Hamish McRaker

Yes,quite right, people who figure out which buttons to push in order to get results are indeed clever. It is down to those who "take the bait" to learn and not get caught out again.

Ben Barker seems from all accounts to have the knack for being able to "push buttons" and get others to react, so he probably likes to play little games, in the style of a little boy who's yet to mature fully into an adult. This trait is far from uncommon among males, especially those in their 20's. Craig Cook, from what I've seen of him, is quite a focused young man, in fact very focussed indeed and in that respect rather different from the majority of British riders. That's why he's good, and Barker knows that and he's carrying a fair bit of envy around with him against Cook. The best advice I can give to Cook is to keep up the focus and intensity, and learn to not allow the game-players to get to you. Also, it could help if you were to chill out a bit more (I'm talking about speedway-wise here) as being 100% focussed can be counterproductive at times!

Helloo and hope it is warm enough for yous. If yous need things to get a bit hotter, try setting fire to some lumps of charcoal and grill a few bits of greasy meat, that should do the trick. This is the final "percentage table" from me, since from now onwards it starts to lose significance as teams begin to catch up on each other in terms of matches played, and the actual "scores on the doors" becomes a truer reflection of how things are. 1. Edinburgh 74 2. Redcar 64 3. Worky 63 4. Ipswich 60 5. Newcastle 58 6. Somerset 57 7 Leicester 49 8. Scunthorpe 40 9. Berwick 39 10. Plymouth 33 11. Sheffield 19 12. Rye House 14 13. Glasgow 10 However, just before I go, here are a few items to provide further grist to the mill. Assuming that Plymouth, Sheffield, Rye House and Glasgow are out of contention - this would be the final total for each team, were they all to gain maximum points from their remaining home fixtures, added to existing points (as of Sunday 14th), and with no future away points added: 1. Ipswich 47 2. Edinburgh 46 3= Redcar 44 Worky 44 Newcastle 44 6. Leicester 41 7. Somerset 38 8. Berwick 33 9. Scunthorpe 32 Now the number of away matches remaining for these teams: 8: Scunthorpe 7: Somerset, Berwick 6: Edinburgh, Redcar 5: Worky, Newcastle, Ipswich 4: Leicester I think that Edinburgh, Redcar, Worky, Ipswich and Newcastle are in good positions to clinch playoff places, providing nothing drastic happens to them. As Berwick have a tough set of away matches left, I'm ruling them out of contention. The two teams with the most to potentially gain, are Somerset and Scunthorpe. Scunthorpe may have left themselves with too much to do, but they are currently in good shape albeit now with Mr Birks inconvenienced, but three of their away matches are on one single northern road trip which will be tough. I think they will go close but not close enough. Which leaves Leicester and Somerset. Based on the season so far, i think Somerset will get the 6th place. Cheerio, and happy roasting!! Hamish

After the recent exploits of the mighty British/Welsh Lions and young Mr Murray, plus the anticipated successes of Mr Froome and Cricket England, can Team GB clothe itself in glory in the Speedway World Cup?? Anyway, here is the latest Real Table, up to and including Sunday 7 July, and including Redcar's extra "Pijper point". 1. Edinburgh 74 2. Redcar 63 3. Worky 63 4. Newcastle 61 5. Somerset 57 6. Ipswich 56 7. Leicester 48 8. Berwick 41 9. Scunny 38 10. Plymouth 36 11. Sheffield 19 12. Glasgow 11 13. Rye House 10 Do I detect a separation between the top 6, and the rest beginning to emerge? Next week, I plan to assess the potential for teams to improve their standing by looking at the numbers of home and away matches they have left.

It saddens me to hear that Leicester could be falling apart at the seams. Karlsson, who was scoring bucketloads in May, seems to be struggling with an injury that is restricting him badly - but the worry is, it seems to be dragging on for too long now. I'm sure that a fully fit Karlsson would be back to his high scoring - but when?? Nieminen looks like he is tailing-off badly at the "business end" of matches. Doolan does ok in fits and starts - doesn't seem to be predictable and too many of his points are in the "soft" heat 14. Bjerre is either brilliant or poor in terms of his overall match performance. Reliable reports are that the Leicester promoter laid into the team after the loss at home to Somerset. Karlsson's struggles and Nieminen's problem werre key factors, and Somerset seemed exploit all of the inherent weaknesses in Leicester's team structure and laid them bare for all to see. I heard it said that Hemsley almost ripped off the gate to the pits as he stormed through it, so it doesn't take a lot of imagination to work out what happened next. So where has this left the team manager's position? Bollockings are important to hand out, but at the right time, to the right people, and by the right person? Is Taylor not capable of doing that? Hemsley perhaps doesn't think he can - and if that's correct where does it leave things? Rossiter at Swindon dishes out effective bollockings becuase he's the team manager, and he can judge best when, how and to whom. When the promoter starts wading in, the team manager's position becomes untenable. The the team morale sinks, goodwill goes, and riders become disenchanted and lack motivation becuase their team manager is being undermined and they don't know where they stand. I don't know if that's what has happened at leicester, but it's a fair guess. The riders' body language in and around the pits at BP on Saturday will tell you everything. You have got to keep all fingers crossed that Karlsson's injury problems get resolved, beciase that must be the key factor, and that the relationship with Hemsley is restored. If I were him, I'd apologise in person to the riders before the match, and allow (and expect) Taylor to carry out bollockings in his own way and choosing. If Hemsley wants to give bollockings, he should limit them to Taylor. Tinkering with the team wouldn't do much good, unless there is a cast-iron No.1 available to come in (and I don't mean Eddie Kennett).

My humble apologies to the Diamonds and thank you Diamond Rock. I really shouldnae do the maths on a Monday morning, it takes longer now for the remaining brain cells to warm up, especially up here in the wilds of the outer isles!! Ipswich's advance is not as meteoric as first supposed. 1. Edinburgh 74 2. Newcastle 66 3. Redcar 61 4. Worky 60 5. Ipswich 60 6. Somerset 57 7. Leicester 52 8. Scunnie 40 9. Berwick 37 10. Plymouth 33 11. Sheffield 19 12. Glasgow 12 13. Rye House 8

up to and including Sunday 30 June; 1. Edinburgh 74 2. Redcar 61 3. Workington 60 4. Ipswich 60 5. Somerset 57 6. Newcastle 56 7. Leicester 52 8. Scunthorpe 40 9. Berwick 37 10. Plymouth 33 11. Sheffield 19 12. Glasgow 12 13. Rye House 8 Main movers (upwards) are Ipswich. Scunthorpe starting to close the big gap Leicester down to their realistic place

Cheers for the interest, folks! Well obviously this table only starts to become useful, once most teams have had about 6 matches completed. I say "most", because Rye are on catch-up. But it gives a rough guide to who the "imposters" might be, and the realistic gaps between teams. hamish

Expect to see Somerset move upwards, as their precentage starts to improve over the next few weeks whilst the percentage of one or two teams currently above them reduces. I will update the table, hopefully weekly, Hamish

Including Thursday the 26th June's results, here is the "real" league table. The "points" figure is the percentage of points earned by the teams, from the maximum total points they could have achieved, both home and away combined. 1 Edinburgh 71 2 Workington 66 3 Redcar 61 4 Newcastle 60 5 Ipswich 58 6 Leicester 57 7 Somerset 52 8 Berwick 41 9 Scunthorpe 33 10 Plymouth 27 11 Sheffield 19 12 Glasgow 13 13 Rye House 0

In my many years of involvement with Speedway (and I have to confess, mostly in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's) I've known a whole busload of promoters and you know what, the vast majority have been absolutely top quality gents (and ladies) who really and genuinely want to do the best, from the heart. This Forum saddens my old heart, because so many of the contributors are posting nasty, uninformed and harmful comments about people who really do have the best of intentions, and who treat riders in the right way. Shame on you people who do that. But there have been a few "bad apples" among promoters,too. They don't treat riders with respect, they dish out abuse to the supporters, and its even worse when they do that publicly. I'll tell you something for sure, and that is they don't last very long as promoters, because people start giving them as wide a berth as they'd give to a skunk on heat. This is when the supporters are so important for the riders who are on the receiving end of such lack of respect. Riders make mistakes, they have bad spells, but they're not trying to do that. So, if you support a team with one of those (rare) "rotten apple" promoters, take a bit of advice from old Hamish, and don't slip one millimetre from your support to the riders, because they will appreciate you for it even more, I guarantee it. Like i said, promoters come and go, but the good ones tend to stay around, the ego-maniacs don't last!

Bring your own bucket next season, folks, or contribute to the track watering perhaps?

So, hello from my remote island from where I keep my beady eye on things thanks to the miracle of wireless communication - still seen as something of a marvel in these far flung parts, when it works. I see the Hunters will once again be in Division 2. If the current shenanigans being orchestrated by your neighbours the Peterborough Panthers are anything to go by, this is no bad thing. Are they trying to hold the rest of Division 1 to ransome? I can well imagine a heap of pig slurry appearing on their track overnight, conveyed there by farm vehicles from rural Norfolk and Wiltshire. Indeed, some would say their track has been formed mainly of pig slurry for many years now anyway. You team could do very well indeed. The versatile Mr Taylor has explained his decisions most clearly, in my view. Mr Doolan is a direct replacement for Mr Karlsson and should prove to be a more chipper fella to have around the place, and on the track you must hope he will be the Redcar version rather than the Ipswich one. Replacing Eklof with Roynon is like replacing grey concrete with glittering spandex. I just hope for your sakes that the wee laddie stays away from ambulances this year, otherwise there will be some re-jigging needed. I suggest he invests in some buffalo-hide racing leathers like we used in the 50's and 60's for better protection. That's if they can still be found. I might have an old set out in the barn somewhere if he's interested. Probably need a bit of softening-up though. Now, I have been reading some assorted comments about your racing track. The versatile Mr Taylor seems to have located a new supplier of good quality cinders, after the local supplier proved unreliable. But to change the track shape in mid season last year would have been utter nonsence. They did that at Coatbridge one year in the early 60's and we took a long, long time to adjust. We were like the away team for the rest of the season. You see, once the track has been stencilled onto the home riders brains its the devils own job for a rider to get used to the same track, but a different one- if yas see what I mean!! No, no, far better to change the thing in winter, then give the lads plenty of time to re-programme their brains with practice sessions and meaningless early season fixtures. So good luck for a great season at Blackbird Road, and you never know I could get the Norton out and head down there for a Friday night 'ere long!!

The best approach is just to ignore the idiots who act like children, and let them either rant to themselves, or with other idiots. With a bit of luck the moderators will remove them anyway.