Steve Shovlar

Entertaining meeting tonight though can’t believe the Workington fans going hyper over a bonus point. Lots of talking points. Poor Tobias probably doesn’t know where his arse from his el ow is after tonight. Rotten luck in heat 6 when on a 5-1 with Lawson. Looked from the grandstand that he tried to cut to the inside down the back straight but clipped the back of Lawson which brought them both down. Then in heat 8 a coming together with Foord which again saw them both in the deck. I certainly wouldn’t have given Tobias his last ride but I am not Middlo. Rowe in heat 7. Not sure what happened. Did a footrest go through his front wheel? His handlebars were wobbling all over the place and he had to stop. Lawson was excellent as always. Tobias had a poor night. Kerr did OK. Three gated wins then faded. Just can’t pass. Cook started as usual poorly but was much better after that. Thought he should have got heat 14. Rowe wasn’t at his best. Stark did his usual. Cairns paid 9 good effort. For Workington Batchelor did his usual tailed off at the back then won a race. Bowes was excellent. Etheridge best ever performance at Poole. Normally about 4 points. Violas was pretty rubbish to be honest. Hook had his best ever meeting at Poole by far. Foord was miles off it until heat 8 with a kamikaze move which ended his night. Some good hard racing with plenty of passing. How clear are we at the top now? No idea but feel confident of top spot. Well done Workington for putting up a fight and making it entertaining.

Thomsen rightly excluded. Was clear for me.

That’s a shame. Was looking forward to watching him as he is one for the future.

Scunthorpe had lost the meeting and their heat leaders didn’t fancy it. Or the promotion wanted to save some money on a pointless race. Either way they short changed the paying public who look forward to seeing the best pair of riders from both teams. Luckily Kennedy put up a brave fight v Lawson who took 3 laps to secure the 5-1. Some great racing last night. A shame the crowds are small here. Great race track.

Problem for Scunny is Steve Worrall has not been the rider he was since his injury. Allen has faded to a second string, Lambert, who I like, blows hit and cold. Mountain is OK at home, the Kennedys are ok when at reserve. Young Harrison was invisible tonight. They are a coup,e of heat leaders short. Once Poole got dialled in they were the better team. Cook rode well and Lawson was pretty sensational. His best ever season? Fast and aggressive as hell, but never dirty.

Wooohooo! Pirates win. Phenomenal racing tonight at Scunthorpe. Best racetrack in the league by the country mile. Cooler travelling today so the boys were not knackered. Heat 13 was sublime with Lawson. Heat 14 was amazing with Cook. Commentator said the second half of tonight’s meeting was the best he had ever seen at the track. Can believe it, that was sensational racing.

Thought it was a poor meeting tonight. Racing was poor bar a couple of heats. Track was definitely bumpy in places. Need to get the blade on it. Underwatered as well. Edinburgh put up a fight first half of the meeting but faded away.

Anders Rowe pulls out of tonight’s meeting with an arm injury. Not looking good for Wednesday. Get well soon Anders.

And Foord a far more entertaining rider who wants to race. Plus it would have given a little more scope for team building at the start of the season. The Poole fans loved Vinnies battles and attitude last season. All water under the bridge now though. Perhaps next season he could be considered if he wants to come back. (He might not want to)

By bringing in young riders with an appetite to race, not ride.

Needs to be done. Starke just gates, occassionally, then just gets picked off. We can all see it. Any opposition rider with fighting spirit will get by, just like Vinnie did yesterday. There must be better riders out there who could come in on a four. If we don’t act, it will seriously bite us on the bum in the playoffs. I was very critical of Kerr at the start of the season. He just wasn’t doing his job. Engine failures, poor on track and generally well short of what is expected. To his credit he did improve and start to show the reason why Matt signed him. But yesterday it was all back to utterly disappointing. When he was really needed to step up he went completely AWOL. Vinnie Foord dealt with him without issue. The difference between a rider who wants it and one that is just going through the motions sitting in a bike. There are young riders out there in Poland or Scandinavia who would do a much better job than these two.

100%. Matt rarely makes mistakes with team building but what would you rather have? A rider who is up for it every ride, determined to improve, or a rider who with due respect, his better days are long behind him and he just can’t do it anymore. No blame for Cairns. Just turned 16, tough reserves and on their home track. Did well to beat Foord for his point.

Certainly would have. Starke needs to retire. Tonight.

Well it’s clear to see where the issues lie. After heat 3 we held our own but you can’t start give the home side three 5-1’s on the trot. The whole meeting is over before the first track grade. Vinnie Foord showing every reason why he should have been chosen over Starke this season. A fans favourite and a battler. Instead we have ended up with mobile chicane Stark who makes no effort to defend his track position. Kerr, well he was appalling earlier this season, had some improvement before being utter tripe today. Easily our worst performance of the season. I don’t like losing but if we do, at least put up a proper fight.

Well done Workington. By far the better team tonight. Fully deserved.

Sack Kerr, sack Starke. Utter dregs.

Just a terrible start which took away the opportunity. Since heat 4 we have been ok but you can’t start a meeting like that and expect to get anything out of it. Kerr and Starke appalling, again.

Pirates got the gruesome twosome in the next heat. Fat lady clearing her voice.

Lawson t/r. Pirates just not at the races. Wondering if the long haul up in the heat has had an effect but shouldn’t be an excuse. Workington on another level so far.

19-5. Boys better get their gating gloves on. Workington on another 5-1 until Rowe got between them.

Shocking start for Pirates. Completely wrong setups and outgated in two heats with Vinnie finding it easy to pass our reserves. Mountain to climb.

There will be the NIDS travelling up but a truly awful day to travel with such a long journey and 34C expected. With a stream I would think hundreds will pay the £11.99 to watch and save a fortune on fuel.

Booked the stream. Should imagine a good profit for Workington today as many Pirate fans watching. Hoping for a good Poole win.

Thought there were a lot of speedway fans in the area but alas no. Club has had it with the tax man now owning everything. Unless there is someone willing to come forward with very deep pockets to pay the taxman off, all the work building that track has been a waste of time. Sad time for the fans and riders.

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