Steve Shovlar

He is having a great season and has really come on this year.

Doyle was talking to Cook as he returned to the pits and Cook’s body language wasn’t good. Shaking his head as Doyle pepped talked him.

Craig Cook just had a big off at Ipswich tonight. He’s up and walking away. Looked tentative in his three rides.

We don’t need to. The Fords got their team building right from the start of the season and didn’t have to go around throwing a massive wad of cash at the death of the season to compete, like Belle Vue did last year with Lambert.

I have an issue with the rule, as it’s quite frankly ridiculous. I don’t have an issue with Glasgow trying to exploit the rule. How can a 5 point PL rider be a 5 point Championship rider? It’s a nonsense and will end this years league championship.

It’s nothing like the Cook averages. Their averages are correct. Both fire hot and cold, though their averages are rising as they improve. Tarasenko is a Polish Extraleague top rider. No comparison between Tarasenko and the Cooks. At all. Or Worrall. Or Lawson.

I tried to word my post fairly as to not come over as sour grapes. My post was not meant bitter at all. If it is within the rules, so be it. But if this is actually allowed, then the rules are very wrong and such a signing makes a mockery of the whole league competition.

Extraleague riders should not be riding uk Championship. What’s now to stop Poole from getting Dominic Kubera in to replace Kyle Newman should they tempt him with a big cheque? It would be ridiculous.

Ridiculous that Tarasenko has the same 5 average in both Premier and Championship. There’s really no doubt whatsoever that Glasgow with this signing will win the Championship this season. They won’t need decent reserves as the top 5 will be overpowering. It’s a signing similar to Lambert coming into BV last season to win the playoffs for them. But if it is within the rules, then so be it.

We get to the rerun of the abandoned meeting from three weeks ago when that unlucky photographer got injured by a flying bike. Hopefully he is now well on the way to recovery. Poole at the time we’re well on the way to the points but things are never the same on a rerun and Pirates have to be right on it to make sure the important three points come south. The pirates are full strength with Joe Thompson now in the team replacing Adam Roynon, who was also injured by a flying bike in the same meeting! Perhaps Edinburgh fans can give us an update on the Monarchs team lineup. Is Craig Cook back or a guest? Tapes up at 7pm with Birmingham following this meeting.

For Oxford to finish top, Glasgow would have to let them. Glasgow are solid at home and should beat Oxford without too many issues. In a playoff scenario, who would Glasgow rather meet? Oxford or Poole? Sure they might have to meet Poole in a final, but anything could happen in the playoffs. Best avoid Pirates and ride against Oxford and Redcar/Scunthorpe than Poole. I believe Glasgow will see off Oxford and perhaps finish as runners up.

If you took Complin out of heat 9 and used a t/r, he would have had one ride left, to be used in heat 14. The fact that Glasgow failed t bring a number 8 when using r/r is their fault. Also forgot to mention we have someone new to boo. Vissing for some unfathomable reason decided to verbally attack the start Marshall after one heat. No idea why but made a fool out of himself and brought the wrath of the grandstand down on him for the remainder of the meeting. Funny though.

No. It was the fact that he never used a t/r when it was common sense to use one. Leaving a t/r to heat 14 was ridiculous! Or could he really do no opportunity? Heat 9 was screaming out for Complin to be replaced by a t/r, meaning Complin could have ridden in heat 14. Terrible tactics by the manager!

Thought Glasgow would put up a proper fight tonight, but they really are, so far this season, the worst team to visit Wimborne Road. Can’t really understand it to be honest. Glasgow got lucky with their heat advantages. Heat 10 and on a 3-3 when Kyle’s bike packed up on last lap. Heat 13 and Lawson blew up at the start. Special mention to Brennan who got stuck in. Another mention to the Glasgow manager. Only one rider in one heat when he could have used a t/r, then leaving the t/r to heat 14! Not doing his job imo. Sorry Mr Brown, poor tactics. Pirates rocking in front of another massive crowd. Ben Cook showing that when the opposition Gate they will get picked off, with a superb move in heat 9. Is it the last time Glasgow will visit Poole this season? Perhaps not. If Poole finish top, it will be a battle between Redcar, Oxford and Glasgow in the playoff group. So Poole top of the league, and a win at Edinburgh and home to Brum will see us finishing top.

Long delay due to Pijper coming off and a member of public in the crowd being attended to. Interval taken track staff now coming out.

Pirates weakened by the loss of Steve Worrall but Ben Cook a good replacement and will give it his best. Oxford should walk this but last year aware never in the running.

Much closer imo.

From yesterday.

The big one on Wednesday as Pirates take on title challengers Glasgow at Wimborne Road. If Glasgow win they are likely to finish top of the league, with other challenger Oxford still to visit Glasgow. It’s going to be a lot close than Glasgows previous visit when Poole took them apart. Could come down to the wire. Big crowd expected, weather set fair. What’s not to like?

That was a bit of a drawn out meeting. Totally one sided but there were a couple of very good races especially heat 13. Edinburgh only really had Pickering and to a lesser extent Thomson. Gifted 31 due to Thomson given 4 rides, a fall for Ben Cook and Lawson chain coming off in heat 15. Track needed a bit of extra attention at the interval due to possibly too much dirt on it. Gave is a load of water as well to reduce dust. Not sure why they chose 5pm as a start time. 7.30 would have been better imo. Pirates looking solid and strong. Special mention to Anders Rowe who is really coming along well this season. Started slowly but now in a good groove and is definitely one for the future.

Was a weird call. Though all four back was obvious.

If Symon Woniak replaces Nowak it would end this season as a competition. The guy has just qualified for next years GPs and is a class above Championship speedway. Would be virtually unbeatable.

A shame no Craig Cook. Really the Edinburgh promotion should have done better in attracting a guest. Weather set fair. Warm and dry. Good crowd expected. Heading off in 45 mins.

I stand corrected on the points we can all get. But for Oxford to finish top they need to win all their remaining meetings and win at Glasgow. Not likely. For Glasgow to finish top they need to win all their meetings and win at Poole next Wednesday. For Poole to finish top they need to win their home meetings, which could alone be enough. But if they win next Friday at Edinburgh that will clinch it, unless Oxford win at Glagow. I think we will win at Edinburgh so the big one is next Wednesday at Poole v Glasgow. Should be a humdinger. Big crowd expected.

It’s in Pirates hands. Win our home and win at Edinburgh and we are top.