crescent girl

Off we go, first of the Shielfield season........ Teams will line up as follows: BERWICK: 1. Peter Kildemand 8.05 2. Jye Etheridge (Captain) 5.45 3. Victor Palovaara 7.35 4. Lasse Fredriksen 5.49 5. Nick Morris 6.86 6. Jack Smith 2.61 7. Reid Battye 4.00 Team Manager: Stewart Dickson EDINBURGH: 1. Dan Thompson 8.50 2. Jonatan Grahn 5.30 3. Justin Sedgmen 7.34 4. Paco Castagna (Captain) 7.05 5. Kye Thomson 5.93 6. Mitch Cluff 3.00 7. Jordy Loftus 2.14 Team Manager: Alex Harkess As usual e-tickets are on sale from Berwick club website at https://www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets/ Adults £20, concessions £18 and accompanied children free. E-tickets available up til 7.15pm. Cash only at turnstiles. FREE CAR PARKING

Viv Muddle has just turned 16, so he'll be looking to join the other teenage Aussie prospects here, or in Europe like Beau Bailey Has he got UK partiality -- l don't think he's got a State Title qualification for a visa?

He qualified for a visa by winning the Victorian State Title.

Nice idea in an ideal world, but hopelessly impracticable. I agree with Steve Park (!!!!) that such a competition would mean the lower-order riders (who might need it most) would be deprived of early-season action under racing conditions. However, what rules the idea out in this day and age is that none of the clubs could afford it! Paying your top earners for three away meetings out of the takings from just one home 'gate' would be an impossible financial burden.

Reid has now been added to the BenFund meeting at Glasgow tonight, replacing Nick Morris. Jason Edwards also in, for Dan Gilkes.

Late changes to line-up. Dan Gilkes will be replaced by Jason Edwards, and Nick Morris' place will be taken by Berwick team-mate Reid Battye, making his UK debut after an impressive showing at Berwick's P&P last night

Co-inciding with Speedway Star's unmissable Season Preview issue, which will offer details of ALL the tracks and teams...... Worry-ye-not, folks. It's happening!

The Star article made perfect sense to me. Without naming names, it answers enough questions to satisfy all but the most-demanding of forum panic-merchants.

Edinburgh run 25 miles from the city while in the recent past neither Eastbourne nor Somerset were anywhere near civilisation!

Really? From Ashfield to Redcar is 200 miles, nearly 4 hours driving. South.

No way they could get a facility for a rider who hasn't even been named in their 1-7 let alone not ridden for them. Maybe a 'no facility' guest, but that'd be that....

Delighted the U21 Champion gets entree to the GPs -- not least 'cos he's Ukrainian! Meanwhile, the Russians have to pay the penalty for being, er, Russian.......

Victor Palovaara added to the BenFund Bonanza line-up for next Saturday -- three Bandits on parade!

It shouldn't (unless they go bust) tho maybe give speedway a greater say in stadium affairs. The footy club's dismal performances since they dropped down the pyramid certainly give the impression of iffy administration.

For God's sake, don't mention Horton! They're still looking to name a figurehead promoter....

Stand by for more pathetic squealing from the Emil/Laguta lovers -- how dare they put a Ukrainian in before them!

On the upside, the opposition will be the bonny, bouncing Bandits of Berwick!

Not riding in it is one thing, riding in a Championship match on the same night quite another. The Championship fixtures were set out well in advance of any Premiership planning (which would presumably include Belle Vue's dates) so we cannot blame the league that was organised enough to publish an early schedule. Maybe the winner in August will be the wild card for the 2027 British GP? Making it slightly more appealing to some riders? If the Championship schedule was maintained, and the meetings at Berwick, Plymouth and Workington (featuring Oxford, Edinburgh and Poole) went ahead, there wouldn't be sixteen British riders available to turn out at Belle Vue! Thus, the three Championship matches will have to be postponed -- which is a pity, given the clubs and supporters involved will have been issuing fixture listings and planning travel. Not a good look for the BSPA this time, seemingly running roughshod over the lower(?) league's more-efficient planning. Their capacity for both having and eating cake remains unrivalled.

See below....

The Dubai route hasn't been 'cheap' since COVID, people use it because of speed, and direct arrivals at various UK airports The most-economical route of late has been China Airlines, via Taipei -- close to half the cost of Emirates this past winter!

Practice now moved to Friday 27, prior to social event in B&G.

The "Press" part can be done for cameras, etc, (the clue is in the name) anytime the team is assembled, and race-suits are ready. The "practice" part could allow the remaining five plenty of track-time as PK and Nick are "practising" at Glasgow.

Nick Morris is also racing in it

With just about a month to Opening Night, there does seem a vibe about the club this year. The regular Total Access podcasting by Greg Blair is refreshing, not least since he has sorted out the sound with a proper mike. A few lesser podcasts are more reminiscent of two cocoa tins and a length of string.

Free parking, eh?