sidewinder

Actually, I don't think it is a first. We took on Sheffield on a Tuesday in 2008.

To be fair, Broc Nicol is riding well at the moment, but Jordan Stewart, at the MPA, tough shoes to fill. Leicester must smell blood in the water over this match. You gotta fancy them.

Have to agree, with SKJ, the semi final, was a bit boring. The inside line was overwhelmingly dominant and the regular regrades, only succeeded in pulling the material back to the inside and preventing an outside line to develop. In short it was one liney. Thank god it improved for the final. That was much more like it. The fact that no track grading took place in the final (only watering), must have been a contributing factor, to an outside line developing. The inside line still remained, pretty fast but now the riders had options and it made for much more exciting racing. The final pulled the meeting out of the fire, I for one was underwhelmed, before that and I wasn't alone. Hopefully that maybe food for thought, for the organisers, in the future.

Don't know about the smoke, (I didn't see any) but I am pretty sure Lawson slowed, because he had a puncture.

Absolutely correct.

You are correct, it is all about opinions. My view and the referee's were probably very similar, ( I stand on the start line and the ref has a view from a higher level). From my view, I got a great concept of how early and how far, Howarth came across. In my opinion, that was the main contributory reason for the incident. I remember, as I watched him move across I screamed one word, NO.

I definitely saw it differently. There seemed to be contact going on, in gates 1 and 2s lane. Howarth made a good start, was maybe half a bike length up, when he came across from gate 4. I could not believe how early he came across, he was nearly into lane 2, with 3 hard chargers on his inside. He was not far enough ahead to do that and it would have been a miracle if a collision had not resulted.Given the untidiness, going on,. on the inside no one was in a position to deal with that. I believe, the referee took the view, that Howarth's actions caused the bunching and that he was premature going across, (they hadn't even got to the 1st turn) and excluded him. At best I would describe Howarths actions as very ambitious, but I genuinely expected all 4back. If some one had to go then it was him, I would have picked.

Yeah, you are right, once the dust starts to come, sometimes its too late to water. Even so it was a very entertaining match, with good passing, from riders on both teams.

Terry the trackman, usually gets his watering, pretty much spot on, but the dust started in the last 3 or 4 heats. In hindsight, maybe some water during the interval, after heat 9, would have been good. Still it is a good horse that does not stumble, as they say. I think you are correct that the main difference, on the night, was at reserve. One point from 7 rides is not good enough.

Have to agree there Yerbs. Think it will be a tight meeting tonight, (probably last heat decider) and Diamonds taking the aggregate win around Brough, (bigger home advantage).

Yep that could get you, a tidy speedway outlet. With the help of a sympathetic council.

You don't have to have a multi millionaire. Redcar was initially put together, for well less than three hundred grand.

I thought he was mediocre at best.

I think he has. It just hasn't been disclosed yet.

He likes riding at Newcastle that much, that two years ago, he gave up his British semi final spot, so that Jason Garritty (might have been Ben Barker) could ride in his place. That's how much he wants to be at Newcastle.

It won't be Michael Palm Toft. However you have got TJ. He's a hard, aggressive, rider, with good machinery and if he settles on the Brough track, will do a great job for the wonkies. However, it will be interesting, to see what happens, if TJ establishes himself, in the Gdansk team.

Charles Wright. Newcastle. Really.

The three, mentioned in earlier post's, would be a good punt.

You are right, THJ about the possibilities of that team. Sadly and (probably) the reason for that, is that it comes in at 39.53.

Sunday has been mentioned, as a possible off night. In truth though, Redcar is available to race, any night / afternoon. It is also, a case that all the Friday teams, will not have a home fixture, every week. So they could take on other Friday clubs, on that clubs free week. I know it won't be that simple in practice.

Is there any news on Ben Barkers fitness, after his late season crash at Redcar. I was led to believe, it could be problematical, but I hope not.

It may be an issue for some Danes, but not sure how involved, MPT is in Denmark on Friday's. I know he has guested for the bears on Friday's.

One of the more impressive riders at Redcar, last year, was Michael Palm Toft. So I have a sneaking suspicion, he could be No1. Ty proctor, could also be a possibility for a team place.

Thanks Steve.