bigeddiechek

What tartan?

Ha ha! Just read it, Dick must have had one too many

I think what you mean is TV cameras being at the meeting is an added attraction? The fact that Sky Sports are covering a sports team from such a wee place as Berwick catches the attention of lots of general sports fans who are perhaps not into speedway. It adds an extra bit of credence to the meeting. Thus, you get larger crowds, and extra effort is made to accommodate for this. Hence, "pushing the boat out". There will be a bit of added spice to this meeting now after last nights thumping of the Capital Monarchs!

I would guess that the announcement was only made once all the necessary arrangements were in place. All I can say is, I was uncertain about Kus early on in the season. A few who know him told me once he gets his confidence back he'll be good. How true was that. He rode some very hard 1st and 2nd bends last night, and one very brave 3rd bend. Once out in front he was exceptionally stylish and won a few races by a long shot. He also rode very clever 2nd bends in a couple of heats to make space for his team-mate. How I love being proved wrong in this manner!

Good for you, although if everything was perfect in speedway, it would remove some people's raison d'être.

Anyone else heard this? Apparently Cook has put on a few pounds, which is effecting his recent form?

Looks like we have things cleared up. http://www.berwickbandits.co/ I don't know much about Greaves, but Matej is in fine form. Doesn't look that there was anything that could be done

Thought that was a thoroughly enjoyable meeting. Is it enough take to Armadale? Maybe. Matej Kus was in scintillating form, very fast, stylish and hard. I think there is no doubt at all that he is starting to realise his potential. The reason Doolan was up into the crowd was clearly because he's getting back to his best and was absolutely buzzing. He's had very vocal support from the 3rd bend and decided to come up and join in. Great entertainment on and off the track! To beat this very strong Monarch's side 51 - 39 is a very good result. Good turnout for a mid-week fixture too.

What do you mean by that?

I'll never forget his spectacular season with the Bandits!

Christ! I can't wait for next Saturday to sort the Capital Monarchs oot!

Bandits well and truly back on form!

I have, in the past, and got a very detailed answer, most of which I can't remember. I'm just curious, trying to have a bit of discussion!

That's brilliant to read, it shows that our beloved sport is well worth sticking with, because when it is good, it is exhilarating. Long may it last for you Tiggers!

Personally, I think intervals should be banned forever!

Touché!

Well said!

Firstly, I didn't say that you have criticised the track, furthermore, I have never suggested that fans should advise on track preparation. I don't understand the dark art, and stated that I would genuinely be interested if anyone on here could shed some light on how it is done. I'm sure there will be some folk on here that do. Moving on from that, I completely agree with your post. Our riders know the shape, size, and topography of the track as an initial advantage. This should give them a head start over the opposition when it comes to adapting to surface conditions. Peterborough seemed to have no problem with that last night. Agree. I think last night might be a wake-up call that we might not be able to continue the early start without some "adjustments".

Yes, of course it does, and by quite a bit. I do agree that after the last 2 meetings a lot of people might not be too inspired to come back. Whingeing on here will do nothing to help that, is my real point. It doesn't achieve anything. Speaking to the promotion and providing constructive criticism is a much better approach, and they are always open to that, in my experience. I'm pretty sure they will have seen things the same way as we did on Saturday. I still haven't seen anyone on here that has criticised the track give an explanation of the process they would use to improve preparation. I'd love to see someone explain it to me, genuinely interested. Rather than make and observation that the track is sh#ite, why not say what they would do differently to make sure it isn't sh#te. The only reason I can think of is that they don't know and just really like a good old gurn.

Well, you do know this isn't real life: is it? If Jim is referring to me being disappointed with the result and some of the performances, then that is true. In terms of enjoying my night at the speedway, well I did: but I have said on here many times, I enjoy the banter and meeting up with speedway pals. Maybe that is why the "speedway haters" don't enjoy it? They don't get the banter part of it? Maybe the conversation all evening is about the track and how terrible the product is? If that were the case for me, I certainly wouldn't enjoy it, and I guess I wouldn't go. I just don't see any point coming on here and being critical, when I can air my views in real life. Maybe I just don't get that? There are lots of good things about the club and I prefer to spend most of my time talking about what I enjoy rather than obsessively greeting about dirt, grass, clay, wood, whatever surface a sport is being played on.

I take your points, Screm, and agree, but what do we do differently for the FIM meetings as oppossed to domestic meetings? I really don't see that much difference. When it comes to track conditions, you know by now that I rarely comment on it as - to be completely honest - I really do not understand it. Believe it or not I lectured on soil mechanics for a bit at University, and it is one of the most complex, unpredictable materials to work with. I would imagine that it is nigh impossible to have any track the same week in week out, although having it fundamentally similar should be achievable: but I really don't understand it. As long as riders are competitive, then I am happy regardless of the result. Last night too many of us weren't, and that is something that really shouldn't happen.

Sometimes more when I'm feeling decadent and have a pie for pudding

I still spend that, short reply as I am bloody knackered after my previous tome.

This is the real concern way ahead of rider performance and track preparation. The product has to be right, of course, and I do think we need at least one change to make use of the points. But we should step back and look at the countless threads on here. The majority are complaining about the sport, promotion bashing, and occasional rider bashing. One of my mates who came along is a motorsports freak. He enjoyed it enough to come back; he did recognise it wasn't one of the best meetings, although the Panthers and Claus gave us a few heats of good racing. He did wonder why people commented about the track so much, he actually found it very strange. He thought that it is the same for both teams, so what is the big deal? This will inevitably wear down those running the clubs for whom it actually looks like they are fighting a losing battle. The sad thing is it is the fans who are creating the battle with a barrage of negativity, and not coming through the gates. I bring a couple of people new to the sport last night and on here I get disparaging comments about it. I certainly don't want a medal for it, but at least I am trying in my own small way to address part of the problems that I can. It's almost as if fans actually want the sport to close down. Maybe that is what they want? Now, I agree, speedway has a lot of problems, but we - as fans - can address one of them by coming along and supporting our team. If we can't do that, then I guess we just have to accept that slowly but surely the sport will become extinct in the country, because if we don't come through those turnstiles, it will be gone forever. P.S. Jim, that is my real life opinion, in case you are wondering. P.P.S. A pleasure to meet proud panther last night, and well done to the Panthers with some hungry aggressive racing.

What an illuminating thread!