TheWellBehavedWorrall

What’s this?😂 Sorry; I’m clued up on the Dickson and Cook saga at Leicester a few weeks ago, but what’s happened with Hagon?

A thoroughly enjoyable evening at Shielfield Park. As always, to be honest. I really enjoy Berwick. Drew Kemp was the star of the show, but our consistency saw us home. After all the arguably justified concern around Hodder and Perry, it was great to see them score 11 paid 14 between them. Outstanding. It was also great to see Craig Cook back in amongst the points. Although I’m not sure I’d be saying that, had Berwick won. I hope the reception he got from both Berwick and Glasgow fans really registered with him because the version of British Speedway where Craig Cook is riding well is the best version of the sport.

Agreed; the super heat feels like a solution thought up by a child.

Well done, Monarchs. Totally deserved. That win tonight will mean more to Edinburgh than the bonus point will to Glasgow. Sedgmen was outstanding. If he can continue to lead from the front, this Edinburgh side will exceed expectations. An impressive debut from Polis too; huge potential there. I thought it was quite obvious Boughen is still struggling with his hip, so I’m avoiding criticising him, but I’ve already said my piece on Flint. A major disappointment. Hodder and Perry delivered their average and had Perry not fallen while in second in heat two, would have doubled his score and it’s possible the meeting sees a different outcome. Get this out the system, learn from our mistakes and focus on Berwick next weekend.

This Monarchs’ side has definitely been underrated. A tight meeting so far and great to see Boughen pick up a huge win in heat eight, but Flint is needing to get his finger out. I feel like I’ve been saying that for twelve months. Our inclusion of two rider on 2.00 averages was the belief that the main body of the side was strong enough to accommodate their development and afford them time. That becomes a risk when your 6.60+ number four scores two from three at home.

What do you mean? What’s there?

Ah, yes, second and third would still up for grabs. With the prospect of such a gripping finale, who would want to leave?😂

Are you seriously suggesting that individual tournament’s inclusion of semi-finals and finals is at fault for speedway’s fall from grace?😂 If your preference of twenty heats only had been applied yesterday, the meeting as a competition would have been over by heat fourteen. Worrall could have finished last in heat seventeen and he’d still have topped the standings. Can you imagine? BSN: ”Thanks for tuning in everyone. Steve Worrall is your CLRC winner and what will now follow is six heats that mean absolutely nothing; six dead rubber, exhibition races”.😂

This doesn’t even make sense. Of course Mauger and co. deserved to win their world titles; semi-finals and finals weren’t a part of those events, so who else would deserve to win said titles after twenty heats? Speedway has evolved and if you can’t see that, it’s your problem. No-one else’s.

Agreed; Howarth had a fantastic weekend, but it’ll interesting to see how he responds to missing the gate over the course of the season. When out-gated in heat ten at Armadale on Friday night and in the semi-final at Workington on Saturday, he didn’t come close to challenging either opposing rider. A small criticism in an otherwise fantastic debut weekend.

Exactly. Berwick have absolutely been short-changed here, but I don’t think a bit of professional communication would go a miss as, like I said, the paying customer deserves that at least.

Worrall didn’t deserve to win the meeting; Harris did. Just like Harris and Howarth, despite finishing top of qualifying in the Pairs, didn’t deserve to win that title 24 hours earlier. Had there been no semi-finals or finals, the meeting would have been over by heat 17. Actually, even earlier because Worrall wouldn’t have had to finish in a scoring position in that heat to win it. He could have come last and he’d still finish ahead of Wright who won the race. By my calculations, that would actually have meant the meeting was over by heat 14. What would subsequently follow would be utterly unimportant, dead-rubbers heats. In no version of the sporting world is your suggestion any sort of improvement.

I didn’t say they did anything wrong; I said they did him dirty which they did. They can write what they want, but I was pleased to see him respond with two great performances.

I didn’t say they did anything wrong; I said they did him dirty which they did. They can write what they want, but I was pleased to see him respond with two great performances.

Why isn’t it sold any more? Doubt being condescending was necessary here, but I’m beginning to realise it’s common on this forum.

Is the Speedway Star no longer sold at Armadale? I asked the lady behind the counter at the club shop for one and she said they’re not sold there any more.

Has there been nothing more communicated by Berwick beyond ”Craig Cook is unavailable”? So, so poor if so. Really bad for the fans who deserve the courtesy of clarity.

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him. I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb. I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc. Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

Each to their own, but I couldn’t possibly disagree more if I tried. Finals exist to not only crown the most consistent performer, but also the person who can prove it under pressure. From a viewers perspective, it’s creates a spectacle and drama; a single high-stakes race that captures the attention. It takes a different set of skills to win a final too. It’s mental toughness and adaptability from a low-pressure qualifying section to an all-on-the-line final. I can only assume you’re a Scunthorpe fan, are Richie Worrall and/or don’t enjoy excitement. This isn’t unique to Scunthorpe. I bought chips at Armadale on Friday that I can only assume were cooked on a radiator.

How is the rider on the inside so far in front of the rider on the outside gate at the first bend, every single time? I can’t put my finger on it. I’ve never seen that at any other track. Another great ride from Charles Wright.

Great move from Charles Wright there. Harris looked very slow in his last ride; he barely hung on to second in ahead of Lambert and had Kemp’s engine not gone, he’d have been a poor third. Howarth is hanging in there, but Wright made light work of him there and it looks like a completely different Dan Thompson to the one who appeared at Armadale on Friday night.

First time seeing a meeting a Scunthorpe and it’s a mad track. It’s almost like the bike is never straight; just skidding round and round. No-one is safe in front; every rider is vulnerable. It’s made for a decent meeting. That move from Harris in his first ride was unbelievable. He’s worth the admission cost alone. I actually thought the Edinburgh rider to his left moved slightly, putting him off in his last one. Luke Killeen on co-commentary is painful.😂

I didn’t see last year’s event, but if that is the case, the lack of consistency is disappointing. In that sort of incident, my opinion is that Kerr - even if it was Chris Harris - causes the stoppage.

Congratulations to Redcar. Gutted it ended in a dead rubber final, but as harsh as that is on Kerr, Riss has passed him and is subsequently in control of the pace of the race; it’s Kerr’s responsibility to navigate that. It’s incredibly harsh and remarkably frustrating. The Cook/Barker incident was similar; I can see both sides argument, but ultimately, a decision which not everyone will agree with has to be made. Disappointed by Glasgow’s showing in the first semi-final, but Harris and Howarth were dominant in the main section of the meeting, so lots of optimism for the season ahead. Klindt was rider of the night and Sedgmen might want to offer a refund to any travelling Edinburgh fans as he didn’t appear interested in competing.

The racing has improved, but I wouldn’t complain about a few more toe-to-toe battles. Klindt has been frightening, as has Masters, but someone needs to remind Sam it’s the Pairs; abandoning Jenkins doesn’t aid Oxford’s cause I waited to see heat eleven before losting this and he did it again. Great ride from Riss to take the win. This is the speedway we want.