sparks123

Remember it well. I take it you didn't read my post as I mentioned Manu. Did he not sign for Berwick 2 weeks prior to the Edinburgh meeting but couldn't race on the Saturday so Berwick held off until the following Sunday to sign him (he got injured racing on the Saturday night I think but don't think Peter knew how bad initially).

Remember Berwick being probably the first to suffer the new rules with Andrew Tully (I think). Sure he got injured at the P&P and Newcastle got a facility for him even though he had never raced for them (couldn't complain as everyone knew he would have raced if he hadn't crashed). Berwick signed a rider and he got injured (before first Berwick match) but he still had to appear at Edinburgh or Berwick wouldn't have had a facility for him. When the fixtures came out Riss would have been in the Redcar team so there would have been no fixture clashes. Why do all these meetings take place at the weekend and when should Berwick, Leicester and Eastbourne race when these meetings are taking place? Its not the first time rules have been made up against Berwick (remember 3 seasons ago Newcastle used a guest against Berwick on the 29th day of a 28 day facility) and we missed the play-offs by one point. A couple of years ago a Sheffield riders mechanic could run across the track in front of NBJ and we lost by 2 points? With the talk about Jye's exclusion, a few dodgy starts and facility's granted when they shouldn't be at least it should be a while before we see the referee again at Berwick (has done 2 of last 3 meetings including the under 21's).

Thanks for the info. Thought bonus points would count towards your score like the UK. Thanks for the info.

Enjoyed meeting from heat 5 (started watching after work). Only spoiled by having a guest (thought guests were only for covid not to strengthen the team up) and tac subs in a 2 legged match (always thought it unfair as 1 team could use tac subs in both matches). Was glad UK got rid of tactical's in 2 leg matches (even though it cost Newcastle the league). Does the top 2 scorers not have to go in heat 15 (didn't pay much attention but was told in commentary that Holder was unbeaten after heat 1 and Thomson had been 5-1'd in his first 2 heats so Jack must have scored more points)?

Tony would have won the 2000 World Championship (I think) if it wasn't for 2 crashes. Final starts at 1.00.00 with Mark Loram. Heat 19 starts at 20.00 with Danno.

Have to agree. Cannot be Polish to race at reserve all season in Poland and change to Russian at the end of season to race in SON (must be illegible or would have thought he would be in the world U21's) Might be a thought though (Laguta was 6th in the averages and I think it's the only meeting so far this season that Emil hasn't won at least 1 race (at Lublin)).

As you say there are flaws with all systems. Last season you could score a 15 point max in every round (Qualifying heats) and have a tape exclusion or a fall (due to a bike malfunction), puncture etc in every semi final and be in contention to be world champion (Bartosz won last year with 132 points and you would have 150 points). This season you would get 9 points per round and probably miss out on automatic qualification for the following season.

If Madsen was excluded and you promoted the riders in that race then Dudek and Michelsen would have had 8 points also (with 2 and 1 race win). Fricke and Tai would have missed out on the semi's along with Madsen (as Tai was the 8th qualifier).

Thought the Guest rule in UK was bad. It's a shambles when none of your riders are injured but you can strengthen up your team by using guest's (hope Berwick use Danny at home next season and a guest away as that will strengthen Berwick up). It's also to easy to use any rider you want (in midweek Wroclaw had 2 British, Polish and Australian riders and 1 Russian rider in their team no matter how you dress it up).

Seems to happen a lot. Won last GP semi off 2 and chose 1 in the final and then wins semi off 3 and picks 2 this time. Think the only final he has won since returning is the only final he has had no gate choice in. Still with Madsen getting away with his flier, it gave Tai a semi final place as Dudek and Michelsen (if you promoted them 1 position) would have had 8 points with a race win and 2 race wins which would have put Tai out (even with a different order as Magic was also in the heat).

I probably included Trophy matches for Doolan/Garcia. Thought they got 4 late on (Eastbourne - Glasgow at Home and Birmingham away) and watched them get a 5-1 at Edinburgh the other week on EMTV and at Newcastle. Think Leon had 23 maximum heat wins (probably 6 or 7 in Trophy/KOC matches). Was speaking about that to a few people at one of the Berwick functions this off season..

Etheridge and Garcia possibly? Had 4 5-1's in last 4 meetings so must have had at least 1 more during the season? Possibly Flint and Gapp also. Think Summers and Etheridge, Flint and Garcia and Doolan and Garcia all had at least 5. I cannot think of Doolan and Summers getting a 5-1 at home in the league but think they had at least 3 away (won't happen very often).

Seen on facebook that Nicki has covid-19. Seems only mild but started when he returned from England.

Peterborough can now race Friday's due to Cookie not being in their team. Or can they as they are now in the top league.

Close meeting if I remember rightly? Was the KOC final the following week or the week after (when some final's took place in August).

Why did you not go? It was on the website saying "anyone interested in joining our amazing group of volunteers are encouraged to come along". You would then have found out what was discussed and possibly have a position (maybe Gary and Jamie would let you be the team manager) for the season.

Wonder who will replace Greg now he's retired?

Seems to have been blocked. Shame to have a young rider wanting to get better on small tracks stopped from racing.

Good to know you will be ok for the start of the season. Didn't see you at the track on Sunday morning so I take it Saturday's track work took it's toll on you?

No but there are no other divisions matches that night (in UK). I looked at Lasse Fredriksen teams (probably from last season) and Grinsted was one of them. They race that night and I think have also signed NBJ. If my memory is correct then he also races for Berwick who are at Poole the night in question. I will look in the speedway star after the date to see if any Edinburgh riders are racing that night but that's why I mentioned Berwick.

Why didn't Poole race Edinburgh on 29th April when Berwick are there for a one off meeting. Having checked the fixtures Edinburgh are not racing that night. Birmingham and Redcar are racing that night in the KOC so not to late.

I don't think the clashes were to bad last season? At the Edinburgh v Berwick match at the end of July an Edinburgh fan told me that tonight's meeting was the 5th clash of the season with Glasgow. Two of them were with fixture fillers with the inter league challenge and the Caledonian riders championship. Even at 5 clashes for 4 months (April - end of July) I wouldn't say its a big problem.

Hope your right screm. Hopefully Leon will go there as it will help him on the smaller tracks although I would suspect the track to be slicker for NL meetings than it is for Championship meetings.

Think Berwick did that at the start of the season (through sponsor (think it was Clear Energy)) for the first 3 or 4 meetings. George will possibly be able to confirm as I can remember buying a ticket or 2. Think it was announced along with them sponsoring the first Berwick reserve to be quicker in heat 2 than the winner of heat 1, first Berwick rider to score a maximum and first Berwick rider to score a paid maximum (or I could be making it up).

Wonder why the league didn't just have 1 meeting (home and away) with each team in the league and have 2 Trophy groups (North and South). It would give all teams the same matches (16) and everyone would have another trophy to race for.