Nutz

Agreed... And I'm sure Cookie will (if not he already has) learn from this and will become a better more focused rider for it.

Rather harsh to label all Edinburgh fans accordingly... think you'll find many pages ago both Young51 and I accepted the right action was handed out to Cookie if the ref deemed he was in not state to control a speedway bike after their discussion - which he did and Cookie agreed with in the cold light of day. One thing that not too many of you (though some can) can accept is that what the trigger to the incident was - the spark that ignited a fire that had been smouldering for a few weeks... Granted it needed next to no spark, but indeed the spark was there.

Of which I was one that travelled so feel as aggrieved as the next man. I'm not saying Barker should apologise to Cookie... But he should have the decency to acknowledge his part in the melee by offering an apology rather than go to a tabloid which makes him out to be a totally innocent party in it. And why say what was said to start it was insignificant when you don't know what was said? I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, but we both agree that the real losers were the supporters who travelled to the meeting.

First paragraph I totally agree with. Next, unless you know what was said that started the fracas, you can't say it was insignificant. I'd say the way Cook has reacted since Thursday would suggest he has taken it on board and already learned from it.

And all 4 of Barkers' rides... But you're missing the point... Cook isn't apologising to Barker and I don't see why he should. He was apologising to the supporters of both teams. The statement was a personal admission of guilt and apologised accordingly. Barker hasn't offered any apology and he's as guilty of making the tie a non-spectacle as Cook was.

And your point is? If you agree and accept the rubbish written in the programme last night, you're as bad as Louis and Simmons.

In answer to the questions, yep, I'm Nutz! You get that from being an Edinburgh supporter at times! No, I don't know who wrote it for him. There's nothing to suggest he didn't write it himself but I'd suggest it was in conjunction with Edinburgh speedway. No proof that it wouldn't have happened if Barker hadn't have said said something. However I'd ask why he would start something when he'd beaten him on the track? Think if you can get hold of the programme, you'd be appalled. Some of the accusations and comments written were out of order and border on libel. Thanks though for the words. It's nice that it's still recognised that we wasted money supporting our team that was ruined by two adrenaline fuelled riders. Wrong. Cook was nowhere near him when he went back to the pits. Again, totally agree. Heat 1 was the fuel for the fire that's been smouldering for a month. I'm guessing he didn't put anything on last night so as not to say something out of turn in the heat of the moment. That's professionalism that at times he's not shown when regards Twitter and in my mind should be commended for it. I can accept that and have said so in previous posts... Thing I've been arguing against is most see Barker as the innocent party in this and he was by no means innocent whatsoever.

Doubt it... Gentle Ben will pick up a false eyelash injury and not travel North of Manchester

And I think you're talking rubbish! OK, I agree, if cookie has damaged equipment and continued to act in an aggressive manner when talking to the referee, then fine. The ban was the right thing to do. But nobody is pointing to why it started in the first place. Will Barker explain in the Sun what the initial provocation was that made Cook react like he did? Cook had beaten him in the race fair and square so wouldn't just go and start a fight. He reacted (wrongly) to what was said. After it flew out of hand with the ref. But of course, Barker won't have said anything... Poor little Benji... All the blame is on cookie. Fact is nothing would have happened if Barker could keep his mouth shut - maybe this is the reason fellow professionals don't get on with him. I was one that was also lost out last night but I feel as aggrieved with the intended incitement in the programme by a supposed professional promotion team and the actions as much of your riders as our own. Well done Cookie for the professional apology. Now to do the talking on the track.

Wrong. Cook was officially removed from the meeting for ungentlemanly and violent conduct as was announced over the tannoy. So unless he assaulted the referee, it must've been for the altercation in the pits.

What did he say to the Ref? What did Barker say to the Ref? Note: Facts only please!

It's probably the best time to hit us at the moment with a tough lesson learnt last week and the shenanigans and probable on-going issues surrounding last night... However, I believe Edinburgh realise they'll need to turn the corner very quickly to stop this season from self destructing and tonight may just see a backlash from last night. Newcastle on Sunday will also be pivotal... I expect us to win tonight but it won't be a usual Berwick score at the Dale and I think it could be a bit closer...

And when they grant your visa application back to your own little world, be sure to catch the first available flight!!! Cook reacted to provocation like any of us would. I'm not saying it's right, Its not. And if he's reacted sufficiently angry then the ref has done the right thing to stop anything worse possibly happening on the track. If this had have been rugby, both would've been removed from the meeting which is what should have happened here. Even Ipswich fans we talked to last night said that he's had a situation coming to him like this for a while - so when you're own are saying it, then it tells a story. Cook has issued an apology to all concerned apart from one person which I'm pleased about. Now lets see if Barker can string two words together and issue something of his own? I doubt it... Truth hurts doesn't it.

Ah, a Fourth round in Poland then;) So that'll be the Polish GP, The European GP, The GP of North Eastern Europe and the Slightly East of Western Europe GP!

In truth, it ain't Lindgren we're worried about at Armadale... Messr's Robson, Tully, Worrall and Kerr will do enough damage to keep you in with a shout of at the very least, an away point.

Newcastle are the one team in the division equipped to confidently come to Armadale and expect to take a win... R/R for Henry makes them stronger imho... However, since the KOCup match, we've got Jozsef at reserve and Claus has finally found some setup that works round the Dale... When all is said and done, I still expect it to be very close with a 2-4pt win either way... Certainly don't see a 10pt home win... My prediction? 46-44

Think most people are missing the point here... It shouldn't be an argument about if Cook or Worrall or King would've scored more than Bridger or Barker (or even Harris for that matter)... It's the fact of how do we plan for the future when guys like this aren't given a chance? Before last night, I would've said Bridger was a foolish choice - but after last night, maybe he is worth a second chance? He seems to have matured ever so slightly (not enough yet though) and he maybe can have a say in the future... He's a racer and needs to know when to consolidate rather than go for the blasts... Barker on the other hand, enough is enough. He ain't going to make it and shouldn't have been in Prague. We're not going to win the SWC in the next 2 or 3 years until guys like Cook, Worrall etc. are given the opportunities to race on the big stage. If we'd have made the final last night, we'd be absolutely embarrassed in the final against the Poles and the Danes... All 3 teams were there for the taking last night and with the right selection we could've made it. But it's all about building for the future and that's what Middleditch isn't doing. Another thing... Unfortunately everyone seems to be talking about Woffinden and Harris being nailed on in the world cup squad. Woffy yes... But why now is Harris an automatic choice? He's not on form this year and has been suspect for quite some time. He's not the future of British Speedway whereas Woffy, Cook, Worrall, Ellis, (Bridger), King can be... In my opinion, Woffy should be the only automatic choice and the rest made up of who's on form until we've got a squad that can compete with the Latvians of this world!!!! Gotta remember that you've got to throw Sweden and Russia into the pot as when they have full teams, they'll also bury us with current squad selections... We're a long way off competing with Poland/Russia/Sweden/Australia/Denmark and are currently a sub standard nation who are questionably the best of the rest (Germany/Finland/Latvia etc...) The buck stops at the top and I for one would like to see someone in charge with some drive to bring new riders through onto the world stage. No-one would be sitting here complaining if we'd have scored 28pts last night with a line-up of Woffinden, Barker, King and Cook... They'd have been saying well done for trying to bring in new talent and faces.

Yep, me too!!!

Updated, many thanks...

If you were to draw a graph of length of years riding a speedway bike at any level for both of them and graph it against achievement in the sport so far, Cook will have a much steeper line as his development has been much quicker and sharper than Bridgers. Maybe Bridger is 3yrs younger than Cook, but when you look at who's progressed quicker than Cook is by far and away the better option.

2 In-form riders??? Barker, ok... Not his biggest fan but he is on form for both Ipswich and Birmingham. Bridger on the other hand I believe has got in because he's told Middleditch he has fast bikes in Poland (in the "jhigh-class" second division by the way!!!!) and Middleditch has bought it. Cookie has been the best and most consistent of the Brits (outside of woffinden and to a lesser extent Harris) this year. He's banging in maximums for fun in the PL and being involved in Heat 15's (some last heat deciders and won them) in the EL. He's deserved his chance and should still be at Prague, end of. However, GB's loss is our gain and here's hoping he can prove Middleditch wrong by banging in big points at Recar in the league tomorrow... Question is, if GB qualify for the final and Bridger (or Barker for that matter) has a stinker in the Race-off... What happens? Do they stick with them or do they bring in another replacement for the final like re-instate Cook (on a track I think would actually suit him better than Kings Lynn) or bring King in or someone not involved in the SWC???? It's a big IF anyway as even with Watt out and Woodward in for the Aussies, I still think we'll be off the pace tomorrow. As for the report in the EEN? Maybe Cookie did say something like that to start with - in the heat of the moment - and of course any reporter (and this one is definitely no exception) will pick up on the juiciest wording to sell papers. It's what journalists do. Would take the wording with a pinch of salt but the passion as wholehearted.

Don't believe everything that is spouted in the press...

If Cookie hadn't have broken the tapes 3times, he'd not have been beaten the form he was in, which would've meant the opening race wouldn't have been a 5-1, his 15mtr races wouldn't have been 4-2 or 3-3... Swings and roundabouts really... Think a draw was a fair result though it's one of those meetings that could've easily swung to a 3pt home win or a 4pt away win in the matter of a couple of races really...

Clearly you know nothing of PL racing!

Now updated, many thanks