wjm

I think it makes perfect sense personally. I think the GP is a MASSIVE step for any rider I think it is a series that riders need to learn, it isn’t just about on track performance it is about finding a balance both on and off the track. Learning how to fit in a racing calendar and schedule, the demands of extra sponsors, managing where to be and when it is all pressure and tricks of the trade that the riders need to learn. Many riders have struggled in there early GP career, it didn’t happen right away for the likes of Adams and others. I can remember plenty riders struggling when they first stepped up to the GP. Woffinden is a bright young emerging talent, IMO for the GP to improve it does help if they offer a 2 year wild card to a young emerging talent and blood them into the Grand Prix series. To many capable riders have been in and out of the GP each season IF they were given a run at it I don’t doubt they would improve with the series. For what its worth for a first season GP rider, his age and what has went on his life this year I think he has done well enough to deserve a chance next season.

James Grieves testimonial is the day after the Bordernapolis. No Workington meeting on the 23rd, Chris Schramm please.

Great mix of riders that can gate and race which is just what is needed for this kind of meeting. Can’t beat seeing riders like Barker and Schramm trying to chase down people like Sike and Ingalls last year. Nice to see Haines get an invite after his performance for Berwick at Newport.

Woffinden was (understandably IMO) given what was going to be a 2 year Wild Card, with the idea that he would learn in his first season and improve the next year - He has done ok in bits this season but this season as a whole seems to have been a struggle for him, which given what has went on in his life I think we can all see why it would have been He is still very talented. I think if he can go away for a winter in Oz and recharge and have a bit of balance back into his life after what has went on the last year he could easily come back next season and perform in the GP.

Given the problems he had earlier in his life it is pretty incredible that he has had the career he did. When he raced for Berwick he was such a 100% racer you always knew he was trying the best he could, so much so that he was guilty of a daft fall now and then. Tom is a genuine nice guy. I wish him all the best in the future.

If you go to the meeting can you speak to him and tell him what you think of him? Prefer to make riders feel welcome at Berwick.

Hope Marcin is crap.

Nae joy Ricky.

Yes I have. Schlien made an initial mistake before he began to pull a locker. Harris didn’t go in the bend behind a rider going slow. He went in behind a rider who was going at race speed and then made a mistake in the middle of the corner that killed his speed when he was about 5 yards in front of him. I would expect the rider behind to take evasive action if some one in front of him makes a mistake. If they didn’t there would be a lot more injuries than there currently is in the sport. You could have made a point for excluding either IMO. A rider in front making a mistake and a rider behind him coming down is very much a grey area.

Why would he not go in the corner at speed?. Given the level they are racing at the riders trust each other not to make a mistake. But some times riders will get out of shape and the rider behind will need to take evasive action. The first mistake in that bend was by Schlien. Harris made a comparable mistake in the next race and kept the bike up because he could keep the throttle open. Had he done that when behind Schlien he would have collected him and took them both out. It is a grey area.

Going at that speed? If a rider just kept it on and collected riders in front of them making a mistake it would be carnage.

Agree. Harris made a comparable mistake if you can call it that in his next race and managed to keep the bike up. Schlien was ridiculously out of shape at the time Harris went down. The majority of his meetings have been at home and from reserve. He now has an average which would more than likely mean he would start in the main body of the team and going to away tracks that he has very little experience on. Sweetman is a fantastic talent. But…when it comes to team building when .25 can make all the difference he is at that sort of average that could see a team take another option. It is truth be told a ridiculous way to treat a rider who isn't even a club asset.

Haha Poo Boy GIRUY. Sweetman was excellent. Might depend. Coventry have been pretty hard on him and given him a potentially false average.

Superb. One of the many smart moves that have been made since the new promotion came to Berwick has been the encouragement of junior Speedway in the North. There hasn’t been as many Brits coming through in recent years as there should be, but the only way that is going to change will be if they are given encouragement and it is meetings like this that can be the start of a promising career and the chance to win a race jacket. It is also a very fitting reward for the hard work that Ken Marshall and Co put in over the summer, he is always working hard to get kids involved in the sport.

Its an "in joke " the people who are meant to know what it means will know what it means.

The last time he raced at Owlerton was his first meeting back from a broken arm. He is flying just now. He is a rider that I am more than happy to see ride as a replacement for Adrian. He done it for his mate Steady the last time lets hope he can do it for his skipper this time.

I wouldn't say over the hill no ,he is getting closer to the veteran stage of his career though , more often than not he will do the sensible thing now rather than going a bit mental and making mistakes like he used to. Seen him a few times this season sit behind riders at Shielfield and more often than not he will finish a race where he is when he leaves the second bend , and doesn't really force or challenge the rider in front of him , the way other riders in the team do or the way Adrian used to. Nothing wrong with that , it is just part of maturing I suppose.

As I said , now he is a bit like that ... that race was going on 2 years ago. And yes given the number of fantastic races Clewsy is involved in , it is hard to remember them all , but I am more of a Complin fan any way. News to me.

Now he is a bit like that aye , wont get me arguing that.

Lemon is good from the gate , he doesn't really entertain me. If they are going to have Wild Card places as such , why not make some thing interesting about it. Let fans vote for it , pick between a few riders and have an on line vote , or let fans pick the most entertaining rider across the season or the most entertaining rider from the other Super 7 events.

Been a few decent riders to win the pairs over the years , Ashworth is decent but when it comes to the P.L.R.C it is an insult he has ever won it , look at the winners over the years and Ashworth isn't in there class. Has he ever had a season when he has averaged over 9 for a year ?.

It would only back up the opinion that he is one of the worst riders to win the P.L.R.C , IMO.

Lemon = zzzz , better with a rider who will race and entertain people.

Total shambles.