bigeddiechek

I certainly didn't see that either, had a GP rider too!

Some more good news from the Bandits' Newsletter

You're definitely like a fine wine, Robin. Good post, enjoyed reading it, and can't disagree with any of it.

What do you mean spin? Spin on what? If you can count, you should be able to make a rough estimate of how many post on here, and how many go on a Saturday. Even at the extremes: 20 on here, 200 on a Saturday. Doesn't take much gumption, IMO.

Not sure what you mean by that, however, I do meet more people in person who enjoy speedway than there are on here moaning. So, I guess this place is not representative of the hundreds who do still turn up on a Saturday. I met two Wolves fans at Rye who had actually been at Berwick on Saturday, they were full of praise for the club. Of course, we all know crowds need to be better. Constantly making observations that crowds are too low isn't going to do anything about it, though. What is really strange, IMO, is that some soi disant fans seem to almost gloat about small crowds. Very peculiar behaviour. If us fans want the sport to survive, we need to bring other folk along. Spending money on further advertising and marketing will only put clubs further into the red and accelerate their demise. That is the fact of the matter. If we really care about THE SPORT, then that is the only realistic course of action at the moment: like it or not. This is all IMO.

Exactly my point. The unpredictability of the sport can be both infuriating and elating!

Good to hear Ben Barker is now out of hospital. http://berwickbandits.co/article/ben-barker-update-0

We managed to finish in front of the home riders plenty of times at Rye. Certainly didn't expect that. I now firmly believe that anything is possible in speedway. Tough meeting against the Capital Monarchs, but should be a good one!

=D

I wouldn't know, I can't recall it ever happening to me

Just wondering who kindly left the door open for the splendid TJ I'm an enthusiast, not an expert. Never claim to be anything else, sweetheart

Don't know, I just seem to remember him making a lot of poor decisions. Is he with Scunny just now?

Did he not make several blunders?

He certainly looked like he was enjoying it. Was brilliant.

That has to go down as one of the best away meetings I have been to, certainly the best racing I have seen out of my trips to Rye. It's quite an interesting track, with a very tight 1/2, but bends 3/4 offering big blasts round the outside. My heart was in my mouth a couple of times when riders were on the edge of the famous adverse camber. I didn't realise just how sharply it falls away! Jorgensen was just superb, his excellent win in heat 1 set the scene nicely, and a mighty impressive 16 points. What a signing he has been! Garcia was always going to have a difficult night with his first visit to Rye, but battled hard for no return. He was out straight after the meeting putting a few laps in ready for his next visit. He certainly didn't let himself down. Tungate was a very able and solid guest and would have scored more had he not gone through the tapes. Double figures again for Captain Doolan who seemed to the have the whole team totally focused throughout the night. He's surely one the the reasons this Berwick team keep bouncing back despite all the bad luck we've had this season. Alex's win in heat 2, backed-up by Hall put us out in front, and we never looked back. It looks as if he is starting to sort out his mechanical gremlins. Hall was the real surprise of the night for me. Not one of his most favourite tracks, but he was clearly up for this one making a number of passes to battle for all of his 8 points. He held his concentration really well in heat 5 making the gate twice against Mellgren and Aspegren. His ride in heat 11 chasing down Bowen for 4 laps and taking him on the line was superb. I guess you can see I enjoyed that! We obviously caught Rye a bit cold after over a month without a home meeting, but our guys certainly went in and took the opportunity with both hands. The return leg is going to be interesting with two former Bandits in their lineup and Mellgren also quite handy around Shielfield. Certainly no room for complacency. I'm going to avoid any Devilment with regard to the track, because it simply produced very good racing, very dusty, but very good racing. The banter from Shadders and Co. was excellent and looking forward to seeing you guys on the return leg. I think Sarah and I were quite gracious in victory You needn't have worried, we'd managed that by heat 8. Season still very much alive then

Things must have been bad when he decided not to have another drink! Good to see you guys again. Did we mention that we won?

Just to add something to the Doolan discussion, he is also one of the best captains we have ever had.

That was a cracking meeting, great team performance for The Bandits. I shall comment more fully tomorrow, very good meeting. Shadders took the result quite well, I thought! The Bandits just keep bouncing back!

Bert Harkins.

Yes, they would break the wee virtual bubble, I guess. It is important that we protect minorities in our society, so I think you are correct. Best they continue to stay in the real world!

I'm not going to agree, or disagree with you. Just stating what many silent readers of this forum have observed.

You've put far more eloquently than I ever could, what a I really like about the speedway at Berwick: and may others. When you look at the crowd on Wednesday and then realise there are only about 15 of us post on here, it really shows how unrepresentative this little online place is. When you see riders going round the 3rd/4th bends inches apart, at high speed, it is exhilarating. Same reason that Sheffield is on of my favourite tracks. I also like Redcar when it is well prepared. I think it is a cracking wee track, on its day. Ipswich, another different track, but also enjoyable speedway when I've been. Glasgow a good mid-sized track, but with very good racing. All tracks have their plus points: although, I am being completely honest here, I'm struggling with Armadale. Another good post Topsoil. Very well reasoned, and balanced. Watch you don't get the Not Having a Go At The Bandits Police on to you! That's your best one yet! There used to be Colemanballs, we should have Scremballs on here. Erm, the Promoters are lifelong supporters, so do you suggest they give up one of those "roles". Also, the many supporters who help promote, should they give one of their "roles". You'd have Berwick Speedway gone in a flash. And I think you would be happy. His bike has 3 bloody wheels!

Well done to Peterborough, another club that have had tough times but still staying alive. I must say I enjoy the buzz of the Sky meetings. It was a disaster of start for us, but Doolan and Jorgenson managed to salvage a bit of pride. Good first heat win for Coty, well shepherded home by Fisher. Robert Lambert is a real talent, could be another World Champion in the making. Hopefully her is OK after his fall. I'll leave our weaknesses for the folk on here that are better at pointing them out than I... Excellent post

Why don't you offer your services then?

Have you ever considered that the people who run the club might just be busy with their day jobs?