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So, you are saying Stoke are ill equipped to deal with an emergency? Is that it? Last I checked, yesterday you had the paramedic on track within 2 minutes of Jamie's crash yesterday, and they didn't move him as he was complaining of pain in his back. The paramedics do their job, and do it damn well, so don't EVER have a go at them. As for 2 ambulances, very few tracks do it as there is generally no need. We were just unfortunate last night that Jamie needed to go in a county ambulance so the paramedic had to stay with him. 2 ambulances wouldn't have mattered as the paramedic would still have had to wait with him! What you are suggesting is that Stoke, and all other tracks, should have 2 paramedics at all times, which is a ridiculous cost. As for the crowd, we survive on what we have. Bear in mind last night, as has previously been stated, was a cold Saturday, a challenge fixture and going against the FA Cup final. The crowd was potentially slightly down on numbers for Stoke fans, but not by much. I think you give yourselves too much credit, especially given the foul mouthed tirades coming from certain sections of Dudley fans. Frankly, I'd rather them not turn up than watch the air turn blue on numerous occasions.

Crowd looked about average, even taking into account the Dudley following. Could potentially have been effected by the fact that it is our first, team, home meeting since 31st March, and also it was bloody freezing!

Long, drawn out meeting thanks to a couple of falls. Hope both Pickard and Bekker are ok! As for the meeting itself, Dudley looked the more compact team, but Stoke always seemed to just have enough in their 4 riders who were scoring. Birks was pretty good, and Worrall was exceptional, never looking troubled. Ben Reade was the star of the show though, scoring paid 17 from reserve! For Dudley, Webster was a solid guest, but Roynon would have scored more. Reserves looked ok in the reserves race, but not much after. Perry impressed, Morris chipped in, White Williams was steady. Still, 90-90 on aggregate, I guess we take the cup as no-one would have beaten Worrall in a run off

Let me say this again HE DOES NOT RIDE FOR NEWCASTLE. IF they were to get an injury (And I hope that doesn't happen!) then they would use either a 3 point NL guest, or an actual guest (Depending on who got injured) It couldn't be Adam unless Buxton let him be used, as he is signed for Buxton now so their meetings take priority.

As I said, if the choice is Buxton or no team, maybe he felt like he had to ride? I would think Buxton will get a rider, potentially McKinna, although riders such as Jay Herne, Jack Hargreaves, Barrie Evans, Adam Allott etc could all be available. (Although that reads as a who's who of former Stoke riders...)

McKinna doesn't have a club. Newcastle's reserves are the Worrall brothers. As for signing at the first place, if it was Buxton or nothing, I'm not surprised he chose Buxton.

That would be McKinna at Stoke (I think...I'm pretty sure it changes soon to have Birks and Worrall in!) Also, for Tim, and this is no slight against Buxton, but do you think he could make ends meet on 10p per mile? Given that he has a near 500 mile round trip (At a rough estimate), so assuming he gets 30mpg out of his van, he is £25 out of pocket before he races. Unfortunately, maybe the sums didn't add up for him? Just as a caveat to this post, this isn't a slight against Buxton or against Tim, just a potential reason!

Apologies, I have spent the day in Leeds watching my old American Football team play! Was going to rush back, but when I saw the meeting was off early I stayed!

Given the downpour we have just had, and the forecast for tomorrow, I think the weather will be beating both teams.

Like how you're using R/R at 1 and running a 3 pointer at 2 to give them track time? And we changed our declaration, we had it for 14 days, didn't realise it was against the rules.

Actually, if you look at our declaration, no Worrall so we bring in Birks. Sorry to rain on your parade there... Still, I can't stress this point enough IT'S A CHALLENGE. We all know that Stoke's 1-7 will not include Adam McKinna, but considering we haven't had an NL meeting yet, is it so bad that we allow him to ride for us to get some track time? Or would you rather see us severely weakened? No Richie means that Pickard, Atkin and the 3 pointers get an extra ride. Is that really worthwhile? Still, given the weather you have nothing to worry about.

I'm pretty sure this was the meeting the day after Cardiff? Where the original paramedic let us down, and the replacement was stuck on the M6 after a death on the roads. So it wasn't because "Someone had forgot to book the paramedic" at all. And has, as far as I am aware, been sorted by Stoke going back to mains power. If that happens again, it will be a power cut that is nothing to do with Stoke Speedway. Did Stoke set the start time? Or the date? Maybe the Sunday afternoon was kept as a final rain off date, just incase? Did Stoke cause numerous falls? No, but it seems to be a time to slate Stoke. From what I recall, it is 9:30, but if we have to go over we have to document it. By time the ambulance would have gotten there, then having to run a further 4 heats could have taken well past 10pm, and that just isn't on. Is Stoke the most professional of clubs? Not always. Does it deserve the amount of criticism coming from a couple of Dudley fans? Not a chance. But alas, I can't change that, so blame away. Just, don't let actual facts hold you back.

Apparently Kyle Howarth guests for IoW (According to Stoke website) Line up's (Again, according to website) Isle of Wight: Kyle Howarth, Marc Owen, Danny Warwick (Captain), Paul Starke, Ben Hopwood, Danny Stoneman, Gary Cottham Stoke: Ashley Birks, Jaimie Pickard, Tony Atkin (Captain), Rhys Naylor, Richie Worrall, Ross Walter, Ben Reade

Was only announced as a change today. No idea why, but that's that I suppose!

I guess Birks will ride then

I'm pretty sure Richie will be missing for Stoke, so I would assume McKinna will ride in his place! Still, 10 days before the meeting!

If Tim Webster can continue his good early season form he should be good for a team place.

Given our declaration on the BSPA website, I would imagine we will line up something like 1) Tony Atkin 2) Jaimie Pickard 3) Adam McKinna 4) Rhys Naylor 5) Richie Worrall 6) Dan Berwick 7) Ben Reade As for the meeting, I think a lot depends on the track, as it will be the second part of a double header. If it is a slick track, with gating at a premium, then who knows. I think the Stoke top 4 possibly shades the Rye top 4, but it will be a close one. I'll say Rye by 4

Any comments on the meeting? Seemed like 2 of stokes top 4 struggled and we still only lost by 4!

Press release on the Stoke site says they are going to have mains power restored.

No idea what happened. Went pop. I can only hope that this is finally the catalyst for going back to mains power.

I think, over the course of the season, I can see Birks and Worrall both pushing 9.5-10 point averages. If Atkin can maintain his around 8, and Pickard can push for around 8 (Which he is more than capable of), they could easily score 40 points a meeting between them. You then need the other 3 to chip in with a few points and we will be fine. Heat 14 could leave us weak occasionally, but that is the risk you take. If Ben can show the form that he showed at the back end of last season, there is no reason that he can't put a point on his average. 6-7 points of average improvement should see us near the top of the league again, but then the play-offs are anyone's guess.

Well, I'll be there! Teams are as follows according to Stoke press release: Stoke: Ashley Birks, Jaimie Pickard, Tony Atkin (Captain), Oliver Greenwood (Guest), Richie Worrall, Dan Berwick, Ben Reade Isle of Wight: Tim Webster (Guest), Marc Owen, Danny Warwick, Paul Starke, Ben Hopwood, Ricky Mullins, Gary Cottham Though I presume you can replace Rikki with Danny Stoneman. As for the meeting, I think Stoke's top 4 is a match for anyone in this league, so a lot will depend on the other 3 for Stoke. In this meeting (And, infact, the season) Ben Reade will probably be the one that we look to to score the points. I think it will be around Stoke 50-40.

I have no idea what has gone on, but to claim that "Mr T being a tight ass again" could be the case. Conversely, it may be that Danny was asked to ride at number 4, a position that he didn't want to take? Maybe Danny valued his services higher than Mr Tattum valued them? I'm sure that, to remain professional, the reasons will not come out, but who knows, maybe Danny will join Stoke at a later date!

Too many people with similar names, I meant Dan Stoneman (Getting him confused, sorry!) I'm pretty sure we aren't contractually obliged to offer the second and third placed riders contracts, was more a scouting session! Steeplejack: Dan Stoneman is who I meant in my post. He came out for his remaining rides.