Cliffeboy

Don`t think there is much wrong with the Scorps this season, just having a bad run with injuries. It always seems to happen that when you are having a bad time yourself you tend to come up against teams who are bang on form and strong, eg Redcar and Somerset ( who are themselves a bit all over the place at the moment ). I think once Howe and Jorgy are back things will turn round.

The Rebels need to bounce back in this one. The euphoria of the Pairs victory has been swallowed up by a below par ( but exciting performance for the Sky viewers ) against Edinburgh. At eight points up at heat 10, the Rebels never won another race, a time when especially at the OTA the Rebels tend to disappear into the distance. This has become a bit of a problem this season with the boys falling away at the end of meetings and losing by 7`s and 8`s,thus losing valuable points when we have been at the races normally right through most meetings. I`m looking at Josh, Alex and especially Nick who apart from the odd top show has definitely been fourth best, to up their game towards the end of the match to bring home the bacon. We cannot be relying on Jason everytime to do the business in heat 15. When the whole team click as we did at Scunny we were magic. I like the look of Stefan, he looks a real trier,and you cannot ask for more from a 19 year old in his first season. Tom however seems to be going nowhere,and is nothing like the rider from last term. His gating was always a bit suss, but most of us thought he would have sorted it out by now,but he still seems to struggle at the start. I think the management will stay with him for the time being, but maybe a rest riding full time for IOW will bring back his confidence and scoring. Safe journey to all Rebels travelling,and of course to all riders.

f Did you watch mate, that is why Sky like to come to the OTA,brilliant exciting match which had everything.Good effort by the monarchs to sneak the win. Nick and Josh both had off nights and I`m afraid Tom is beginning to worry me a bit now.For the Monarchs good all round effort which you need in an away fixture when the home side are not firing on all cylinders.Cookie was great in heat 15, not many get past Doyley once he is in front,

Speedway is NEVER better on TV, how do you get a better view? You see all of the action all of the time being there.The sound of the bikes, the shouting of the crowd around you, the banter with the other supporters, and if you are lucky enough to live not too far away from the track, £20 every now and then is a good deal in my book.

Well done Somerset on a deserved win. The Rebels were the best Pair on the night, and the way they controlled the semi and the final was in the tradition of good Pairs racing. Cookie was excellent all night, as was Screeny after running a last in the first heat. I like the way some of the posters are here are going on about possible dubious goings on at gate 3, and then Doyley pop`s out last in the final and then promptly passes both Scorpions to bring home the bacon.Not much quality Pairs riding there from Scunny, but they done great to get to the final. Compare that to the semi, when Cookie blasted out of the gate in front, and Doyley and Josh just kept an eye on Vissing and kept him at the back, ex rider Somerset rider Vissing who knows a thing or two about the OTA himself. As usual at the OTA bl**dy cold, but a good crowd all in good form.Onwards and upwards for the Rebels with Redcar next up on thursday so good luck to them in that one.Finally as always , great to see Ian, Dave, Mark Di and all my other mates down there, missed you Naj but saw you getting on the coach Saturday and thought I might see you later, never mind I`ll see you at the away match at Rye maybe.

Why is that then??????, in the seven years it has been held at the OTA , I think there have been seven different winners, does that not make it one of the best open meetings of the season. The thing about the OTA is that if riders are prepared to give it a go they have all got a chance and the best two on the night win, not just the two who might have extra knowledge of the track through home advantage. Screeny and Grieves(who hates the OTA) won it in 2010,in the wet,and nobody gave them a prayer at the start. Joe Screen was quite brilliant that night. It is normally a great curtain raiser before the main event in Cardiff. They deserve a bit of good weather down there this season aswell.

Because he is good basically.

Ha ha,don`t think so mate, no matter now match off again, 3 rain offs for the Rebs now, not good. Hope everything will be ok for friday,it`s a long way to come for nothing,fingers and everything else crossed.

Well done Somerset, all round performance not just relying on Jason and Josh. Great to see Stef getting in the points at reserve. I fancied us on this one but not by that score, sweet revenge after losing agonizingly by one in the final last year, if only Doyle had been fit.

Just seen the result on updates,incredible,if I had a hat I take it off to them, well done.

Good luck to the Rebels, especially Nick if he makes it. If our reserves can score any points we could be in with a shout for some points. Every away match so far for the Rebels we have lost by 7, how frustrating is that.

Another battering coming up for the Devils I fear.

Easy win for the Witches tomorrow by at least 20, Proctor`s been showing good form lately but had a bad spill at the weekend, Cory will get 10 or 5, ditto Lemo, and can`t see Anderson or Bates getting past any Ippo rider tbh. That will be enough to see you into the semi`s.

Thoroughly enjoyed last night`s match, not sure if Newcastle were very good, or Berwick were very bad. The Diamonds were certainly out of the traps very sharp all night,but two of their number failed to beat an oppenant,so they were basically a four man team,extraordinary. Kozza was good entertainment as was young Kerr. Robbo played a captains role and Ritchie is looking a very good prospect. How good can Newcastle be when Lindgren and Tully are riding,happy days for the Geordies at the moment.

Trying to coax around and protect an inexperienced and slower rider than yourself is much harder I would imagine at an unfamiliar track than it would be on your home track.

Well done Tai, at last someone who can mix it with the best,so looking forward to Cardiff,win or lose the reception will be ............loud.

A strange decision to go for Klindt to replace Doyley, a bloke who has never seen our place, I`m guessing he was n`t first choice,hopefully he can get a double figure score.If ever there was an opportunity for our reserves to step up to the plate this is it. On form Josh should go through the card, and should Alex make his starts, he should also be ok. I shall be looking to see how Tom does tomorrow, he needs a decent score I think to kick start what has been a bit of a slow start this term.If all goes to plan, the Rebels by about 10 I would think.

On form Josh and Jason will possibly be the strongest pair we have had since Zorro and Emil Kramer.It is a Pairs event so Kennett will need a good partner.

I stand corrected.

Which would mean extra rides for Josh and the reserves, not good, as that combination would not score anything like the return you would get from Alex imo.

So Nick out for at least four weeks, Alex also hurt last night,the Rebels injury jinx strikes again.It is so much more frustrating when they are riding for other teams.If both riders are unavailable on Friday is it r/r for Nick and a guest for Alex, if so it weakens the Rebels considerably.

Best show by a British rider since Harris` in 2007, had me on the edge of my seat screaming at the goggle box,well done mate,can`t wait for Cardiff.

No 4 is a tough slot, maybe switching Alex and Kyle would help Kyle, but the Doyle Davies duo is very strong, difficult. It is still early days yet though,plenty of time to sort it out imo.

Well you got your wish Dave, Rebels couldn`t manage it, very disappointing. Kurtz is fast becoming top reserve in the Prem this year.

What about Davies concussion, Nielsen not finishing a race, Morris laying the bike down, and unbeaten Doyle (again) ef, thats a fair amount of bad luck in my book,which would affect the score in most matches. But hey ho s**t happens, hopefully we will make a better fist of it next time we play you.I take your point about the 70`s, my team then The Wembley Lions used to get 10.000 plus every week, my dad tells me that in the 50`s you were looking at 80.000 every week at the Empire Stadium, incredible.