mikec

Completely agree Bagpuss, & I think Dan Bewley would agree with you too, judging by his comments airing his frustration when interviewed by Hayley last night. Both last night & at the home Swindon match there were times when he dropped the clutch & the bike didn't react. I'm sure Dan & Steve Lawson will be working on that. For when he does get it right, it was clear for all to see last night what he is capable of, even at this early stage in his speedway career.

You beat me to it Tosh, didn't that Hull team have five seven point riders. Or four with 7+ averages & two around 6.5 average. In any case a really solid side that cleaned up that season.

Think someone in darkest Dorset is out for a spot of night fishing SteveO. Ain't worth biting.

Really happy to see Matej Zagar confirmed. Makes racing a speedway bike look ridiculously easy, a real character too.

Iversen confirmed.

Read a piece in the EDP where Niels K Iversen confirmed that he has received an invitation to this meeting. I hope he accepts, BV track record holder & all round class act imo.

Kean Dicken & Joe Lawlor the latest Colts to be announced, certainly a very young team being assembled thus far. Thought Lawlor really kicked on last year in Heathens colours, hopefully further progression from him this season.

Saw quite a bit of Gilkes racing at BV in 2017, both in the Youth Championship & in MDL matches. Good style & clocked very respectable race times when compared with those in the preceding NL match. It'll be interesting to see how he progresses, think Bees fans would enjoy watching him.

Sad to hear this afternoon that there will be no place in the 2018 side for Jack Smith. I really like his attitude, despite finding points hard to come by at times, he never threw the towel in. Even after a difficult meeting at the NSS, he would front up at the after match press confidence, making clear his desire to improve & re-stating his pride in wearing the Ace on his chest. Not only that, after the dreadful finger injury he suffered in the crash at Swindon, he was determined come back for the finale to the season & did so, in both Aces & Colts colours, & rode well. Sincerely hope he leads the Colts in 2018 & finds a place in the Aces team again in the near future. He displays the fighting qualities I want to see in a rider in my team, I for one wish him well.

Congratulations to the Fen Tigers, at 41-19 down would have been easy to go under. However they held their nerve & in Kemp they have a future star imo. All the best in the final.

Cracking meeting, congrats to the Colts, commiserations to an Eagles side that never gave up. Kemp was outstanding & Bailey really came alive in the latter part of the match. For me if there was a "man of the Final" it would have to be Kyle Bickley. He was excellent at Arlington, at a time when the Colts were looking vulnerable. Tonight he was quality. Just a final thought. Both when Bickley had that horror smash in heat 10, and when Shuttleworth clinched the tie in heat 14, an Eagles rider was over to check Bewley & Bickley were OK, as well as congratulating Shuttleworth. Big respect, great to see.

The 2017 Hougaard has been an absolute shadow of the 2016 version so can understand Rebels fans being wary of wanting him back. Could see Belle Vue being interested in him. Attractive average, well thought of by the management & enjoys the NSS track.

Interesting post that Hunters, didn't realise how good those race times were. After heat 1 it was clear Bewley was keeping the Eagles heat leaders pretty honest. Dan should go really well next week, assuming Colts qualify, he tends to learn new tracks quickly. Enjoy him, he is really special in my opinion. Was thinking, I've been to plenty of rain abandonments, that's my first fog abandonment in near 40 years of watching speedway. Has that happened before down here?

Never had the look of a 12 point meeting did it Ruckeroo, I feared a 20 point defeat. Saying that, after a careful first ride from Bewley, on his first Arlington visit so fair enough, I thought he was good. If Colts go on & win the title they owe Kyle Bickley a big thank you, thought he was outstanding tonight, a 15 year old with a big future. For Eagles I'm a big Tom Brennan fan, he was excellent tonight, smooth & quick. Him, Bickley & Jenkins will be wearing the junior GB colours in no time.

Smithy was pretty positive & honest at the post match conference last Friday, said that he fancied another go at the Arlington track, as he hadn't always gone too well round there with Birmingham last year, wants to try & put that right.

Thanks Al3x200, making hotel/travel plans, not been to Arlington since the 2005 KOC Final, Pedersen v Crump etc. Hopefully the weather behaves & we get some great speedway.

Congratulations to the Eagles, through to the final in emphatic style. Was there mention tonight Ruckeroo about potential staging dates for the Eagles home leg?

Really tough night for Lakeside, no lack of effort, just completely outgunned. Highlights for Hammers was the third to first ride from Clegg to pass Bickley & Shuttleworth, Morley had a decent crack at Smith & Bewley late on. Plenty of rides, & invaluable experience for Jason Edwards tonight. Great to see the performance of young Woodhull tonight, has really progressed through the year.

Gripping evening's speedway, well done & congratulations to the Robins, commiserations to the Wolves.

Great news that Dan Bewley & Jack Smith are available for the Colts on Friday night at BV. Should be some great racing!

Think you are being very diplomatic regarding the Gdansk track R&R! 😉

Would agree that 16 points is a handy lead. With Bewley & Smith in the Colts side for the second leg I'd expect the Belle Vue to progress. But with the possibility of both lads missing due to a cup tie for Glasgow, the choice of guests (if needed) will be key. Certainly wouldn't write off the Hammers chances of progressing to the final by any means though.

He looked really shaky stood in the pits after the crash, not surprising as it was a really heavy crash. If he is fit to face the Robins then look out, he was really quick tonight!

Don't tar us all with the same brush Orion. That's a pretty lazy post. There were 'fans' who got carried away after 13,either in the heat of the moment, or were just stupid. Liked Schlein's reaction to the fool who chucked the bottle. Whoever threw it should be banned.

Well done Jason Edwards on an outstanding debut performance. Hope us Colts fans get to watch him in Manchester next Friday night. Has experience of NSS track & looks very comfortable on it.