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Workington hump Ipswich. What is one the main points raised. Workington texter/ updaters

To be honest Jake has been the one that has impressed the most over the two so far this season and I think he has surprised quite a few of us including myself. Its is a tough one for the Promotion, but I do think that with the type of rider out there that will be available as a temporary replacement for Richard Hall means that we will have to lose one of the reserve boys.

Cannot really comment on the track at Berwick as I have never been before. But maybe it is the fact that they are not the landlords of the track and they don't have the proper time to prepare the track. Either way I hope that things get sort at Berwick would hate to see them lost to the sport. Onto Sheffield, a battling performance, and to go into the last heat with still having a chance to pick up a point was not bad for a team that everyone thought were going to get humped. Will be interesting to see how the Promotion deal with the Richard Hall injury, looks like it could be a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and I don't think the side is equipped to deal with Rider Replacement, and I think if we do bring in a new rider we might have to replace one of the reserve boys as well. Congratulations to Berwick on taking all three points, and a speedy recovery to Richard Hall.

If Sheffield are without Simon Stead then they will go with Aaron Summers as a Guest rider.

After 3 home meetings and 3 away meetings our heatleader trio average less bonus points. Home Simon Stead 10.13 Richard Hall 9.71 Ricky Wells 7.69 Away Simon Stead 7.63 Richard Hall 6.67 Ricky Wells 8.00 I make Ricky Wells our most consistent away performer so far this season.

He is not a bad guy sometimes let his mouth run away with him sometimes, but I have always found him to be very approachable. I do think that he was miffed at the predictions about the Sheffield team for this season But with three riders on assessed averages no one was realistically going to predict us to get anywhere near the play offs. But for the first half home match against Workington and the match at Derwent Park the side has done really well and has been punching above its weight, and prove in the pudding is the fact that we took out two good teams in the League cup. And interestingly after 3 home and 3 away meetings out of the 3 riders on assessed average 2 out of the 3 are not far off their assessed averages, which is something were not quite expecting.

Well I can only comment on what I read But I will say this. If the comments were so bad or in poor taste why was nothing said on the said meetings thread? Why did Workington invite the Promoter of another club, more so the Promoter of the team that is racing at the track as the Centre green presenter? Dave Hoggart is a wind up merchant. Dave Hoggart does have a habit of dropping himself in it. Dave Hoggart does have a bee in his bonnet that people predicted Sheffield to finish the bottom two. But if his words were that bad then the only person he has hurt is himself.

Not very often I defend Mr Hoggy. But lets get real, there is nothing wrong with a bit of trash talk/ banter, which is what it was and certainly got few of the fans from the Home of the Wulfsport Jacket talking and wound up. Good win for Workington last night, and they have been a thorn in our side on more than one occasion and have been the most successful visiting team to Sheffield over the years.

I suppose it depends on what he means by been scared. Scared of letting the side down. Scared of letting the fans down. Scared of letting his old man down. Scared of the track. or Scared of riding a bike. If its the latter two answers then he really needs to think about his future because he could be a danger to himself and other riders. I really do think that his old man did him no favours buying the team kevlars all it does is put added pressure on the lad and with his injury problems the lad needs is added pressure

Well not quite sure how we pulled that one off, but we did. For the first 8 heats Worky were really good, and really did fear that there was no way back, but if there is one side that has consistently been a thorn in our side at Owlerton its Workington. But we fought back and showed plenty of spirit and character, and as someone has said the moves by Stead and Hall were top draw and out of this world. The decision to put Howarth in heat 15 was the correct decision by the Workington Management, needed a racer and a gater and they did that with Howarth and Lawson. Special shout out for Roynon Fan the lady in Squall's life and lifelong Worky fan who did updates, but fortunately due to Simon Stead and Richard Hall's exploits in heat 15 saved Squall having to get the Marigolds out.

Last word on the subject. The race suits question is a valid one, gives a more professional approach and help towards attracting sponsors and the fact that someone was prepared to pay with strings attached. I don't buy into that every club missed out on Dyer, Dyer is a Swindon asset, so with Dyer finishing with Berwick at the end of the season Berwick would have been given first chance to talk to him.

Could well be that the loan fee was the difference between choosing Edberg over Dyer. But for the record in my preview thread I did question the validity of choosing Edberg over Dyer. Berwick Gone with a very solid looking side, with Ricky Ashworth leading the side this season, the other two heatleaders are Crazy Kozza Smith and Robin Aspegren. Thoughts on those three, I hope that curse does not hit Ricky of the ex Sheffield rider 2nd season away from Sheffield like it did with Andre Compton and Ben Wilson. Kozza is coming back from a season out and I think may struggle a bit with the role of 2nd heatleader. Of the the three I think that Aspegren could be the one that could go on to better things, and I think that he may push Ricky for the top slot. The 2nd strings are where I think that Berwick are particularly strong Matt Wethers seems to score decent points everywhere and Bellego is a talent and will go on to better things if he can sort out his engines. The reserves were a surprise as I thought Berwick would have gone with Micky Dyer, but they have gone with the very injury prone Alex Edberg and the Dane Nicki Barrett. Both probably capable of putting something on their average, but can young Edberg stay injury free. Berwicks chances next season, I would say at best just outside the play offs, at worse mid table. I thin they will be an entertaining team though. Key Rider; Kozza Smith

I would not get to wound up about this result, over a season things can change. Mind you at the start of season the form books do seem to be overturning and it looks like there could be one or two surprises along the way this season I still cannot believe or understand why Berwick did not bring back Micky Dyer, when Berwick came to Sheffield last season and turned us over he was very much one of the reasons for that good win. If it was my club the only question that I would be asking the Promotion how much or did the fact that Alex Edberg Dad promising to buy the clubs race suits (very nice race suits) sway them to maybe go with Alex rather than Micky. But Redcar have made a very indifferent start to the season, so maybe Berwick could well comeback in this tie.

Same thing went through my mind when Edberg got the nod over Dyer.

Attending a meeting with you two is going to be a barrel full of laughs I see. Tsunami and Montie have a chat before last nights meeting.

Ipswich have said that they will pay their riders for the 3rd place bonus point, which makes the rule a mockery.

Not disputing the fact paying the bonus point for 3rd place, but how do you know that Kevin Doolan is paid £110 per point.

I think you will find that there was two reason why people complained about. (1) Him riding at number 4 especially at home(not the lads fault he don't pick the side) (2) His away form (Has improved, but the meetings he has done are Leicester and Scunthorpe two of his former tracks). But back to last night. Sterling performance from the Tigers and who would have thought that we would have topped the group, even without Adam Roynon you would have not tipped us do what we have done. But unlike last season this team looks and feels more like a team, and although I don't think that we will make the Play Offs I think this team will spring a few surprises along the way this season, but next season I think we will see this team reap the benefits and maybe challenge for honours. As for the meeting I would say after 4 heats I knew that we had the measure of Leicester and we were going to win by 7 or more,even when Leicester pulled it back to a 4 point deficit, never doubted it at all. Team Performance Sheffield Simon Stead; Proving to be the proper number 1 and leader that we craved last season, and for me the best since Sean Wilson. Facu Albin; Proving to be a big crowd pleaser and I only see him getting better. Joe Haines; Looked down on power most of the night, but pop up in heat 12 and gave a Bjerre a decent ride. He will have better nights. Richard Hall; Superb, and looks as though he could be finally producing what he has been promising the Sheffield speedway public for a fair few seasons. Damien Koppe;Still trying to find his feet, and may need a bit more time to find it, but I think he will. Jake Knight; Man of the Match for Jake The Snake for me, his race with Doolan in heat 14 nearly sealed the deal. Leicester Basically if they showed as much passion as their supporters maybe they may have made the Semi- Finals. Mission Accomplished for the Tigers and we move on to next weeks visit of The Comets.

We will win the League now thanks for your prediction.

Well live 20 minutes away from the track and we have no rain at the moment.it is due around 10 this morning but to be fair it don't look like its going to rain.

The car parking price is set by the stadium owners not the Promotion. But it is the best Car Park in British Speedway.

And I was hoping that you would be predicting a big Leicester win.

Not quite true see below, this is from the BSPA website, Sheffield only need to win by 7 to go through. LEAGUE SCORING SYSTEM Home loss by any amount of points = 0 Home draw = 1 Home win by between 1 and 6 points = 2 Home win by 7 points or more = 3 Away loss by 7 points or more = 0 Away loss by 6 points or less = 1 Away draw = 2 Away win by between 1 and 6 points = 3 Away win by 7 points or more = 4 As the league stands, Leicester have 6 points and Sheffield have 4

How could you have seen the free programme at Sheffield if you have not been since 1983?

The result tonight sets things up nicely for the meeting at Sheffield on Thursday. Leicester can afford to lose by 6 or less. Sheffield need to win by 7 or more. To top the group.. Lets hope there is a bumper crowd with lots of travelling Leicester fans to generate an electric atmosphere.