Steve Shovlar

Just got back and how the hell did we lose that? Well the reason was clear tonight. Simon Lambert having his best ever meeting at Poole. I doubt anyone saw that coming and he was like Bomber Harris in the final. He has never done anything at Poole but tonight the track suited him perfectly. It was very different to normal and he excelled on it. Sure, times were about one and a half seconds slower per heat but it was the same for both teams. Poole can look at the catastrophic heat 10 though. Pirates well clear and heading for an easy back to back 5-1 when Lawsons bike packed up, turning it into a 3-3. He got it going again (fuel issue?) but too far back to do anything. That mishap alone cost us a 47-43 win and a golden heat, such were the narrow margins. Then heat 14 with Zach leading but Newman fell trying to get on the 5-1, never the same in a rerun. Still, as the saying goes, you make your own luck and tonight we just didn’t make any. We can also look at our top two who have gone off the bill in the last month, just when their leadership was required. Really not good enough, especially so Steve Worrall tonight who looked lightweight and lacking the grit required. He was obviously trying and managed to pass Douglas, only for Douglas to waft around the outside of him the following lap. Still, at the end of the day, Scunthorpe were right up for it and hats off to them. Competitions have been shared around this season with one each for Poole, Glasgow and Scunthorpe. Just one to go next Wednesday when Leicester visit Wimborne Road in the long delayed Jubilee Trophy Final.

Remarkable tonight. Reason why Scunny have won it. We never saw that coming fair play. Deserved and no complaints. Well done to the Scorpions.

Take a bow Simon Lambert. 12 max. Never seen anything like it from a second string. Passing for fun Bomber mark 2. Have to say well done to Scunny.

Could be a long night. Rowe and Douglas down first running. Rowe and Lawson down second attempt. Rowe exc for being knocked off by Lambert!

If you purchase the stream you will be able to watch the meeting live whenever its on. Or if you have prior engagements you can watch it after the event.

Are any riders from this meeting involved?

Latest forecast has the weather deteriorating with a wet day of light rain until 5pm then a dry evening. Sunday is looking like a nice Sunday day. Move it back to late Sunday afternoon or gamble tomorrow night? Decisions, decisions!

Not down here. Dry all day with a slight risk of a small shower late afternoon.

Birmingham Wolfs.

Doyle was one very much against the grain. Today, riders have to show high potential from a very early stage in their careers, and even then that might not be enough to get picked up by a Polish league 2 or one team. Ben Cook has been trying hard to get a team place and has been noticed but still that team berth is tough to get.

Definately have Anders back in 24. Got potential and a good style.

Wodjylo Has no work permit. Tarasenko and Basso will be far too expensive and will have left the country. We are riding against Leicester, not Glasgow. Expect riders like Nicholls, Howarth, Harris, Dan Thompson, Mountain,

But they won’t get back in. And Kurtz is a better rider than Douglas at the moment.

Would be better to think he will have recovered from his nasty concussion by the 25th.

I did. Didn’t turn it up until the riders were coming out for heat one. In fact didn’t see or hear Douglas being interviewed. As much as I like Douglas and think he’s a great lad, he falls into the same category as many who are good, but not quite good enough. A small gap but an important one, sorting those who are at the top of their game with those almost but not quite. Riders like Kurtz, Masters, Pickering, Douglas, Rasmus Jensen, Buczkowski, etc. all ride Polish League but just won’t get the opportunity in the Extraleague, where the money is. Extraleague is virtually a closed shop. The world’s best, backed up with young and extremely fast Poles, with the reserves filled with two u21 Polish juniors. So 2/3 places per team available at best. And a rider like Douglas needs to remove a GP standard rider with his super fast bikes and backup team. Very, very difficult to do. And riders like Hampel can last way beyond their usual sell by date into their 40’s, due to fitness, and being able to afford the best tuners and back room staff. The only way to make a noise is to qualify through the GP qualifying rounds and get into the GP series, then score very decent points, ala Lambert and Bewley.

Glad it doesn’t clash with Vitality, so will be able to attend both.

Leicester at Poole 25th October. See Champ section.

Heard a rumour that Tomorrow the promotion are making a decision about the second leg. I just hope it’s not going to be Saturday as many fans will be at Vitality for the Wolves match and would already have purchased tickets. Saturday night ok if 7.30 to give enough time to get across to the stadium. But would struggle to do it with a 6pm start time.

Excellent bonus meeting. Good stuff.

Sundays are no good for Championship speedway. Most teams have one, two or three riders who are racing in Poland.

Hopefully tomorrow but forecasts have been wrong before. Danny has been very good at giving riders and fans good notice to save on wasted journeys. It’s not like Wednesday is looking dodgy with what time the rain is coming in as it’s forecast for all day.

Forecast hasn’t improved and it currently looks like Wednesday is going to be a washout. No dry days until the weekend, with Sunday the best bet. As. Wednesday gets closer the forecast will increase in accuracy so tomorrow will give a much more accurate and clearer picture.

Fair enough I have the season ticket for both divs but didn’t know this was extra. Spent my money on the Scunthorpe stream instead.

Anyway good to see Workington with ambition moving up and a new track to visit.

I am in the Cumbria club’s paragliding competition based near Keswick every June. Fingers crossed Poole are up in the same week. Only 30 mins from lovely Keswick.