SteelShoe

The Bears using rider replacement for Jonas Knudsen who has Polish commitments . Both Charles Wright and Connor Bailey can take a ride, could strengthen them up . We will need to be on it from the off .

Thoroughly enjoyable meeting at the ECCO Arena tonight. The Comets delighted all their travelling fans with a performance of desire and commitment. 12 points down after 4 heats the team fought their way back into the contest to take it to a last heat decider. Never in front until after heat 15 was just reward for the effort. Cookie and Batch showed what great competitors they can be and reinforced the feeling among the Comets fans that they still have plenty to offer regardless of the many negative comments that have been made on this forum about them both. Claus was just fantastic and once again displayed just how competitive and tough he is on the track. Antti didn't get the points his efforts deserved but both him and Tate once again showed great promise. Big well done to Celina who was competetive throughout and very nearly caught Jake Mulford on the line after having to go off a 15m handicap. Hope she is alright following the colllision with Connor Bailey after the race. The bears didn't do a lot wrong but only having 5 heat winners 4 of which were in the first 4 heats was telling.

Good race track, good few racers on show so given the right weather should be an entertaining meeting. Once again a new track for the Comets newbies to get to grips with soon as possible. Score wise it's hard to call for me personally but the Bears obvious favourites. Always enjoy my trips to the ECCO Arena, it will be great to cheer on my home town team there for the first time since 2018.

Just bought the stream too so hope it goes ahead. Not rained all day at Scunthorpe apparently and here they are having to work on the track. Not a great look for the sport.

Well said Steve

Of course it is, but for riders of similar ability these variables hugely contribute to who beats who.

For Celina to give herself the best chance of scoring points she needs the best machinery possible, optimal set up and consistently good starts otherwise I believe she will find it very tough.

Do you really think Worky signed Celina based on either of these ? . More like an expectation that she would be a competitive Championship standard reserve in 2024 . She is two meetings in one of which was very challenging. Anyone who watched a battling performance against Rory Schlein and the beating of Bastian Borke in the same race will have seen that Celina has potential. She is still very much getting to grips with UK racing and bike setup. Comets will give her a chance and if she fails to realise the promise they see in her then they will no doubt do what they feel is in the best interest of the club and its supporters. PR Stunt Nah, gimmickry is not in the Worky promotion make up.

some great pics and a very good interview with James Denham

Spot on !

Agree about the team riding, also felt the same about Claus and Sam in heat 14 when Comets were briefly on a 5-1.

Not certain but your assumption looks credible. Never like to see this personally because the crowd want to see their riders race to the end.

Would like to think there is life in Cookie yet, just seemed to lack that extra bit of speed today . I'm also hoping Batch can up his average. I believe Claus is a year older than both riders and Bomber 5 years older. It's whether they still love to win.

Hope you can get up at some point auntie doris be great if you could.

Be interesting to see how our Newbies ride today following a challenging meeting at Shieldfield last night. It's another big challenge for them but 'm sure hope they will feel more comfortable around Northside . Going for a Comets victory today 48-42

Comets have confirmed Cookie takes his place in the line up this afternoon

Good post. I did feel for Rob and the team because it was such an unfortunate time to pour with rain on the season opener. He was indeed very proactive with track work and gave it his best shot. If that track had been at a more prestige event then it is my view the meeting would have taken place. You sum up well were things need to be improved from the point of view of the paying public. I feel that the crowd have the expectation of a call off decision in the circumstances experienced nowadays so either the referee has to be stronger in getting the meeting going or the decision not to race taken quicker. It was a hard call but with everyone already there I think the riders should have given it a go, the track would have only improved.

Very disappointing travelling 180 miles for a rain off which was ultimately caused by a heavy shower about 30 minutes before start time. The second shower which came after 6-30pm only lasted a few minutes and made very little difference. These are my personal observations and thoughts : Hard to understand why the track was watered with dark clouds approaching. The PA system wasn't functioning properly so nobody had a clue what was happening, we just stood around cold in excess of 70 minutes after the advertised start time before people started walking toward the exit. Not a great advert for Rob who was just saying in the Speedway Star how they are trying to raise the profile of the sport. The track staff did a good job with the track to the point were I believed the track would come to the riders after 3 or 4 heats if racing had got underway. It was observed that the drain on the 1st bend was higher than the track, this contributed to the large puddle of water that formed there. We appreciated getting a refund quickly. It was made known to us at this time that the riders wanted to give it a go but the referee ultimately called it off.

Got to fancy a home win, so many track specialists in the Scorpions team. I'll be happy if we keep it reasonably tight and give ourselves a chance of the aggregate bonus point. UTC !

I'm normally one for sticking to the rule book, however, on this occasion given the circumstances and the clubs unsuccessful attempts to sign a heat leader I believe the common sense approach has been taken.

Cheers , just read that .

is that official ?

Hope so but we don't yet know. On the other hand Antti and Tate have had a bit of track time but has Claus had any anywhere ?

Had a look at this, for info the associated text says that it is not supported by smart TV's just computers and mobiles.

I wish Plymouth all the best in getting a rider signed, not a great predicament to be in for promotion and fans, got to feel for you guys.