TheWellBehavedWorrall

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.

48 years-old, him. Get well soon mate.

This, x100. Only in speedway could the novelty of seeing a rider for the first time be take away at 24-48 hours notice because said rider is signing autographs in Poland. It’s a constant dilution of the British product.

So you agree that it’s worrying times for Berwick speedway? Who said they wouldn’t? This is the inevitable next course or action.

Scraping the barrel now. Brutal from Cook.

Nobody said it’s a surprise, but it’s still worrying for Berwick fans. I agree, but the fact remains it’s a worrying situation for Berwick fans.

Does anyone know what’s actually going on with Craig Cook? When I last attended speedway several years ago, he was a GP rider and the Championship’s top dog for Edinburgh. I then returned in 2023 and what he’s become, I don’t even know how to word. I’ve never seen a rider put in such little effort as he did at the 2023 CLRC at Redcar. He push started for two or three rides, then we never saw him again. He was a disgrace. Then, that social media post he aimed at Workington because they didn’t bring him back for 2025 was at best, unprofessional and at worst, bitter. Workington must have had a crystal ball, given what’s transpired.

Their ex-GP rider heat leader has just withdrawn from the Pairs event, having been surrounded by negative rumours for the past three weeks. Was that a serious question?

Just saw that on Instagram. Frustrating for all parties involved, but the paying fans especially. Berwick have found themselves in a difficult situation, but as a fan, I can’t help but feel disappointed by the explanation of ”unavailable”.

They’re definitely capable of it. Castagna (14 from 5) was unbelievable in the May fixture I attended at Armadale last season and in four rides, the only points Sedgmen (8+1 from 4) dropped to a Glasgow rider were due to a retirement. Add the fact that if ever there’s a track Harris is most vulnerable, it’s Armadale, then anything could happen tomorrow night. This has all the makings of a great meeting.

You never know. Stranger things have happened, but let’s hope is an entertaining meeting to kick start the season.

You’re definitely trying to reassure yourself in advance of a pumping.😂 Really? I only returned to Ashfield a couple of seasons ago, but remember the days Edinburgh fans would fill that fourth bend enclosure and to be fair to them, create a great atmosphere. I at Armadale last season and we (Glasgow) took a fair crowd on the third bend hill.

Really sorry to hear this. I visited Blundson (that was a name for it, wasn’t it?) back in the mid-2000s where I had the the opportunity to watch the great Leigh Adams on a track he’s so fondly associated with. The relentless closure of speedway tracks and as a result, the clubs associated with them, over the past 25 - 30 years is painfully remarkable.

I think a lot will depend on the performances of Grahn and Polis. If they hit the ground running, it could be a tight meeting, but if they do a Matic Ivacic and ride like they’ve never seen a speedway bike before, it could be a long night for Edinburgh. There’s a lot of pressure and expectation on Glasgow’s top five, but if they deliver, it affords Hodder and Perry the time they inevitably need to develop and progress. Really looking forward to it; the speedway and the portion of chips.

I saw that earlier when searching for Carrillo; I couldn’t believe how many meetings he rode in and thought it was a typo, but back then, you had a 28-meeting Premier League, a 14-meeting Premier Trophy group, plus the knock-out stages to that competition and the Knockout Cup itself. Add in the Spring Cup and Scottish Cup fixtures, you were spoiled for fixtures. You’re spot on regarding Bentley. He was particularly outstanding for Hull, if my memory serves me correctly. However, he wasn’t quite as potent in 2004 and 2005 marked his final year in the sport.

Has the press and practice been? I haven’t seen any photos.

I only visited Odsal once - the 1996 PLRC - and it was an experience that will live with me forever. The atmosphere, the banking, the racing, etc, Odsal and Bradford Dukes were a huge loss to the sport.

Thanks for sharing, @IainB. I’m in no doubt that Leigh Adams is one of the best riders not to have been world champion. As someone else said, he achieved averages of over 9 and 10 across three leagues in the UK, Poland and Sweden for over a decade. A remarkable achievement of high level consistency and not only a testament to his ability, but his professionalism too. It would be easy to suggest his shortcomings on the world stage were down to a lack of ruthlessness or risk taking, but the GP that Leigh Adams rode in was very different from the one we see today. No disrespect to today’s field, but GPs from 1995 - 2005 in particular were littered with number ones, all capable of winning a GP. I met him by his van after a meeting at Oxford in 2001 and he was so pleasant.

This should be an outstanding meeting; an excellent way to start the season. I visited Northside last year and thought the set-up was great. Steve Lawson has done an incredible job, as have the Workington Comets’ stakeholders, so hosting this meeting is well deserved.

Time makes the heart grow fonder with that 2004 Tigers’ side. I remember it well. An incredible showing in the group stage of the Premier Trophy was sandwiched between an aggregate loss to Edinburgh in the Spring Trophy and a disappointing league campaign. I particularly remember our hard work in the Premier Trophy went to waste as an all-matching-race-suits Reading took us apart in the semi-final. Jones started well, but chucked it due to mechanical issues (ironic as an engine tuner) and his replacement - Lee Dicken - struggled. Stancl’s inconsistent form away from home was a problem, Paul Bentley - who had topped the averages in recent years - wore number four and rode like a number four - while the reserves, as highlighted, were dreadful. Barry Campbell and Corey Blackman were two journeymen; we got what we paid for. Carillo was an improvement, but not enough to salvage what turned out to be a disappointing season. I vividly remember Carillo arriving mid-way through the meeting at Shielfield Park due to traffic. It was Ian Steel’s last meeting as Tigers’ manager.

Hoping for a Tigers’ win, but Armadale is such a tight track, who knows? It might only be the Scottish Cup which is in essence a friendly, but it’s a huge opportunity to lay down an immediate marker after last season’s disappointment. From what I’ve read, those who have appearances under their belt have done well, so long may that continue. I have to say, for all I’ll criticise Edinburgh as our rival, I love a trip to Armadale and I’m delighted speedway continues there.

What a horrible situation. I was gutted when I heard what happened. His wife and kids - with whom he seems to share a loving life with, based on social media - must be in bits. My heart goes out to them. After last year’s season ending elbow injury, how can someone be so unlucky? He’s achieved everything and more in the sport, so naturally, you think of retirement, but I get the impression us mere mortals will never understand the resilience and determination of a speedway rider. All the best Tai.

I think the selection of Starke at the expense of Foord speaks volumes for the panic stations at Wimborne Road. I’m not buying the agenda that Poole are protecting their image; what Poole are doing is neglecting the future of the sport for what they see as an ageing diamond in the rough. The suggestion that machinery was the issue doesn’t wash. I could have pedalled around Ashfield faster than Starke did last season.