Steve Shovlar

As Glasgow have backed away from streaming, other clubs have just started. The stream from Plymouth last night was excellent and by all accounts the Poole stream is top notch. Too far for most Pirates fans to travel so back to speedway updates. Shame.

First league meeting for Pirates and one that might well go down to the wire. Pirates starting the season well and living up to being title favourites, but Birmingham wasn’t a good place to go last season when we were turned over very easily and suffered the loss of Stefan Neilsen to a bad injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season. Pirates never got to grips with a tricky track and Paco Castagna, Shanes and Morris all scoring well. This season though it’s all change and we start again on hopefully a better prepared circuit. Pirates need to come away with at least a point but will surely be targeting 3. Hopefully the weather will be better and the crowd big. Looking forward to coming up for what should be a thriller. Thoughts? Will Birmingham hold off the Pirates to bag a home win, or will Poole prove a little too strong?

Wasn’t there another rider hailed as the second Darcy Ward who rode for Sheffield a few seasons ago? Turned out to be a duffer.

Need every penny to cover Basso’s wages.

Very entertaining meeting played out in cold and very windy conditions. Lots of very good racing on a superbly prepared billiard table track. Harris excellent guest finally beaten in heat 15 but was untouchable in his first 4 rides and not led until the final race. Plymouth lucky they had his as a guest. Plenty of passing and fast times as well. All the Pirates putting in good performances. King had a bit of a mare with two tapes exclusions. Lawson looking a solid heat leader and good replacement for Schlein. Drew Kemp looking like a very solid reserve with 10 from 4 tonight. And Ablitt battled all night. Gilkes, who was excellent last night, was nowhere tonight, and a surprise. Expected better. Hans looks like a season too much, and perhaps should have followed Bjarne into retirement. Next stop Birmingham next Wednesday at Perry Bar, then Oxford next Friday and Leicester next Saturday. Bring them on!

Barker was out of control causing Lawson to fall. An easy and correct decision. What was far more surprising was allowing Atkins back when it was obvious to all he got into difficulties and fell on his own. Luckily there was no advantage gained in the rerun. As for the track watering, Middlo was far from happy and said it made the track dangerous.

Harris for Kennett makes the meeting a better event. Best wishes to Eddie Kennett. Sounds nasty after a fairly innocuous slide off.

Had no issues other than voices in the pits out of sync by about a second. Other that that it was all good.

He was 50 metres down on Palm Toft and when the camera returned he was 50 metres ahead. Palm Toft get into difficulties? OK just watched heat 14 back and Cook went right around the inside of bends 3 and 4 and roared away. The commentators didn’t notice for a lap!

Woooooohoooo! Great comeback win! Lawson unbeaten and real class. Gilkes was a star. Downside is he won’t be at reserve for long riding like that. Good entertaining meeting due to close score. Stream was excellent. Well done to all.

What the hell happened there! Missed the Cook pass! That looked a nailed on Plymouth 5-1.

5-1 to Plymouth coming up and will get a narrow victory. Middlo very unhappy with water truck. Lots of water on the blue groove. Pirates done their job tonight. Can’t see us slipping up tomorrow.

Gilkes certainly one to watch. Been best rider on display tonight for Plymouth.

Barker charged under Lawson and fenced him!

Eddie Kennett withdrawn, big blow for Plymouth? Love to have some of what the commentators are on! Tac move of course!

Celtic to Hearts?

Skidder, commentator must have read your post. Obviously.

Dirty Barker fenced Lawson. Exc finger pointing.

Dan Gilkes riding very well and the difference tonight.

Atkins messed up the start there and was out of control before falling. Pirates don’t want Plymouth to stretch away. Ben Cook useless around here. edit. Ref allows Atkins back in . Outrageous call! Atkins fell with no one close! You know what will know happen. Well that backfired on Plymouth as the Pirates gated and with no passing Barker was stuffed!

So far Plymouth given us a master class on gating. Their setups dialled in. Plenty of time yet though.

Lol! Made no difference as a junior gates and goes. At least Zach came through on Bowtell.

Tracking showing it’s worth with another from the tapes one line gate and go. Adkins gated and that was that. Gate or you are stuffed.

Good feed. No racing in first three. Can only get better.

And it was. Ablitt a little tailed off.