last Sunday I listened to the TM's pre-match interview where he said we were going to these two matches looking for points such was the confidence in the team. Talk like that creates expectation but the cold reality is that we may not be as good as the hype suggests, at this moment in time anyway.

First major challenge on the road and ........ At least we seemed competitive until the last third. Its all very well thumping teams at home on a ploughed furrow but the measure of genuine title contenders is how they perform away from home. Both matches have seen the home side afford their second strings ht15 outings which is telling. Hard matches for Glasgow where we were least likely to get any points but a reality check that they need to do more than just turn up to be competitive.

That's my point