Bagpuss

I can see your point but it’s a two legged tie so IF we go through then others have stepped up and covered his off night, job done. Also worth pointing out that he scored 14 last time at Swindon and we didn’t score 40. It’s not about individuals for me, it’s a team effort and a little disrespectful to the others to put too much emphasis on Robert’s scores.

I’d argue that Robert’s scores aren’t as important as people might think based on last night, the other five scored 37 and we have a nominal deficit to overturn. Encouraging that he can have an off night and others are able to step up to the plate.

Heat 14 was S Lambert’s third ride was it not? Although they could have given him that in the race Riss had to start 15m back I guess. Anyway a bit disappointed to lose by that many after being two up with three to go but considering Lambert & Jorgensen had off nights a six point gap isn’t so bad and is certainly pullbackable.

Thing is Polish teams are packed with quality riders, they can’t all score well in the same meeting. You only have to be slightly off your game on tracks that big and fast against Polish riders on missile bikes and you can look ‘crap’. I think Polish league performances have very little to do with British meetings.

Anti smug spray

The stocks have their own track at Arlington do they not? Stocks are ok if like Buster a track has a big motorway blade at its disposal to smooth everything off again once the cars have churned it up.

Well done Thomas Jorgensen.

Nobody fancied Lynn or Somerset for the Play Offs let alone the title, if the final is between those two teams it would be quite remarkable. Its very open though, a Belle Vue v Poole final wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.

I have an element of sympathy with Edinburgh here, track prep in speedway can be affected by even the slightest change in weather / temperature and just an extra lap of the water bowser can lead to issues. As a Lynn supporter I’ve seen umpteen grippy tracks over the years and a handful of dangerous ones along the way as the risk factor is much higher with more grip, and even more so on a tight circuit like Armadale. Buster has been hammered for his prep on these occasions and perhaps the Monarchs hierarchy need to take their medicine in this instance as unintentional and accidental as it may have been. The other question is do the club want trophies or proper speedway racing? Or perhaps to try and achieve both. Mega grip where all fourteen riders are unable to give their all is no good for anyone, 60+ scores for the rest of the season might win things but are people really going to get their money’s worth from that? I’d have thought a middle ground would be best all round.

This is garbage and unfortunately in keeping with what has been a pretty ordinary series this year racing wise.

I’m all for a bit of jousting on here but the personal stuff is unnecessary.

Because our semi final first leg is a week after yours I’d imagine.

All of which is exactly what you will be saying in reverse

Makes you wonder if that home defeat to Belle Vue prompted Somerset’s inside line approach to track prep.

2000.

Not in the top league, but that did happen in the second division in 2007.

People don’t need to walk your track, any video of a race from Poole shows riders back wheels jumping around in the corners. Mr Shovlar recently added one from Wednesday night and good race though it was it clearly shows an uneven and bare (maybe with a blue groove?) inside line. Nobody will ever convince me that a track with lumps, bumps and holes has been prepared in the best way. The smoother the better for me as it gives riders the ultimate confidence to throw their bikes at each other, just like Belle Vue the other night. Uneven tracks will make away riders tentative and play into home riders hands who know where the obstacles are.

It’s a difficult one, teams will always want their home track prepared ow their own riders like it best because to a point home wins mean bigger crowds, particularly when it could be the difference between a Play Off final and therefore a bumper crowd and big gate receipts. But we don’t want it to be to the detriment of the racing too much. But then what would Lynn punters demand for example, great racing with a 46-44 win or a mega grippy track which provides two or three good races and a 55-35 score line? Same with Somerset and their inside line or Poole and their uneven surface? Belle Vue are in a great position as their riders seem to prefer their track to be prepared so there are multiple racing lines, same with Scunthorpe in the second division. But I’d have thought at this stage of the season a winning team leading to big crowds and a good atmosphere would be the most important thing, however short sighted that may be for some.

Somerset look like slight favourites to me with Belle Vue slight outsiders and Lynn and Poole in the middle. Whoever wins the Somerset/Poole semi will probably go on and win it I would say but it’s very open on paper.

Our track would be comparable to most if a much less clay based and therefore less stock car friendly shale was used. Unfortunately the four wheeled residents are the cash cow at the stadium and therefore call the shots. Simply put no stock cars and bangers would mean no top flight speedway IMO. It’s a shame but just the way it is.

Hopefully Swindon will perform as well as they are tonight.

I’d say there is a difference between ‘doctoring’ a track and preparing it to the liking of home riders. The problem of course comes when a track like Somerset for example was one of the very best in the country and the prep is changed to leave one fast line round the inside.

That’s a fantastic amount raised for the lad. Hats off to everyone.

#fakenews

Why do you feel the need to insult a whole region of people? The vast majority of folk in this part of the world have a sense of humour when the subject matter is amusing, unfortunately yours very rarely is.