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I think that merely serves to show just how difficult it will be for him to get a top flight place here - injury seems the only way to me, and even then I suspect other options will be considered first. I'm a Cook fan - and he's anything but an average rider - but he was stupid with Peterborough. True, he had a point. But in sticking to it he halved his speedway earnings overnight and massively lost out as a result. Instead of thinking it through he behaved petulantly and he will be counting the cost all season. I really don't know where he goes from here but suggestions that he shuts his mouth and just gets on with it seem pretty good advice to me.

One race win at Cardiff 12 years ago seem to have given Harris an aura that quite a few people can’t look past. He’s a very inconsistent rider and only going in one direction. He hasn’t helped himself in my book by becoming a member of the club within the sport who label fans with opinions they don’t like online as “keyboard warriors.” So unprofessional. Get on with your job that we pay you to do. Give me Scott Nicholls any day. When we had both men at Rye Scott was just as entertaining when behind, he just didn’t find himself in that position as often as Harris. Five years down the line if both are still riding then I’d imagine Nicholls will be at a similar level to where he is now, Harris will probably be a five point man or taking pocket money from kids in the NL.

The frustration will only grow as the season progresses. Last year he became harder to replace as each month passed as his average kept dropping. You also have to factor when the grasstrack season starts and another shot at the GP qualifiers for the unreliable (or poorly prepped) equipment issues to start. His average is what it is for a reason. If last season is anything to go by, his Championship club will get the least effort, infuriating the life out of you when you see him on BT Sport a couple of days later performing heroics for his PL team.

Reading this week's copy (and it is a daft thing to say) but the SS seem to have gone for a 'magazine type format' rather than be a provider of all statistical meeting information... All this info, as you say, is already 'out there' so the SS seems to have gone for a more generic approach with more 'stories' filling the pages. .. I like the in depth coverage of one meeting a week as it covers a lot more background info than just the meeting itself, and includes a couple of interviews with riders pertaining to that match, which is similar to the way TV does interviews afterwards.. Who beat who last Thursday was known last Thursday, with all finite details on various websites, so no real need to go into it again. Especially when space can be saved for more overall coverage and reporting where stories can be explored a bit more in depth, which should provide more interest.. Josh Bates' interview a great example of exploring his interesting struggle to ride again... On heat times, for me I don't care but for some they obviously do, so its good to see Phil take on board this feedback, because as everyone in business knows, if you don't listen to your customers you will struggle.. Something others within the Speedway world maybe should consider and do more of...?

Interesting comment but how can they be valid when you are here on the net with the answers to your Wolves question only a few clicks away? Both Updates and BSF clearly spell out the reason for the abandonment, don't tell me you'd rather wait 4 days to find out. Seems to me Philip Rising is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, it's a good job he still cares.

Exactly the reason I find Harris so frustrating and why it find it really confusing Somerset signing him, as he doesn’t fit the mould of rider we’ve traditionally signed. On his day and even at this stage of his career he can still be brilliant, but all too often there is always an excuse about poor bikes, getting the set up and just in general not at the races. A 5 point return in this league is shocking for a rider of his experience. Somerset looked semi decent when Berge was in the line up but they will be all too flakey. Some weeks they will hit 60 at home and then others they will take an absolute battering just like last night. The current line up won’t be anywhere near the play offs though.

Hope Berwick have a good season. Good fans and always a nice welcome when you go there.

Very much gate and go but racing fast and close , rasmus must be on a good guarantee as he just didnt look interested, kyle looked a lot quicker and well done sarge no tapes ex and rode best have seen him.very sporting of craig to shake hands with the 2 berwick lads who done well to get a 5- 1 over him on a tac sub NOT!

Typical Berwick meeting IMO.Glasgow like Berwick will be decent Home Team.Sarjeant doesn’t deserve criticism he put up a good show with plenty of effort.

Do you really want to go back to "the good ole days" . Referee and start marshall may as well as stayed at home.

After Harris last year I doubt there are any guarantees.

It's always been a fi e line and you may be right but for me it's always a combination of things. Perhaps the new starting regs don't suit his rolling starts I still remember a few years back when Nig Flatman was having a poor run and thought it must be the bike. Sanders borrowed it and won a race with ease! I'm sure it will be figured out as he's too experienced to let those scores continue.

Strangely for someone so young he has all the attributes of a seasoned professional. Always in control of his bike, always appears calm in public, and just Carrys and presents himself in a highly professional manner.

I see Max finished 3rd behind Barker and Bates in tonights Pride of the Potteries ( a.k.a. Ben Barker benefit) with 13 points from 5 rides. Danny a creditable 6th with 9. Admittedly a mainly NL field, but even so should be a confidence boost for both of them.

Wow, any meeting against the old enemy has to be worth a look, Norfolk v Suffolk, our pride at stake!

I agree this doesnt look good at all for the future of the Comets, and on the face of it, it LOOKS to many of us that Laura was in much greater debt than we imagined. But this may NOT be the case....Laura and her brother had MANY business interests, and "LJM Asset Management" might just have no financial connection to the speedway business she runs ? So maybe try not to pre-judge the effect of its demise has or has not, on the Comets....yet ?

Just a Stars win on the night is all I hope for!

Yeah Badge we need to keep it close A 2 point win will do rather than 28

Hi, Philip, Regarding circulation figures. I am sure that many sales were made back in the day at Belle Vue/KIrkmanshulme Lane via the track shop situated in the space where every fan entered the stadium. This shop was operated by an independent as I recall but nowadays the small shop in the main stand of the NSS is staffed by the club. I watch from the South stand at the NSS so can't say whether the small track shop in the main stand stocks the Star, but if not then perhaps you could address that issue. There is certainly no Star on offer at the South stand, (but then those of us who watch from there are second class citizens to that extent!) Sore point but off topic. I also recall that during my (too many) years following the sport that most tracks I visited always had the Star on sale somewhere, usually from a 'seller' near to the turnstiles. Perhaps this is still the case (if not at B.Vue) but if not it could be addressed as an obvious way to reach those fans who would buy the Star, given the chance, even if only occasionally. Apologies if this post is a case of a fan teaching an expert how to suck eggs, but we cannot let the Star disappear without trying every avenue.

Jack missing at match at the Showground? Who'd have thought it.

its not right a team being 3 points under the limit, but to be fair to Summers hes done a great job for us so far and could be worth keeping. If you start looking else where in team the only rider who has been a real let down has been Andersen. I like Hans but something is really wrong there whether its bikes or just him? I know hes not the rider he once was but he shouldnt fail to even score a point Think he should get a couple more meeting and then Team Manager should reconsider options

Personally, I'd say a proper businessman is someone who cares so much about his paying customers that on a freezing cold night he goes round handing out blankets and hot wheat pack hand warmers, not someone who charges almost double what his competitors do and 25% more than some two leagues higher. This is especially at a time when speedway desperately needs to show that it represents good value for money and that fans are valued and not simply to be fleeced for as much as possible. One of the main reasons why speedway is in the desperate situation that it is is that fans have been taken for granted for years and that sort of entry fee for that standard of speedway is a classic example. The much maligned Buster Chapman deserves a huge amount of credit for the entry charges at King's Lynn, Ipswich & Peterborough and letting under 16's in free. I suspect, however, that he got the idea about free entry for U16's from another club. No prizes for guessing which one, but its the same one that gave out the blankets.

MacDonald did show considerable progress last year, another similar one could make him a useful 2nd string.

That's not true though, is it? Look at the attendances at Premiership clubs who have bigger name riders, compared to Championship clubs who do no. I would say to a team that Premiership have larger crowds, therefore the "star" riders who choose to ride in Britain absolutely do put bums on seats. The question is whether these top riders provide value for money. Did attendances at Swindon drop by less than they saved on signing Nick Morris as #1 instead of World Champion Jason Doyle? Given the crowds at Swindon last season and the fact they chose to sign Doyle for 2019, it would suggest that the star riders are worth the outlay.

Over the last decade the Elite League/Premiership has significantly weakened the product on offer and as a consequence crowds have dwindled. Therefore, the evidence suggests that a "watered down" league will only hasten the demise. Three clubs have gone from last year. Of those three, Lakeside rode on Fridays and Workington rode on Saturdays. Therefore I am not sure weekend meetings are the panacea you think they are.