drew2

Saw that Simmo one 'live' too. Think it was the first bend at the County Ground though (not 3&4) and remember they couldn't find him to start with and when they did they couldn't get him. Eventually ropes where found to reach him and despite pelvic injuries he walked to the ambulance near the tractor/grader park on bend one. Saw Garry Stead's career ending one at the OTA although two races earlier Rebel legend Glenn Cunningham, on his return to Somerset for Stoke, was a 'sitting duck' on bend four after falling and not being able to clear the track and either the red lights failed or the riders didn't see them in time. Think Zorro and possibly Matt Read missed him but Ben Barker ploughed straight into him, you just could see what was going to happen and it did. Luckily neither rider was as badly hurt as Steady was two races later on that fateful night. Can still see poor old Jordan Frampton colliding with the stricken Stead who fell right in front of him and he cartwheeled bike and all the length of the back straight virtually. Unfortunately Steady, as we know, wasn't as lucky as Cunningham or Barker had been before him to walk away.

If heat 11 had run its course before Jake's crash then that score would have been much closer. Rohan looked beaten in that one but as often happens he popped out the start and cruised home. Great to see Wrighty back out around the boards too!

Didn't know Kildemand had an issue with chains breaking?? Starkey's fall from where i was stood sounded mechanical rather than any hint of rider error.

but after the luck he had tonight probably wished he was at Belle Vue instead! Phillips got away with a flier in heat 2 but then rode a steady race to win but then was 'gifted' his paid win when Starkey fell (due to mechanical issues i think) when way way clear at the end of lap two and it was awarded, despite Zach chasing him.

I was thinking 'why he is still riding the GP's' last night but if i had that opportunity to experience being part of that event (I haven't as i am a Professional Golfer!) as a competitor i certainly wouldn't pass it up. Yes he was probably very frustrated at his lack of points but getting the reaction from the fans on the parade and being able to line up at the tapes in the biggest meeting of the year must be a great feeling/buzz. Why wouldn't he want to do it?

I had confidence in the team Gazza built from day one although some others didn't share my view but i never thought we would get to July only losing once (and that was a meeting they could have easily won too)! Top effort from the whole team, long 'May' it continue.

It was bound to be, the bad races at the OTA are better than some tracks good ones!

I'd like to think the Rebels can muster 29 points in the second leg!! Nice to Jake Allen register his first maximum in British Speedway. It is a bit tough when you 'up' your assessed average in your debut season and then still drop to reserve!

Yep remember that night too and as you say it was a very nice day before it. I suppose that riders going out of view and then re-appearing made it a bit like the old County Ground. That happened there every week in perfect weather from some viewing points!

Especially when he is actually a Somerset asset! I know what the rules are though before anyone says.

I suppose that would mean a loan fee for Brady to be paid to the Somerset promotion then??

8 miles and about 12 minutes to the OTA from home for me. I could walk to it though when i used to work next door in the Driving Range!

Somerset are stronger than you might think. A lot of people underestimated them but as usual Garry May (not Day as in your prog!!) has put together a very useful side.

Impressive from the management to foresee the wet weather of today and not to have a fixture arranged that would have definitely have been cancelled! Onto next week when the Witches are in town.

As a Somerset fan i really liked the fact that Wrighty and Starkey were piling up the points at reserve for Swindon and Leicester respectively as their confidence is going to be high. Nothing like winning races to do that whichever league it is! Now they are scoring less (understandably too in the main body of an EL team) i hope it doesn't affect their scoring for Somerset also as those two are the engine room at the OTA this year.

Thanks for the replies. Can you message me some details for him please Steve as the only Belcher i know is Statman!!

Was wondering if anyone had any contacts of anyone who has this type of equipment for hire etc? I am thinking of maybe using it for a fundraising day later in the year as an additional activity? Thanks for any help in advance.

I work in Brean and we have two very heavy localised downpours in last two days on top of the deluge on Monday morning so can't say it has been that dry in the area! I drove home to Bridgwater and the roads became dry halfway home on Weds evening but BOS was virtually flooded at 6pm (Berrow Road, Oxford Street). The promotion can't win can they sometimes? An already very wet track, a poor forecast which was likely to affect people travelling too far meaning a low attendance and then a potential 60+ points pay out against Scunny does seem a big risk to me and its not my money! It costs them much less to call it off early rather I would think than have the situation like they did a few years ago vs Plymouth when a localised cloudburst over the OTA on an otherwise sunny day saw that meeting called off with a large crowd already in the stadium and the riders etc all present.

I never would have guessed!

Surely Benji Compton would be a 3.00 at reserve!!

Somerset are certainly able to 'cut their cloth accordingly' as you put it as they have been pretty successful in recent years but have remained a very stable operation.

Is that surprising with Speedway rules?

What on Friday you mean?? It was League cup so isn't permitted!

Did Danny Maassen get lapped then last year? Karger was awful and to be honest Danes usually have a good record of taking to our track with ease. I sense if you think his two points were good last night then you didn't go?

He most certainly is. Spoke to him before and he said he was very sore but was going to give it a go and boy did he. Bar a slight mistake on the back straight of heat one (when Kennett passed him) he would have had an official debut paid maximum! Debbie and Gazza look to have done well there again! I must say that scoreline does flatter the Rockets. I actually double checked my programme adding up as i thought they had never reached 40 points tonight. Seems as though they may have had a half time rollocking as they had more interest after heat 9 when the tack slickened off but were all pretty poor in the first half of the meeting. A couple of EF's for Rohan and BWD plus Josh's fall certainly gifted the Rockets points. I know it is early days for Rye but Karger looked way off the pace and only beat Zach, who looked down on power for the rest of the night after his heat 2 problem on the last corner. Rebels should have been close on 60 points really but they weren't so we will see what happens on Monday weather permitting. I know it was Good Friday but definitely a good sized crowd tonight at the OTA, may have been bolstered by some of the 450 remaining Plymouth fans i suppose?