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Is that the same when it`s the club witholding the services ?

Some comments made by (I think) Dale Allitt in the SS last week were worth reading a few times. I came to the conclusion from his words that at Wolverhampton, Cook was taken out of the match by Paramedics because he was experiencing some kind of mental meltdown, which Allitt found distressing to witness. If that was actually what happened, then shouldn't Craig Cook have been automatically barred from riding for a set time period, both for his own well being, and the safety of other riders?

Lets face it, if the Bjerre situation was a Poole rider in a play off match we would be up to 100 pages by now. BV have got away with one big time.

Well I have just returned home and have to say what a let down that was as upon arriving I find out that Robert Lambert isn’t here. For the paying punter it sucks and really is a kick in the teeth for British speedway. Fair play to young Chad he looked eager to please and gave it his all but the whole episode just puts a dark cloud over proceedings. I like my team to win but this spoilt what could have been an entertaining meeting. Oh well onto monday

Well deserved win for the Tigers who looked sharper and faster than the Bears all night. Heat leaders were excellent and Sam Jensen and Bailey both attacked a track they had little experience on and had some great races. Off night for the Bears who were constantly out trapped early on. Threw away a few points with Riss shedding a chain and Andersen falling when leading but it’s hard to argue that they deserved anything out of the match. Be interesting to see who picks who in the playoffs. Suspect who ever the Bears get the opposition will have no fears riding at the MPA but it’s too early to right the Bears off yet.

It could be the same for Geoff - perhaps 58 is his IQ score

Wow. That "statement " tells you all you need to know about British Speedway. "This is what's happening" "Why?" "Because we said so". No explanation. No reasoning. Just contempt for the paying public.

If it’s possible for a rider to be ‘stood down’ or for him to ‘withdraw his services’ for the Play Offs then the transfer deadline might as well be done away with as a club could use the same guest for its four play off meetings thus effectively signing that rider for the remainder of the season.

Aggravated his Injury by carrying the wages from tonight's bumper haul...

Usual constructive reply from geoff58.

Yes, he should have been automatically barred for a set period of time. For everyone's safety ( including his own ). Allitt's description was painful to read and we can only imagine how much more painful to witness. The BSPA and the SCB always claim that rider safety is their highest priority, but it does not seem so in this case.

Just read Craig Cook praised the track last night.

Its a laughable decision. Cook is guilty of starting the whole sequence of events which led to other bans. In essence his club as got off scott free....not fair at all. What is even more laughable is people saying 'leave him alone, he's got mental health issues'...well if that's the case he definitely should not be on a speedway track right now.

An injury replacement is just that , as soon as Paul is fit to return he will come back on the average before he was injured at the British Final. In effect he will not be replacing a 5 point rider the 5 point rider was only covering whilst he is injured.

Sam Jensen who was brought in as an injury replacement. Sam very much in the plans for next season.

Can't win them all, but the Tigers seemed faster out the blocks tonight. A couple of horrible crashes, but gladly the riders got up. A good nights entertainment and the best team won on the night. Safe journey to any Tigers fans travelling back.

Can't wait for the next press release which gives the reasons Wells is out of the play offs!! Gonna be comedy gold!

It doesn't! Surely any Championship guest for Wells would be up to 4.39 x 1.5 = 6.59? It makes me smile when Wells gets all this stick by riding for Edinburgh this evening but MPT misses last night's meeting, is replaced by Bomber yet rides for Redcar tonight!!!?

Nothing about Lambert’s absence in the meeting preview and apart from saying he was absent, nothing in the match report either as to why he was missing, the fact that Lynn used a junior at no 1 says it was clearly an absence for which they were unwilling to use a proper facility which of course would mean Lambert would then collect a ban. The fact the club fails to fully explain it is one of the main reasons why the sport finds itself in such a mess and one of the main reasons it struggles to attract any real media coverage and a younger audience.

Nonsense, if you had been there you would understand One rider was the cause, one rider used violent conduct, one innocent member of staff was assaulted by that rider, given that a video emerged then the decision was a disgrace. The reason the other two riders chose not to appeal was if it had been seen as frivolous the ban could have been extended. It must be embarrassing having that rider connected to your club. I was there I assume you wasn't. I am not an Eastbourne supporter nor have I an axe to grind with the rider who caused this unsavoury incident and bought our once great sport into disrepute. Amazing decision given that Mr Vacher was there for the incident Few have little respect for the BSPA now I have zero respect for the SCB

Still a nice sunny day here in the NE but as I've just come back from a fortnight in Cyprus I'm bloody nithered!

We haven't got enough riders for one league have we?

Michael Palm Toft confirmed he is fit, and riding tonight. Good news for the Bears ! UTB !!

to be fair, after what happened to Middlo's testimonial money before, i certainly don't begrudge him getting another go

In which case he should not be riding anywhere as he is obviously a danger to himself and others.

Will Kenny be fit for the 2ng Leg? What did the World Class Medical team at Brussels' Airport diagnose?.. Strange place, and a long way to go with an injury to an Airport but he must trust the Doctors there I suppose.. And got the chance to take some photos of planes too, so all in all not a bad afternoon for KB..

Lawson is very dependable would like to see him back at his parent club next season , on that subject i wonder how co-operative Glasgow will be on a loan back to the Eagles next season i wonder.

I blame his great great great grandparents, if they hadn't got together none of this would have happened.

Sun is currently shining here too.....

Crikey. I thought the track was a little bit iffy again last night, so I guess its all down to what mood the riders are in. Cook rode well and looked fast all night but so did Holder and Klindt. Harris was either very quick or very slow, not helped by obvious machine issues (which I hope he hasn't fixed by Monday!). Not sure what referee Ronnie Allen was on?? All everyone wants is a bit of consistency with decisions!

Forever blue is a Poole fan. And good luck in the second leg, you’ll need it.

But then a guest rider was only allowed to cover for a missing number one / heat leader, but now there are guest riders for seemingly every rider, including the reserves, plus the doubling up and doubling down of riders which makes a total mockery of the team (loyalty) aspect of the game. This has simply become too much to be acceptable anymore.

Sun shining in Cumbria, its Friday, and a nice trip over to Redcar to cheer on the Bears

Not the best of meeting's by the NSS standards but there was still some decent racing with Lidsey/Bewley exceptional.Heat seven where Bewley nearly split Musielak/ Jensen in one swoop was terrific and there was some real tight races where some riders could not quite land a blow.Heat 9 was the turning point when Lidsey/Bewley combined to get a 5.1 over Batchelor the Aces then went on to collect a well deserved win.The second leg is still a tough ask for the Aces but they have a little squeak great to see Bewley getting back slowly to form a really talented lad .Lidsey for me is a rider developing quickly and he will go on and will be nearing world class in the not to distant future.Came away last night thinking if we get Wolves i just hope we don't get mullered to badly in the first leg therefore making the second leg impossible to pull back the defecit we shall see.

He doesn’t threaten when behind at home either

My apologies. Im a little sensitive tonight for some odd reason.

Be interesting to see if Wells damages his shoulder again at Armadale tomorrow

Lots of people have mental health issues, myself included. Sometimes people need to be cut some slack at times. However, if this incident was due to his health issues then, as you say, should he be on the shale in what can be a volatile environment? Feel very sorry for Vissing.

The reaction of the wayward marshal started the melee. Its also a fact that the Marshal put himself in danger that started the melee. Im not standing up for Cook in the slightest, but too many guilty parties involved and unfair penalties dished out.

And was the cheque signed by the facennas? We need to know how they reached this conclusion and the reasons. I can see kennett and Vissing taking legal action for loss of earnings. It was Cook’s reaction which started the melee which prompted their actions.

Who gets the money, vissing and kennett?

In general cubs/colts teams have virtually zero travelling support. From my frequent attendance at various NL tracks I would certainly place Kent as providing the largest (and friendliest) visiting contingent of away fans.

Interesting that he behaves himself when Lambert isn't there.

As well as making stuff up you also don’t listen, I’ve already said I rarely go and have been to Belle Vue more this year. Do keep up. Do us a favour, if you lose the cup final then come on here and front up rather than going missing like you did last week when you didn’t take four points at P’boro.

Completely agree Tellboy. If it's staged next Thursday, even though it doesn't affect the play-off's then some sort of a crowd will attend, but if it's left until October after the play-offs, hardly anybody will turn up, there will be no point.

been to eastie 4 times, crowds according to reports after the first 3 matches I went to were 1000; 1400 and 1200, last match I went to I would say about 1000 on that basis. new business guy there has been very open about what crowds have been and what they need and cancelled a match when he thought crowd would be low! biggest CL crowds I've seen by far have been Glasgow 1500 / Eastie 1000 / Leicester 1000 in that order. I think brummies averaging about 600-650 (have improved thru season), saw similar at Redcar and Somerset, would say about 400 at Scunny (haven't been to other CL this season) Been to Kent twice I would say 500-600, Cradley about same 500- 600; IOW once about 300, Stoke once about 200 and Mildenhall early doors about 450. In PL - Wolves regular guess about 800 and Swindon twice once was about 600 but few weeks back a lot more about 1200.

PM is a fab job do very little and claim loads of benefits

The only thing I am shocked about is the poor level of ant-Cook bile on here. I really expected much more,

Why did Birmingham not include Danyon Hume in the team at the start of the season? He has been an absolute class act for Leicester Cubs, both on and off track. Ellis Perks has achieved an average of almost 6 for Leicester Lions this season, yet Danyon is, I would say, just about the better rider for the Cubs.

Good news, live on Eurosport 2 in Uk from 5.30pm for 3 hours.