MD

Observation more than anything. Lee has the experience to overcome it, hopefully.

He struggles to hold the inside coming off the bends at Ashfield whether slick or deep, often gifting the rider behind a pass having done the hard bit of getting in front of them in the first place. Those single points are what could make or break us in the play offs.

Thirty to forty minutes of grading between heats 4 and 10 would suggest we were trying to recover the track to suit us. Complin and Pijper really struggled but Nowak really seems uninterested in conditions that dont immediately suit him. Ht13 is one of the best races I've seen.

The better racing was among the lesser lights last night with Pearson, Alfie BT, Pijper and Complin. Morris without engine issues would have made it a bit more respectable but with no middle order Brum look very vulnerable.

Lee is noticeably struggling to control the bike for whatever reason and it shows. In the early heats at Ashfield you really need to hug the white line however coming off the corners he can't hold it. Twice last night he got done inside and out on bends one to two and is often very untidy or out of shape off turn four. Perhaps Lee is over trying but its doing him no favours. He was much more effective at Berwick where the big track corners are less intensive. The light will be shining on him as he's got experience but so also does Marcin who was woeful last night and Sedgmen who put in an average Sedgmen performance. Our rider of the season last year came back to remind us what we are missing.

No dust but the track was so deep to the extent only Harris and Vissing for the home team could ride it early on. Did the riders really ask for it this way or did we do this by design to put off Redcar and it backfired? Novak was uninterested after ht1, Pijper came down heavily in ht2 and struggled until it slickened off in later heats, as did most of the team whilst getting a gating lesson from Redcar. From the outside looking in it doesnt look like we gave ourselves the greatest opportunity to win the meeting. The tie was already gone.

Why no Thomson in ht15?

This tie could be lost, simply not enough heat wins. Basso aside poorest we've been this season.

He's a 3 pointer that is somehow on a 5.

He's made a career of doing that. Has an incredible knack of always being on an employable average at the end of each season.

Brilliant cup tie that had a bit of everything and went right to the final heat. Pijper winning points from the back, very impressive. If Eurosport showed speedway like this it'd interest me again instead of endless FTG heats and Doyle et al finishing half a lap ahead of the rest. Knowledgable commentators also help enhance the product as they did last night.

Assuming he would have wanted to return. I'm sure he had a verbal spat with Harkess when Edinburgh got rid of him a few seasons ago.

Berwick can hardly be surprised. Will take time for Schlien to get back to No1.

Proper racing on a proper track. Noticeably no extensive ht10 regrade today which stopped momentum swinging back to the 0131, sped up the meeting and left all the dirt right up high for Bomber in 13 and 15. Getting the bonus is going to be a challenge against the really good teams. Today wasnt one of them. Roll on Friday for the Bandits.

We'd better get a move on with rain now forecast from 6 and heavy rain from 7. Whilst that can change between now and 5pm the last thing we need is a rain off on opening night.

Glasgow win the toss and take gates 2 & 4. Really! How many years have we been going there. #WTF

Castagna to come alive in ht14 having otherwise been anonymous. Close meeting in prospect.

We ran out of steam towards the end of that season, both points wise and money wise! Sweetman was never heard of again.

Some decent gating would be preferable, not his forte and always harder coming from the back if not on decent equipment.

Ringwood deserved a second season IMO, he was better than the others around this era but not to be.

We were skint and couldnt attract or pay anyone else.

Around the Championship bar Plymouth. A definite no.

Got to agree, showed his true colours taking the lead role in the rain off nonsense last year. No thanks.

The Premiership is s-h-i-t and its Glasgow.

They wouldnt come to watch six championship riders and a slightly better rider of the Zagar, Kurtz level and neither would I. GP Challenge there were plenty but the field was superb.