TheWellBehavedWorrall

What do you mean? What’s there?

Ah, yes, second and third would still up for grabs. With the prospect of such a gripping finale, who would want to leave?😂

Are you seriously suggesting that individual tournament’s inclusion of semi-finals and finals is at fault for speedway’s fall from grace?😂 If your preference of twenty heats only had been applied yesterday, the meeting as a competition would have been over by heat fourteen. Worrall could have finished last in heat seventeen and he’d still have topped the standings. Can you imagine? BSN: ”Thanks for tuning in everyone. Steve Worrall is your CLRC winner and what will now follow is six heats that mean absolutely nothing; six dead rubber, exhibition races”.😂

This doesn’t even make sense. Of course Mauger and co. deserved to win their world titles; semi-finals and finals weren’t a part of those events, so who else would deserve to win said titles after twenty heats? Speedway has evolved and if you can’t see that, it’s your problem. No-one else’s.

Agreed; Howarth had a fantastic weekend, but it’ll interesting to see how he responds to missing the gate over the course of the season. When out-gated in heat ten at Armadale on Friday night and in the semi-final at Workington on Saturday, he didn’t come close to challenging either opposing rider. A small criticism in an otherwise fantastic debut weekend.

Exactly. Berwick have absolutely been short-changed here, but I don’t think a bit of professional communication would go a miss as, like I said, the paying customer deserves that at least.

Worrall didn’t deserve to win the meeting; Harris did. Just like Harris and Howarth, despite finishing top of qualifying in the Pairs, didn’t deserve to win that title 24 hours earlier. Had there been no semi-finals or finals, the meeting would have been over by heat 17. Actually, even earlier because Worrall wouldn’t have had to finish in a scoring position in that heat to win it. He could have come last and he’d still finish ahead of Wright who won the race. By my calculations, that would actually have meant the meeting was over by heat 14. What would subsequently follow would be utterly unimportant, dead-rubbers heats. In no version of the sporting world is your suggestion any sort of improvement.

I didn’t say they did anything wrong; I said they did him dirty which they did. They can write what they want, but I was pleased to see him respond with two great performances.

I didn’t say they did anything wrong; I said they did him dirty which they did. They can write what they want, but I was pleased to see him respond with two great performances.

Why isn’t it sold any more? Doubt being condescending was necessary here, but I’m beginning to realise it’s common on this forum.

Is the Speedway Star no longer sold at Armadale? I asked the lady behind the counter at the club shop for one and she said they’re not sold there any more.

Has there been nothing more communicated by Berwick beyond ”Craig Cook is unavailable”? So, so poor if so. Really bad for the fans who deserve the courtesy of clarity.

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him. I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb. I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc. Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

Each to their own, but I couldn’t possibly disagree more if I tried. Finals exist to not only crown the most consistent performer, but also the person who can prove it under pressure. From a viewers perspective, it’s creates a spectacle and drama; a single high-stakes race that captures the attention. It takes a different set of skills to win a final too. It’s mental toughness and adaptability from a low-pressure qualifying section to an all-on-the-line final. I can only assume you’re a Scunthorpe fan, are Richie Worrall and/or don’t enjoy excitement. This isn’t unique to Scunthorpe. I bought chips at Armadale on Friday that I can only assume were cooked on a radiator.

How is the rider on the inside so far in front of the rider on the outside gate at the first bend, every single time? I can’t put my finger on it. I’ve never seen that at any other track. Another great ride from Charles Wright.

Great move from Charles Wright there. Harris looked very slow in his last ride; he barely hung on to second in ahead of Lambert and had Kemp’s engine not gone, he’d have been a poor third. Howarth is hanging in there, but Wright made light work of him there and it looks like a completely different Dan Thompson to the one who appeared at Armadale on Friday night.

First time seeing a meeting a Scunthorpe and it’s a mad track. It’s almost like the bike is never straight; just skidding round and round. No-one is safe in front; every rider is vulnerable. It’s made for a decent meeting. That move from Harris in his first ride was unbelievable. He’s worth the admission cost alone. I actually thought the Edinburgh rider to his left moved slightly, putting him off in his last one. Luke Killeen on co-commentary is painful.😂

I didn’t see last year’s event, but if that is the case, the lack of consistency is disappointing. In that sort of incident, my opinion is that Kerr - even if it was Chris Harris - causes the stoppage.

Congratulations to Redcar. Gutted it ended in a dead rubber final, but as harsh as that is on Kerr, Riss has passed him and is subsequently in control of the pace of the race; it’s Kerr’s responsibility to navigate that. It’s incredibly harsh and remarkably frustrating. The Cook/Barker incident was similar; I can see both sides argument, but ultimately, a decision which not everyone will agree with has to be made. Disappointed by Glasgow’s showing in the first semi-final, but Harris and Howarth were dominant in the main section of the meeting, so lots of optimism for the season ahead. Klindt was rider of the night and Sedgmen might want to offer a refund to any travelling Edinburgh fans as he didn’t appear interested in competing.

The racing has improved, but I wouldn’t complain about a few more toe-to-toe battles. Klindt has been frightening, as has Masters, but someone needs to remind Sam it’s the Pairs; abandoning Jenkins doesn’t aid Oxford’s cause I waited to see heat eleven before losting this and he did it again. Great ride from Riss to take the win. This is the speedway we want.

Delighted with Harris and Howarth’s maximum points in heat two, but hoping the racing improves. I don’t think we’ve saw one pass, or even a tussle, beyond the first lap.

Is the VIP/hospitality section between the third and fourth bend no longer open at Armadale? It was closed last night, but in previous visits - a few years ago now, admittedly - it was busy with fans out in numbers on the viewing platform.

Amazing news. Delighted to hear that. Glasgow win at Armadale and Woffinden has awaken from his coma. If Carlsberg did Fridays…

Just home. Great result and to be fair to the Armadale track, a decent night of speedway. I thought Dan Thompson, Harris and Howarth were outstanding. I also thought the six paid seven from Hodder and Perry was excellent; a welcome surprise, especially when you factor in Boughen’s evening. You knew something wasn’t right with Boughen, but it’s the opening fixture of the season and the local derby, so who can blame him for giving it a go? Edinburgh might be concerned by Castagna’s showing, but he won’t have many meetings like that at Armadale. Meanwhile, Thomsen had a decent evening and Palovaara was outstanding from reserve. That must have been one of the largest crowds Armadale has ever seen, too. I’ve never seen it so busy. A thoroughly enjoyable evening of speedway. Delighted it’s back.

You can walk the whole way around Ashfield. You’re stopped from passing the rider’s track exit between heats though, as being crashed into by a speedway bike would not be pleasant.