Steve Shovlar

Hopefully loads of Plymouth fans will travel up to Poole next month for Bjarnes farewell. He is a Pirates legend and deserves a great big send off into retirement.

Agree the majority of fans are friendly there. As you say some are blind to the track shape and the “racing” it provides. Four riders close together might be exciting to some but often a junior can lead a race and much more experienced riders can bust a gut and get nowhere. The track is far too narrow, which makes most heats a procession. When Poole rode there earlier this season there was one pass of note in 15 heats, when Schlein litterally forced himself under Bowtell off the last bend, causing Bowtell to throw a wobbly after the heat. Perhaps they could move the back straight back ten metres to widen the track. It would mean a more circular track, but it would certainly improve the spectacle.

A few years ago I used to VE walking out of the stadium around 9.15. It was about that at the interval. The meetings do need to be speeded up. Tonight dragged and add on crap racing and I was bored.

Last week I was there and the track was very poor. We lost Stefan Neilsen in heat 2 and I spoke to Danyon Hume who rode at Brum and he said it was nothing like how it was when he was there. Set up for gate, go wide and stay wide. No chance if you don’t gate. Having said that, it was gate and go at Poole tonight.

Well the track was smooth, no dust…….but dead. No life in it whatsoever to lead to quite a gate and go borefest. There were a few moments of interest coming near the end with Rowe having a majestic sweep of Bjarne and Keleher, and in heat 13 when Crump, Barker gated and King squeezed between the pair if them into bend 3, but other than that it was not a great meeting. For Plymouth Crump looked like he was turning the clock back 15 years and got away with a huge roller in his second after being pulled back. He should have been out but the ref let it go. Got caught in his next though and thrown out. Bjarne got a huge cheer and it looks like he has been given a farewell meeting at Poole in October. Awaiting further details. An easy win, and not much else to report. I understand no new shale has been put down at all. Whether it’s going to be done in the 2 week break we now have I have no idea. The issues of the last few weeks seem to have been sorted but passing is not as it should be.

Plymouth are far stronger at reserve tonight. How we miss Stefan. But we have more top 5 strength. Should be a good meeting.

Rain lasted 10 mins if that. Almost cleared away now and dry for the rest of the day unless something not there at the moment develops.

Rain should be here shortly and last around 60-90 mins. Clear after that.

Quite easy to look at RainToday.co.U.K. To see the actual rainfall. It has beefed up a bit since earlier and there is a thin band of rain pushing up from the Cherbourg Peninsular which could give us an hour or so of the wet stuff later on. Fingers crossed it’s not bad. At least Poland v England is on the box tonight as a fall back.

Poole track has had its surface issues recently but is a superb Race track with passing on every bend. Far superior in every aspect over the Plymouth track. A much lesser rider can gate at Plymouth and ride a sensible line to keep far better riders behind him. Let’s see him try that at Wimborne Road. I have witnessed at first hand the Plymouth track. Perhaps you should come up for today’s meeting and afterwards tell me that you believe Plymouth is a better track.

I think we will be absolutely fine. A risk of a few early evening showers but it should go ahead. Hopefully Plymouth will put up a good fight, especially bringing in Barker who loves the Poole track. I would like to see a tight meeting rather than the usual one sided slaughter.

A ten thousand pound prize fund? Why didn’t they offer £2,000 and spend £8000 on widening and improving this tiny track to produce acceptable level of racing?

Happened to Poole at Redcar a few weeks ago. 8 up heat 11 to lose by 8. Shocking.

Now THAT is what I call a collapse! Must have Been a high drama thriller.

A shame for Lawson who has had a good season. If he is number one they can cover with a guest. Barker the obvious choice.

With the big rise in covid cases it is a high possibility of an October lockdown. Might not be any playoffs. This government is absolutely hopeless in everything it does or doesn’t do.

Lawson might be missing. R/R or guest?

Just been announced bikes have been retrieved.

Richard Lawson has taken a fall at Monmore tonight and Nigel Pearson on Eurosport he has a shoulder injury.

I think we all know who will win it this year as well. Lublin have done remarkably well to make the final. Yes it’s all over for Gorzow. But Wroclaw will win both legs of the final.

Great ride by Woffinden.

Bewley completely wrecked what was a guarenteed Doyle exclusion. The reason why the ref put on the red light so quickly was to exclude Doyle. All Bewley had to do was stand there waiving his arms and Doyle would have been out. Bewley trying to clear the track shows he thought Doyle was not at fault and put doubt straight in the refs mind. Then he is looking for a reason to keep Doyle in the race. Stupid of Bewley. Needs to learn to play the game. Rolls reversed and Doyle would be shouting from the rooftops.

Great race.

Laguta got his thoughts elsewhere. Poor for his team.