bigcatdiary

Their has been a lot of comments this year on a lot of threads about the preparation and dirt on tracks and them being prepared for racing as opposed to processions after the first bend, your track was dreadful last although admittedly your team rode it a lot better than mine. If tracks are not going to be prepared so riders can actually race on them what is the point, stadiums can be very good with excellent seats viewing and amenities but if the racing is crap it's that what's remembered, if you think I am joking read the Sheffield and Glasgow threads this year and they are not the only ones.

Meeting finished about 9.15 last night but with falls, tapes and injuries in abundance it wasn't surprising.

Well that's my first visit since the track alterations and if that's the usual foxhall track you really shouldn't have bothered, it was clear early on that the first and second bends were dreadful and with falls in nearly every heat it extended the agony for well over two hours. The witches got stuck in and made the best of it while it has to be said most of the Panthers didn't, Starke was unlucky when Bacon fell in front of him and was clearly unable to carry on and from heat 4 onwards it was pretty much one way traffic, genuine overtakes were rare whilst the racing was non existent. Lambert was an absolute disgrace and although it took Bacon 4 races to actually finish a race upright he did improve, unfortunately the racing didn't. I and several others with me thought the crowd was poor for an Easter meeting but if that's the usual fare it's not surprising. With major road works ongoing around the A14 for the next few years it might be a while before I go to Ipswich again, that will certainly be my only visit this year.

I think King will ride both matches, whether he is fully fit remains to be seen.

So what's new.

It's R/R.

Correct

It now appears he isn't Paul Starke now riding for the Panthers Saturday

Scunthorpe

This does appear to be coming a regular problem at some tracks, a real shame.

I am Surprised that no Redcar supporter has started a thread yet for this match tonight, teams are a little changed for the second leg but it's interestingly poised to see who qualifies for a QF match against Scunthorpe. I take it the weather forecast is helpful.

To be honest Riggers their isn't that many of the current referees I do rate, important decisions or otherwise. As for Kamikaze dive specialist Barker it appears most of the Redcar supporters think that's fair game as none seem to have mentioned it but of course it depends on your point of view, being honest I thought it was 50/50 it certainly wasn't clear cut as Vardy's decision demonstrates but Ostergaard was in front going into the corner.

Ostergaard was in front and Busch appeared to try and get through a gap that wasn't there, it appears that's the view Vardy took as well. As for upsetting some of the bears, some of Barkers moves were very questionable as was his words in the pits afterwards.

I heard it was Bradley Wilson Dean in the heat where he was very late coming out, as to it not being mentioned elsewhere that's probably because no one else saw it other than the Redcar TM, I certainly didn't see anything untoward and clearly Margaret Vardy didn't either. Other than the handbags between Barker and Holder I didn't think it appeared controversial, personally I thought it was an excellent match with some good racing, it just took a while due to the falls.

It appears Redcar have re declared for the injured Busch although Bukhave is rumoured to be the rider concerned.

The match was switched from Sunday to Monday to avoid any doubling up clashes, both teams should be at full strength.

Barker being Barker, he also had a lot to say in the pits afterwards, needs to grow up.

Berwicks biggest issue is Bridger is only good at Eastbourne and Lakeside, unfortunately neither are in the Championship.

They don't

Not if he has broken his thumb, handbags is fair enough but a few weeks off with a broken thumb is a different matter.

Suspected broken thumb in the Somerset match report.

It's been said before countless times.

I can think of at least three that are grateful for that.

Any weather reports from the Scunthorpe area this morning would be very welcome, it looks like a lot of Panthers fans are travelling up for this.