MD

I was going by the programme averages for 2014 not realising rolling averages!

Hopefully out of hospital next week returning to France to recuperate. No timescale on return. Glasgow have new averages the following week and may look at a short term replacement.

Three points in the bag for Glasgow is just what we wanted. Thomsen was brilliant from reserve and made up a lot of points that would have come from Berge. Richard Lawson went through the card, he was never going to be as bad as last week though after that the Bears weren't great. Another home league match (I think) and Glasgow get new averages. Interesting that Wolbert is currently fourth in our current averages having lopped 3.1 off his starting ave and Lemon is seventh just behind Lykke and will go to reserve unless the team changes. Berge will remain in the main body as far as I understand it on an assessed 5.00 until he does two more home matches which doesn't sound anytime soon according to todays announcement.

Its not a change I would have made but probably a calculated move from the manager that no one is above being pulled. I still think Lemo will come good, he was much more aggresive yesterday though had a p1sh third ride. The way things are going he could end up at reserve mid season and that may not be a bad thing. Best wishes to Berge.

Excellent meeting today with passing inside and out right up to the final heat. Ostergaard under Wolbert was brilliant on turn 2 in ht15 and behind Berge and Bjerre were going at it full on. There is a side to Bjerre jnr that I just don't like, I'm all for hard racing but he had Berge wiped out on turn 4 just before their crash, its quite something he managed to stay upright. Glasgow chucked points away to give PB their point, why Anders thought he would round Rusty on the last lap of ht4 when under no pressure was just mental. Rusty then came off at the same spot in ht13 when Wolberts drive under Lawson left him nowhere to go on the outside. Pijpers chain snapping in ht14 didn't help matters though cancelled out by Jacobs EF. As some have pointed out it would have been a different story if Fisher was there but he wasn't so that's that.

Looking at PB scorers at Worky tonight, the reserves and Blackbird only pulled in 2 points. Dryml didn't look too hot either though I doubt that'll be repeated at Ashfield. We are in with a chance!

Good point, we've got to pick up everything at reserve. Thomson had the speed last week to go hammering into the third bend but not the confidence to scrape the fence to pass anyone exiting the fourth. His gating is poor and must improve. We need to be smarter at the gate using our lesser riders to good effect, if we can nobble Lawson before the second bend its game on!

Much better from Glasgow tonight though another p1sh return from Lemo. Berge looking to be a real find.

Better performances on track and these issues will be less significant. I agree about the programme, give us an insert with the original programme for the restaging meeting not for a completely different team.

A big part of the problem is there are fewer businesses and those that made it through recent hard times don't have the money to spend on sponsoring sport. Just look back 10 years to see the businesses that used to sponsor SPL clubs compared to now. The recession everyone talks about isn't temporary its become the norm. As a point of interest its £16 to get into Glasgow, another pound to get into BV doesn't seem that bad.

Were those 5 people Monarchs fans? We've only had 2 home meetings and both against Edinburgh, how can you say your not coming back by Easter Sunday? As regards the track - thought it was decent just our misfiring guys need to learn to ride it, Berge and Rusty knew how. Reading some of the comments about lack of dirt makes me wonder if people want to go back to previous years when it was knee deep to unsettle the opposition where experienced riders could barely turn the bike, with crashes galore and every heat FTG. The issue is with the riders not the track IMO. Wonder what happened to Danny et al?

Its a baptism of fire at home right now though, having only had two home matches, both against Edinburgh who are IMO the best starting 7 I have seen since Swindon in the early 2000's. Peterborough next week don't look that far behind and I couldn't predict a home win, the only glimmer of hope is that we can get the better of their reserves and pick up the minor placings.

The bulk of the banking is long gone. Confidence/machinery issue or both.

Tactical madness at that point to chuck in a TR so early and one that was highly unlikely to yield maximum benefit with Rusty going off gate 1 and against Cook. Turned out to be irrelevant. If, as suggested Lemon blew his engine in his first ride, I have sympathy with that, having to then jump on a second bike however there are no hiding places right now and we need some points on the board pronto, starting at Redcar on Thursday.

I'm not suggesting Wolbert is trying to fiddle anything but lacks confidence on a track he has visited many times before and trundles round at the back like Gjedde did.

Bjerre? Wolbert has to come good rapidly or face the chop. His demeanor reminds me of Gjedde at Berwick a few years ago. No doubt Joe Jacobs will come back next week and rattle off several heat wins we didn't see in 2013.

Pass marks for Rusty, Dmitri and to a lesser extent Anders. The rest were p1sh, consistently outgated and slow as treacle. Lemon didn't get off the line in his first and couldn't pass Lykke he was so slow. Wolbert is even worse than Screen 2013 shutting off down the home straight and lacking confidence to hammer it down the back straight taking the speed high up the third bend. If he had been on song today the Mons would still have beaten us, they have put together a phenomenal team that is unbeaten anywhere and exposed our multiple weaknesses.

Speedway is dying on its arse in Britain full stop. I watched the Sky meeting on Monday to see Lee Smart have two EF's before the second bend and trail in a mile behind in his third and wondered how this really could be the top tier. Speedway crowds are dwindling for various reasons not just one thing: Laydown engines have made the bikes far too fast, coupled with the silencer changes of a few years ago means passing is at a premium and riders are lower skilled IMO as a result. With lower crowds has come continual year on year gate prices, perceived lack of value and the pricing out of many. Poor facilities for fans which entice only the diehards. Continuing effects of the recession, lack of wage increases and the spiralling cost of living, unless you live within the M25! You can buy Sky Sports and watch as much speedway and football as you like from your living room for less than the monthly cost of actually attending speedway.

If only an airport burger could get us a decent guest. Like lambs to the slaughter we won't make 25!

Edinburgh home and away this weekend doesn't auger well with Cook and reserves that can bang in 20+ points. Perhaps it'll be a week on Sunday that Wolbert starts his season!

No surprise its off. The heavy rain forecast for 1pm came an hour late and hasn't stopped. Added to the overnight rain the track must be sodden. We always seem to have this in April! Never mind nxt Sun its the Monarchs again!

Bit of a tanking for Glasgow even with Doolan having an off night. Time for Wolbert to step up to the plate, been gash so far as a No 1, shades of Screen 2013!

Wolbert needs to get us going right from ht1, an uphill struggle for sure. Hope we get a dry track for some decent racing.

Glasgow almost hit 40 at Armadale, our prospects for the season look much improved. Bring it on.

Lemo just needs to maintain his average of 6.5. He won't be under pressure to go out as No1 or win the big heats as they will be shared with Wolbert, Pijper and Crusty. Riding at No3 makes it easier for him and hopefully he can pull in some decent points. A decent signing for us in the circumstances.