HGould

My immediate thought was "isn't Barry Bishop doing this already and with far more passion and sincerity than the BSPL could ever muster"

Certainly a worthy and well deserved winner for all he has done in British Speedway. Worthy runner up and third placed efforts too for Danny King and Lewis Kerr. Overall though a desperately poor track meant very little racing after the first 1/2 lap and what could have been a showcase Meeting looked more like a Fixture filler. Brennan and Flint have been at the vanguard of the new generation and have probably exceeded expectations this season but to see them struggling for the odd point in this field does not bode well for their improvement relative to some of their age group peers on the Continent particularly from Poland; Denmark and Czech Republic. May be time for both to try to get regular Polish rides next season if they are to keep up and not get too comfortable doubling up in UK. The step from aspiring to be a Lawson, Wright or King or aiming to be a Tai, Lambert , Bewley is MASSIVE and time waits for no one and they need to be thinking about that very carefully now especially as the U21 opportunities dry up soon.

Shame it's gate and win. Understand they scraped all the shale off last week. Shame they forgot to put any back on. This rate 11 points could be top 2.

That was actually my whole point. Track reserves should fill gaps and NOT influence the final result. How ironic he's shafted a team mate.

The widened and banked track that the Faceenas and Steve Lawson and others have created is the best in the UK and undoubtedly one of the best anywhere. I'd say personally that Redcar is the next best in UK then Belle Vue.

It's more to do with Scunny getting to play offs... Planted

I think they are both good enough to significantly impact in races they are in and possibly impact on the overall result. I don't think that's in the spirit of what a track reserve is actually for. Got nothing to do with where it is.

They could have sent Barker out. He's allegedly so high as a kite he can't feel pain anyway. He'd probably have broken the track record.

Track reserves should be competent enough to race if needed but not too good to influence a result. Ablitt and another NDL rider would have been better options.

Better make sure there's no wet patches on entry to turn one or Brennan will be refusing to ride again.

So in this case the away team led the protests, according to eyewitnesses, yet get awarded the points. How is that fair.?

Theres no bacofoil left in Sutton Coldfield !

Maybe he was told by higher up what to do f he contacted them. Someone may have vested interest in Plymouth not winning that Meeting after all!

So Brennan and Nichol as an example or you could say Morris and Thompsons, or Masters and Castagna (you get my drift) turn up at Leicester and say, "tracks rubbish dont want to ride it" refuse to ride, get backed by a weak referee and what are you left with. NOTHING I'd suggest.... BSN are culpible in setting and making expectation too, and theres no bigger group of keyboard warriors than those who sit at home watching live streams.

as always there are conflicting accounts - this from the Plymouth Devils forum from someone who is usually very balanced in views but who apparently was there-: the appointment of a scottish ref for a match featuring a scottish team in Devon does seem both very strange and leaves SCB open to criticism, fairly or unfairly. It's a bit similar to the 2019 Glasgow ruccus at Eastbourne which from memory was based on similar track concerns that boiled over (which it didn;t do last night thankfully) but which on the occasion had been allocated to a trainee ref for one of his first full meetings. Surely a neutral midlands based ref (someone like Barbara Horley as an example) who stands no messing would have been a wiser appointment. An evening of disappointment, personally disappointed to miss out on an evenings top notch speedway entertainment, but probably even more disappointed for the promotion, who must surely have taken a serious financial hit over this. Once again rider power won the day, with some riders obviously not very happy following their track walk, it's not always nice to see a couple of riders 'crowding' a referee in the middle of a track, but tonight we had a group of six riders doing exactly that, with one rider (could he have been the main instigator I wonder) making his feelings obvious talking to team mates in the van car park, all in full view and hearing of the paying public, sadly as well as the promotion taking a hit, the assembled supporters were the other losers on the night, I have purposely not named anyone in the above paragraph, but all I can say is none of the above riders hinted at were due to wear blue/yellow kevlars during the meeting. All eyes will now turn to the Friday/Saturday meetings against the Bears that like to sit in the woods and the black and gold mauraders from the wild North lands.

Can only assume that they opened the gates with refs knowledge. Can anyone there confirm if there were feverish efforts before the call off for an hour or so, or did it just happen very quickly?

Wtf is the speedway shambles twitter page. Is it that nutjob Mark Robinson?

Back in the day many football matches in winter were saved by fire braziers on pitch to keep frost out. I've seen speedway tracks lit light that in Scandinavia and also helicopters bought in to hover above track. Give them credit for trying

Only one CL match on Friday? Might that be an option?

Don't they have an issue there with tidal flooding from the river that is right next to the track. Certainly shouldn't be rain related. Might be a freak tide? Sounds like rider power. At least no one can blame Cookie.

Seems like the bullies who usually change half their team for the Play Offs are getting a bit shaken and stirred by the fact that someone else may be about to do the same. No doubt scratting around for replacements for Kemp and Ablitt and would even dump one of the others if they could find a viable option. Maybe Glasgow could get the prodigal back for the play offs. Corporal Middleditch yelling down the batphone to the Chateau..... "we don't like it up us"....as Matt drops the latest chandalier on poor old Helen. What's Greg Hancocks CL average , oh how loveree jubberlee that would be by Plymouth! (isn't Wilbur best mates with their media chief Jerry or is it Gerry?)

Don't think any signing is to replace Barker as Barker and Kennett are same average. They can continue to use Guest for Barker in event he may be allowed to race after Hearing Why would anyone be amazed. The issue of finding riders has been POLISH and more importantly for PLymouth SWEDISH commitments. A number of riders not previously available will now suddently be available. It may be they could find another ace in the hole to replace Barker as well - who knows Actually having spaces to fill may be a massive positive bargaining chip for them if they are prepared to splash out for a few meetings

dunno which website you're reading it's been there since yesterday morning... will be gutted if they have Complin next year, a few excellent performances for us recently.

Don't Kennett and Barker have identical average? So logically Kennett?

"tagged" what does that mean?. Plymouth probably had a 1-7 sent to them before last nights match and have had the foresight based on his withdrawal to flag that fact up. I agree with Gazc, why would he risk what's now a pretty meaningless match as they can reach Leicester and have secured second place. Be silly to aggravate it at Plymouth or on the Moto X bumps at Poole.