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It did but they went to town on it. Got the massive bowser out and went round 3 times. Way over watered. From that moment Poole just adapted better. It totally killed our flow and I'd love to know if that was done in consultation with the home riders or not. A good come back for Poole so well done to them but to drop a 16 point lead after half of a meeting is shocking. I said earlier stand by this team but I've changed my mind after that. Wells and Berge need to go.

That decision to water the track has single handedly cost us that meeting. Absolutely appalling decision and whoever's made the call needs bringing to book.

Racing was garbage before the track grade. Its improved a lot since but played into Poole's hands. Way, way overwatered and its caught us right off guard. Who ever made the call needs a word in the ear

Bit of rain from 2 so will need to crack on. Easy home win imo. Hopefully another decent bank holiday crowd.

We will win our home meetings. Right now that’s all that matters. As the season develops and we get to the business end then we can have a look at where the averages are, then make the changes. Plenty of times in the recent past we have been strong well before the play offs and then fall away when it actually matters For me it’s just a case of get to the play offs, then strengthen before the cut off. There will be riders come up who want a few rides in the uk around half way through the season.

See what Craig is up to in a month or two

Lidsey paid 8 and a heat 15 nomination tonight in the Polish extra league. That's what he's capable of. It's not necessarily pulling up trees but given where he has come and at that level, it's not at all bad. I maintain when he finds his feet he will be banging the points in.

You are bang on but I still think there crowds will be down. Even Poole fans are getting pissed with the state of what was once a great circuit. It still can be, but until they actually fix it properly crowds will continue to fall which is absolutely scandalous given that towns catchment.

He's not. And he's not wrong either. It's a hell of a jaunt for belle vue supporters and it absolutely has to be right to make it worth it. Poole is a fabulous track, but its poorly prepared and that is now impacting people's decision making in terms of attendance, especially when the travel is so acute. Being sympathetic isn't relevant, at the end of the day there is work to be done at Poole in the same way as there was at kirky lane, and people voted with their feet there too, and they only lived up the road. I have no sympathy for the state of your track because frankly you have more control over it than we ever did at the dog track.

He has the right to defend his line given he was in front but I think that was really close to being out of order. The last corner you could see Rohan having to get of the gas. I’d take that on a smaller track but at the NSS I don’t think there is reason to lock up mid bend, it’s the type of place where just following the natural curvature will get you round quicker. Heat 13 had the same type of pattern but Rohan just did it much better. It was fair but he covered every inch of the track.

3 times people had to avoid Hans there. Twice Kenneth and once Rohan. He was locking up mid bend. Like I said after that match it came across even worse in real time, trying to defend himself but was getting dangerous. On such a big open track like that there is no excuse to potentially get yourself t-boned like that.

Didn’t expect much from Berge, Jamion as you say will improve in the 2nd half of the season. He’s a quality rider who just needs time. Ricky has surprised me. He’s been such a dependable rider over his career and I thought at 2nd string he’d be absolutely fine but he can’t buy a win barely at the moment. Wouldnt change anything just yet I think it will come.

That's because a lot more happens over weekend periods when the kids are off so that time slot is already spoken for. Generally a Monday is a really poor day to race for us. I dont know how Thursday will work out

Entertaining although I dont think the racing was all that by the incredibly high standards the NSS generally sets. Still a sight better than pretty much every other venue though

Dont think people are arsed about full teams. Most of the casual people weekend racing attracts know nothing about speedway or have little interest in it. As I said in my last post, it's just something to do when nothing else is happening around a weekend period. The drop off from the bank holiday fixture vs last night was absolutely huge and that should tell us everything we need. I'm not saying we will get those bank holiday numbers on a Friday but we will certainly see an increase vs a Monday or a Thursday. Who is riding matters not imo.

Speedway has always been a day out. To increase the fan base it has always been targeted at families. Have a look at bank holiday numbers vs a Monday. I've often argued this and been ridiculed on here for it. First and foremost, I am supporter of speedway and then the Belle Vue Aces 2nd. I can take it or leave it so for a club to get my dollar they have got to work really hard for it. I think that point of view applys to a significant percentage of this sports fan base. It's a day trip for many families and the day it takes place is absolutely critical. I am also an avid man city fan, season ticket holder for many years, but I put my team before the sport of football and the day it takes place is immaterial for me and many others. It has that power and pull. A premier league football game for many isn't just something to do, its something that happens once a week and they will be there no matter what. The day doesnt matter. Speedway needs to start going after families and the best time to do that is the weekend.

Whether you are on the wind up or not I can actually see your point. On the smaller tracks Swindon are essentially carrying 3 riders. The great thing for them is they have a quite wonderful top 3 and Ellis appears to be kicking on so far this year. However I do agree, if one of that top 3 has a poor night then they will take a pasting somewhere so I sort of get your point, but those times will be very very limited.

I'd say there was about 1200. In the current speedway climate and on a Monday evening, that is about the figure I would anticipate. A Friday would see another 600 on the gate. It's just speedway unfortunately. We are no different than anyone else despite the catchment area we may have. The sport just doesnt have the pull and when you run on a Monday evening against a team that was here 2 weeks ago, then the crowd tonight is the expected result. It's a shame because its fabulous entertainment around the nss

Half decent meet. Heat 15 was worth the admission alone and heat 13 was probably the best race I've seen without any actual passing. I thought Andersen was naughty in heat 15. No longer the rider he was and simply didn't know how to defend himself so started with the left turns. Tungate showed him how it should be done in heat 13, defended himself excellently and covered every inch of the track whilst allowing the others racing room. Ricky looks slow. He's working his ass off but he is lacking speed. The lads need to rally round him to help him find the best set up.

I should have clarified my point a little more than I did. He will be, and is, absolutely fine around the wide open spaces of the NSS. It's a safe race track. Away is another matter on circuits that he wont be as confident on, where tight situations on tracks that frankly aren't prepared as well as the national stadium, will occur. Indeed Poole is probably the worst track in the United Kingdom in terms of actual prep, holes, bumps and anything else you may find at Wimborne Road.

Dan is nowhere back to race fitness, if he scores more than 3 I will be delighted.

You should take your own advice.

No anger. No issues. If it seems that way to you, perhaps you should reevaluate how you make judgments of people because you couldn't be further from the truth.

I did my ligaments in the ankle about 18 months ago playing football. Broke the bone as well. 8 months out. So totally get you point of view. For 3 to 4 months after I've never been so nervous on a football pitch. It affected everything I did. Until someone rolled my ankle again and it stood up to it. Back to the player I was 18 months previous. The demons had gone. I knew my ankle could take it again. Thank you, like Phil, for posting fairly. Much appreciated

The circumstances are very different, totally understand that. It's why I'm trying to get across the point that I dont wish injury. It needs to be a crash you walk away from. The best thing that happened to me after my first crash, and I hurt myself, was crashing again. And for the reason you have highlighted. It was in my head. I walked away from the 2nd crash but I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted. Thank you for engaging me sensibly I appreciate it in a sea of people who just want to fight.