Rico

My first live speedway of the year and it was an interesting encounter with a few decent scraps and the track seemed to settle down eventually after being difficult early doors. Gates 1 and 3 were a ridiculous advantage all through the meeting, which made the match swing to and fro as the gates favoured each team at different times. I'd certainly be choosing heat 15 at Oxford to give 8 1 and 3s as opposed to 7. Credit where it's due Thomson was a good choice for Edinburgh in heat 15 as he looked fast all night and Victor unsettled McDiarmid going into the first bend to give Kye his chance to pass. The enigma that is Castagna scoring points at Oxford was where the match was won for me as he usually struggles there and he rode a clever line out of bend 4 in 14 to block the faster McDiarmid early in the race. Monarchs riders generally did well when they had the decent gates and not so well when they didn't - good all round team display. The new youngster was understandably beaten round the first bends but was attacking the track well in his last ride. Masters was dominant for the home side after his opening heat defeat to a very smooth Victor. Heeps rode really well given it was his first match back from his horror crash. McDiarmid looks a talent but not sure he was the right choice for 15 given his relative inexperience, can only assume Heeps was unavailable for selection. Oxford are missing out on my (and my son's) semi-regular attendance after dropping their 10 match pass from last season. I just don't have the same desire to shell out for individual matches. Last season we spent £400 odd up front and were able to pick and choose between Spires/Cheetahs fixtures, this season's running total £44. Whilst the 10 match ticket may not have had a huge take up it certainly worked for us and over the course of this year we won't be attending anywhere near as much. Rico

Good news, I won't be bothering with the SoN this year, so good to know that the next few years involve an end of season hurrah in lovely Torun. Rico 🙄

Castagna must have dirt on somebody at Edinburgh to still be in the team.

I've been back on the website this morning and it's allowed me to select all of the tickets that I didn't pay for yesterday. The option to pay for them all is available, but as I'd got other tickets I've just cancelled the booking. Hope everyone gets themselves sorted out. Rico

I've managed to sort out getting tickets (and had a bit of deja vu from ordering tickets for a league match last year) Ended up going in and ordering new tickets and just amending 1 digit on the identity (passport) number to get it to go through (you need to do that for each person and use the same numbers to then buy your final ticket). Used google pay to facilitate the transaction, which seemed far easier than a couple of the alternatives. The original tickets reserved will just drop off the account without payment at the end of 48 hours. Good luck Rico

I've got tickets reserved but not been able to make payment yet, slightly reassured by the automated email back from the club which states If the query concerns the payment (unblocking, cancellation or renewal) on the website bilety.wts.pl - we would like to inform you that it will take place automatically after a few hours from the failed payment attempt. You will then be able to start the payment process again. Tickets/passes are reserved on your accounts for 48 hours. Rico

Tickets are available now Rico

Sedgemen riding at the much more difficult 5 as opposed to 3 last time. He looked fast in his first ride behind Batchelor, passed by Ruml in his next, got a 5-1 with Brennan in his next then last in tough 13 and 15. He looks a different/more determined rider now to a few years ago, was just a tough night last night as Batchelor and Nicholls were both good.

Given Glasgow got a 4-2 in heat 13 off 1&3 if my memory serves me correctly I thought their choice of 2 and 4 in 15 was odd. Batchelor made a cracking start and made the room for Harris to get up the inside. Really good close meeting that had a bit of everything and was a good evenings entertainment. First time I'd seen Killeen riding and he was on the pace after bend 2. Don't think he could have any complaints about his exclusion and from where I was stood I thought the ref got the first bend calls correct. Tempted to go back again next week Any chance of finding another spot for the enormous tractor to park as it does block the view of parts of the track. You can't see the start/finish line from the entry to bend 3. Rico

Really enjoyed my first trip back to Oxford tonight, some really good races, heat 7 probably the highlight. Once they get the track right they will have a cracking circuit. Will definitely be back.

I watched the full replay via browser on my tv and there was an option in the bottom left to fast forward or rewind at 10 second intervals, which I used frequently.

The confirmation email states Season Pass - If you have purchased a Season Pass, this will automatically expire on the 31st October 2022 and will not auto-renew Would have been nice to have been given access to end of Feb 23 to be able to re-watch the classic Berwick Birmingham match over and over during the bleak winter months. Rico

No problem watching the stream here other than it cutting out briefly around heat 6. This is gonna be close on aggregate going down to the wire I reckon

You seem to be suggesting that Bradford isn't a "majority white area". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_Bradford

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/54998979