scarletrider

It's a pity we couldn't have accommodated Matt Wethers into the team, I was quite impressed with him when he stood in for the Diamonds at the back end of the season. "The Mackem"

I like what Iv'e seen of Ludvig around Brough Park, where he was top ponts scorer last season - however - away from home is another matter, where he only scored half as many points. Away from home he scored the least points of the Diamonds top five riders - something he needs to put right, and if he gets it right he can be a great no1 for the team. "The Mackem"

Good questions WK, hope Freddie is asked them! "The Mackem"

I agree, of the Diamonds top five, Lindgren scored the least points away from home (was top scorer at home though). But can't agree about Robbo, who scored the most points away from home. He was also the Diamonds top points scorer over the whole season. "The Mackem"

As a matter of interest, in the two meetings I saw Rene at Newcastle, he scored 12pts from 10 rides, being out scored by Lemon and Robson on both occasions. Just a passing thought. "The Mackem"

Well done the Diamonds, a good team performance. Fingers crossed that the weather is kind tomorrow night - and don't forget your woolies - it will be damn cold. "The Mackem"

It's points scored for the team that count! "The Mackem"

I sugest you study the figures a little more closely. Robson is top points scorer by some considerable way, followed by Lemon, Lindgren, Nedermark, Henry.(The Diamonds top five at the start of the season). Top scorer at home by a short head is Lindgren from Robson, Lemon, Nedermark, Henry. Top scorer away is Robson,followed by Nedermark, Lemon, Henry and Lindgren. So Lindgren goes from top at home, to bottom of the list away. Robson is the only rider to score over 400 pts, pretty even home and away. For Nedermark it was a season of two halves, first half 121 pts, second half 225 pts. Likewise Lindgrens home and away scores. By the way my rider of the year goes to Christian Henry - and Richie Worrall before injury. So give the "old boys" a break lads - they've not done so bad, and we did finish top of the league! "The Mackem"

Top is top, they are the champs, not 2nd 3rd 4th or any other! "The Mackem"

Good riders learn to ride all tracks - all are different! "Ther Mackem"

You make a good point there SC. Ref frostylion - so everyone knew the rules at the start of the season, what you going to do for anyone not agreeing with it - drop out of speedway, another track gone? Speedway can't afford it! "The Mackem" In answer to frostylion:- If we had won the the title after finishing sixth in the league, then I would feel genuinely sorry for the team that finished top - that they had been robbed. My position on this is unchanged ...... the team at the tiop of any league are the champions, otherwise what is the point of having a season long battle for points? Because it's the rules doesn't make it right or acceptable to a hell of a lot of fans who believe in fairness. Or maybe there is no such thing as fairness in life today! "The Mackem"

I think it was a team performance that got Newcastle to the top of the league. The WK is correct, Lemo and Robson were the top points scorers - which is commendable given the injuries and knocks they both carried, both have been consistent over the season. Lindgren has yo-yo'd all season from being very good to very disappointing, while Nedemark took half the season before clicking into gear (most frustrating rider) - and yes both have done well overall. Christian Henry for me has been rider of the season - very consistent and better than I expected. Steve Worrall looked to have made good progress until his injury, while Richie was a sensation until once again injury struck - such a pity! So credit where credit is due, the lads took them to the top of the league, and as the WK says that makes them champions as far as I'm concened. They fell at the last hurdle under the bloody play-off system ( what's the point of having a league if the Champs arn't the team at the top) Well done Diamonds. "The Mackem"

I agree 100% with you FTM, grossly unfair on Robson, who as I've said before is by far the leadiing (total points) scorer for the injury hit Diamonds this season. It simply looks like "a bridge to far" for the team ravaged by injuries. They led the league for so long and did well under the circumstances, so we should be grateful for that. I know how frustrated the fans are for the team to fall at the last hurdle, but by and large they have done well given those injuries. "The Mackem"

So disapointed at the way things turned out for the Diamonds last night. It almost seemed like (A Bridge Too Far) for Newcastle after a long hard fought and injury ravaged season. I can fully understand the frustration of my fellow Diamonds fans, but for some of them to criticise and blame Robson and Lemon for Newcastles end of season stutter is just not justified. These two senior riders, (along with Richie Worrall) have led the Diamonds to the top of the league, they are also the leading points scorers in the team. So well done to the team, and yes it is a team game. So we should be thankful to them for getting us in that position, given what was available to them team wise. My lasting memory from last night was the absolute silence after the race when all hope had disappeared for Newcastle - the stadium was like a ghost town - the atmosphere was eerie. That told you how much it hurt the fans!! So let's regroup and get behind the lads and try to salvage what we can from the season. "The Mackem"

Spot on Dave, the big guys have all got to be at their best tomorrow. Good luck lads "The Mackem"

Interesting opinion pablo! For what it's worth-Robson is top points scorer over all meetings including topping the away scores. Second is Lemon again including away meetings. Nedermark was trailing well in last place (excluding the reserves).. Only since moving to no 7 has he hit big scores on a regular basis - thanks to taking six or seven rides. Even so he is still in last place among the top five Diamonds. So I dont see how he has been the saviour in most away meetings. I'm not knocking any of the riders, but the facts are there if you care to add up the points per rider. "The Mackem"

For once the Diamonds three heat leaders all fell below their usual standard of points scoring - it could be costly! So all three need to dig deep on Sunday at Brough ....... they can do it, but there will be some frazzled and worried fans among the crowd at Newcastle. Come on Diamonds, dig deep and turn up the gas for the fans. "The Mackem" Good call. I would also go for Adam! "The Mackem"

According to BSPA the meeing is off. "The Mackem"

Some interesting views and concerns about the two "veteran" riders in the Newcastle side, Yes they have both slipped a bit in their points scoring of late, but both have had some nasty knocks lately. So let's look at some facts. Based on total points scored in all matches this season .... both Lemon and Robson have passed the 300 pts, mark with Robbo clearly ahead. Next comes Lindgren who will join them in his next meeting. Then comes Henry, with Nedermark some way back despite recent big scores (from 6 or 7 rides) since going to reseve. (I havn't included the Worralls because of the number of meeting lost through injury). Robson is also the leading pts scorer away from home. So as a team they have done well in my book, and if the two "old fella's" are having a blip - well remember they have led the team in plenty of the earlier meetings! Good luck to the Diamonds for the run-in to the end of the season. "The Mackem"

Always difficult when you try to compare riders from different decades. In the 70's we were spoiled for choice. But for me the greatest "racer" - was Peter Collins. I use the word racer as opposed to that of speedway rider. Peter wasn't always the quickest out of the gate, like the gate and go riders, but who provided the most excitement? - riders like Collins and Chris Morton, they were masters at coming from the back - four laps of pure excitement as opposed to the "gate and go" greats. I know who I would prefer to watch. Belle Vue were indeed truly blessed in the days of Collins and Morton. "The Mackem"

None so intense as Jack Millen and Frank Auffret! "The Mackem"

Sunderland's Dave Gatenby did challenge Workington's Lou Sansom for the Silver Helmet on the 14/10/73. Having scored a maximum in the meeting itself, Dave suffered mechanical problems in the second half Snowball Trophy and the Silver Helmet Challenge. Sunderland won the meeting 41-37. Bob Ferry "The Mackem"

Yes Ian they were two very good riders. Dave Baugh won the Northern Star Championship Trophy twice at Sunderland in 1971 and 1972, he also guested for us, which proves he liked the small tracks as well as the big Odsal bowl. Happy days eh! "The Mackem"

I noticed on the Berwick website-news updates,that apart from the serious injuries to Edberg, it also mentions Davey as being a little off the pace following a nasty prang, and being left with a bent bike and battered body. But there is no mention of Mudgway who alse took a nasty tumble, and was left with a badly swollen knee and aching from head to foot by the time he got back home. Surely all the casualities should have been included on the updates! Anyway a speedy recovery to all who were injured in the line of duty. "The Mackem"

Hi Steve, the result was 1st Colin Meredith - 2nd Mick Fielding - 3rd Vic Harding and 4th George Barclay (fell excluded) I dont have a time and neither does a second prog I have, could it have been "no time" for the race as Harding also fell but was given 1pt. No 7 for Bradford was Ken Ramsley. Hope this helps. Bob