cyclone

Already been mentioned on Monarchs Chatzone re hiring a coach to Glasgow on 26/5:- "There may be problems getting anything for 26th May at Glasgow, for obvious reasons, as just about every hire bus in Edinburgh is going to Hampden. Therefore speedway supporters will probably have to make their own way." I previously suggested on the BSF that the start time be delayed until 5pm. For those using, the public transport network (buses & trains) between Edinburgh and Glasgow, it would be less congested as would the M8, given that the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden is also a 3pm kick off. It would also make the return journey to Edinburgh, less busy. So do not be surprised if the travelling support is reduced for a 3pm start

As things stand, no PL tracks have Tuesday & Wednesday as home race nights and only two have regular Sunday fixtures. Therefore it is possible for Craig to widen his horizons to Europe, in addition to EL & PL racing, as the likes of Doyle, Barker, Stead , etc., already do. Consider SGP riders Andreas Jonsson & Antonio Lindback who also ride in two league tiers in Sweden, as well as Poland and the Grand Prixs. To conclude, you still offer for no valid reason why Cook could not continue to ride in the PL and also widen his schedule to include European league racing.

Are you unaware that Craig also rides a double upper for Belle Vue also, so he is already continuing his education at an allegedly higher level. As Barker, Doyle, Auty, Proctor, Stead, etc. and now Kennett, to name other top PL riders, who are also doubling up in the EL, should you expect them to depart the PL also ? Perhaps you need to attend more PL matches this season to appreciate that the gap in terms of quality between EL and PL has considerably narrowed. Maybe the reason the likes of Barker and Doyle continue in the PL is that they recognise that they are offered more fixtures and earning opportunities in a 13 team league. Regarding riding abroad, correct me if I am wrong but do Barker, Doyle, and Proctor not already combine overseas league commitments with their UK engagements at both PL & EL level. Please explain why Craig Cook could not do likewise

In other words more fairy stories from the resident Weegie Mythman, aka Paulco

Pointing out that another European league already declares after 10 heats so it would appear that others have already beaten the BSPA in making "a laughing stock of the sport". Maybe the Poles/Swedes enjoy cheap rhubarb emanating from Suffolk

IIRC league results in either Poland or Sweden have stood after being abandoned after 10 heats, pre-2013, and still do.

This could be closer than some reckon, and if Vissing is missing or not fully fit, then it could go either way. Ringwood certainly seemed at home with his impressive win in his last ride in April and Screen is surely due a decent meeting at the Dale. For the home side a lot might depend on Fricke continuing his steady improvement, and Helfer being competitive, instead of trundling round, well behind the rest.

Could the home fans give their assessment of Marcel Helfer's performance today. Reason I ask, is that so far his home form has been abysmal, but some folk reckon he will do better on away tracks.

You are correct and in post 161 I cited Newcastle using a guest for the missing lower GSA rider (R Worrall) and r/r for the higher average absentee (Tully) at Plymouth recently.. However the alleged knowledgeable Berwick posters on here , claim that only a guest for Ashworth & r/r for Bellego is permitted. My understanding was that if a guest was only permitted for Ashworth, then it would be because only a NL replacement would be allowed for Bellego.

When 2 or more riders were missing, last season, the club could choose which rider for guest and r/r for the other. As Newcastle used a guest (Newman) for the lower average R.Worrall and r/r for Tully at Plymouth on 26/4, looks like this is still the case If Bellego's absence does not permit a PL guest as you infer, then are you certain that r/r will be allowed, or will it have to be a NL guest, as similar happened with regards to Hans Andersen absence for Swindon at King's Lynn due to a UEM meeting, when the Robins were only permitted to use a lower league rider,

When did Helfer join the unattached, available riders list

Given that Dyer's current GSA is lower than Bellego's, why do you believe that Bandits cannot use Dyer as a guest for Bellego, and r/r for Ashworth ?

Perhaps Mr Rising can clarify how other riders competing in Poland managed to return to the UK on Monday ? Furthermore can he cite incidences in other European Speedway leagues where it has been officially permitted to postpone fixtures on the day, because of riders being unavailable due to travel difficulties ? IMO if any club employs several riders who are involved in tight travelling schedules, then they must be aware of such potential risks. Rather than cancel the fixtures in these circumstances, when it becomes apparent that scheduled riders will require to be replaced by junior riders, clubs should be obliged to publicise the situation immediately, including making patrons aware of the situation before they pay at the turnstiles.

Credit to Graham Reeve of the SCB for initiating a rapid & apparently effective investigation into this escapade. IMO if it had not been for this official intervention, the BV Promotion would never have issued their apology. This sends out a message to others that the SCB will be more proactive in establishing the facts behind any future questionable cancellations.

Agree and I do not think there is a possibility of major changes, given that this is a football stadium where I believe Berwick Rangers FC are unlikely to sanction the changes necessary, such as widening the first and second bends.

It's not that many Monarchs fans will be going to Hampden, but that the M8 is likely to be congested in the early afternoon, and that is the problem. While there may be fewer Monarchs fans than previous go to Ashfield now, imo the home support has also declined and the percentage of visitors is probably still a significant chunk of the total gate. A delayed start of 5pm would avoid the hassle on the M8 and the Tigers bar takings could also increase if they opened up to show the live footy on the telly from 3pm for those who follow both sports

Notice this match is now scheduled for Sunday 26th May (assume 3pm start ?) This will be in direct opposition to the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden at 3pm and features Edinburgh club, Hibernian F.C. who are forecast to have at least 20,000 fans making the journey. Would expect the majority of Hibs supporters will be travelling from Edinburgh along the M8. This could lead to congestion and might deter some Monarchs fans from travelling to Ashfield. Tigers should consider either hosting Monarchs on an alternative Sunday, or delaying the start time to 5pm on 26th May.

Considering the extreme weather conditions in the late afternoon & early evening (a mixture of torrential rain & hailstones), Doc Bridgett & his track team deserve credit for providing a track which although heavy, did produce some exciting racing, which visiting guest, fashion designer guru, Jeff Banks, publicly expressed his amazement at for his first ever experience of live speedway . Twelve of the thirteen riders involved got stuck in and in the early stages a Bellego inspired Bandits looked like they could possibly pull off a shock result. However as the track improved, Monarchs took control with Cook and Pijper leading the onslaught. As already mentioned, Max Fricke's hard riding duel with Aspegren was the race of the night and indicated that the U-21 Oz Champ is now on an upward slope and will not be brushed aside by more experienced opponents.

Despite the scarcity of passing after heat 2, the closeness of the score made this a taut affair right up to the final heat. However in the final analysis, the advantage of starting off gates 2 & 4 all night, left Berwick with a near impossible task in heat 15 against the imperious Cook & Vissing pairing. Bandits should not be to downhearted and reflect that last week, 14 points were amassed by Alden, guesting for the absent Ashworth, compared to r/r producing only 5 last night. I feel sympathy for the Berwick Promotion who apparently are unable to make any radical alterations to the shape and dimensions of the track, due to the restrictions placed on them by their Football Club landlords.

Is there not a reg. that an assessed rider cannot be dropped, until he has achieved a GSA based on his on track results, unless he is injured or retires ?

So you know better than this :-http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/team/ Aye Right

Looked at a couple of weather forecasts and continuous heavy overnight rain expected, starting to clear around 11am -12 noon. Hopefully there's sufficient time to mop up before tapes up.

Take it you have not read John Anderson's column in the Berwick vs Edinburgh programme :- "Kozza returns after a year out and will also race for King's Lynn as will Seb Alden who has moved into the Elite League this year but remains a Bandit."

Was Robert Branford not available ?

Over the two legs, Leicester will be favourites to progress, given their impressive home form and not having a young untried newcomer such as Max Fricke in their ranks. Max will take time to bed in, but on the basis of his first two matches, his gating will have to improve rapidly and he will also need to build up his physique in order to mix it with his opponents, rather than be brushed aside. IMO Magnus Karlsson replacing Roynon strengthens the Lions over these particular fixtures. IIRC Lasse Bjerre has never had a great meeting at the Dale, but given his current scintillating form, together with Doolan's previous impressive performances here, a narrow home win is probably the best we can hope for. Then expect the Lions to finish the job at BP the next night