bigeddiechek

Not been as consistent as Matty, but first name on my teamsheet for next season.

Matty is the only rider that has done the business this season.

The secret to the 2005 team was that we often had Wilko, Scud, Schrammy, or Pietrasko at reserve, and often two out of those four. We haven't been consistently strong enough at reserve for a long time. I agree with Taffy - - strength in depth is crucial.

Yeah, it was a great season for both teams. I wouldn't suggest anything of the kind though, Shadders

I think with regard to punching above our weight, several here have missed the point... Shadders, you went to Exeter where you were usually rubbish, and thumped them. Not that I'm insinuating anything Hey Taffy, I believe what I am told. So, I believe that you will be team manager next year.

You are quite right Shadders, anyone with half a brain cell will look at the population of the area compared to the big city teams. It's incredible that the club has for over 40 years managed to - mostly - compete at the top level. I wonder if Robin and Callum recall the years following the Terry Lindon season? The current promotion have already equalled Peter's silverware haul. Peter did, in my opinion, give us the best season on the 2000s, and in 2005 and we were robbed of the title. Some of the subsequent years were atrocious though: some really bad seasons. You need to think about what you mean by punching above our weight. Look at the leagues that the football and rugby teams are in. No disrespect to them, but speedway performs at a far higher level.

Hear, hear!

Get rid of the double point tactical rides. A friend - new to the sport this season - who has become a regular, still finds it utterly ridiculous.

I'm not worried about it Robin, I am worried about the sustainability of the sport in the area though. I'll take keeping it open ahead of silverware. In other sports you don't see Berwick competing in the same league as Hearts/Hibs, Newcastle, or Celtic/Partick Thistle. So, for the size of the town, speedway has really punched above its weight.

Well, after not having a few weeks of speedway, I do actually care about this meeting. It's a unique sport and I enjoy it the vast majority of the time. I don't much care if Aspergren is riding, he has been disappointing for most of this season. Rye might just surprise a few, especially missing Starke and Kozza. I'm well and truly looking forward to my speedway mix, unlike some. The calls for silverware and results does echo a now dead Scottish football team, I wouldn't want the Bandits to burst the bank for a brief moment of glory.

I think some riders didn't perform as individuals this season, and have been disappointing. That has a big dent more than results when riders are clearly not being as competitive as they are capable of.

I'll take getting the infrastructure sound ahead of silverware any day. To not get the business fundamentals in order would be plain thick. Now, if success is about winning, or even being in, say, the top 3: that means the majority of all sporting teams in a league will be failures. Success is different for every club, individual, or organisation. Putting PL speedway on at all in Berwick is a mighty success. There are not many people around with the business nous that could keep speedway going in Berwick in this day and age. Very naive folk would attempt to build a winning team, then be gone in a puff of smoke and forever vilified for busting the club. I'd love us to win the league, don't get me wrong, but I'd much rather make sure we are sustainable first. Oh, and we have had silverware as recently as last season, so it is not as if we are the whipping boys. The "follow the winning team" mentality has a distinct ring of a now defunct Scottish football club who had many fair-weather fans.

Don't worry fairplay, it's just Screm indulging himself in a bit of cyber-self-importance again. Allow him the pleasure, as this is what a forum is for. Anyway, should be a good meeting, and I'm sure it will be very well attended. There are lots of great things being organised to raise funds for Ricky, it shows the great spirit within the speedway world

It happened a long time ago, so that is OK. Hmmmm.

Nope, given special - or exceptional - approval for... He's certainly told a fair few folk that is what is happening next season. Good on him for having a go: at long last we'll find out his true expertise.

Apparently she has sanctioned a shareholding this time.

Let yourself down badly there, I'm afraid. Thankfully t has been moderated. I think some of the people walking away for the first time is concerning. I have to admit I left a meeting early towards the start of the season too. Fromafar makes the strongest case for the main cause, that being machinery is just too quick now. I also think Alden pulling out at a late point must have made things very difficult. It hasn't been the worst season of speedway that I've seen, nor the best. If the rumours coming from the local horologist are true, we'll be in good hands with Taffy as team manager next season. So, no need for the doom and gloom.

Like I said. PW was despairing at the crowd levels during our most successful year on track, and incredible racing from Makovsky, Schramm, Scud, Pietrasko, Tom P., Adrian, et al. It perhaps, isn't the real key.... Ok, sorry sweetheart x

You didn't read the post thoroughly, my darling.

It is about the complete package. Surely riders must be a variable when considering the quality of racing, or is it all down to track?

I agree with Fromafar, blank Saturdays is an absolute killer of momentum. I think overall it hasn't been a bad season. The first few meetings were awful, but from the Sky meeting onwards the entertainment has been pretty good. Our results and performances have been pretty variable, and certainly agree that some riders have been disappointing. I still go back to the year when we were robbed of the league, though, people got bored with us hammering everyone at home and the crowds were awful low. You really are being a bit of a Drama Queen with the thread title. Where is it all going wrong? A first live televised meeting that received acclaim from all parts of the speedway community. A major international meeting with many commenting that it was the best speedway that they had ever seen. Some poor individual performances, and a lower league position than some expected doesn't mean things are going wrong. There is a lot of real progress. By all accounts we were unlucky not to retain the fours title too (although I would need someone who was there to back that up). So, come on, you're into my territory of baiting with this one. Don't bring yourself down to my level

He was ruthless. Personally, I think he is one of the best team managers I have ever seen: very under-rated at the time, and - my goodness - could he not half work the system. No disrespect to Peter, but I do think the current promotion have taken things to a different level. I do also suspect that there might need to be a bit more backside kicking in the pits next season.

Yeah, Peter was an outstanding team manager, one of the very best. He had a great knack for getting the best out of riders. When he didn't, they didn't last for very long!

What a load of mince.

Not quite what the point is you're making, or even if there is one.