crescent girl

You couldn't make it up! Edinburgh have announced that Eddie will be Poole's guest on Friday -- in place of Kyle Newman! The little detail of not being allowed to guest if you aren't in another club's 1-7 has been circumvented by Eddie now having been smuggled into one of the NDL teams.

Like I said............

Somewhat confusing, if Scunny can bring in Hook, and Poole are today (reportedly) signing up Slater Lightcap -- both signings after these clubs completed 11 Championship matches...... Why can't the Tigers make a couple of signings before their 12th match? Or can they?

No, Eddie can no longer be a guest for any club -- he isn't in anybody's 1-7 now.

You think? Hasn't the 75% of matches deadline been passed? Glasgow have said they cannot replace Kyle Howarth or the German lad (although they might want to) and both clubs have raced 11 Championship matches plus their BSN rounds............. Guests all the way now!

Plus Nick Morris and Jordan Jenkins (two of the Bandits who figured in Berwick's superb revival over Poole on Saturday night) guesting for the Pirates.

With Mario Hausl having this morning ruled himself out of racing for six weeks -- heart trouble and kidney stones, really? -- it must be imperative for the Tigers shuffle the pack to replace him and Kyle Howarth before the next meeting. Guests aren't the way to go for a team looking certain to be in the play-offs. Quite apart from making it harder for the public to support a changing roster of riders, guests make it a harder "sell" when you're trying to build up ongoing public awareness in what is otherwise a successful operation.

When we wrote in last night's programme about Poole's management having apparently been in disarray during their June visit, it was expected they'd be in better shape this time. Instead, the strange allocation of riders in crucial races, etc, was worse. Plus, how about Havvy spending a lengthy time on the phone to Willie Dish, arguing the Cooper Rushen exclusion? On a brighter note, it was an impressive display of team spirit when the entire Bandits team came up from the pits to check on the stricken Reid Battye. Plus, the noise in the stand before, during and after the last couple of races was really impressive.

Cairns? I think you must mean the other one. Will Cairns is in full control of his bike as far as I've seen....

Cairns? I think you must mean the other one. Will Cairns is in full control of his bike as far as I've seen....

They could even have replaced Hagon in the re-run with Eddie. A very disorganised Poole backroom again.

Oh ye of little faith ....

Buxton?

Guests aren't going to hinder Poole at Berwick. Masters dropped one point in six rides there last month, Richard only won two races in the KO Cup. Even better for Pirates is having Eddie Kennett as a guest reserve, as he might not be hindered by all the unlucky engine failures he has for Oxford, when his average is rolling.

Just thinking....... If the hospital hadn't called JJ back for what (fortunately) proved an unnecessary alarm, and he had continued racing over the past weekend, I'm pretty sure Berwick would have won at both Redcar and Workington. Rider replacement got 3 points and 5 points in these meetings -- I submit that the JJ we have seen since joining Berwick would have achieved considerably higher returns, and the whole picture in terms of Championship standing would be brighter.. But it is what it is, and although the hospital has been overly cautious in this instance, he was correct in not resuming until they gave the all-clear. Hey-ho.

Yes, my apologies. Tomorrow night.

But do they? It is well over 28 days since Fraser Bowes was injured, and we find they are using Jordan Jenkins of Berwick as a guest tomorrow night.

I think the rules are right. Each team member must have three completed races. IRR allows for replacement (by a rider below him in the averages, not the one above) to ensure an injured rider can be covered for up to his third ride. Seems fair?

A deal has been done this weekend, and there will be coverage of the Final. I'll leave it to BV or SCB to announce details.

If he is, there might be some folk who choose not to attend. On principle.

Handy, that .....

Why 3pm?

Sam Masters will be riding for Poole as a guest (as will Eddie Kennett, who has somehow managed to keep his average safely below Fraser Bowes) while Drew Kemp will be back at #1 for the Bandits -- the position he held at the end of last season!

Hurt himself? He put Reid Battye out the game for nearly three months!

Following the unavoidable -- in no way the fault of the speedway promotion -- postponement of last Saturday's BSN Series Semi-Final, speedway roars back into Berwick (OK, Tweedmouth if we're being accurate) this Saturday, with Plymouth's Gladiators storming the Shielfield fortress. Huge kudos to promoter Jamie Courtney and the good guys at Landels Electrical at East Ord (01289-331545) for putting in the hard graft necessary to restore the stadium to its full electrical glory over the past few days. Remember Landels Electrical if you have need of sparky assistance, domestic or industrial, in future -- always try to help the people who help speedway! Although both clubs are in action on Friday night (Bandits at Oxford, Plymouth at Edinburgh) they hope to be at full strength on Saturday night: BANDITS: 1. Peter Kildemand, 2.Jye Etheridge (C) 3. Victor Palovaara 4,Jordan Jenkins 5. Nick Morris 6. Jack Smith 7. Reid Battye. GLADIATORS: 1 - Danny King (C) 2 Joe Thompson 3. Daniel Kilma 4 Ben Barker 5 Scott Nicholls 6 Azne Grmek 7 Ben Whalley. The appearance of the amazing 48-year-old Scott Nicholls -- a 7-time British Champion -- in the visiting line-up is a huge attraction. Ever since he appeared in third place in the 1989 British U-16 Championship at the age of 11 (racing, and beating, boys up to five years his senior Scott has proved one of Britain's best, as well as most durable stars. Recent maximum performances tell us Scott remains very much a speedway star -- as ever, it will be pleasure to welcome him, and watch him, at Shielfield this weekend.