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He had only had 4 rides, he hadn't even had a r/r, don't believe him, usual Havvy excuses. Doing a deal to use him in heat 15 and not 14 sounds ridiculous when heat 14 was an easier race for him.

Yep. Four and a half minutes of intense physical riding would completely knacker any fairly fit 40 year old. So much so they are completely spent. And it’s not 4 and a half minutes in one lump. Come on what a load of bollocks.

Cooper certainly doesn’t need to calm it down at all. He is a very exciting exuberant 16 year old with tons of ability and aggression. Just what is needed to make it to the top. What he does lack is experience. An experienced rider last night would have sat behind Battye pushing enough for Battye to be more interested in Cooper than he would Hagon. The match would have then been won. But Cooper is an all out racer and doesn’t want to be beaten. He also probably didn’t have a clue what the score was and what he needed to do. That’s the job of Havvy. Do you think Havvy would have told him before the heat? The attempted pass on Battye wasn’t dangerous. He just clipped him. The right call to exclude. By the way the kicking out on Jye never happened. I have seen the video.

He didn't though did he? He was in front and didnt even know where Etheridge was. I've been watching the kid regularly for 1¾ seasons and he can certainly ride safely. He's produced overtaking manoeuvres that many more experienced riders can't. Who does he keep knocking off? Other than Battye this evening (assuming he did as I've not seen it) who else has he 'knocked off'? Certainly not Etheridge and the only other incident I can think of is where he may have been at fault was the Northampton one with Harrison and Scott, and he's certainly not in their 'black books'. You have to expect a bit of exuberance from 16 year olds but he's incredibly controlled and safe for his inexperience.

We cant have only one 8pt rider in each team next season, at the moment 8 teams have at least 2 riders on 8pt average Those riders will be lost in the Championship next year. Build your team to the points limit, those who cant thats your own problem.

Some thoughts on Friday. The racing wasn’t particularly great until the last few heats. Not much happening beyond the back straight of lap 1. This needs to change. You can’t keep charging folk £20+ to watch processions. For the Monarchs: I like Dan Thompson. However, something is really off with him at the moment. In the last 5 meetings, he’s won only 5 races out of 25. Unacceptable for any number 1 in any league. He was 5-1'd 5 times out of 6 at Poole. I can’t recall that happening to any Monarchs no.1, ever? He has also openly admitted to not always giving 100%. Now, this one shouldn’t come as a shock. It’s speedway after all. It also ties in with riders who say, “it’s the play offs, I try that little bit harder”. Here’s a thought – why are you quite obviously happy to cheat the public during the earlier part of the season? Young Thompson has so much talent and ability, he could quite easily score a minimum of 13 from 5 in every meeting. Any chance we can have the real DanT back please? Not-so-super Grahn continues to frustrate with his Flask-like performances. I was looking back at results yesterday. In his 1.5 years with the club, he’s lost to Freddy Hodder around 7 or 8 times. I got bored and lost count in all honesty. And yet, this is the same guy who can quite readily pop out the start and beat Chris Harris! And then there’s the conundrum that is Justin Sedgmen. Dreadfully p1ss poor scoring in both Glasgow meetings. I’d like to see heat 9 again. It was either a skelp from Leon Flint, missed by the ref, or one of the most extraordinary, and potentially dangerous, dives I’ve ever seen. A guy with his vast experience and having ridden countless laps around sunny Armadale, could he not have stayed on? Next up is everyone’s former favourite, Michele Castagna. Heat 14 was completely unacceptable on all levels. Absolutely no chance I’m putting my Benevolent Fund donation in his bucket. Good old Kye Thomson. He may have mucked up heat 15 and the super heat but we like Kye. He can stay. Talking of the super heat, why was the winning time not announced? I presume one was recorded? Surely this was a simple oversight and not another case of the paying punter being treated like second class citizens? Now to the reserves. A big hats off to Mitchell Cluff. His scoring has been way beyond ‘senior reserve’ levels recently, especially given his green sheet figure. More solid scoring in this one. Long may it continue. Again, like heat 9, I’d like to see heat 14 again. I wasn’t sure if there was contact between Mitchell and young Battye? It doesn’t appear to have raised any post-match comment, although that may be due more to the ending of that particular race than anything else! Finally, there is Vinnie Foord. The chap with the thankless task of replacing young Loftus. Poor lad spent that much time on his backside, I almost renamed him Vinnie Floored. For Glasgow: Chris Harris keeps reminding me why I still attend speedway. Heat 15 was something else. Not great from our two but sometimes you just have to doff your cap to superior opposition. Sam Hagon didn’t win heat 8. I seem to recall him winning at least 2 previously at sunny Armadale. I just expected him to grab his hat trick. Seems the tapes got in the way. Nick Morris. Wow. Best visitor this season by a country mile. KJP. I must say, I do like his first 2 initials. There should be more riders with those initials in speedway. Also, well done for catching a sleeping Cornetto in heat 14. Leon Flint looked lively throughout. He’s certainly improved this season. Freddy Hodder grabbed vital third places, as he always seems to do. Is he, perhaps, slightly underappreciated by the Tiggers’ faithful? Reid Battye had a steady sunny Armadale debut for his first 3 rides. Slightly less steady in his last 2 though. Roll on Friday... and, again, no more draws please.

Cooper is obviously a top talent but he is getting a reputation…. Unfairly in some cases He was rightly excluded last night I think he was wrongly excluded in the Etheridge incident But to say he didn’t kick out is just deluded it’s pretty obvious

The Kennett excuse from Havvy is laughable.must have got some Oxygen from Medics to get him on the bike for Ht15.🤔😂😂😂

I’ve seen the photos I’ve seen the replays and I get how you might think that but I was there and I sit at the entrance to bend one and Jye’s options were try and make the bend or go into the fence. But let’s pretend that didn’t happen what about hitting Kildemand in bend two or putting Battye into the fence mid straight? Surely even the Poole rose tint can’t excuse that. I don’t know if it’s red mist or the pressure of all the hype that’s put on him but it needs to stop before someone is hurt.

Would agree his gating has been poor at this level and it’s costing him.But his class and skill level keeps him in the hunt.He still makes passes that others can only dream off.

If they like the rule, they'll just change it so the top 9 (or 8 if no Workington) riders get split up, one per team. I'm pretty sure 8.00 was chosen as there were 9 riders above 8. Next year could be, each team picks a number one from this list: Pickering 10.39 Lawson 9.25 Wright 9.11 Masters 9.01 Klindt 8.81 Thompson 8.72 Jeppesen 8.45 Cook 8.39 Harris 8.29 Then if Klindt & Cook don't want to race in the Champ, add Howarth (if he comes back),Nicholls & Kildemand to the list, if Nicholls retires, then Flint is next in line. Could make the rule, no-one can sign a second heat leader, till every team has a number one?

You have to strike a balance between getting carried away and actually looking to hurt another rider, the younger the rider the more chance they will try moves older riders will not risk. I think to an extent, because we have such a lack of young riders now, fans have forgotten how back in the day there were tons or riders who were a bit harem scarem, but thinking about it, it wasnt just the young riders. Think back when we had the likes of Kelvin Mullarkey, Jamie Habbin, Scott Smith, Rob Tilbury, Jan Pedersen, Rob Grant, Richard Green etc etc a lot of hard riders often on the verge of being over the top. Also, I would have a Cooper Rushden in my team any day over a Troy Batchelor.

The fixture list has a lot to answer for regarding momentum at home IMO.The sport can’t go on working in this way.

He could have to build his confidence however already being on a 4.00 that would likely have pushed his average up a bit. As it is I don't think we'll see him at Glasgow next season. He missed a few meetings riding elsewhere, never got any momentum going at home and represents poor value on a 4.00.

Chris… you weren’t there pal… that was beyond exuberant last night and his move really could have hurt Reid badly…. he was erratic with Jack in the Cup meeting at Poole… the kicking out at Jye in the first running of their heat in the return here… he is building a bit of a reputation but no doubt you defend him as he wears the Stars colours.. GB does need good youth coming through and Cooper is head and shoulders above most but he needs to calm it down….

What's the difference between heat 14and 15 plus heat 14 easier to win !!! ,poor excuse

If Kennett said he was knackered and blown out when Havvy wanted to put him in heat 14, surely that explains Kennett's absence?

When he has a moment to reflect Richard Coleman should start with track prep. However, he needs to be honest and start with he needs to ensure riders have a surface to perform on to create a spectacle every time at every level in the sport. I worry though that he may be oblivious to how good the sport could be as one of the consistently poor tracks this year has actually been Ipswich, his own track and no lessons seem to have been learnt there, so I wouldn’t hold my breath. On a good day there is nothing to compete with a good speedway meeting but a close tussle at the top or a close team meeting is not enough to drag punters back.

You cant dress this up as anything other than a shambles

I don't like that comment, no need for it. Does he not realise, why clubs are delighted to beat Poole? It's because they are the best, it's a tribute to Poole that opposition teams & fans are so delighted to win against them.

Cairns? I think you must mean the other one. Will Cairns is in full control of his bike as far as I've seen....

They really don't. He is remarkably controlled and safe for a sixteen year old, if a little exuberant. Sounds like he was correctly excluded this evening but the Etheridge incident last time was clearly Jye's own fault.

Someone needs to have a sit down with Rushen and explain he doesn’t have to win at all cost before he seriously hurts someone. I know he is young but there’s no excuse for that tonight. This is the second visit to Berwick when he has been genuinely dangerous.

Literally one race away from disaster and the bookmaker going into administration! You live for another day 😆😆

Laguta leads his team to victory over Zmarzlik. That is a message to Bartosz. Laguta is basically saying your world titles are meaningless.

did Scunny replace the injured Dan Gilkes with Jacob Hook after the 75% point ?

Ekstraliga AI is rubbish.

I think the Ipswich promotion is spot on. You have to work with Poland. They have spent the last 35 years since the fall of communism building their league speedway. They are not going way.

Lindgren realising this isn't the GPs. This is a level above. You're up against Artem Laguta, the best rider in the world.

Laguta is going to show Zmarzlik who the number 1 rider in the world is.

Leon's back wheel was over a foot away from Sedgmen in heat 9 and no contact between Mitch and Reid in Heat 14, videos/pics from bends 1&2 show no contact in both incidents.

Having just watched last night's heat 14, I note nothing has been said about Battye's right elbow into Rushen's neck as he came out of gate 1 towards gate 2? Unsatisfactory (dangerous?) start as a bare minimum! Tsk tsk, these youngsters eh? what are we going to do with them....? Answers on a postcard to SCB Towers, Rugby.🤣

Gorzów - Częstochowa https://vksport.vkvideo.ru/live-53550004_456242793 Wrocław - Lublin https://vksport.vkvideo.ru/live-53550004_456242794

I think its very relevant myself, Kyle has said that he and many other riders are fed up / sick of racing the same tracks. As a speedway rider (or any motor sport competitor) if they feel pi$$ed of and there head is not in the right place then a break from the sport is needed for there own sanity and there's and others safety. I'm sure a rider of Kyles quality and dedication he did not take this decision lightly.

Big mistake, maybe he doesnt want to but matt ford should be top of anybodys list for people to be involved in the running of british speedway.

I do think changing the racing nights could in the long run lead to more meaningful meetings and seasons. Glasgow and Poole may be more inclined to move up as their race nights match Premiership ones. Also, if this is paired with new reduced doubling up rules the championship will reduce in quality so both teams may want to move up to keep higher quality riders. 8 teams in the prem is already increases legitimacy. For relegation and promotion you then need all championship sides to want to move up. If Glasgow and Poole see a good increase in sales or return of results that will help massively. Edinburgh, Scunthorpe, Redcar and Oxford all race Monday-Friday so that's a good start. The other 3 teams race Saturday so might need more convincing however saying do you want to switch to Friday is much better than do you want to switch to Monday!

When we wrote in last night's programme about Poole's management having apparently been in disarray during their June visit, it was expected they'd be in better shape this time. Instead, the strange allocation of riders in crucial races, etc, was worse. Plus, how about Havvy spending a lengthy time on the phone to Willie Dish, arguing the Cooper Rushen exclusion? On a brighter note, it was an impressive display of team spirit when the entire Bandits team came up from the pits to check on the stricken Reid Battye. Plus, the noise in the stand before, during and after the last couple of races was really impressive.

Tuesday’s final regular season matches line-ups. Indianerna v Smederna- live on Premier Sports 1 Indianerna 1 Wozniak 2 Berntzon 3 Buczkowski 4 Huckenbeck 5 Prem Pawlicki 6 J Grahn 7 R Karlsson Smederna 1 Janowski 2 Pollestad 3 Nilsson 4 Chugunov 5 Lebedevs 6 J Andersson 7 Henderson Lejonen v Vargarna Lejonen 1 Drabik 2 Przedpelski 3 Zmarzlik 4 Henriksson 5 Chmiel 6 Tornblom 7 Wiltander Vargarna 1 Blodorn 2 Sorensen 3 Lidsey 4 Pawelczak 5 Miskowiak 6 Hjelmland 7 Klasson Dackarna v Rospiggarna Dackarna 1 Nielsen 2 B Pedersen 3 ThJ 4 Lahti 5 Lyager 6 A Van Dyck 7 S Van Dyck Rospiggarna 1 Bellego 2 Jonas Knudsen 3 Michelsen 4 Piotr Pawlicki 5 Hellstrom-Bangs 6 Soderblom 7 L Lindgren Piraterna v Vastervik Piraterna 1 Milik 2 Kolodinskis 3 B Cook 4 Paluch 5 Smektala 6 Persson 7 Lundhal Vastervik 1 Lambert 2 Nagel 3 Zengota 4 Flint 5 Thorssell 6 A Karlsson 7 Palovaara

No he didnt. Jye needs to learn to shut off and not expect to be waved through by opposition riders.

There's a few defending Havvy on FB, but I can't see how anyone can honestly believe he made the right decisions as TM today. If Kennett wasn't in heat 15, you could assume he may have been struggling with injury (the one that keeps his Oxford average down 🫢) but once he went in heat 15, it makes the heat 14 choice look really odd.

No one can honestly believe that Kennett asked not to be in Heat 14 so he could go in 15. Put him in Heat 14 win the meeting then put anyone in Heat 15 along side Masters when the race result doesn't matter. Appalling team management. As for the Management role I know I'll get pelters for this but surely it's time you get someone to manage a team home and away. If Middlo feels he's too old to travel away nowadays pack in and move behind the scenes and let someone else have a go.

Well done havvy this keeps other teams interested 😄

Berwick have just given Havvy man of the match 😂

Sadly as per Poole will come right when it matters and track a really good team again next year. Well done Berwick great result! What a last 24 hours plus Nick Morris has had.

Oh dear, nevermind 🤭

Guests aren't going to hinder Poole at Berwick. Masters dropped one point in six rides there last month, Richard only won two races in the KO Cup. Even better for Pirates is having Eddie Kennett as a guest reserve, as he might not be hindered by all the unlucky engine failures he has for Oxford, when his average is rolling.

Some interesting articles in the speedway forum this week. I would recommend giving it a read. Im slightly more optimistic now than I was after only knowing what Denham has been saying.

Don't think any team is winning the league with NKI and Bomber in there. Way passed their best at the top level now and too inconsistent. As much as they have been class performers over the years, especially Iversen, you won't win the league with both of them in the side.

Why would anyone link it to taking drugs???.. His baby needed looking after and he had to do it due to nobody else being available... A very common occurance when I worked, several times myself I had to do it, and I went in work later once I had found someone to look after my kids.. Hard to go in later if there isn't the opportunity to do so.... These lads simply ride Speedway to earn money, it isn't some kind of emotional tie in for them, eg Kyle Howarth said he didn't miss not riding in the Final of one of only two competitions when he stopped riding before the second leg... Some people seem to take UK Speedway very seriously, which baffles me...

Interesting read also in the Speedway Star this week is the Kyle Howarth interview, where he’s said even the riders are sick of racing at the same places 4 times a season and that alongside the massive fixture gaps is why he’s taking a break from it for remainder of 2026. It’s good to see a rider speak openly about the current position not working rather than speaking the party line of it’s all rosey in the garden. The one big league with 2H and 2A would give them more variety and also a decent amount of meetings to negate the doubling up that a decent amount of riders are doing. The promoters/owners need to look at the bigger picture here and not just what suits them, OK it might upset a few big hitters that want to ride/live in UK but can’t if go down one big league and team average isn’t a crazy amount, but they aren’t going to be around for ever and it’s not like there’s an influx of foreigners wanting to ride over here, so take the bullet now get a baseline in position for the sport and take it from there. If the one league doesn’t work out then can revisit alternatives but whatever have now just isn’t working for riders or fans.