StevePark

Ooops! Been a long day!

Heat 13 was worth the admission money alone! First PL point on the board for the Diamonds. Ludo struggled (although he didn't use that word on Twitter earlier!) as did Stevie again. I'm sure, given a little more time, his confidence will return and he'll be getting the scores we (and no doubt he) thought he'd get, otherwise another decent team effort, with Lewi getting 8 on a track he'd never ridden before, which all adds to the education he's getting.

Really don't think there is anyone out there you could replace him with that would improve the side. I make it 4.98 to play with and we are talking names like: Jerran Hart (4.52), Michal Rajkowski (4.87), Kyle Hughes (3.80) and then the likes of Charles Wright, Jade Mudgway, Klaus Jakobsen and Marcel Helfer!

I don't think this is William Hill's doing. I believe the blame for that one lies at the Council/Health & Safety's lots door.

Lowering admission price might work, on the other hand if it doesn't get more folk through the door, you're on a hiding to nothing. As far as advertising is concerned, the local BBC and ITV stations are now beginning to show Speedway on it's sports news, thanks in no small part to GRT Media. Local press adverts are far too costly and therefore not even worth shelling that kind of cash out as you'd never get it back through the turnstyles.

He'll return only when fit. As to how long, even the experts don't know the answer to that one.

Where would the neutral fan go? I sometimes pop up to Berwick to see a meeting not involving Newcastle (Workington and Edinburgh last season are just two examples). Can't see that working at many tracks inc. Newcastle (a few others as well), where there is only one stand and segragation would be virtually impossible and the extra stewarding would be quite costly and, at the end of the day, clubs couldn't afford it and the only way round it would be to put admissision prices up, so that, eventually, the stewards would have far less fans to keep apart. I see what you are getting at though, but, it IS only a minority and clubs SHOULD be more pro-active at getting rid of these mindless idiots who are spoiling it for a lot of people. I was there the night of the Wayne Garratt accident. I was also there the night David Nix died at King's Lynn in the Conference League match against the Gems. It effects you (well me) forever.

On the first point yes, Brough Park used to be like that, but has improved greatly in the past few years. Redcar's track has got worse and they don't have the restrictions (due to the Greyhound lot) that we have. On your last point - well, actually, no! I'd rather see Newcastle lose and see terrific speedway, than them win and see the dross served up last night (and on other tracks too, I'd add - it's not just a Redcar problem), but maybe I'm in a minority on that one.

If that is the best the track has been all season - then God help us! If you like to watch "gate and go" then fine. I personally like to see a bit of genuine over-taking. One riding line all night, tonight, meant that was impossible.

How can he be a one track pony around Armadale.... yet good around Brough? That's at least TWO tracks for a start.

4th time (altogether), or the second time at Brough, surely? Anyway, no matter. There are a few Comets riders who like to ride the Brough Park track (usually) and some who don't particularly go well there (usually). Should be a fairly comfortable home win, say 53-39ish.

I was replying to a specific post, which is why I didn't mention any other incident. I think the problem is (as you've mentioned it), some Ref's will let things go, whilst others will not. I.e. a Ref might give a warning to a rider for moving (not only was Robbo warned, but I think it was Aarnio in heat 6 as well) and then letting it go by just ordering a re-run later and other Ref's will exclude a rider for doing same.

Lewis done for "touching the tapes" when he seemed not to? Diamonds gated in heat 15 (on a 5-1) and it was stopped for an "unsatistactory start" when it seemed that it was a perfect start? Decent away point for the Diamonds, but we must go to Redcar and get a draw or better and win both home matches by the necessary margins to top the group. Lewis could be the find of the season. And Richie rode a brilliant four laps to keep the Comets behind him and Lewis in heat 9.

The weather forecast for tomorrow doesn't look too good. Any weather updates from the Workington area in the morning and early afternoon would be greatly appreciated.

Hang on....... It didn't stop raining last year and you were still awful!!!!! LOL!!!

Adam McKinna will guest for the injured second reserve Dilger (Micky Dyer is in fact Redcar's senior reserve).

Also, just to add, the BP scored by a 3rd place rider finishing behind a team mate (in 2nd), will count towards eligibility for heat 15.

Depends if he's going to be out for a while or not. If it's a fairly quick recovery time, they might opt for R/R as the early season stuff would give valuable extra rides to the rest of the team before the PL starts.

Good news is that Andy has tweeted he doesn't need an operation.

Andy has Tweeted a decision will be made tomorrow to see if he needs an op. Get well soon.

Hope Andy Tully is going to be OK after his spill during P&P today. Very impressed by Lewis Kerr. Attitude, equipment etc., is spot on. Looked smooth and quick on the bike as well.

Think you should change the time to 9 AM Dave. 9 PM might be a bit late!!! I'll try and get down this Sunday to help out, now that I'm getting the car fixed this Saturday.

Start as we mean to go on... winning trophies

Lewis Kerr announced as the seventh rider to complete the team. More here:- http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/news/article.asp?id=100104

He practiced at Leicester yesterday... so can't be thinking about retiring that hard.