Tom Turner

Why do you have to be so unpleasant?

Good win from the Pirates! Judging by the comments it looks like Poole were definitely fired up and King's Lynn perhaps a tad complacent? Will King's Lynn choke now like Poole did a couple of seasons ago? Today's meeting will be a stark warning message to the Star's who will be determined to hit back at Poole in a very big way. They won't be likely to make the same mistake next time that's for sure! Congratulations to the legitimate Pirates for an inspired performance.

Loopholes are part of any sport. Just take a look at F1. F1 is arguably the most professional motor sport in the world and every year the teams invest millions into finding ways to get the most out of the new rules and regulations. It's not trying to get around it as such, it's pushing your team to limit in order to get the best result. For me, that is all part and parcel of any team based sport. A team on the track, doing the best they can with the tools they have and a team off the track doing the best they can with the tools they have. But in this case it's just out right cheating. The rules were crystal clear.

Deleted by Charizard, Today, 02:46 PM to avoid upsetting desperately in denial Poole fans.

Now you're just being silly. There are plenty of reasons to dislike Poole, but this isn't one of them.

I don't understand how this issue is still dragging on? There is no debate to be had here. Poole cheated, albeit indirectly, by influencing a rule change in their favour. This rule change has allowed Poole to make a move, that regardless of its efficacy, has not been made available to any other club throughout the season. It does not matter whether or not the move was justified, it does not matter whether or not every party involved agreed the rule should be indited, the point, which my fellow supporters seem so desperately unable to comprehend, is that this has created an uneven playing field within the sport and that cannot be acceptable in any professional sport. I have strongly defended the actions of Matt Ford in the past because I believe that "rule bending" is part of the sport. By that I mean, if the rules allow an action to be made, either because a loophole in rules allow for it or the rules simply aren't comprehensive enough to forbit it, then it is the duty of the team to take absolute advantage of these rules. To me, that is just as tactical as swapping a reserve or electing a rider for double points. However, on this occasion it is a clear violation of the rules in which every other team has obeyed all season long. This whole fiasco has not only distanced me from the Poole promotion, but also from some of the supporters who I have stood by for many years. It is morally indefensible to pretend these actions are fair and justified. It is your duty as a supporter of the sport to acknowledge that Poole's actions were not acceptable, for when something that is wrong is not challenged it becomes customary. Any serious sport cannot allow manipulation of any kind to become the norm.

I think you mean 1 blinkered fan.

Riders should be paid on points only, and an appearance fee to cover travel costs and minimum wage for the duration of the night only. I thought these guys were meant to be sportsmen? They should be earning money from "elite" performances. I'm really not sure how I feel about this one. Davey is a top notch guy and I can't imagine him ever wanting to intentionally put in a bad performance for his home club. Perhaps Poole has become somewhat of a mentally strenuous challenge for Davey? A history of troubling performances along with criticism for the fans every occasion he riders there... can't be the best mind set to go into a meeting on! Then again I do remember him guesting for Poole in place of CH or DW in 2012/13 and putting in a 15pt maximum...

I've only watched a Poole match before and I found it pretty disappointing. Couldn't make out the riders helmet colours and had no idea what was going on. Would be nice if they could include a direct microphone feed from the track presenter, at least we'd have some idea who was in each race and their gate positions. I know you can go to speedway updates and look there but it's just hassle. Full screen would be no better as it's a low quality feed. Even if he could get full screen (which he can't) then it would be far too low quality and stretched to see anything.

Bet 365 coverage is awful. Wouldn't waste your time!

I've always been a big Rory fan, so I will quietly be cheering his heat wins

Interesting... very interesting... I'm not sure which way this will go now!

Rider's don't get ill? I'm pretty sure you've pulled a few sickies at school.

Just read this on the Daily Echo website:

Will be a very tight meeting. Hoping the pirates can pull off an away win. Will depend very much on the performance of Kyle, Bomber and Maciej in my opinion. Not sure why we got Bomber to guest, could we not of just had R/R? Or perhaps we could of bought Brendan back? Don't see how it could be cheating this time? Would much rather have Pawlicki than Bomber tbh.

I actually knew a guy who called up Matt Ford and Poole's previous promoter (who's name is on the tip of my tongue but I cannot recall!) to discuss his concerns with one of their decisions. He was told in no uncertain terms to "f**k off" and if he didn't like it then he should stop attending. Good aye Starman?

Poole will be looking to win this one. The league title will feel much more attainable for Poole if they pull off the win. As always hoping for a 0 from Benji.

I spent a short spell working at Curry's a few years ago over Christmas and had the pleasure of serving Darcy Ward. He came in to buy an electric coffee grinder, and only an electric coffee grinder! I had a look out the shop window as he was leaving and his van was surrounded by about 15 young men. 3 Guesses as to what that grinder was for?

Remember when we all found out that they'd been putting horse meat and all sorts of other crazy things in our food? Just because something has been given the all clear does not mean it's right. You are missing the entire premise of the argument and I am not going to waste my time trying to explain it to you.

Poole cheated. I'm sorry mate. It doesn't matter how, it doesn't matter if the Queen of England gave it the nod, it was cheating. You cannot change the goal posts a month before the end of the season. It's just not right. Not right on the supporters and not right on the sport in general. Any positive effect the draft system may have had improving the future of the sport has been cancelled out by this. It's wrong and it's morally indefensible to say we haven't.

I expect Poole might be preparing for Kyle to be withdrawn from the fast track system next season and are doing their best to get in all the race practice he can in case they choose to put him in the main team next season. Can't say I have any problem with that to be honest.

I was going to make the trip after work but I think I might give it a miss, weather sounds a bit too dodgy to waste £50 of petrol on! Haha... nail on the head! Gotta love that hammer pun.

Why don't the just do fast track averages? Riders can only be replaced with another rider with a fast track average the same or below theirs. Seem's fair to me.

Nope, based on Wimborne Road in Poole! Brendan is a nice enough lad but he will never progress very far as a rider. He looks like a plank of wood on the bike and he hasn't really progressed at all. But, given the choice between Compton and Johnson it would be Johnson as Compton is an illegal rider.