Berwick Bandits V Edinburgh Monarchs (lc) Saturday, April 5th

[Goldmember06]

Poor very poor result from a Berwick perspective, yes out scored at reserve but for me Matej Kus was woeful, previous form suggests he ain't going to improve at all and is a woefully weak signing. Why Berwick signed him I don't know. Stayed for much of the second half tonight and the race with young Flint and Bickley was a joy to watch

[Robinh88]

Possibly another Filip Sitera?

[fred]

How Bellego was allowed back in the first two runnings of heat 10 I don't know. First one tries to ride straight through Derek bringing him down and Max who had nowhere to go on the outside. Second time round same move again but Derek held his ground and Bellego made a right mess and came down yet got back in the race.

 

Well done Edinburgh great team effort!

Edited April 6, 2014 by fred

[spin king]

Its bit early to start making predictions about the Berwick team, but last night showed where they are very fragile.

 

The solid 1 to 7 will only work with every in the top 1 to 5 scoring points in every race and one of the the reserves been free scoring.

 

If they don't then when teams will keep the scores tight and have every chance of coming away from Berwick with something.

 

I do think some of the Berwick fans on here did as they have done in the past and over hyped Steen Jensen.

 

But it is early in the season, and things can change, but I do think that maybe the team might struggle a bit with Jensen appearing to not be the free scoring reserve that they thought he was, Vissing who it would appear wil take on the number 1 role been a rider who has reputation for getting injured and Kus still been a rider who is up and down more times than a roller coaster.

[rgcumming]

A close meeting populated by a number of 3-3s until the business end of the meeting which saw the match turn in Edinburgh's favour.

 

Berwick...

 

Doolan - as last week, struggled against top class opposition. Granted, Cook is the best rider in the league and no tougher test will come to Berwick all year. Where Kev needs to deliver wins are in Heat 6 and 10. If he can bag 2nds in 1 and 13, that's Ten points and we have to be happy if he achieves this.

 

Bellego - Seemed to carry a bit more pace tonight, staying close to Cook in Heat 1 and a great cutback to pass Worrall in heat 8. Controversial incident with Sneddon in Heat 10 but from my vantage point in the main grandstand, it was a bit of elbows and bunching on both occasions.

 

Kus - Showed good speed when gating in heat 3. Otherwise did not do much. Must be said he looks disinterested if he misses the start.

 

Wethers - really impressed with Matty who has evolved into an ultra dependable racer for us. Scoring well above his average so far and a tremendous overtake in Ht 14 when we needed a win to keep us in with a chance of victory.

 

Vissing - will end up as our number 1 before long, of that there can be no doubt. Couldn't quite match Cook, but delivered elsewhere apart from 15 where he went missing.

 

Reserves - really struggled this week which is a real concern. Liam will take time to get going and may struggle to hit his average over the course of the season. The team would be reliant on Jensen stepping up and scoring good points over 5 rides if Carr were to struggle. Jensen has not shown anything so far that would indicate he is going to be the high scoring reserve we need. Of course for us fans, our expectations are raised massively when Dick Barrie cranks up the hype via the PA system. We do need Steen to really step up though and next week against Glasgow would be a good chance to make his mark.

 

Edinburgh...

 

Cook - Untouchable. Overheard some supporters saying Cook shouldn't be allowed in the PL as he is too good?! For me, its a pleasure to have top class riders in our league. Cookie was a class act and will be hard to beat home and away this year.

 

Fox - First visit to Berwick for a competitive outing and looked nice and tidy throughout.

 

Fricke - Paid 6 doesn't reflect his effort, much improved from last year and on the pace all night. Very smooth style, hugs the white line to great effect.

 

Sneddon - capable of better round Berwick and will be disappointed not to score higher.

 

Masters - solid from Sam, great gate under pressure in 15 to seal victory. Has scored well at Berwick in the past and did the same last night.

 

Reserves - Sedgeman doesn't seem to like Berwick. Good victory in 2 but missing after. Worrall was the star man for me. Paid 14 from reserve was match winning, superb out the gate and quick around the track. Very impressive.

 

Summary...

 

Track was prepared similar to last week, though seemed to dry out a bit later on. Whatever was causing riders issues last week at the 3/4 bend had been rectified as there was no scary wobbles. A fair result if I am being honest. Glasgow should represent a good chance next week to make amends.

[spittalbandit]

in all honesty edinburgh are probably the toughest test we gonna have all season. always expected close meeting . yes we struggled at reserve which we cant afford with the way the team built but come on its only the second home meeting of the year give the guys a chance. instead of critical comments . i am biased re matej kus as he is a mate and i know he is capable of much better and expect him to improve . liam had unbelievable meeting against redcar and it was a reality check last night . he is a young guy learning his trade and will be good some meetings poor others. steen jensen has only been on berwicks track for probably a total of twenty min. 2 meetings and a practise. the others doing roughly what expected if anything david possibly not as quick as last year. but give them all time

[Hamster00]

Meeting was won and lost in the reserves with heat 12 being a perfect example

 

Sedgmens never went well round Shielfield but did his job and Steve Worrall looked like a heat leader

 

Kus was typical Matej Kus looks good when in the points but when it really mattered missed the start and looked disinterested and Jensen so far is the biggest disappointment he needs to start scoring fast if we are to do anything when it comes to the league

 

Can't really fault the rest of the team Liam had an off night but that is to be expected as he's still learning

 

League Cup is a write off now can't exactly see us going to Derwent Park and turning the Comets over.

[Mr Blobby]

Supprised Berwick took gates 2&4 last night in heat 15. gate 2 was a graveyard all night with only 2 wins of it! gates 1&3 had been far more productive

[screm]

Credit to Edinburgh on their win, their top two came up with the goods in Ht15 where as Berwick's didn't. You can throw any superlatives you want at Craig Cook, he was great to watch and he has obviously worked very hard on his kit and career and is reaping the rewards now, a pleasure to watch. Steve Worrall has started the season well, and had another good night last night, his score went a large way to get the Monarchs the points. Not my work but there was a stat said to me last night that over the two meeting the Edinburgh reserves outscored the Berwick reserves by 37 to 4 including bonuses, Berwick`s 4pts coming from third places. If your looking a reason why we lost both meetings that would be a decent place to start.

 

Far to early to hit the panic button just yet, however home defeats are go good to everything at Berwick Speedway, to many more and people will find other things to do for their Saturday night. Berwick`s strength in depth met with the approval of most of us, if the team clicks you get results such as last week against Redcar, if it doesn't hit those heights you get what happened last night. Thankfully we have the pleasure of entertaining Glasgow next week, so its vital we get back to winning ways against the Tigers.

 

Once again the meeting was run at a good pace with all the racing over by 8-45, leaving time to get the young riders out to race in their NJL match and I've taken up Mr Barrie on his advice to subscribing to the clubs news letter, I`m looking forward to getting the 1st of these over the next few days.

How Bellego was allowed back in the first two runnings of heat 10 I don't know. First one tries to ride straight through Derek bringing him down and Max who had nowhere to go on the outside. Second time round same move again but Derek held his ground and Bellego made a right mess and came down yet got back in the race.

 

Well done Edinburgh great team effort!

Nonsense it was just racing, two riders going for the same part of the track.

Edited April 6, 2014 by screm

[Mr Blobby]

just racing, two riders going for the same part of the track.

 

First time it was all 4 back classic bunching. second time around Bellego probably should have been excluded tried to push Deek out wide going into the first bend but derek had all ready clamped him down by this point.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Mr Blobby

[Goodiepatchie]

 

First time it was all 4 back classic bunching. second time around Bellego probably should have been excluded tried to push Deek out wide going into the first bend but derek had all ready clamped him down by this point.

agree first time was all four second time deek knew what was coming and gave as good as he got david very lucky not to get excluded

[george.m]

Serious question for Monarchs fans on here.

I saw Heat 5 from last night's meeting on FB with Cook in his pomp.

It got me thinking though.

I don't see him week in week out.

For those who do, does he team ride when he hits the front early doors in a heat or does he just gets many bike lengths ahead of everyone?

[Mr Blobby]

Serious question for Monarchs fans on here.

I saw Heat 5 from last night's meeting on FB with Cook in his pomp.

It got me thinking though.

I don't see him week in week out.

For those who do, does he team ride when he hits the front early doors in a heat or does he just gets many bike lengths ahead of everyone?

 

He doesn't really get the chance as is he usually gone by the time everyone has exited the 2nd

[Paulco]

Serious question for Monarchs fans on here.

I saw Heat 5 from last night's meeting on FB with Cook in his pomp.

It got me thinking though.

I don't see him week in week out.

For those who do, does he team ride when he hits the front early doors in a heat or does he just gets many bike lengths ahead of everyone?

Unless you're a top rider blessed with divine ability , like a Shane Parker , not many number ones lower themself to try and shephard home a team mate of much lesser ability .

[screm]

He doesn't really get the chance as is he usually gone by the time everyone has exited the 2nd

As he was last night, he is top guy in the PL and a pleasure to watch.

[screm]

Berwick's co-team manager Ian Rae said: "They had a match winner in reserve Steve Worrall tonight as his 11 paid 14 really was the difference and whilst it is devastating to lose to our local rivals at home there was some excellent action and some good moments from the Bandits. Now we have to re-group and try to rescue this group in the League Cup."

 

Here's hoping.

[Al Stewart]

Serious question for Monarchs fans on here.

I saw Heat 5 from last night's meeting on FB with Cook in his pomp.

It got me thinking though.

I don't see him week in week out.

For those who do, does he team ride when he hits the front early doors in a heat or does he just gets many bike lengths ahead of everyone?

We did a DVD of his top 12 heats of 2013 to go with the booklet we produced, and two of these were team rides with a much slower Derek Sneddon at Ipswich and Newcastle, both 5-1s. I think you'd agree it isn't feasible at the moment to team ride with Aaron until he gets a bit more experience.

[Normski]

nice of cookie to praise the berwick track on his twitter account, it certainly suited him awesome performance.

[Fromafar]

Berwick's co-team manager Ian Rae said: "They had a match winner in reserve Steve Worrall tonight as his 11 paid 14 really was the difference and whilst it is devastating to lose to our local rivals at home there was some excellent action and some good moments from the Bandits. Now we have to re-group and try to rescue this group in the League Cup."

 

Here's hoping.

Whike Berwick have to re-group I think the second part of the statement is beyond us after this week-ends results.

[george.m]

We did a DVD of his top 12 heats of 2013 to go with the booklet we produced, and two of these were team rides with a much slower Derek Sneddon at Ipswich and Newcastle, both 5-1s. I think you'd agree it isn't feasible at the moment to team ride with Aaron until he gets a bit more experience.

Yeah, agree with your comments re Aaron 100%.

The video just prompted the question in my mind and I was trying to think back to when I've seen him live or on TV last season and couldn't really recall whether he did or not.

 

He is head and shoulders above anyone I've seen over many years in the PL, in fact the last rider I've seen dominate the way he does was probably Joe Owen.

 

Like any rider you want to see them reach their full potential (unless it against the Tigers of course ), and this would include team riding skills if he he doesn't fully demonstrate them at present. Which, as I say I don't know if he does or not.

 

Hope he gets into the GB World Cup squad and rattles up a good few points.