northyorksbear

Well Done to Newcastle, sounds like an excellent meeting. Regarding the Lambert/RR/polish fiasco - personally I think that if he had been told he had to ride in Poland ahead of Newcastle, then Newcastle shouldn't have been penalised and a facility granted in the first place, and that really is the whole problem. However having not got a facility to then have it turned around due to rain off in a foreign country is just farcical, I was sat looking at updates and tried to explain to wife and son why Newcastle had a junior in place of number 1 and then why they had a system where others could take rides, when you do this to one who has a basic speedway knowledge and another who has very little it just shows what a total joke the sport is!! In the end my wife gave up and said - "I don't understand any of what you have just said", and my son asked loads of very sensible questions, which I had to try and answer within the complexities of speedway rules! In the end I gave up trying to justify what was happening! This does open potentially a huge can of worms - I don't know at what time Polish meeting was due to take place, but what if it had been called off at 6.15pm, if Newcastle received a call to let them know at 6.25, could r/r have been installed, or even 6.35 before first heat was run?? What if a rider is due to miss meeting due to doubling up and a guest is booked, however the initial rider gets injured earlier in the day at another meeting, does that then mean guest is invalid and rr has to be used and again how much notice is required? Personally I'm not overly fussed about Newcastle being able to strengthen at the last minute, it only put them to the correct level and made the meeting a fair contest. Yes as a Bears fan it would have been fantastic to win, but it would have been a hollow victory and forums would have been awash with claims of a false win. At least with RR in place we achieved a narrow defeat on a level playing field. If, at beginning of season, you had offered me two convincing wins over Newcastle at home, not giving up losing bonus points, and at least one narrow (bonus point) loss away I would have been very happy. Lets hope next meeting is just as good - I have heard a rumour Lambert is due to ride in some event in Africa, no facility at moment, unless a sandstorm blows in!!!

Only one without valid reasons, and permission. The one that was breaking the rules!

That your top 4 riders comprise your team for the four team finals

As you say nothing has been confirmed about what the incentive was, however it was provided on the proviso that Holder was released, therefore it can be deemed as compensation. In my opinion the statement put out was highlighting that it was a good deal for Peterborough speedway and it read to me that the management were congratulating themselves on the deal achieved which, again in my opinion, is bragging about it!

I would assume as Newcastle have named their team without Lambert then they wouldn't be able to then include him, but you never know! On the issue of a rider missing a league meeting to ride elsewhere I don't see there is any problem with a team doing this if they wish to it just means they are understrength and have to justify actions to their fans. To compare this situation to Peterborough is totally wrong Panthers went against a direct BSPA ruling and then decided to virtually brag about the compensation they received to do it.

Do you really believe that?

So my understanding is that Peterborough had Nicholls lined up to guest for Harris but because his average changed (which was known seven days ago) he was then not eligible, and their request to break the rules was rejected! This results in two NL guests being used in an away meeting - this is oh so similar to last season at Edinburgh when Rathbone threw all the toys out of the pram!! I now read that Nicholls will guest in a home meeting as a replacement for Holder. OK simple question why isn't he guesting at Workington instead of Holder and then use rr for Harris??? It seems this team selection has nothing to do with rider availability (especially if Palm Toft rumour is true ) but everything to do with Peterborough sticking two fingers up at the rest of the league and BSPA. The sooner Rathbone gets kicked out of speedway altogether the better!

No

So why don't Newcastle have a facility for Lambert missing Sunday's meeting with Redcar?

Isn't it amazing what happens to tracks between heats 10 and 11 !! Tracks are can be ok for one heat but not the next, fine if rain etc is causing a change in track conditions, but what was different in track tonight after heat 10?? (And this isn't a twisted dig at Peterborough, it happens everywhere) Either it is safe to ride or not if not then have the decency and guts to call it at heat 5 or 7 or 9 or whenever it is deemed "not rideable"

"....there are plenty of lines, it is a great race track..." nice quote about Redcar, who from? Ricky Wells following his excellent performance last night

Be interesting to see what the teams are like Panthers missing at least two, maybe 4 Newcastle missing at least 3 !!!!

Announced at redcar last night first Newcastle match is week on Sunday 3rd sept. Perks is away so rr for him

Just read the report on Monarchs website, full marks to Graham Muncie who produced this, I think it is the fairest and most accurate report I have read from a team losing away, as the texter at the meeting, he has picked up on all the points I noted, highlighted where Monarchs were weak, and where they were strong. No excuses made and praised the better team on the evening. Well Done!

Have to say the Lawson on Thursday for Glasgow was a totally different tiger to the one who rode the week before for Sheffield. The only excuse I could suggest is that maybe he was under less pressure the week before? But to be fair to him, both Worrall and Summers were well under some past performances we have seen - eg the Garciagate meeting. This does appear to have crept into performances over the last few weeks - is there some underlying reason, or is it just coincidence that all 3 heat leaders appear lack lustre at the same time? Bewley is a class act, and quick - however it was mentioned amongst some fans that the pressure of the heat 15 and off gate 4 outside of barker might just result in him "going missing", which it did, however in a years time I see him winning a lot of heat 15 - even when pressure is really on! Best Wishes to Lunna, hope he isn't too sore after his acrobatics down the home straight. From a Bears point of view Barker and Garrity seemed to have more desire than the Glasgow riders and that ultimately earned them their points tally. Big well done to Mitchell Davey, his job was to beat Smith in their two races together, which he did and then as a bonus Glasgow gave him another ride against Smith which he duly won (even Bears fans couldn't fathom that logic out!) Great Meeting, superb win for the Bears, but Glasgow are a class act and will be fighting for honours at end of the season.

Yes but unfortunately we are about sixth/seventh!

More likely a 'double F' !!

And of course Peterborough save money by not paying out as many points!

You need to be careful Jenga, you are starting to put some sensible posts out!! I agree, real losers in this are the vast majority of Panthers fans who deserve a lot better, especially those who contributed to the begging bowl when it came around to "keep the club afloat", I'm guessing they may not be so willing now, and questioning if their money was (well) spent!

The real irony is that Peterborough had a realistic chance of winning this meeting with Holder riding, Diamonds are so weak at reserve if you have a couple of good top end riders you can get close. It's a real slap in the face to Panthers fans!

Or the money he is saving on travel expenses for Holder compared to Rutherford and the money saved on points money Holder would have scored! In fact the more you consider this situation the more it reflects badly on Rathbone with all the consequences! I sympathise with genuine Panthers fans who have to be associated with this sorry saga!!

Rode in junior meeting at Redcar on Thursday, fell with nobody near him in second ride, remounted and then fell again!

Well done Bandits excellent result Top quality performance from Stevie Worrall, just want him to rip in 15 point max tonight and he will be on panthers blacklist for guests with Barker and Sedgmen !!

Newcastle's website, issued yesterday, advertises Holder visiting on Sunday. Peterborough have now issued a very brief ( by their standards) release stating Holders in Poland, which everyone has suspected for over a week! So why not give the Diamonds management advance notice and allow them to gives an accurate report, instead of letting them look like they are either incompetent or trying to con public with false advertising! Might it be that English is part of MC and this is a bit of retaliation by Rathbone?

You are in a league of your own southern div 6