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Matej Kus took a heavy shoulder knock in false start of Heat 3 at Sheffield last night, was uncomfortable thereafter. This in addition to machinery difficulties resulting from the tangle with Ty Proctor. He is undergoing treatment to his shoulder today but would have been unable to race in Redcar's (now cancelled) meeting planned for tonight, and with such doubts Berwick and the rider have agreed his name should be withdrawn from Saturday's line-up. Berwick have therefore recruited his team-mate Lasse Bjerre (who had been lined up to race for the Bandits at Newcastle last week in another postponed meeting) to take up the No 1 slot tomorrow.

E-Newsletter has a couple of interesting items tonight: POSTERS: As was announced on Saturday, a supply of bold, bright posters advertising Berwick Speedway are available -- free, of course -- from our Track Shop on race-nights. These, as can be seen, advertise all our matches in April. New posters will be released at the end of the month. We would be delighted if you could take one or more of these posters-- there are small A4 ones and larger A3 jobs -- away with you this Saturday, and put them up somewhere the public can see them and learn about our Saturday-night fun'n'games! In schools, on factory notice-boards, shop-windows, house windows -- anywhere and everywhere, spreading the good word about YOUR Dixon Building Bandits. REF'S REPORT: Did you know that after every meeting, the referee in charge of proceedings is required to file a report to the Speedway Control Bureau, detailing the night's events and marking the condition of the track on a sliding scale? Having just received a copy of Graham Flint's report of last Saturday's match, we thought we might share the first night's ratings. Track Preparation: Excellent. Track Surface: Excellent. Foam barrier (bends): Excellent. Regular safety-fence (straights): Excellent. Such overall praise is rare, and when we saw a report such as this, we just had to share it with you. Full marks and congratulations to George Hepburn and his talented track-team!

Bandits latest e-Newsletter confirms guests, etc: MATEJ ON SATURDAY - - SAM FOR SUNDAY: With Ben Barker's bashed-up hand not yet fully responding to treatment, your Dixon Building Bandits will deploy guest riders this weekend to cover for our missing man in the two League Cup matches against the big-money Tigers of Glasgow. At Shielfield Park on Saturday, Matej Kus returns to the team he served with such distinction in 2014. Hie liking for the Berwick circuit and his respect for our promotion means Matej will Czech in (sorry!) with high scoring on his mind. Go for it, Matej! On Sunday at Ashfield, we have invited Australia's Sam Masters to wear black-and-gold. As Sam was unbeaten by any of the Tigers in last Sunday's soggy stramash in Glasgow, we're hoping he'll just carry on winning all his races! The teams at Shielfield Park on Saturday night will now be: Bandits: 1. Matej Kus (guest), 2. Matic Volrih, 3. Kevin Doolan (captain), 4. Thomas Jorgensen, 5. Claus Vissing, 6. Alex Edberg, 7. Luke Crang. Tigers: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Kozza Smith, 3. Aaron Summers (captain), 4. Dimitri Berge, 5. Nick Morris, 6. Victor Palovaara, 7. Ellis Perks (guest).

Berwick's e-Newsletter on Tuesday night reported Luke Crang would be replacing Ben Morley at Redcar on Friday.

Not bad at all..... Sam Masters will be Berwick's #1 on Sunday however -- Matej K is being saved for Shielfield fixtures.

Kyle Bickley?

The question asked by Berwick's newsletter is "Are they (Glasgow) really that good?" Let's find out! Berwick: 1. Matej Kus (provisional guest), 2. Matic Voldrih, 3. Kevin Doolan (captain), 4. Thomas Jorgensen, 5. Claus Vissing, 6. Alex Edberg, 7. Luke Crang. Glasgow: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Kozza Smith, 3. Aaron Summers (captain), 4. Dimitri Berge (woops!) 5. Nick Morris, 6. Victor Palovaara, 7. Ellis Perks (guest). Weather prospects look fair, holiday weekend, looks good for a big crowd. Edit: Nobody's perfect. (except on here)

The Glasgow team has been changed for Saturday (notification received after Newsletter was issued) and will now be: 1. Lawson, 2. Smith, 3. Summers, 4. Berge, 5. Morris, 6. Palovaara, 7. Ellis Perks.

Why? Who'll be the reserves for these teams in May?

Liam is still crocked, but hoping to resume racing sometime later in the year. He is currently staying in touch with speedway, helping Robert Branford in the Edinburgh pits while on the mend.

Bandits' reserves are Alex Edberg and Luke Crang.

E-newsletter received tonight, with update on Matic Voldrih's injury, Saturday's teams and a whole lot more. Plus a weather briefing from the Prince of Wales, no less!

Teams now up on Berwick website.

I'm guessing everyone you've spoken to was aware Matic Voldrih was riding on Saturday with his shoulder strapped up and two ice-packs on it? This following an alarming spill at Armadale the previous evening.

Who are? The Supporters Club? VIP bus would be for VIP members -- if anyone in Edinburgh has joined VIP Club, then yes, they'd presumably get uplifted. Yes, it just depends on the degree of subsidy. Free really sounds a good deal.

As many as it takes!

Today's e-newsletter carries news of a free bus up to Glasgow for all VIP Club members!

How come? BSPA listings in last year's final green sheets have Lewis on 7.54, Stevie on 7.46......?

The only things we can be sure of in the Diamonds line-up is that Lewis Kerr will be at No 1, and the reserves will be Simon Nielsen and Lewis Rose.

Matic Voldrih has been invited to ride on Friday at Armadale in Theo Pijper's testimonial meeting. That makes FIVE of the Dixon Building Bandits in the meeting!

Ben Barker will be riding in all this weekend's requirements, at Ipswich, Edinburgh, and the Berwick practice. (Original post had referred to Newcastle, but that is the following weekend -- my ooops)

Club e-Newsletter this morning tells of closed-door practice at the weekend, some news of Bandits riders at other tracks and some new announcements for VIP Club members -- a meet'n'greet with the team this Saturday, and free admission deal at the speedway museum.

From club website: There will now be FOUR of our Dixon Building Bandits -- more riders than any other club will provide! -- racing in Theo Pijper's 'Night of Champions' at Armadale Raceway next Friday, March 20th. Ben Barker has volunteered his services to the popular Dutchman, joining Claus Vissing, Kevin Doolan and Thomas Jorgensen in honouring Theo's contribution to our sport. The meeting -- and the northern season -- begins at 7.30pm. In addition, Thomas Jorgensen will now join Ben Barker at Sheffield on Sunday 22nd for Ricky Ashworth's Big Day, which begins at 5pm that day.

You are correct in identifying the increase in lengthy delays in this 21st century. The old attitudes of "drag him to the side, put the rest on two minutes" are gone forever! This situation has been increasingly addressed by the promotion, and by last season (especially after the totally unpredictable situation of a paramedic disappearing mid-meeting on a night there wasn't another man available) the club had back-up medical cover at, I think, every meeting. Even then, on the Sky night, there was a very long delay after the crash in Heat 14, despite two ambulances being in situ, a doctor and a paramedic on duty and two more ambulances arriving within a few minutes! This despite every pressure (from the television aspect) for the match to continue as quickly as possible. Simply put, present-day attitudes require every possible precauction being taken before and after a rider is moved from the track (no-one can insist otherwise, surely?) and despite having a 'spare' ambulance and extra medic on hand, delays will occur more and more as every year H&S restrictions demand ever-greater care and attention. Berwick is not the worst example of medical demands delaying (and even bringing meetings to a premature end) is it?

Less than quoted above. Check with Lani Rae on 07779-227535