Steve Shovlar

Redcar sack Bickley and bring in Newman.

Adults £10. Concessions £6. Under 16 free. Gates open 6pm. Should be a big crowd for this one. Thinks it’s on BSN as well. Pirates need to win this one to keep up the pressure on Glasgow for second spot. Probably too late to get second but no harm in pushing all the way. Redcar have a good team with Charles Wright and Louis Kerr as their top two. Going to be a hard fought win. Thoughts?

He has ridden well for us until halfway through the season when he crashed. Then he went several meetings for us and Wolves without scoring. Looks very nervous on a bike like he is crapping himself. Scored well on Wednesday. Clearly a confidence issue. When he is confident he looks good, but other times couldn’t beat an egg.

Sorry to say Brits look more afraid of the conditions than others. While others are going for it, the Brits look like they are too tentative.

Bigger crowd there than I expected. Middle tier very busy.

Just got back and thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Lots going on in the fans zone with all 16 riders signing autographs. Sure the racing wasn’t great and the crowd was down, in part to a lack of Poles, not able to get over so easily due to much higher plane fares and Brexit grief. Their numbers were massively down. Bewley bought the roof off the stadium which hasn’t been that noisy sing Chris Harris in 07. So many moaners on here. Perhaps they should have made the effort to attend, soak up the atmosphere and celebrate with Dan his win. As for Belle Vue. Do me a favour! Track is good but that’s where it stops. In a crap hole area of an industrial city which can’t hold a candle to Cardiff.

THAT was worth waiting for. Brilliant Dan Bewley.

Sitting here watching the tractors. Been possibly the worst GP at Cardiff ever. A shame ad its the 20th. Definately one to forget with dodgy track and ref. Poor racing little passing.

Just heard Steve Worrals cut out came adrift at the start of the final. Luckily no big engine expense.

A bit late in replying to the meeting but had s flat battery to sort out this morning! First of all well done to Redcar on their win. Final a huge anti-climax with Steve Worrals bike blowing up on the line. No point in Danny chasing down the Redcar pair as it would have made no difference. Could only see a Pirates win before that but those are the breaks in a 4,3,2 scoring system. Revenge for heat 20 would have been sweet but it was not to be. Pirates through down the gauntlet in the semis with a brilliant win over the Lions but lady luck deserted when it matters. But take nothing away from Redcar who were solid in the qualifiers and had 1 and 3 when they met Poole, which were best gates. Interestingly Poole took 2 and 4 in the final having done the biz in the semis. Dont think anyone can begrudge Redcar the trophy. A good night overall. Racing not great, Oxford useless, good crowd, good company. Well done to track staff keeping dust down until the last few heats . And special mention to Basso on being a class above the opposition. Poole B nearly made the final.

I am at the retail park next to the track. 36C here. Frying. They will need a swimming pool of water to keep the dust down. Heading to Cardiff after the meeting and the GP. Going to hot sleeping in my camper tonight!

Might not see Craig Cook for a good while.

So very easy for Pirates. Non contest and pretty boring to be honest as Plymouth offered nothing. Not even a heat winner. Their season ends in a whimper due to injuries and a heat leader not likely to come back anytime soon in Barker. Certainly not for the foreseeable future. Good to see Drew riding very well. Poor gating in heat one left him stranded but after that he was excellent. Whole team battled against a Plymouth lineup that should have done better. Good crowd again, and next week the gates open at 6pm, with whistles being handed out to the first 200 kids. God help us. Plus face painting and riders from both teams available for autographs till 6.30. £10 adults, £6 confessions and under 16’s free. Going to be packed out.

Baking here at the stadium. Still 27 c. Track being deluged with water. Track shining. Big crowd again. Next week special promotion. £10 adults kids under 16 free. First 400 kids get whistles. Face painting. And riders signing autographs from 6pm till 6.30. Gates open early. Should be noisy and packed out for visit of Redcar.

Thanks. Better late than never!

So 3 days before the event no lineups announced. I have a ticket but am now having serious doubts whether to bother. Meant to be top two from each club.

Sorry FB disagree with you on this occasion. Worrall and King should be the choice. Lawson struggled at Cowley last week. It’s difficult to pass and he struggled, not passing reserve Ruml. Steve got 4 wins on the bounce and King was very good. Looking forward to this should be a big crowd. Anyone know the lineups?

Easy Poole win regardless of guests.

Bit of a rout, this.

Take a bow Jacob Krawczyk. 12 points and a breakthrough meeting. Never noticed him before. Will take note. Good style and very quick.

What an anti-climax.

Young Krawczyk has been excellent. Good style and fast.

Got to be Danny King and Steve Worrall for Pirates. Both rode well on Tuesday at Cowley.

Looking forward to this. Should be a cracker. Tickets still available but probably not for long. We Pirates might have a very good chance of winning this vent. Then head along to Cardiff in the morning.

Playing the old “riding safely to reduce any risk and injury” system, where riders work out that 10 points a meeting every meeting is better than 12 points and a far higher risk factor for the extra 2 points. Chasing and passing for those extra few points is not worth it if the chance of an injury is 100% higher. They could lose weeks out chasing an extra £50. Makes sense to those longer in the tooth to keep their careers going into their late 30’s/early 40’s.