Al Stewart

You are not saying the same thing now though. This post is fair enough (though I don't think Wolbert is a strong candidate to return to Armadale). Your previous post suggested that Edinburgh riders only have a high average because of "massive home track advantage", and when they leave their average declines. That doesn't stand up to scrutiny. One of the many statistics I keep is the average home and away scores for each team, the difference being a measure of home track advantage, and Edinburgh are NEVER high in that table. Their figures tend to show average or even below average home track advantage. The big ones used to be Exeter or the Isle of Wight. This year the biggest at the moment are Somerset, Rye House and Scunthorpe. If you don't believe me I'll bore you with a mass of detail going back many years.

I can understand you being upset with Wolbert but this is garbage. Wolbert hasn't been at Edinburgh since 2011 and has held his own in the Elite League subsequently. In 2011, his home average was 9.62 and his away average 8.48, ie he was good everywhere. I think most Edinburgh fans wish you would not sign our riders, it is better to keep distinct identities within the clubs as far as possible. And that isn't having a go at Glasgow.

Because programme sales every week are a chance for promoters to reduce the loss they will undoubtedly suffer on their overall weekly balance sheet. I'm not going to plod through again why I thought the programme plus wrapround was, relatively speaking, reasonable value. Every concession, price reduction, readmission, will increase the loss made. It's about getting the balance right. Of course no promoter wants the public to feel ripped off, that's not good business, but if promoters are rip-off merchants then they are highly unsuccessful and impoverished ones.

I don't think that is the case.

This isn't completely fair as the 'new' part of the programme was an 8-page wrapround (not insert), and contained the full 2-page visitors details which any programme would have. So Workington fans got exactly the same amount on their team as in a normal issue. The Redcar reissue incorporated was the most recent information available, and the wrapround also included reports and pictures on the 2 away matches, Pairs and GP which have taken place since the Redcar rain-off. In total this made up 32 pages of the most up-to-date information available, only the race details v Redcar being irrelevant. So arguably better than a complete new 24 page issue. However you are entitled to your opinion and I accept that it is not ideal. Is there any current promotion which writes off the £400+ cost of a rain-off programme?

As I understand it no new double-ups are permitted amongst work permit riders. That's why Sam Masters wasn't allowed to sign for Leicester. It's not broadcast from the rooftops in case any that slipped through earlier are subject to new scrutiny. The conspiracy theories are laughable but will no doubt continue. Peterborough fans should not wish any harm to Alex Harkess, he is they best friend they have got.

I appreciate this is just for 'banter' purposes, something I truly can't be bothered with (unless it's actually funny) but the truth is that it is surprising it has taken Glasgow so long to get a good result. Thomsen and Lykke Nielsen have given them a much better side this year, added to their experienced top end. Having a 5-point guest reserve is handy too and hopefully when he returns Berge will resume where he left off. Wolbert might be turning the corner too. I think calling Glasgow 'pish' is a dangerous move if you want to get the better of the banter.

Has any team ever had 7 after 5 races and gone on to win?

I know that Franc should be pronounced "France" but when I commentate on his meetings I still say "Frank"!

I don't think the current Edinburgh team are anywhere near the strongest team there has been in the middle league. But that's what is so good about them. They win because they ride as a team, not because they are a bunch of superstars. The Newcastle team of the seventies was built to something like a 50 limit and even then Ian Thomas had pulled a fast one by using riders from the higher league with lowish assessed averages. In the Arena team of 1991, Karger and Pedersen were near World class riders parachuted down to a lower level. Edinburgh may or may not win things in the end this year, the situation is set up to allow chance after chance to teams who started by building teams that haven't worked. No-one can take away our 23 match unbeaten run though achieved by, not a powerhous team, but a REAL TEAM.

We're now up to three crashes and three riders withdrawn. There was someone on here after similar mayhem last week saying he keeps a tally and Newcastle have had three times as many f/xs as any other track. As I don't keep a tally I can't confirm or deny but it does seem that way.

I think the Monarchs have established the habit of walking over to the fourth bend shed where many of their fans stand to geta picture taken. That's what happened today. I doubt there was any lack of sportsmanship.

Don't forget Scotland! We virtually never have any.

That's a bit of a smart*rse comment isn't it? Dryml's absence has only just been announced so obviously previous posters didn't realise. Peterborough's email was 12 hours after Blobby's comment. Disappointing that he won't be there especially as he won his last race, didn't fall and was unbeaten apart from an EF.

I shouldn't really bother with this but I will. When we did a booklet on Craig Cook last year we gave away a DVD with it, on which amongst other heats we had his wins from the back against Jason Doyle at Somerset, Richie Worrall at Newcastle, Joe Screen at Glasgow, Rene Bach at Workington (3 times in one night) and a last-to-first in the Fours at Peterborough. I accept that for some reason he has been well below his best in the EL and it's a concern. So you've got that right, the rest is drivel.

I'm not sure what this is all about. Whether he had toothache or not, there was a choice whether to use him in heat 9 or heat 12 to replace Liam. It seems unlikely that the pain from his toothache had any effect on that. It was not a criticism of Kus, if he rode with toothache then well done for that. But better to put him in a race where he has a better chance of beating the opposition.

And in one of those he was thrown in against Robson and Kerr in what should very obviously have been used as the third ride for Liam Carr. That is very bad team management.

Unbelievable that Berwick used Kus in heat 9 against Robson and Kerr, when it should have been Liam's third ride.

Craig's was about placing an order in Smith's chippie!

My advice to all UK tracks would be to avoid any involvement with the FIM. They bulldoze in, take over everything, including the riders' lives, but they do not actually organise things properly. It was absolutely clear that the restaging dates had not been properly discussed, that could be the fault of both the FIM and Berwick. But much worse than that, the FIM were not at all interested in the people sitting in the stadium and the car park. That is their fault but it also damages Berwick speedway.

Do you still take pictures Iris123? Any chance of a nice shot of Max Fricke for the Edinburgh programme?

In 1948 there was a National Trophy tie between Birmingham (Division 2) and West Ham (Division 1). The Hammers were easy winners of their home leg, probably not as much as 40 of a lead, but I think I'm right in saying that the second leg went to Birmingham against the Big City Slickers by 85-23. The Brummies even produced a brochure to commemorate.

How is Kalle doing?

To me there seems very little wrong with a team of King-Rose-Robson-Lindgren-Kerr-Schramm-Mills. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the original team either, probably slightly stronger. You've been unlucky with the injuries to the lowest average riders, the hardest to replace. I'm surprised that Mills was so quickly ruled out for next Sunday when it's usually 7 days for concussion - surely 1st June to 8th June is 7 days and he should be able to ride, even if it's 2 hours short of the full 7 days? I really feel sorry for Ludvig who gets criticised so much, is it just because he was (virtually by accident) thrust into the no. 1 position at the start of the season?

Let's be fair and point out that Kevin's last five matches for Glasgow have been 8,7,12,7,8. Could be better, should be better. To me, getting the best out of the riders you've got is always the better option,