luluthetiger

Possibly, if you live near King's Cross. Eddie lives in Dorset nowadays, Southampton Airport is just along the road.

He's riding for Leicester tonight in place of Branford (who is representing Britain in a World U-21 qualifier someplace)

Have to agree that all weather reports seem to indicate the same rain afternoon/evening. Rye House can consider themselves very lucky, and if it is indeed postponed will now presumably get to re-run with a full squad. Sheffield, even with their own problems, would have had a good chance of holding down a close result tonight and getting into the next round, but maybe not on another date. Lucky Len! (If it is to be off, that is)

I posted some of this on the parallel thread that's running about Saturday's match, but here it is again: I suspect the remarks from people going on about pay-scales are fueled in part by envy, that Berwick have achieved something they wish their club had done. Berwick run to an acknowledged budget, but thankfully (after a winter of worries) are now bolstered by financial input and sponsorships which allow outside sources to assist in some of the club's heavier expenses. The very fact of having a main sponsorship from a huge multinational group such as New Holland has probably attracted some of their new associate sponsors listed in their programme. As for the cost of recruiting Eddie Kennet, like others before him it may be he has agreed to become a Bandit because he has heard good things about the club these last few seasons, they are making it easy for him to travel up and down, stop over when required and he feels comfortable with the management and promotion. Lucky he doesn't read some of the stuff on here!

It was after the season Joe Screen had to do a few meetings at Wolves to get his average low enough to join Glasgow, the next winter the adjustment factor between the leagues was amended to allow easier interchange of riders between the two leagues. On the old system, Eddie couldn't have moved across (it is hardly 'dropping down' anymore, is it?) nor could Simon Stead. I suspect the remarks from people going on about pay-scales are fueled in part by envy, that Berwick have achieved something they wish their club had done. There was much the same sort of talk when Sheffield, another strictly-budgeted club, recruited Simon Stead during the close season. Berwick run to an acknowledged budget, but thankfully (after a winter of worries) now seem to be bolstered by financial input and sponsorships which allow outside sources to assist in some of the club's heavier expenses. The very fact of having a main sponsorship from a huge multinational group such as New Holland has probably impressed and attracted some of their new associate sponsors listed in their programme. As for the cost of recruiting Eddie Kennet, like others before him it may be he has agreed to become a Bandit because he has heard good things about the club these last few seasons, and feels comfortable with the management and promotion. Lucky he doesn't read some of the stuff on here!

Let's be honest, nobody knows who gets paid what. Everyone on here thinks they know, but... It is surely possible the New Holland Agriculture people (and that is one hell of a big multi-national organisation) have spilled what would be a miniscule drop in their ocean to help any extra expenditure. As well as being smart promoters, Berwick have always been very clear about working within a planned budget, so any big pay-out might be funded by the sponsors.

That's true, although statement above makes it clear to get Kennett in, another rider had to be sacrificed and Edberg's was the only average that fitted. They also say he could hopefully return to race for them in future.

Golly, that's a shocker! Full marks to Berwick promotion -- and what a deserved slap in the face for all the 'fannies' who constantly decry them!

Not so sure about that. He was signed as a 28-day injury replacement. The 28 days will finish on Thursday this week.

When does that finish? Isn't it the usual 3pm kick-off?

I can't think the FIM tracks in the UK (currently Poole, King's Lynn, Berwick and maybe Coventry, I think) are too worried about losing out to a new BV stadium being erected.

Why? Means an hour later getting back home, but no major hassle. Is there a reason?

Or, a guest for Morris and r/r for Davies?

Sheffield's success or failure will depend on Joe Haines and Facu Albin. We know what the rest will deliver (or not). Hopefully the OTA will suit Facu, he is just about as exciting a rider as I've seen in years. Raw as anything, but learning from every race.

Expect a big bill then from Sheffield travelling support, plus team and management, who are all on a southern safari! As Belle Vue are currently 'up before the beaks' for a dodgy call-off, and we know Glasgow have had restrictions put on them for the odd similar misdemeanor, I'd think even Len will have a case to answer if he tries to put this off too soon.......

How would you know?

I rather think Berwick's Swedes will be there, but maybe not Lindgren? Talk of guests is premature -- even if both teams were a turnip down, it would be r/r for both.

Resigned? According to my good, independant local source he should have been sacked on the spot for the track he gave them for the Berwick match. If there hadn't been two huge intervals for constant grading in mid-match during the injury break and then the later intermission, Bears would be out the KO Cup. Failing that, he should have been sacked for the quite awful race-strip offered for Newcastle's visit, and on Friday he shouldn't even have had access to the tractor keys. I don't know the man, I'm sure he's a great guy, fine citizen and all that, but Redcar cannot possibly survive another episode of this magnitude.

I think he could walk into Sheffield's squad right away! When is Max Dilger going to be fit?

Which was one of the reasons DLT didn't continue with the idea in the '80s

Good promotion, but not a Monarchs idea. Glasgow, at the time of David Thompson in the Blantyre days, did almost exactly the same promotion. Yes, great idea -- just don't claim it as being original..........

A sensible post, HT. A reserve in the current form of Micky Dyer isn't something many teams will have or face. It was his points that won a match for them away at Berwick, and also rescued them from certain (and pretty ignominius) defeat at home five days later. Tigers have the best rider in the league -- certainly better than Craig Cook -- just now, and weaker reserves are a price paid for being able to watch such a class act every week. Last night it was Dyer, plus the absence of Richard Hall and the unexpected failure of Facundo (please don't call him 'Frank', I understand he doesn't like it!) that turned the tables. Is Facu all right after his spill? To suggest, as an earlier poster did, he be dispensed with amid wholesale changes is just a bad joke. Who could possibly want to get rid of the brightest, probably most-popular, discovery the Tigers have turned up in years? Now that would have an adverse effect on attendance!

I can't really agree with you. Didn't you watch Heat 15 on Saturday -- when the bonus point was on the line? It was a cracker, with Ricky Wells, Kevin Doolan and Kozza Smith swapping the minor places for three laps several times before the last lap settled the 3-3. If you get a race as good as that in every meeting, it can't be too bad.

At their level, it is called "brand awareness". Are you aware just how big a multinational concern NH is?

How long did it take to turn it down? There is some funding available from ACU/SCB/BSPA whoever, and I cannot believe a quick online campaign on his behalf wouldn't have raised a fund to defray reasonable expenses. Instead, we learn on the morning after the meeting he has declined a semi-final berth in the World U-21s. Too soon. If there are more than two slots available, he should be there, proving there ARE young Brits capable of taking on the other nations. Or is it ambition we lack, rather than funding?