DavyH

And there's me thinking you were terrified of meeting the toothless tigers

Pperhaps George assumed that Edinburgh were free to come to Newcastle next Sunday and only found out later that we had a final arranged two weeks ago for 5 October? After taking months to run the semi v Glasgow another week's delay isn't too much to ask - or maybe no other team should arrange fixtures without asking Newcastle first For once in speedway, commonsense has prevailed.

unlike our southern friends who in this topic have proved they must be nearer 80% bonkers? lol Phew!!!!

That's so that the away riders get a start and we have closer racing

Course they can, this is speedway. Shame for the fans who forked out for 30 heats of speedway mind but hopefully the injured riders are ok

It's a shame that Rye House seem to be in a downward spiral, not been for years, the last one was probably the year Shadders refers to when Rye hammered Berwick in a table topping meeting. Hopefully if Uncle Len is giving up then someone can come in and rejuvenate things. Tonight, I expected a 6-8 away win but to score 59 away from home is exceptional, Monarchs back in top form after a quiet wee spell

Do explain Shadders!!

George, you really need to upgrade your Commodore 64, Spectrum ZX is the bizz these days

That is shocking from a referee!! Will he be reprimanded by the BSPA? Poor Shadders had to suffer another 10 minutes of freezing cold because of his incompetence- I assume Mr Shadders is instructing his lawyer to sue the ref as I type

Right, I'll try to raise the level of debate on here - won't be difficult as the previous 10 year old posters will surely be in bed? Here's my totally biased report from the best track in speeedway!! By the way - what do the knockers who criticise Armadale's track and stadium, Berwick's tight bends and drawn out races and the shortcomings at other tracks suggest. We are stuck with the shape of tracks/stadia due to football/rugby/greyhound tracks- very few tracks own their stadium. I am just grateful to have speedway nearby. Well after a brief threat from Berwick this ended up as another easy win. Some good races but the most pleasing thing was the fact that Jensen and Kus walked back to the pits unaided after ht 14. I thought Jensen would need the ambulance after his back flip and appearing to be hit by Kus's bike too. Hopefully no lasting effects. Berwick looked a threat in a lot of races but thankfully for us, Doolan and Jensen suffered 5-1's when donning the b&w. For Monarchs - Cookie failed to win a race! When did that last happen! He was involved in most of the good races though, the one with Kevin being the highlight in ht 6. Justin looked slow in ht 6 when Bandits gated but gave the perfect reply in ht 8. Max had a great night beaten only by Jensen. Stevie was superb, gating well, looking fast and dropping his only point to Doolan in ht 15. Sam continued his good form with a paid max, fastest rider tonight. Aaron was obviously in great pain after ht 2 - were the Monarchs management chancing their arm in ht 11 by trying to use Derek to replace him? Even I know that you can't replace a rider who withdraws after an old injury - no need for such a hold up on a cool night. Derek had a great 5-1 with Sam in a crucial ht 7 against the t/r but looked a bit slow in others - maybe all that penicillin? For Bandits, Claus was up to his Armadale form though seemed to have bike problems perhaps? Bellego never beat a Monarch, Jensen had two great wins, two falls - lucky to be back in ht 12, more lucky to walk away in 14 thank goodness. Kevin Doolan, still a pleasure to watch, great battle with Cookie in ht 6 and with Sam in 15. Edberg won ht2 well and beat Justin in ht 6, earned a ht 15. Kus, my predicted top scorer was poor - only beating a poor Derek twice. I thought Bandits might have ran us closer, but after blowing the t/r in ht 7 they faded away. ps, great to see B4e ( and her future baby Monarch) Shadders and Katy again.

I was close Mike lol, cheeky wee edit to follow!!

My random thoughts from tonight on the Chatzone... Can't help but agree with previous posters, The Monarchs are back!! Mind you putting the weeks results into context - a narrow defeat by a Bandits team bang on form and a Rebels team that hammer everyone at home, I think reports of the Monarchs demise were greatly exaggerated! Tonight they showed real team spirit to beat a good team despite a handful of poor rides. Cookie isn't on top form just now but not far away. Only beaten by Morris who was Rebels top man. Justin, good return on the night, won't be happy with heats 1 & 8. Max 50/50 tonight, as others say, wrong place, wrong time but that will be sorted with experience. Stevie, great points return, looked solid, Sam, best I've seen from him, fastest rider on the night. Derek, best show for ages, hopefully the corner has been turned - even his great admirer KJ offered a generous word of praise - He said "no comment" when I asked his opinion of our great skipper tonight!. Max Clegg was never off the pace - tidy rider. For the Rebels, Morris had two good wins and three seconds but only got a little support, Starke with a great gate and win in heat 8 and Pontus piloting from the front in 14. Charles Wright rode well for 4 third places, looks to be far more confident these days. I expected more from Brady, thought he would improve after his first race, but never did, never looked ill at ease, we'll see better from him next time I'm sure. Allen was poor, not his favourite track. Todd K only beat Clegg. Going to be close if these two meet again in the play-offs, bring it on. So a decent meeting and good to meet up with Lunchy again, hope it stays dry for him for the rest of his trip.

I thought all your riders were doing that this season George? Damn shame for Berge after just getting back that's he's suffered another injury so quickly, get well soon.

Shadders, what are your lottery numbers tomorrow night please?

Left before closing time? obviously ran out of beer.......

Indeed Paulco, heavy rain started at 7pm, started to clear, they were hoping to start a bit later but then the monsoon arrived at 7.30pm. I'll take the blame for this, washed my car today

There was a time a few years ago I was down about 10 times in the year, when Hull won the league - some good meetings - normally v teams with a similar track. I think you need to look at how easy it is to pass at a track, was it wednesday that no-one could pass Fox? Kus?? Heat 12 That says poor racing track - tonight's result seems to be Bandits being very poor/Monarchs being good rather than the track. I stopped going to Worky when the racing line decreased to a 6 inch strip. In fairness, on a small track like Edin you are going to see closer racing, on a large track it will be strung out. We all have our preferences, Bgydgyscoh (sp) would do for me!!

OK, been a bit Smug with my replies, but that is a shocker from Berwick - with Harrison and Wethers they should have nearly 20 points, they know the track better than any Monarch apart from Derek. Missing Kus who scores next to nowt is no excuse, Claus struggled all year at the Dale. Thankfully most peeps realise this is an exceptional Monarchs team and appreciate that. Plenty good racing at Armadale despite the heavy home scores - teams need to have a go - ask Peterborough for advice!!!

They should be used to crap tracks as they race at Berwick most weeks???

And after a 67 -23 win why not? It's great being smug As opposed to knowing the winner after the second bend, lap one at berwick? I've only managed a few meetings at Armadale this year but there's been decent races every time, the Worky one rings a bell, the score that night did not reflect how close the racing was

Re the post above - I assume that the schools are on holiday?

The world has ended !! Well done to Panthers on being the first team to beat the Mighty Monarchs in 5 months! They looked a good team at the Dale and proved it tonight. Time to start another 25 match unbeaten run then....

A very purist view, but Monarchs did try - they tried to win a trophy and succeeded. If Rebels had done the same would you have dismissed that triumph?

I can understand your frustation, but in 50 years of watching speedway I have seen such a scenario numerous times. Be honest, how would you feel if your team raced each other, crashed, and cost you a meeting. It happens in all sports, they used to call it time-wasting in football...now it's being professional. Nowadays it seems it's more important to win than entertain, just look at Holland the other night.. oh wait, they didn't do either so it doesn't always work. One of the Monarchs could have had a puncture and been lapped then disq.