False dawn

Hey. Bristol Thursday, Somerset Friday, Cardiff Saturday. 2018 - the future's bright!

As it happens, so did I. My less bet on Kai Huckenbeck, would have cost me my continued participation had he got to the final and come 1st or 2nd. In the event, what I lost on him was exactly balanced by what I gained from Martin Smolinski. So I didn't gain a penny and jumped up to 3rd in the standings. Whoohoo

Thanks for that. I thought I'd gone mad. I was trying to catch the end of the tennis and when I switched back the riders are announced and they don't match my programme. Then I realised they were on heat 6. It took me several heats and reading the standings to work out the result of that race and I finally worked out that Mikkel Bech was excluded for crossing the white line. It was a bit strange omission from the transmission. At the next adverts, me and the missus were placing bets on which race they would show next.

Another good night's sidecar action at KL last night. In the final analysis Mark Cossar with regular passenger Carl Blyth marched on at the head of the standings being unbeaten in his 4 qualification races and the winner take all final. However this only tells part of the story. The fight for the remaining rostrum places proved a closely fought affair. Leading the way was Mick Cave, also unbeaten in the qualifiers meeting Mark Cossar only once in the final. Tris Winterburn was not far behind and the best of the rest from the last chance semi final being Rod Winterburn. In the final Mark was well ahead but the three way fight behind him was a joy to watch with Mick Cave emerging as the silver medallist and Tris Winterburn third. An interesting twist in the rostrum interviews was the revelation that Mark Cossar had prepared Mick Cave's motor. It was good to see Mick back to form after recovering from some serious injuries. A good night's racing with no tantrums in the pits!

I'm banking on it

Martin Smolinski £150 less Kai Huckenbeck £150 less

Have you tried speaking to the ticket agents? I know the online system may have limitations, but a real person may be more accommodating.

Well I got that wrong. Let's hope tonight the riders actually want to ride.

I see that Buster has apologised to fans on the KL website.

Well there were riders on both teams that didn't given of their best. And yes, I was there. Unfortunately, for the good turn out of home fans, there were more of the home team who threw in the towel. When there are riders attacking the track and clocking times within half a second of that 15 year old track record, you have to question the commitment of certain individuals. The fans were incredibly patient during the major track work that took place after heat 8. But to witness an almost total collapse of the home team was shameful. What should have been a keenly competed tie between 2 sides with a real prospect of getting to the play offs, descended into farce. I wish I hadn't been there to witness this.

Well, well. They've just announced that the press conference with the team manager and riders that normally takes place in the bar after meetings, won't take place tonight!

How to get the result you want without really trying. Ask a question, get a 100% positive response. Thanks naffer.

I wish I could be understanding and generous. But hey, this is Poole we're talking about and I'm a Bees fan. No offence Steve

Two solid solid favourites for the rostrum, surely. Both, British if you look hard enough, of course!

Can I add to the "Horror" count? What I'm reading is a horror to the average BSF member. I would strike a note of horror at what I'm reading and as (not) a Wolverhampton fan I am horror(fied) at what I'm reading about the Wolverhampton track. Get real. You're all being a bit silly.

Come on guys. The idea is to keep Coventry, as a club, in the public eye. Oh, it would be great if all the riders we signed before the fateful announcement were riding for us, but they ain't. So we'll rely on a few ex Bees, so what? Bomber needs the practice and AJ and Greg are doing us a favour? Oh didn't I tell you? We have a few surprise team members? Now you're thinking of coming to Beaumont Leys on the 28th aren't you? Well have a care. We might have Robbo in the team (star reserve on Monday) or Andy Hackett for all I know, but whoever dons the Bees race jacket that day, I'll be there cheering them on. It'll be great to see some racing between two proud clubs. Am I right?

You could make decent trip out of going to this one by arriving a day early (like me and the missus) and seeing King's Lynn beat Poole

I can't imagine Kelvin reading my posts and commentating and acknowledging my contributions. And this fellow even knows something about my grasstrack background as a sidecar passenger. Respect. Does that count as my 15 minutes of fame? Awkward tumble on B2 for NKI in heat 15. On his feet though after a bit of a delay.

Well to feed into the topic title, apparently there is an ice speedway racer, still racing at the age of 96 I have to say that the English commentator on this meeting is excellent. He's even finding time to read the tweets from fans. And PK gets an extra ride and beats Emil and Przemyslaw Pawlicki. He's scored 14+1 in what I think is only his second meeting of year And I get a mention in commentary!!! Are you the commentator?

A certain Peter Karlsson has come out of retirement and is riding for Piraterna in Sweden tonight. And he's currently on a two ride maximum! They are doing endless track grading at this meeting. The surface is breaking up especially on bend 2. Someone apparently said, "We don't want to do a Ben Barker" And apparently some wit from Wolverhampton has tweeted, "Can we have a refund on PK's leaving do?" Now we've got PK and Greg riding as a pairing. How many racing years there? And they get a 5-1 against Antonio Lindback. Well....

Did he not loop at the start in his first race?

That would be a titanium rod, of course

Whoa.... Look what the cat dragged in! Lt in all his glory (not L t) It'll be Norbold's hole next! Welcome back "old" friend. We'll have Krissie and Phil posting before you know it Welcome back

Thanks Robbie B. A great way to add a certain extra edge to these meetings. I'm starting my homework ready for next year......

So we drop more points in 3 heats tonight than we did throughout the meeting last Saturday. Hmmm