Steve0

Except it’s not Easter! Trying to get rid before they go out of date!

Maybe PX has other work commitments?

The Brummies suits look great - very bright! Good to see a NL side making an effor!

He’s not the messiah - he’s a very naughty boy

Makes perfect sense - it clearly was not a very well considered amendment for this season. 2 minute clocks are what should have been implemented!

Unbelievably he just keeps digging rather than admitting he made a mistake - how many pages is that now?

No No No!! The crux of this for me is allowing any riders back on old averages. Using Woryna purely as an example - he has an old average from a few years and has since improved significantly as a rider yet is allowed to keep his old average giving any team that signs him (Poole in his case) a 3+ average advantage before a wheel has even turned. That is wrong but the rules allow it!

And Matt gets to keep his ten grand - result! Bit of a pattern forming following the Darcy Ward debacle a few years ago

Whenever there is controversy, you will invariably find Poole at the heart of it - whether they have done anything wrong or not. The standard response is that it is within the rules - which, of course, is true so they haven't technically done anything wrong. The issue is that they are perceived to continually "bend the rules" or use poorly worded rules to their advantage - there are lots of examples and PK being the latest. Technically, he didn't start as a GP rider last season but he rode in 9 GP meeting (out of 12) - so he was actually a GP rider. Whether its right or wrong I don't really care any more because having got at least 3 riders on incorrect starting averages (all within the rules) you just know they will always look at ways to manipulate situations to their advantage - that isn't a criticism its an observation! What irks me is the usual Poole fans on here trying to justify that behaviour as normal - it's not! So it isn't envy other fans have for Poole it is total disdain that they are "whiter than white" when everyone knows they are not. Are people that manipulate the rules to their advantages cheats? Well look at other sports and see what they think - F1 burning oil to gain an advantage, Bradley Wiggins taking "legal" drugs to enhance performance etc. The issue for me is that Poole continually court controversy and its not a team I would ever dream of supporting for the above reasons!

Technically - we are into Spring Not that you'd notice with the weather

Turn 2 at the Abbey has always been tricky - I have seen many an incident on that bend and hope Drodz is ok. A good start to the season but it was only a warm-up for both teams so best not read too much into the result. Davey has started well and Morris has only won one race. This new rule about gardening astride their steed is totally ill conceived and will catch riders out all season - old habits and all that. Out of the many stupid rules over the years, the BSPA have excelled themselves with this one! Well done to both teams

If only everyone was as perfect as you

Oh I could think of a few (Poole fans)

Definitely looks like I misjudged Davey. He really is up for this challenge in the top league - hope he maintains this form! He could turn out to be a very shrewd signing rather than the cannon fodder I expected him to be. Glad to be proved wrong!

Not really bothered by the result of this early season opener. The aim of tonight is for the riders to get match fit, get more time on track for their setups and to clear away the winter cobwebs. I didn't think it would be close at BV and that's how it turned out. The same could happen tonight! Swindon's 1-5 are fine and should outscore the opposition - just need the reserves to have a confidence building good meeting. The important goal is to be ready for their first league meeting!

Regarding the bibs, I watched the video of the riders coming down the stairs with Middlo and Ford before sitting at the tables in front of the fans - they looked like a collection of riders and certainly didn't look like a team - very poor indeed from Poole (and Somerset)

I have to agree - I had written him off before a wheel had turned. One swallow does not make a summer but if he can keep it up - he may not be replaced early doors

You’ve got to feel sorry for Tungate who has no chance of gardening astride his bike

The result doesn’t matter - it’s the first meeting of the season to blow the cobwebs away and for the riders to get match fit for the league campaign

They can do it - and have done it with the agreement of Matt Ford - so what’s your point?

Hahaha - they are not identical at all! And much more professional than bibs!

Thankfully you're not

I see (from Twitter) that Darcy is disappointed that Poole won't have team race suits this season.

The Glasgow meeting had great crowds when it was on tv and created a fantastic atmosphere and was an excellent advert for the sport

I can't imagine anyone being against team race suits. Can you imagine putting out a football team with players wearing different strips? When they were first introduced I thought finally the sport was being taken seriously by promoters and to not have them now is a backward step IMHO.