luluthetiger

What has to be grasped is that if there are only fifty who don't come to Ashfield for whatever reason, that's perhaps the difference between profit and loss for the club. The travel congestion, the hype of a final (football will claim all the media attention as usual) and people who will choose the one-off occasion of the match (live or on TV) have to be recognised. "The true speedway supporter will be there" we are told. Of course, but there simply aren't enough of us at any track these days, what the sport needs is to attract "floating voters" who make the difference between success and financial failure. At the very least, if the date has to be maintained Glasgow must begin the meeting at 5pm.

Sad to see the Tigers' chances crashing out in Heat 14, but fair play to Berwick for keeping going as a solid team. For me, the very long gap while Richard Hall was attended to seemed a forever thing, with no apparent effort made to tell us what was happening, or indeed anything else. Dick Barrie was on the mike earlier in the match to talk about the Sky visitation, but his replacement seemed to give up the ghost during the injury break. If there are going to be breaks of that length in Berwick meetings, the new chap will have to learn to entertain and inform like Dick could.

Make up for it by organising a Supporters Night up at Berwick on May 21st. The PL needs to be properly showcased on Sky, with full terraces for the matches, unlike the three men and a scabby dog we see on our screens at the EL fixtures.

With all due respect to Jake Knight and Damien Koppe, I don't see either of them doing what Tobacco Joe or Micky Dyer achieved at Berwick, so that could indeed be the telling factor. Berwick have such a solid look about them this year.

That 37 points will become a yardstick for visiting sides at Armadale this season, and half the league won't achieve it. Edinburgh look to be very strong, and when Fricke goes to reserve he will surely blossom. The German chappie seems to have one startlingly-good race in him every match -- unfortunately last night's was obviously not due until Heat 14, from which he was dropped. For Berwick, it is good to see Edberg fully earning a few points, hopefully silencing some very unfair criticism. The Bandits are a solid squad, and will rarely be totally humbled on the road this year. Hopefully Ashworth can be expected back soon, but judicious choices of a guest will perhaps negate his loss.

Clearly not, he is quoted on your club website last week and this. Why should you ask? Ricky Ashworth seems to be out for a while after his two successive concussions, Kevin Doolan guests on Saturday but (with progression in the competition now less than likely, to say the least) tomorrow's match sees r/r giving the other Bandits some extra pocket money.

I agree wholeheartedly with Boobs. This is Berwick's big chance to show on TV, to all these nations overseas as well as "down south" why the club, and track have been awarded FIM status, the BenFund meeting and even a World Final. Every single person with any interest in the wellbeing and continuation of speedway in Berwick should be bursting their guts to help make this a night to remember.

I believe we should be happy to have a rider committing to the UK, especially one good enough to win this title. The more the merrier, please!

A first time for everything, then!

Well done -- who knows, Rob could in a year or two be rivalling the success of another Aussie-raised Brit we are all delighted to claim these days! He might have been a Coventry Blaze rider this morning, but I can see about half-a-dozen PL reserve berths being cleaned out for him tomorrow! He last rode PL for Berwick -- would they have any first claim on him (although they might not be currently interested, of course)?

Won't happen again. George Taylor being flown in from Adelaide. Arrives tomorrow!

Well-deserved recognition for a club continuing to improve their speedway product. Berwick have a growing reputation within the sport, and Sky bringing cameras to Shielfield Park is just another notch in the Bandits' guns. Well done to all concerned in the borders.

Some sad people on here. Not least the self-appointed "Berwick promotion-hater". Some points: Your track has been hard and slick this year, possibly due to exceptionally cold weather. Certainly needs more racing lines. Micky Dyer is an Edinburgh asset (true to form, the dodgy dealer at Swindon failed to pay for an agreed transfer from Dudley, he reverted to being available and Edinburgh signed him). His 4.54 CMA quite probably wouldn't have suited the planned 1-7 considered at Berwick prior to Seb's fairly-late withdrawal, and yes, the loan fee might also come into their budgetary thinking.. I see Alex Edberg scored paid six on Saturday, and to blame him for the narrow defeat is ridiculous. Robin Asprgren and Kozza Smith, both high on anybody's list of favourite Bandits each scored 4 points, but Alex gets the blame? A bad night at the office, move on. Must do better next week. Not the end of the border world.

Ah, of course. Mr Barrie visits Argentina, so he'll know the scene. He was at Owlerton for the Birmingham match, with Facundo in the pits.

That I understand, but what or who were you calling a dick?

Meaning?

Always nice to see supporters getting behind the young men who wear their colours, and are paid on results, and must always be presumed to be trying their best.

Can I ask what these much-quoted "six seasons" are? Mitch certainly didn't ride last year (he wasn't even living here) he missed chunks of 2011 and was certainly out of action with a back injury for most of an earlier year. He's 23, making a comeback in a tough league. Give him a chance!

That is a crap thing you did. Who gives you the right to edit a post I make, and post it as if it was coming from someone else? Can our moderators please delete this person's forgery?

No-one who watched Mitchell at Armadale last Friday will doubt his ability to score points at Redcar. He looked stunningly fast, posted a better time than two of the heats in the match proper, and must have made the Tigers' promotion wonder if they'd made the right choice. Good luck, Mitchell!

There are three sorts of concussion: 1 that you can't ride for 24 hours, 1 that you can't ride for a week and the third, I think is that you need medical certification that it is OK. Be difficult, as DB would be in Edinburgh, preparing his radio programme.

Berwick must be regretting their decision on Facundo!

So much for all the people who have been insisting Dick was booked for the centre-green at Ashfield!

Watching what was happening in the pits between races, I saw some good things behind the scenes on Thursday. When Facundo's silencer came adrift before Heat 15, Damian Koppe was very quick to lend him his machine, showing the young ones are already showing team spirit. Richard Hall's problems weren't mechanical -- both times he pulled up it was as a result of picking up a puncture, which is pretty unusual. Dick Barrie was down from Scotland, mentoring Facundo in the lad's first-ever domestic UK meeting. The effort put in by Simon and his dad in trying to get his bikes going was incredible, but paid off when No 2 bike finally produced the goods in his later rides.

Tragic after all the great publicity generated on press day. Is it possible they have made a mistake, today was sunny with a wind. Good drying weather?