crescent girl

This Saturday has Berwick Bullets taking centre stage in their first stand-alone match before spectators. Hopefully the Berwick (and Newcastle) public will support the meeting -- Bullets are top of the table, but Gems are unbeaten home or away, so it should be an interesting encounter, with the added interest of a sprinkling of local-derby spice. The usual e-tickets are on sale -- £10 across the board -- from the usual site: https://www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets/

Josh McDonald's performance at Shielfield las month was full of spectacular effort, his eventual heat victory was given warm applause from the home support

6000 on Glasgow Green is almost exactly the same as 250 going into Ashfield this Friday, isn't it?

In an area which is licensed to hold 81,000 to watch festivals in normal times....

A direct result of Brexit, rather than Covid19!

Worth noting that on Saturday, Berwick's double-header was completed in 2 hours 40 minutes, even leaving plenty time for Danny Phillips to have two four-laps training sessions before the curfew time. Full marks to referee Jim McGregor (never thought I'd be writing those words!) the pits and track staff, as well as the two teams' management.

The Poole guest will be Hans Andersen, it seems.

Yes, he said that in the on-track interview at the interval on Saturday -- five matches in five days. Mind you, Leon Flint is currently in the middle of seven matches in six days!

Main stand sections A, B, C, D & E all sold out now, plus standing area 5 (first part of back straight terracing). Looks like good weather, four good teams and thirty tough races -- what's not to like?

Sections C, D & E now sold out.

Centre section (D) in main stand now sold out.

A tough test for the Bandits and Bullets, facing the reigning champions of both their leagues. Thirty heats, and both matches maybe too close to call? New month = new averages. Bandits will have Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen as their No 1, while in the Bullets team both Kieran Douglas and Mason Watson are promoted to the 1-5, replaced at reserve by Ben Rathbone and Ryan MacDonald. Although Shielfield Park can accomodate considerably more spectators than some other stadiums at present, Covid restrictions are still in place and admission will be by pre-booked e-ticket only. Book at https://www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets/ As eight out of the ten sections in the main stand were sold out more than 24 hours prior to the opening night double-header, if you prefer to sit in a certain area (you can select your section as you buy the ticket) it is advisable to book early. While not required when seated or standing in your selected spot on the terracing, masks must be work when entering, leaving and moving about at all times. Stadium will be open from 4.30pm, and tapes go up in the first match at 6.30pm sharp. Programmes (£3) are only available from the usual kiosk and snack bars. Please try to have the correct change, to keep things safe and simple.

A double header saves insurance costs, stadium rental, meeting fees, referee fees, ambulance & first-aid costs, etc, etc. Also, if (as you quote) you are paying £18 to watch the Lions and £16 to watch the Cubs, at the double-header you're saving £8 on admission, plus buying only one programme, paying one load of petrol, car parking, etc, etc. You might feel that £26 for thirty races is too much, and that's your privilege. But it's less that a quid a race..........

Absolutely right! Having watched -- live or streamed -- several NDL matches already, I agree that the reduction in points limit hasn't harmed the product in the slightest. I have to submit that there has been a very big miscalculation made on that score by our offshore friends........

If Buster has a 'replacement lined up' as is stated, it will be that this rider (and it ain't rocket science, working out who) has an average so high that it HAD to be Cookie who got moved on to accommodate him.

I understand the team will be the same as last Saturday, other than a change at #8, with Greg Blair in for Danny Phillips.

Your suggestions as to who might be brought into the side are eagerly awaited by the promotion.......

With the Scorpions having clinically despatched Plymouth on Sunday and Bandits losing at home last Saturday, this meeting is offering a new slant to expectations. Scunthorpe have three former Berwick riders in their line-up and one of the league's more-solid reserve pairings to challenge the so-far-successful local teenagers Leon Flint and Kyle Bickley. Team and ticketing announcements to follow.

The Bullets have seven home meetings (two already raced). One was behind closed doors, two are stand-alone NDL matches and four are double-headed.

But refunded by programme purchase!

I don't see an easy way to police 'one match only' options when Covid restrictions demand everyone being pre-ticketed. In the current circumstances, the deal for tonight is the deal, and we have to hope the promotion's hard work in preparing the stadium for limited viewing is rewarded. The situation at the previous double-header at Shielfield (the last publicly-attended meeting!) was quite different, as everyone had paid cash at the turnstiles, and could be refunded if leaving after the first match. On the matter of streaming, I suspect that currently there may not be a facility to offer a stream for meetings which are also being attended by the public. Finally, according to the booking site, grandstand tickets appear to be almost sold out for tonight -- eight out of the ten seated sections are now showing 'no tickets' -- but the standing areas have plenty capacity.

Colts will now have their first match tomorrow at Berwick......

Worth mentioning perhaps, that four central sections (C, D, E & F) of the grandstand are now showing "no tickets left" on the booking site, so if you want a sit-down on Saturday, be soooooooon.......

Speedway Star reports Scott Nicholls will guest for Riss (about equal) but getting Broc Nicol in place of Grobauer is akin to daylight robbery!

Thank you, Kitten. Is he the only Brummie not coming?