crescent girl

Kent's performance at Armadale indicates a very tough test for the FTS Bandits now. Discuss?

Tapes up 6.30 tomorrow!

Tom Woolley will ride as #6 for Kent in the first match, as Jake Mulford is away on Long-track business.

It was mentioned as far back as last week's programme, NBJ has official Danish commitment, Tom Brennan named as guest.

Following victories over Poole and Plymouth in the past two weeks, both Berwick teams --- Bandits and Bullets --- entertain Kent's Kings and Royals in a smorgasbord of speedway this Saturday night. Tickets for this tasty treat are now Live and available at: https://www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets/ A cash turnstile will also be open. Kent have Troy Batchelor and Scott Nicholls (plus Paul Starke, Cameron Heeps and the highly-rated Dan Gilkes) in their squad, while Bandits and Bullets will both be at full strength. As always, it will be tapes up at 6:30pm for a double header night.

So now we learn Ben Basso isn't going to be riding in this one, either..... Have Poole really signed a rider who races in the Danish League on Wednesday nights?

Bandits move Leon Flint to #2 for this one.

A very good night out for a healthy holiday attendance -- at least partly attracted by Jason Crump's presence -- with excellent racing. Heat 9, when Leon Flint swept round tac-sub Crump on the final bend, was maybe pick of the litter but there was passing in the majority of heats. Jason's interview, and reaction with the audience after his Heat 15 victory, emphasised what he said about "still having fun" and certainly added to an all-round feelgood feeling. Even after the main match, the future at Berwick looked pretty good, with their six-rider Academy team racing Redcar at 500cc, 250cc and 125cc level, and winning a slickly-run 9-heater by an astounding 45-9! All done and dusted by 9.20, leaving time for Bullets' Ben Rathbone to put in some practice laps before the curfew. Doomsayers take note -- speedway is far from its deathbed to judge by Saturday night!

Justin Sedgmen, Broc Nicol and Sam Jensen have all INCREASED their averages since the season began in May. Craig Cook and Rickey Wells have seen their averages DROP in the same period. Just saying......

Greg Blair is a 2*

Great reply from Jason when asked if he was having fun at 46:. "What's more fun than winning Heat 15 at Berwick on a Saturday night?" A class act.

As l said, my opinion. To each their own. Another one: lf Plymouth put on the fight they displayed at Armadale tonight, this will be a fine match. The weekly appearance by Danyon Hume is this time for Alfie Bowtell, absent on compassionate leave.

Leon is riding for Plymouth at #6 tonight...

Great ride under pressure all the way. We are so lucky to have him at Berwick, watching him develop.

#2 has three races where supported/covered by your team's #1, and his other ride is in the "protected" Heat 8 (and allows the #1 that extra race if he qualifies). It also gets rid of r/r by Heat 10 at home (11 away). Analysing various alternatives maybe requires a higher-grade anorak than the one l wear, but from long experience, in almost every instance l see #2 as the place to put your r/r. (IMO)

Also raced at Berwick in one of the FlM meetings -- the one that was postponed until the Monday night, l think....

Riss and his pal aren't coming, doing something in their Fatherland Spud at #1, r/r at #2.

Spud is #1 for Birmingham tomorrow, l believe

Well, you'll get a chance to assess him tomorrow night at Ashfield!

Breaking news tonight is that, following intense examination at Cramlington, Jye Etheridge has declared himself fit to ride! He will be at #2, as the team was declared in expectation of Bandits using r/r. Thus, for possibly only the second time this season, all seven listed FTS Bandits will be on parade on Saturday!

From the bottom left corner of England to the postage-stamp top right! 471 miles apart. Plymouth come to town on Saturday night with a couple of bone fide living legends in their squad. Bjarne Pedersen remains the classiest of acts at the age of 43, but even the Dane's reputation will be overshadowed by the presence of three-time World Champion Jason Crump -- rightly billed as Australia's greatest-ever speedway rider -- still skidding at 46! The Gladiators have a refreshing look among their younger riders too, and will offer Shielfield patrons a first look at the likes of Dillon Ruml, Zach Cook and Zane Keleher. The FTS Bandits welcome both Leon Flint and Dani Gappmaier back to the team, but r/r will be deployed for skipper Jye Etheridge, still sidelined with leg and back injuries. Greg Blair stands by as #8. After the main match, spectators will be treated to a nine-heat mini-match between an Academy squad and Redcar Cubs, with races on 500cc, 250cc and 125cc machinery. In addition to Bullets' regulars Kieran Douglas and Mason Watson, the extended format will see Luke Harrison back in black-and gold, plus the Pijper brothers and the enthusiastic Cayden Martin. Doors open at six, tapes up at 7pm. E-tickets are available now from: https://www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets/ -- booking online is the promotion's favoured method now, being used by the majority of patrons -- but a turnstile will also be open for cash payments on the evening.

Yeah, but Hume would have!

Let's sort this out. Poole won the toss, and as a result enjoyed 8 starts out of gate 4 against Berwick's seven. What disadvantage? They lost by not utilising Hume (who had been excellent at Berwick 7 days previously) enough -- he should have been in both Heats 12 and 14 -- and perhaps might still have won if Danny King's tactical had been in white, not yellow. None of which detracts from a very good night out, with (almost) all the travelling Pirate fans both gracious and cheerful in defeat.

I've really enjoyed the NDL meetings l've seen this year (live and streamed) and think the relaxation of points which allowed Berwick and Armadale to host NDL teams has proved a huge benefit to the future at these clubs.

I think that's always been allowed -- it is Heat 8 that's protected, isn't it?