TheScotsman Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 Can't be the same Fish. Countless posters said he was past it / spent force / useless / wouldn't spend any money on his equipment / etc!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idh Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) Can't be the same Fish. Countless posters said he was past it / spent force / useless / wouldn't spend any money on his equipment / etc!! he was pretty good last night. His hand up to winning his first heat was great even though it was 3/4 lap before the finish just seen on the Edinb site he was waving to his kids Edited July 9, 2016 by idh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 Excellent meeting last night. A proper speedway evening. Perfect weather conditions (probably not for the track curator) all riders putting in 100% effort, and some terrific racing. The crowd was up on last year's PL Pairs and the atmosphere created by the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Somerset fans added to the tension. As previously stated by others, the two semi finals were superb. In the Scotland 'Derby' semi, Glasgow were just over one lap from qualifying for the final until Masters intentionally slowed the race. Fisher, alert to the situation began gaining on Lawson before executing a superb inside pass on the last two bends. Que for wild celebrations from the Monarchs fans on the back straight. Fisher really is an entertainer, and a pantomime villain too! In heat 1 he passed Simon Stead on the final lap, and even began his victory celebrations as he entered the last two bends!! The second semi again involved Stead, who huffed and puffed to stay alongside Howarth to keep out the probing and pressing Gracijonek who at one point was stone last. Eventually however, the Rebels skipper, gaining speed on every lap, breezed past both Sheffied riders as if they were stood still. In the final, the Somerset pairing made the gate and were gone. Probably the best two pairs contested the final, with the Rebels deserved winners. special mentions for Matej Kus, Todd Kurtz, Kyle Howarth and to a lesser extent, Ulrich Ostergaard and Nico Covatti for providing some exciting racing. Often overlooked at speedway meetings such as these are the usual impeccable behaviour of over 3000 supporters from clubs across the UK. Some of them fierce rivals, but still they stand shoulder to shoulder dishing out friendly banter. Would be nice to see other British sports do the same. Thats Speedway... Most of the riders ride in the EL as well, so someone, somewhere, will still have a 'home advantage.' Belle Vue ride at the National Stadium, so still the same situation there. Why not run it at Cardiff after the practice on the Friday night? Or would FIM/SGP/Whoever not agree to that? No home advantage at BV... Yep that would be a good idea to run it at Cardiff the night before, but im not sure it would be agreed to, and im sure that Somerset wouldn't like that idea.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 In an ideal world these kind of events would be held on neutral (ie EL) circuits but they have to be held where / when people will go and the most money can be made. The night before the GP at Somerset seems to work well so its difficult to see it moving but I can understand the view that it should be moved around. At the end of the day the pairs, fours & PLRC are novelty events and while good to win aren't as prestigious as the seven man team competitions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalan Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 2007 - Magnus Zetterström & Emil Kramer - 3rd in Group 2008 - Jason Doyle & Emil Kramer - 2nd 2009 - Steve Johnston & Emil Kramer - 2nd 2010 - Cory Gathercole & Shane Parker - 3rd 2011 - Cory Gathercole & Sam Masters - 3rd in Group 2012 - Jason Doyle & James Wright - Semi-Final 2013 - Jason Doyle & Josh Grajczonek - Winners 2014 - Olly Allen & Nick Morris - 2nd 2015 - Brady Kurtz & Josh Grajczonek - 2nd 2016 - Rohan Tungate & Josh Grajczonek - Winners Runners - up four times and twice winners in 10 contests and only failing to get out of the group twice, suggests a slight 'home track advantage' to me. Or Garry May is shrewd at picking his riders. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomersetBlue Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 One thing I have to say on last night and nobody else has is Lawson must be fined for riding at the start marshall and then later coming back out and shouted something at him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willowman Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) 2007 - Magnus Zetterström & Emil Kramer - 3rd in Group 2008 - Jason Doyle & Emil Kramer - 2nd 2009 - Steve Johnston & Emil Kramer - 2nd 2010 - Cory Gathercole & Shane Parker - 3rd 2011 - Cory Gathercole & Sam Masters - 3rd in Group 2012 - Jason Doyle & James Wright - Semi-Final 2013 - Jason Doyle & Josh Grajczonek - Winners 2014 - Olly Allen & Nick Morris - 2nd 2015 - Brady Kurtz & Josh Grajczonek - 2nd 2016 - Rohan Tungate & Josh Grajczonek - Winners Runners - up four times and twice winners in 10 contests and only failing to get out of the group twice, suggests a slight 'home track advantage' to me. Well Steve, I have been following this forum for many years and read many of your replies and on the whole respected your views and comments, always straight to the point with the correct facts but in this particular case you are talking a right load of cobblers (last word used in replacement of what I would really have used). You miss one fundamental fact in your analysis and that is how good the Rebels pairings were each year. I would have thought that how well a team does could well be related to how good your two top riders are, i.e. the two who get to ride in the pairs in the main, injuries, events etc excepted. So looking at the years you have given us the facts for, here are some more facts for you to consider (taken from my analysis used in the Somerset thread, just for fun). Our league positions were in reverse order back to 2007 were, 2, 2, 1, 3, 6, 11, 6, 2 and 6. So is it not unreasonable for us to have done so well in pairs when we did well in the league? Well what do you know, apart from 2009 where we bucked the trend and did well to come 2nd despite only coming 6th in the league, our position in the pairs reflects the position in the league. QED. So let us forget all this bitterness with the Rebels winning on home turf. When we were not so good in the league, we were not so good in the pairs. Oh, and by the way, this year we seem to be doing okay results wise, so hopefully our first in the pairs can be reflected in our position in the league. Doesn't sound like home advantage to me. Now back to the pairs 2016. Firstly I have to say that all the riders rode their socks off to give us one of the most entertaining pairs meetings of all time. So much respect to them all. EnglishRoundabout's summary was a perfect summary so no more to be said. Chatted to a couple of older dears from Buxton who were there to support British riders and they said that they had never seen so much passing in a meeting. Says it all really. Edited July 9, 2016 by Willowman 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Najjer Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 Can't be the same Fish. Countless posters said he was past it / spent force / useless / wouldn't spend any money on his equipment / etc!! You don't mean Lewy got it all wrong yet again do you? Perish the thought!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble53 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Well Steve, I have been following this forum for many years and read many of your replies and on the whole respected your views and comments, always straight to the point with the correct facts but in this particular case you are talking a right load of cobblers (last word used in replacement of what I would really have used). Etc, etc, etc................ Thanks Dave, saved me a lot of typing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idh Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Well Steve, I have been following this forum for many years and read many of your replies and on the whole respected your views and comments, always straight to the point with the correct facts but in this particular case you are talking a right load of cobblers (last word used in replacement of what I would really have used). You miss one fundamental fact in your analysis and that is how good the Rebels pairings were each year. I would have thought that how well a team does could well be related to how good your two top riders are, i.e. the two who get to ride in the pairs in the main, injuries, events etc excepted. So looking at the years you have given us the facts for, here are some more facts for you to consider (taken from my analysis used in the Somerset thread, just for fun). Our league positions were in reverse order back to 2007 were, 2, 2, 1, 3, 6, 11, 6, 2 and 6. So is it not unreasonable for us to have done so well in pairs when we did well in the league? Well what do you know, apart from 2009 where we bucked the trend and did well to come 2nd despite only coming 6th in the league, our position in the pairs reflects the position in the league. QED. So let us forget all this bitterness with the Rebels winning on home turf. When we were not so good in the league, we were not so good in the pairs. Oh, and by the way, this year we seem to be doing okay results wise, so hopefully our first in the pairs can be reflected in our position in the league. Doesn't sound like home advantage to me. Now back to the pairs 2016. Firstly I have to say that all the riders rode their socks off to give us one of the most entertaining pairs meetings of all time. So much respect to them all. EnglishRoundabout's summary was a perfect summary so no more to be said. Chatted to a couple of older dears from Buxton who were there to support British riders and they said that they had never seen so much passing in a meeting. Says it all really. Great post willowman youre turning into more of a statman than statman 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Statman Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 What people also conveniently forget when trying the play the 'home track advantage card' regarding Somerset in the Pairs is that over the same period as the Pairs having been held at the Oaktree Arena, Somerset have almost an equally as good record in the Fours, only once in that period have the team not made the final four, which is not held at Somerset. 2007 - 2nd 2008 - 3rd 2009 - 2nd 2010 - 3rd 2011 - 4th 2012 - 3rd in group 2013 - 3rd 2014 - 1st 2015 - 2nd 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 (edited) To all those above who are replying to my initial post, that is why I said "slight" home advantage. It's got to be an advantage of even a small kind, if you ride the track every week, good pair or not. Would the same Somerset pairings have done so well away from the OTA? That can only be a matter of conjecture. Somerset fans will say "yes," others will say "no" or "maybe"!!!!! And to Willowman, there is no bitterness from me, I assure you. The same can be said of the PLRC and the Fours. This isn't me just knocking Somerset, believe me. What they are doing down there is terrific. Edited July 10, 2016 by Steve Park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyretrax Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 The dust clouds were bad, i've seen worse though. Don't think you can blame track staff though as they watered it through the meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 just got home from the weekend away and have to say what a fantastic meeting AGAIN on Friday. the people that didn't go because 'top riders were missing' tough titties, you missed a cracker. Fish was awesome except in the final, and I think the format of 4 3 2 0 scoring makes the meeting, it gives something to fight for the whole time 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenway Bleachers Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Scrabble and Tungate won well and home advantage was significant this time. I know of a track they would struggle to win a heat. Blobby ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Brilliant meeting, with great racing throughout. I'm sure they said at the end the crowd was up on previous years, certainly seemed to be a big crowd anyway. Shame about the dust, but that was probably due to the continuous high winds all day. Bit of a word for the likes of Covatti and Kus who were outstanding individually, but unfortunately didn't get the backup from their partners. The two semi-finals were worth the admission money itself, firstly Grajczonek failing to make the gate and then going from last to second. Then the Glasgow v Edinburgh showdown. Fantastic piece of team riding by Masters, but I would love to see a replay to see how close Fisher was to having both wheels on the grass. Must have been pretty tight. All in all though, a great way to start a great weekend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 my pictures from the meeting here >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_womble/albums/72157670218479752 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idh Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 my pictures from the meeting here >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_womble/albums/72157670218479752 Great Photo's Steve just re-lived friday night all over again 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Saw my self on the 3rd bend... awesome shots Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aroundtheboards Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 YAWN !!! GET OVER IT !!! IT'S GOT TO BE HELD SOMEWHERE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE AT HOME !!! I am all for it being awarded to a new track every year but it is what it is !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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