Steve Shovlar

Monday at Monmore sees the Pirates in action. Not a track we go particularly well at and the two Poles may not find it to their liking. Thoughts?

Possibly the best race of the night and no passing. Could have done a dozen laps and the riding order would have remained the same.

How many did Worrall score at Swindon again?

Ridiculous to start talking about team changes. Regardless of this result Poole still have strongest team in the league as a season of racing will show. Five new riders on a track that they are not familiar with means they are riding on it without home advantage, which will build up over the folowing weeks. And if Matt makes and changes we will become even stronger. Absolutely nothing to get stressed or worry about.

Starman, the track on Wednesday was terrible. Smooth but no passing.

Depends if you class first and second bend as passing. Heat ten Batchelor had the run off the second bend down the back straight. Ellis did pass Woryna up the inside of bend two lap 2. Kurtz was always at the back. Heat 14 both Poole riders got either side of Ellis but he had the run down the back straight into third bend. No pass. So I recall the only pass a Swindon rider made after second band was Ellis on Woryna. It really was a meeting of little entertainment, the same as Monday at Belle Vue. Little to no passing in either meetings.

Charlie Webster, along with that althlete Jessica Ennis-Hill both went out of their way to publicly abuse Ched Evans. Whilst they might have had the right when he was banged up in prison, humility in apologising once it had been found that he was innocent would have been the correct step to take. Neither Webster or Hill have found it in themselves to do the right thing. Got no time for either of them. I will also say if she’s got malaria it’s her own fault. Wouldn’t wish it on her but really, if you are heading to a country where there’s a chance of contracting malaria, you take a course of medication before leaving the UK.

Excellent news. Middlo mentioned that there was a lot of lose stuff on the bends not doing very much.

Thought it was this.

That 1940’s marching music the riders come out to at the moment is an embarrassment that needs to be binned. Now. Don’t know what the tune is called but it’s worse than the crap Coventry came out to for years.

Look at my original post. No ratings out of ten.

Oli I didn’t put those ratings in my post.

These hot laps are unfair if both teams can’t compete. No suprise bv complained.

It’s not a Poole comment.

He’s very solid and will up his average no problem.

Your a week early. I am flying to Venice next Thursday.

Just got back after witnessing the press conference which I filmed and will chuck up on youtube shortly. First of all well done to Swindon who gave us a master class in gating. They were two bike lengths quicker out of the gate in virtually every heat. At first I put it down to having 2 and 4, which were working very well. But by the time we got on them the Swindon boys were dialled in and it made very little difference. In virtually every heat Swindon got to the first bend in front and we were just chasing shadows. The track is now nice and smooth but the racing lines have vanished. Morris gated superbly, held the inside and that was that. A terrible terrible meeting to watch (unless you were one of the 4 Swindon fans I witnessed who made the trip down. Only person who showed true grit and detemination was PK who made a couple of from the back moves. For Swindon. Their whole team did well, bar Davey. For Poole Kurtz was completely off the pace. Never seen him so bad. Woryna did Ok but struggled with racing lines. Josh G missed the gate twice and then took a purler trying to get second. Bad night. Sundstrom looks a bit lightweight. PK showed class. Spanner was good. Battled to paid ten. Shanes found it tough. Took a heavy fall trying to make a pass, bruised but ok. One of those nights where one team clicks all together, and the other has a mare. Well done again to Swindon who deserved their win. Video of conference to come.

Its been men against boys out of the starts. Looking forward to the press conference later. Going to be interesting.

I bet there are loads of Swindon fans on here regretting not making the trip down here tonight. Let me tell you that the Robins have given Poole a lesson in gating and deservedly are smashing us. Brady doing wheelies at the back sums up our efforts as Swindon took an early lead with the gate advantage of 2 and 4 (gifted to them) and never looked back. Well done to them. Our track might be smoother but racing has been dire.

Reports say track is in very good order. Well watered. Lovely warm evening. Perfect night to enjoy some speedway.

Temp traffic lights straight outside stadium causing traffic carnage! Don’t arrive late!

How many titles have Belle vue won since the millenium? How many have Poole won? Its a sport. In it to win it! If other clubs want to bring on thd young Brits good for them. But I would rather have our stuffed trophy cabinet full of league titles.

This is a team sport and therefore it is important to put out the strongest 7 riders possible, regardless of nationality. If British riders are good enough they will get a team berth. If a foriegn rider gets a team spot over a Brit is is because he is a better rider. The top flight in British speedway is not a training ground. British riders don’t have some god given right to get a spot. They have to earn it.

A beautiful day today. Patio doors open into the garden. Warm and sunny. Track will need plenty of water this week. Should be a great meeting tonight.