screm

Looks like Thornblom doesn't make it so Theo Pijper guests, according to the last news letter Doolan hoped to be back for tonight. Haven't seen he wont be there tonight so I`m guessing he comes back. No Josh Grazconek for Somerset after crashing at Edinburgh last night so its R/R for him.

As soon as Berwick returned his registration to Coventry Barker became a free agent so was free to sign for another club, though out of decency you would've thought he could've mentioned he was returning to racing to the Berwick promotion last Saturday.

At least the Berwick travelling fans had something to shout about last night especially after Thursday`s efforts at Ipswich. Berwick still have a fight on their hands to avoid the wooden spoon but a point last night is a welcome one.

Please don't knock it, I for one am delighted to see the referees reports back though it does seem they are only issued when they praise the track prep, I must've missed the others. I think most riders in Czech are taught about track preparation as part of the speedway education, to be fair to Berwick if you asked the riders how they wanted the track you would probably get several different opinions.

BEN BARKER: DixonBuildingBandits' boss John Anderson has issued the following statement: "Ben Barker was at Shielfield last Saturday after having been back on his bike practising at Redcar that afternoon, which came as a total surprise to us". "We were completely unaware he had already finalised a deal with Peterborough to resume racing". "Ben knew that, when he was fit his place would be available here at Berwick but felt joining the Panthers afforded him less travelling after his injury and offered more fixtures by the end of term to earn more money". "Given we had no chance of play-off, this influenced his decision. We only learned on Tuesday night this week that in fact he was going to the Panthers, on loan -- Peterborough did not contact us over the matter at any time". "Once he was taken out of our team (and Ben himself told us he felt his season was over) his registration returned to his parent club Coventry who had loaned him to Berwick for the 2015 season. We were aware other clubs had thought of him but the decision to return to racing and with another team was purely Ben’s". ​Taken from Berwick`s official site.

Well that's two more riders than one of Berwick`s riders thought, as he said it only suited two, but lets have non of this naughtiness, last Saturday`s referee marked the track as excellent so that should be the end of it. The fact that four riders have taken to social media to say otherwise, and the fact that the track has been described as difficult in this weeks Speedway Star has nothing to do with it.

Nothing to get excited about from Berwick last night just about sums up our season.

Enjoy your visit, I am sure you will to the track, I think I`m right in saying, that has been voted the best track in the Pl in recent seasons.

Lets hope there`s plenty life left in Berwick Speedway.

A REMINDER that a brand new DVD with special appeal to Bandits followers will be launched at their home Premier League match against Workington on Saturday, August 29. Retro Speedway is producing a six-hour DVD set titled MEMORIES OF BERWICK SPEEDWAY. The triple disc set costs just £16 – and Berwick Speedway will benefit by £6 from every copy sold at Shielfield Park, so by buying the DVD you will be directly helping the club. The same bonus for the Bandits will also apply to any other Retro Speedway DVD sold at Shielfield Park on the night. Every person who buys a DVD will also receive a FREE copy of Backtrack magazine (RRP £4), featuring strong Berwick content. This post isn't mine, I have taken it from the years gone by section. Looks like a decent deal to me, and a way of helping out the club.

Peterborough are due to be racing against Newcastle this Friday so you`d think that would rule out any guest appearance for Berwick. I take it Scunthorpe`s new signing will be there this Friday, I see he is due to captain the Czech team in their World Under-21 event in Opole on Saturday afternoon, I am sure getting from Scunthorpe to Poland isn't a problem but then you have rules on practice and signing in to contend with.

Barker was interviewed last Saturday, and made no mention of a track return, in fact quite the opposite. At the end of the interview he was wished a full recovery, good winter and back in a Berwick race jacket in 2016. So not very classy from Mr. Barker. He was looked after very well by Berwick, they deserved at least to be told he was going to Peterborough as I am he would've known that last Saturday.

My post earlier had nothing to do with my opinion on the track, but quotes from the riders taking part. I agree with you, it looked to me that one or two riders clearly didn't fancy last Saturday nights track condition and went through the motions.

Its great to see the refs remarks and ratings back on BSF, I was wondering where they had gone. We have often been told on here that when there has been criticism of the track at Berwick we should listen to the riders. Clearly looking at social media there were riders who enjoyed last Saturday`s track, but its fair to say there were some that didn't. Obviously there was the comments from Mr. Cook, but Paco Castagna didn't enjoy it, and Nicolai Klindt described it as more moto X than speedway. Berwick`s Alex Edberg described it as very rough and that it suited only two riders. Obviously you cant please every rider no matter how you set up the track.

Don`t think that`s what he said during his interview from the centre green last Saturday.

So you wouldn't mark the track down as very rough.

Must admit I didn't enjoy watching Josh Bates last Saturday as he didn't seem to have full control of his bike, maybe part of it was down to the track, maybe it wasn't. He was certainly rightly excluded for bringing down Carr, whether that shouldve lead to him being thrown out of the meeting I would doubt.

The Nicki Pedersen red card probably isn't the best example to use for this rule, as in the opinion of many it was a bit of a scandal and almost certainly of Pedersen`s reputation preceding him.

This is something I pointed out the other day, Berwick had to go with only one rider in three heats last Saturday, through no fault of their own.

While I agree it is sad to see a rider like Lanham out of a job, Somerset aren't beholding to him, especially when he isn't their asset. OK neither is Jensen but if the new rider chips in a few extra points that could make all the difference. I wouldn't be surprised to see Lanham fixed up soon.

Probably the same two or three as me, though back in the day most teams had a rider who didn't mind the physical side of speedway.

Pedersen made a hard move on Hancock, Hancock didn't like it and clumped Pedersen. Hancock was fined, that shouldve been the end of the matter IMO. Never like to look at years gone by and claim it was always better then, but with riders now being red carded or banned from meetings there would riders from years gone who would spend more time banned than riding.

I don't disagree with you, but surely a club official should know when to keep a professional silence, though could could say the same about a rider who didn't exactly enjoy riding a particular track. But at least its made for some good debate.

Go back to pages 3 and 4 on this thread, there`s a couple of links to cheaper accommodation that might be worth a look.

I posted an article from the riders own website on another thread the other day saying he expected to be back riding by early August, obviously that hasn't happened. In last nights programme it says the club " simply don't know if and when he will be back racing in 2015 and neither does Claus who is still troubled with his knee injury". I think its fair to say that with no announcements from rider or club there`s every chance we wont see him back this season. But your right, running with R/R for so long has been an error.