TheWellBehavedWorrall

What one?

Really? I stand corrected in that case. My apologies. I’m led to believe Poland is where the money is and Workington’s financial troubles have been well documented this season, so I’m sure you can see where I put two and two together.

Are the likes of Bewley, Kurtz, Fricke and Doyle based in the UK? What about Lambert?

Really poor from Bowes, if that’s the case. Then again and I’m playing Devil’s advocate here, but if he hasn’t been paid - as can easily be assumed from his statement - then perhaps a single inconvenience is all it took for the toys to leave the pram. Either way, it isn’t good for the sport.

British speedway is so depleted that as a spectacle, one league is the only solution. The issue is subsequently whether or not this is viable for those who double up - Harris, Masters, Lawson, etc. - and most alarmingly, whether or not there are a sufficient amount of riders to build as many teams as one big league requires. Although probably necessary, reducing teams to five riders seems tinpot.

Cloak and dagger stuff from Bowes on Facebook. Very poorly written. ”I love speedway, I ride in Poland, it’s been a busy season, I was criticised in Poland, I wanted to be at Poole, my season is over”.. What? There’s such an emphasis put on Poland - the sparring match, the U24 spot, someone called Marek’s comments, etc. - that you assume the target of the statement is Poland. I can only assume the reference to clubs struggling financially and riders not being paid is in regard to Workington. Were the difficulties with travel to Poole the straw that broke the camel’s back? Who knows?

When are the fixtures typically released? January?

I don’t think you can underestimate the pressure our team building put on those two young men. The number six - Hodder to begin with and now Perry - had a remarkably tough gig, especially. Neither have had the protection of an even slightly more experienced reserve partner - a Grahn, a Starke or a Hook, for example - to bear a bit of the weight and afford them to the time to develop. I’m not sure what I’d do next season. I think a lot of that depends on how the month of October goes.

Love that assessment and couldn’t agree more.

Tough question, but both their post-match/meeting interviews are painful. Martin said the issue was not his tactics, but that the players were anxious. Brown said Palm Toft tried hard on Tuesday night. Both comments indicative of serious brain injuries and/or delusion.

I wouldn’t have blamed you.😂 Shh, the adults are talking.

I still can’t believe the referee accidentally pressed the red light button mid-race last night.😂 How is that even possible?

What happened? On that note, shout out to the scumbag with neck tattoos who walked away from the food outlet on the back straight with two Tennent’s without paying. The young boy and girl behind the till reminded him several times, but obviously, his upbringing dictated that he was above paying for his drinks.

Really enjoyed getting to see one heat from the referees box. That was a great experience. Even got to press a big red button in the middle of the race. 🤠

Don’t forget, we’ve spent about £400M and won two trophies in eleven years, so we start vibrating when we heard the word ”final”.

No-one was safe from being passed last night; there was every opportunity to pass, whether it was inside or outside, first heat or last one. More lines at Ashfield than a Colombian cartel wedding. I hope we get Poole for the propose of revenge, but the thought of one leg of the final being at Wimborne Road kills me. A sporting sleeping tablet.

I’m sitting with egg on my face over Flint. I was critical of him earlier this season, but what an end to the season he’s having. His pass in heat five on Palovaara and Palm Toft - two in the one bend - was literally world class. Then, in heat fourteen, it was all or nothing and he delivered. Even watching the meeting back on BSN, you could see him in the pits, motivating team mates like Perry. You could see how much it meant to him after the meeting too.

Shout out to Edinburgh fans too. They roared when Thomson and Grahn crossed the line in heat eight. They made noises all night; not only from their usual fourth bend spot, but on the back straight too. I was at Ibrox on Thursday night for the Genk match and the atmosphere at Ashfield last night was much better.

Ian, you’re a poster whose opinion I often agree with and find insightful, but I’m afraid we disagree on this. We’re at a time when a large portion of modern riders win a race and head straight back to the pits instead of acknowledging. We should embrace celebration. From a Glasgow perspective, we spend big and carry the weight of that expectation; mostly from ourselves. We were battered at Armadale in the first leg and three days ago, we flopped against a depleted Poole side. Mid-meeting last night, that was Edinburgh’s to lose. What followed was remarkable; literally riding the boards speedway from Harris, tag teaming Palovaara with Howarth before Flint, Perry and Palm Toft bobbed and weaved, miraculously without a fall. Then, a 5-1 in the final to win it by the smallest of margins against our arch rivals. We make no apologies for going overboard. Leon Flint’s response to winning heat fourteen and subsequent celebrations after the last heat represented how we all felt.

Remove semi-finals and finals from the sport and it’s the final nail in the coffin for speedway. Regardless of what you feel is justice, such as finishing top of the league or an individual competition, you’re proposing we remove the prospect of a climatic showdown. This is a spectator sport; let’s not try to remove the spectacle of drama. Let’s reward consistency, not with the trophy, but with a place in the semi-final or final and let’s reward the trophy to the rider or team who has the nerve, bottle and mentality to be a “winner”. I can’t believe that’s been suggested. Entertainment out the window with that suggestion. Mental. We’re trying to improve the sport.

What did he say?

He was outstanding. Zmarzlik wouldn’t have caught him in heat six. I thought stopping to fist bump Harris as he celebrated after heat fifteen was complete class. Human instinct would be to disappear back to the pits.

Who is Marek and what did he say?

Agreed. I thought the Edinburgh riders and fans were a credit to their support tonight. That heat six stoppage was the most amateur thing I’ve ever witnessed in sport. Also, both Monarchs left the track and returned to the pits before the re-run of heat one. Isn’t that an exclusion? Then Palovaara 100% missed the two minutes. Dreadful night for the referee. Accidentally pressing the red light is an absolute shambles.

What a meeting. What a night. I’ve just watched the meeting back on BSN and it doesn’t even come close to being there. If Ashfield had a roof, it would have come off after each of the last three heats. What a track. Inside, outside, first lap, last lap. Pure entertainment. Harris on Sedgmen, Harris on Palovaara, Howarth on Sedgmen, Howarth on Palovaara, Flint on Palm Toft, I could go on and on, but the value for money is remarkable.