george.m

Agreed Paulco. Must admit I can't remember the last time I enjoyed it as much. Think all the new faces was the main reason. Also thought all our guys had no issue with the track which hasn't always been the same. Cause for optimism this year!

Whilst the coldest of winds spent the night blowing up my khyber a speedway meeting nearly broke out. A typical first meeting of the season on the track, with everyone finding their feet .... Apart from Cook. Heat 6 he had about 50 bhp more than Harrison who'd left him for dead on lap 2 when Craig over-Cooked it. The amount of ground he caught up to take Harrison on the line even had some of the Tigers faithful applauding. Dare I say he looked even quicker than last year? Keep that up Craig and you should make your personal goal of the World Cup squad this year. So what of the rest? An evenly matched meeting until heat 11, then successive Monarchs 5-1s sealed it. Was it the Tigers tiring out, or the home team stepping up a gear? A bit of both. Six of the Tigers looked strong early doors, and probably took everyone by surprise. Berge looked like he was finding his way. No issue with that, he's left Armadale on his first visit in one piece! Job done! Young Lykke was the surprise packet. He gates like an elephant in quick sand, but he fights from there until the flag and in some heats looked much quicker than those in front of him. And he's not scared to mix it. I have a sneaky feeling he might just become the darling of the Ashfield public this year. The lowest key signing with no pressure of expectation. Lemon and Harrison, ride like this at every away match, top it at home and they'll do for me. Theo will do the business this year. Add Kevin Wolbert to this and it's not a team that'll finish bottom of the league. No way. Edinburgh looked good ... credit to their promotion, they somehow manage to assemble teams of individuals that look like they'll improve their collective, cumulative average. This year is no different. Masters, Sedgmen and Worrall all looked good. The confidence they'll build up taking big PL scalps around the trick track will bring results on their travels. As for Fox, he falls into the Berge category. A professionally presented stadium and match (Edinburgh programme terminology, not mine!) tonight, can only hope Ashfield can match this on Sunday (no singing girls PLEASE!!!!!). Finally, all joking apart, I'm sure I'm not the only Tiger's fan who dreads the first meeting of each season at Armadale. Why? Injuries. Not an easy track for first timers. So I've left the best until last. The real star of the night tonight was .... .... The air fence. Why oh, why ... did we not have these years ago? Not only does it enhance the presentation ... tonight two riders acquainted themselves with it and walked away. Premier League speedway ..... welcome to the 21st Century!

Gaz can you clarify? Does Armadale have it's own micro-climate?

I have the Tiger one please in Minion size (only because it's Baltic of course!)

Dry, but absolutely freezing and windy. Thermals for the ladies and willy warmers for the blokes.

Sneak preview of the pre-meeting entertainment at Ashfield this Sunday. After getting spanked at Armadale on Friday, as punishment, Gru insists the Minion riders sing to the Glasgow support! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkz6GjZBBYs

Weather forecast looking good. A wee bit of rain mid day and that's it. Just enough to keep the dust down and keep the trick track degree of difficulty managable for the new comers.

Water load of nonsense!

Has someone tapped him?

I'd be happy with a track prepared for racing ...... Coventry speedway, BSPA, et al.

Is he planning a comeback?

Post of the year! Speedway season is about to start again. I can smell it already! Would love to say the Tiggers will win this one, but not so sure with Mr Wolbert missing. I'll leave that prediction for later in the season. Any hoo, the main thing is we get to see some racing again. Hope it's entertaining, there's a good crowd for the fence fund and all the riders stay safe. PS Good shout on the weather, the thermals are packed and ready! Enjoy everyone!!

Surprised you still have the brass neck to be posting here this evening after being outed by one of the Mods!

And testimonial out the way.

Aye, he'll be getting the train.

Not at Ashfield in 2013 unfortunately. Fingers crossed for 2014.

Tall riders at a disadvantage. This is heightist and infringes their EU human rights. VOTE FARAGE!

Opps! Not what I meant. Edited it.

Couldn't agree more. I read in so many rider interviews that they love racing. So why delay the thrill? Whoosh!

PMSL Post of the year.

Agreed. EL and no PL this season.

Clowns?

Predictable defensive "t!t-for-tat" response wasn't it Lioness.

As you don't do quotes and leave it to others to work out what you're referring to I'll assume you're referring to my post. I don't see the relevance of your point in relation to the point being debated, namely deliberately signing a rider for his negative economic impact.

Won't score a lot of points, crowds impacted by riders like this, reduce incomings. I'm sure the Glasgow promotion don't do all the work they do to make speedway at Ashfield possible, to then shoot themselves in the foot.