MD

Depends on the league structure and points limit. If its one league Cook wont be back. If its a vastly reduced points limit in the Championship he also wont be back. No easy answers here. I would already have asked Harris and Sarjeant for their Kevlars back.

Throwing money at the wrong riders even less so. I dont think the throwing money at riders really applies outside the top two. We allegedly said no to Lunna for this season as he asked for more money to cover his increased flight costs as we were changing race days to Fridays. The problems for this season were there from day one when the manager chucked it after the first meeting. That unsettled Worrall who went on a woeful run of form, in part at being under constant pressure in 13 & 15 to make up for the shortfall in points from Harris. Lewis Kerr and Vissing thankfully covered our arse in the early meetings but both started to tail off in early June. As well as yielding little points at the top of the team, the same was true at the bottom as Jack Thomas struggled with the big step up from NL and Sarjeant often could have got the same points sitting in the house, particularly at home. The home thrashing by Workington and unforgiveable defeat to an average Edinburgh in May underlined the fragility of the 1-7, but wasnt a surprise if you attended the home meetings to that point. It was widely speculated we tried to replace Harris in May and June to no avail. He was embarrassing at points, with unreliable machinery and perhaps worst of all, a lack of fight. An already poor season got worse when Paul Starke tried to ride through injury in May & June, and Kerr got injured at the end of June. It meant r/r required Sarjeant to take at least two of his rides, and he couldnt even cover his own rides. The team had no chance of making the playoffs until Kerr and Worrall made way for Cook and Nathan Greaves in mid July. Despite only riding 8 meetings Cook had an immediate impact and Harris finally started scoring. It was enough for us to scrape into the playoffs with that holy grail of away wins but ultimately not enough to make the final. Stewart Dickson wont be there next year so the mental policy of having a stellar top five and whoever will fit for the reserves hopefully cant happen again. Its never worked for us previously. The marquee signing of Harris promised much but delivered little and can only be described a spectacular failure, as Sarjeant too. Whatever the league structure for 2019, we know what hasnt worked, its time to learn from it and not make those same signing mistakes again. A bit of continuity may also serve us better than another sweep out.

He's been more than comfortable at our expense this year and now represents good value to his 2019 Championship employer.

I know but that EF is just another one to add to the list. They never seemed to happen at Poole. Harris now leaves us on 7.71, the best part of a point lower than when he started with us. Signing riders on the way down rarely works out.

Been like that all season. Ironically his last bend EF earlier today that turned an easy 3-3 into a 1-5 appears to have cost us. We have a lot of lessons to learn on team selection from this season.

We've been here about 3 years now. It cant change when there isnt actually anyone in control.

Depends which Klindt turns up.

Didnt really have a play off feel about it today. The weather was uncomfortably hot in the sun and pretty cold behind the cloud which made the track still wet in the areas that the sun didnt reach and bone dry in those it did. Worky seemed to be holding back early on, perhaps they are confident of turning any score round down there. The good thing is we know the result of the tie tonight, the down side is it will be another two weeks for the winning team to run the final.

Biggest challenge is for the track staff trying to prep for Friday night. With 3 days of incessant rain now started and low temperatures predicted, we can only prepare a super slick track that will cope with further rain on race day. That plays right into the Comets hands IMO. We need to be super sharp from the gate to negate riders like Klindt, who is gone if he traps but wont pass if he doesnt. As well as Cook being a decisive factor, so will our reserves with Nathan Greaves likely r/r at No2. Sarjeant has been decent recently, he needs to be again and none of this tapes nonsense that lets everyone down. We need a practice for all the riders at Ashfield should it be possible. Lets get tore in!

Reading the headline thought one of the Havelock's were back but its not that bad. Im sure the Bears will continue on.

We had to give Erik and the boys something to close the season with. Proper business next weekend.

In 2014 Wolbert started with Glasgow on 8.48 and finished the season on a deplorable 6.19. The following season he rejoined Edinburgh on that bargain average and finished the season on 8.18. Supposing he was the only rider left on the planet who could fill your final team place, you'd be better closing your track with dignity than employing this shameless individual IMO.

Broke bones in his foot on a deep track designed to unsettle the opposition but which got out of hand. #selfinflicted

Reign it in, they would wallow in rubbing your nose right in it if it was the other way round. They shot themselves in the foot, literally, with Joel Andersson being injured as he was really starting to turn it on at reserve.

Yet again the Team Manager allowed this to happen when Campton at reserve could have taken one of his heats, and one of Bickleys as well.

At Worky at the beginning of the month turned in a single point after he couldnt get his bikes going.

Klindt pulls another shocker against the Monarchs.

No and No.

Mon the Bandits. Had they started the season off better they would have been in the play offs.

The PRO will come on and tell you it was as an indirect consequence of the track, as last week.

It'll be on regardless because it has to be.

Bet he's at Edinburgh tonight helping his brother.

Pure buzzin. 0141 in, 0131 out. Wonder whose engine Louis will come out with this week Glasgow want measured.

#pumped We shouldnt have been so worried. Track was well prepared so perhaps unsettled the visitors.

Hopefully thats the case, he only scored a point in the league meeting at Ashfield and got nothing guesting for Newcastle when we won there a few weeks ago.