TheWellBehavedWorrall

What an advert for speedway Ashfield is. A great evening of racing and an excellent result to go with it. I’ve been critical of Flint in the past, but take a bow son. We know what to expect with Harris, but Flint sensational. I thought Edinburgh were remarkably fortunate with the decisions in heats two and thirteen. For heat two, I can understand the decision because Perry goes down untouched, but let’s call a spade a spade, he hit the deck because Marson had little control over his bike. Perry would have passed him three bends earlier had he, again, had control of his bike. For heat thirteen, Polis - who I rate and was surprised by tonight - was all over the place; completely erratic. Had Harris not taken evasive action entering bend two, he’d have been on the deck and Polis would have been excluded. He didn’t though; he chopped it and came under the Pole while Howarth raced around him - or was about to - until he was obstructed. If you obstruct a rider going quicker than you, you’re both crashing. Regardless of whether your handlebars are in front or not; common sense should prevail. Great night, bizarre decisions.

Possibly, but I think it’s more likely a combination of both. Pre-crash which resulted in the hip injury, he had scored 5 and 4+1, including two race wins, across two Premiership meetings. For a top flight number seven, you can’t possibly ask for anything more, so the fact that struggles have been post-crash implies it’s the root of the issue.

I don’t think a period of rest, like Borke at Berwick, would be a bad thing for Boughen. I think it’s fairly obvious he’s struggling. Other than heat one at Armadale and heat eight at home to Edinburgh, he’s looked uncomfortable on the bike. Engine issues can be fixed, but you can’t ride through a hip injury.

A frustrating start to the season for the Bandits. Borke will benefit from a period of rest - much like I believe Boughen needs following his crash at Kings Lynn - but between that, Schlein withdrawing early, the uncertainty surrounding Cook and Kildemand’s injury, it’s been a mad start to the season. Sam Hagon has a lot of potential, but being forced into the main body of the team so early can go one of two ways. Hopefully it’s a positive move for the Bandits.

Can’t see anything other than a comfortable home win. Edinburgh, if firing on all cylinders, will be difficult to beat at Armadale. A lot will depend on Sedgmen’s fitness, Thomson’s form and which Castagna turns up. Double figures for Polis, 100%. A tough one for Berwick, being forced to move a reserve to the main body of the team through injury, but if Hagon can find some consistency, who knows what will happen?

Really enjoyed that meeting. Tough on Edinburgh to take nothing from two last heat deciders over a 48 hour period, but they were depleted tonight. I thought Cook and Polis were the stand outs. Cook’s mid-meeting interview was great; really insightful and amazing to see him upbeat, then to seal the win with victory in heat fifteen was deserved. As I said, Polis will top the Edinburgh averages. No doubt about it. They’ve found a gem.

Thomson’s had a poor start to the season, but he’s on three paid four from two tonight, so he’s starting to contribute. Castagna is a bizarre one. He looked great in his first three riders; hunting down Howarth, beating Harris and showboating. Yet, his last two, when it mattered, he was nowhere to be seen. Not just last, but two very poor last places.

This is only the third time I’ve saw him, but I fully expect him to top the Monarchs’ average come the end of the season. Ashfield, Shielfield and Armadale are like nothing he’ll have ever encountered in Poland, but he’s scored sixteen across the first two meetings and he’s on five from two already tonight. For perspective, compare him to Matic Ivacic for us last season.

On a more positive note, Polis around the big, long track of Shielfield will be interesting. I’m expecting double figures.

For Edinburgh to be going into this meeting with four guests is nothing short of a shambles. Calling them ”Edinburgh” is a complete stretch of the imagination. Yet again, only in speedway.

How do you know this?

Thanks. That makes sense of him going from leading comfortably to crossing the finish line in third at around 4MPH in heat one.

Yes, but from Tesco. I wasn’t at Armadale tonight, I bought Edinburgh‘s live stream for £12.99 which was great value for money.

That was a bizarre decision, but I’m not complaining. Sedgmen had just won heat thirteen, so I could understand if Castagna’s spot in the final heat was under threat, but to overlook Polis, dare I say it, cost the meeting.

What a win, but first of all, I’m delighted the above has happened; delighted for Flint, especially. He battled for and earned every single point. What a performance from Thompson and Howarth. Outstanding. Boughen too and again, Flint. The two reserves had a nightmare, but they’ll learn from evenings like this. This is the benefit of having a strong top five; the youngsters are protected and have time, opportunity and a platform to develop with experience. Harris must have had bike issues. There’s no other explanation for how slow, off the pace and underwhelming he was.

What happened to Harris in heat one? Miles ahead, then almost appeared to look at Grahn to allow him past.

Turned it off now. Genuinely woeful speedway.

Turned it off now. Genuinely woeful speedway.

This, big time.

Painful viewing, this. Jeppsen versus Jenkins in the last heat was the first race that didn’t feel like a visual sleeping tablet. Between this tonight and Poole last night, what’s going on with the quality of racing?

Disappointing to learn of Max James’ situation. It’s never nice to hear of a young rider losing his confidence. If the Edinburgh management can get a tune out of whoever replaces him, I’d have the Monarchs nailed on for a play-off spot.

Not confident of a win this time around. I thought it was obvious at Armadale a few weeks ago and at Shielfield on Saturday that Boughen is still suffering from that crash at Kings Lynn, so I’m not expecting much from him, especially given it’s a hip injury and Armadale is tight. Flint is the biggest concern. He needs to contribute more; it’s essential if we’re to succeed, but two underwhelming performances so far give a poor indication. Having said that, I would love nothing more than to have egg on my face tomorrow night. If Hodder and Perry score a couple each, they’ve done their job, but given Perry’s performance at Berwick, who knows? Harris, Howarth and Thompson will each need to score double figures (again) to accommodate the above.

I think it could be a long season for Plymouth fans. Klindt and Trigger aside, that was nowhere near remotely good enough. Cluff and Thompson must be the poorest middle pairing in the league. Thompson was on the arse end of three 5-1s while Cluff was impersonating a speedway rider. Impressive stuff from Poole, especially the main body of the team.

I like Shielfield Park. You’ve got to have a bit of bottle and skill to pass someone, plus watching riders navigate the banking on those third and fourth bends is entertainment in itself. Harris on Cook and Flint on Wood come to mind in terms of passing; both of whom are of course visiting riders. My biggest issue - and it’s been one since returning to the sport - is the number of riders who throw in the towel when in fourth, whether it’s gripping the clutch for the entire last lap or pulling into the centre green, thus withdrawing all together. Borke (twice), Boughen and Thompson come to mind. Hume slid off and took his bike straight off track, not even attempting to re-join the race and Boughen subsequently suffered some engine gremlins. Had Hume restarted, he’d have inevitably passed Boughen.

What’s the deal with Kemp? The programme said an average of 6.46, but that was a 10+ performance. He could have walked the last lap of heat three and still won, then he smoked Harris. It would have been interesting to see how heat nine transpired, had his engine not gone because he was in third, so had work to do. It’s somewhat curious that Kemp’s average is .22 lower than Flint’s who, from what I understand, was returning to his “home” track. Another underwhelming performance from him in a lesser role than he was required to rider last season. It’s early doors, but initial signs suggest he could develop into a concern; not the reserves.