cyclone

Just read the following quote from Sean Courtney re yesterday's match:- "We'll get it turned round, we have to believe we are going to, and I take my hat off to the supporters because they always get behind the team." Obviously he is unaware of some on here who take a different view

Give the Bears credit for overturning a 12 point deficit. Don't go for excuses about track conditions - they're the same for both sides, or Pijper's absence on Longtrack - was the FIM schedule not known before the Speedway season commenced ? The positive for Monarchs was Max Fricke's best home performance, including first ever wins (x 3). As previously mentioned, a concern is Cook's apparent ongoing discomfort with a shoulder, and given his busy racing schedule, will this affect his overall fitness to maintain the high standard he has set this season ? IMO Monarchs have a decent team, but are unlikely to be serious title challengers. Even with Pijper returning next week, I would not expect us to overcome Newcastle(the best PL team at the moment) in KOC ties next weekend.

Tonight's results confirm Newcastle are way ahead of any other team in the league. With Andrew Tully slotting in seamlessly they have the strongest 1- 6 and can afford to persevere with Steve Worrall, who will surely come good. Already resigned to the Monarchs exiting the KO Cup next weekend, barring some catastrophic disaster by the Diamonds. No doubt some of the other Challengers will still fancy their chances, but imo they are deluding themselves.

The Premier Inn, Bathgate & The Cairn Hotel are the most popular hotels with travelling fans, being a short car trip from stadium at Armadale. See this link : http://maps.google.c...A&ved=0COkBEMgT

If you were to change to a weekday, then what would be the cost to install floodlightlng that would also meet safety standards ? Given that Friday is already the established race night for Scotland's major team, to run in direct competition could result in both venues losing some support to the other. Perhaps Wednesdays, which used to be the Tigers race day in 1964, or Thursdays, which has been used at Ashfield when summer daylight permits, are other alternatives worth considering.

Fisher is doing quite nicely riding in the second tier in Poland on Sundays, and given the previous hostility towards him from the torn face Tigers fans, I doubt if Weegieville would be top of his choices for a move. Interestingly at the start of the month, the same Tigers team managed to beat one of the league favourites, Newcastle, at Ashfield in the PL. Wonder why certain riders are now toiling

Additionally, the Edinburgh Marathon is also tomorrow and the extensive road closures & diversions will disrupt travel arrangements, especially for those relying on city to city public transport, given the unavailability of private coaches because of the footy. at Hampden. I raised this on here some time ago, but for whatever reason, it appears that the date or start time could not be altered. Given the above difficulties and the fact that the final result will not affect the Monarchs League Cup progress, I'll reluctantly not be at Saracen Park tomorrow

If that is the case, as Ludvig Lindgren was initially signed by Newcastle and Wolves only took him on when their original choice, Masters, became unavailable, then imo Wolverhampton should no longer be permitted to use him in their declared 1 - 7.

You're having a giraffe Diamonds have by far the best 1 - 6 in the league, with only Ipswich currently having a better reserve combination. Barring injuries, Newcastle should clean up all the team trophies. Lewis Kerr btw came across as a modest, unassuming individual when interviewed, and it looks like a two horse race between him & Adam Ellis as the best PL newcomer this season.

With their regular team available for the remaining fixtures, imo a defeat tonight would still not prevent them reaching the play-offs as they have assembled a formidable side for this campaign.

As David Bellego appears to be getting mucked about big time by the French Federation, he should explore the possibility of riding on an ACU licence in the future.

Already been mentioned on Monarchs Chatzone re hiring a coach to Glasgow on 26/5:- "There may be problems getting anything for 26th May at Glasgow, for obvious reasons, as just about every hire bus in Edinburgh is going to Hampden. Therefore speedway supporters will probably have to make their own way." I previously suggested on the BSF that the start time be delayed until 5pm. For those using, the public transport network (buses & trains) between Edinburgh and Glasgow, it would be less congested as would the M8, given that the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden is also a 3pm kick off. It would also make the return journey to Edinburgh, less busy. So do not be surprised if the travelling support is reduced for a 3pm start

As things stand, no PL tracks have Tuesday & Wednesday as home race nights and only two have regular Sunday fixtures. Therefore it is possible for Craig to widen his horizons to Europe, in addition to EL & PL racing, as the likes of Doyle, Barker, Stead , etc., already do. Consider SGP riders Andreas Jonsson & Antonio Lindback who also ride in two league tiers in Sweden, as well as Poland and the Grand Prixs. To conclude, you still offer for no valid reason why Cook could not continue to ride in the PL and also widen his schedule to include European league racing.

Are you unaware that Craig also rides a double upper for Belle Vue also, so he is already continuing his education at an allegedly higher level. As Barker, Doyle, Auty, Proctor, Stead, etc. and now Kennett, to name other top PL riders, who are also doubling up in the EL, should you expect them to depart the PL also ? Perhaps you need to attend more PL matches this season to appreciate that the gap in terms of quality between EL and PL has considerably narrowed. Maybe the reason the likes of Barker and Doyle continue in the PL is that they recognise that they are offered more fixtures and earning opportunities in a 13 team league. Regarding riding abroad, correct me if I am wrong but do Barker, Doyle, and Proctor not already combine overseas league commitments with their UK engagements at both PL & EL level. Please explain why Craig Cook could not do likewise

In other words more fairy stories from the resident Weegie Mythman, aka Paulco

Pointing out that another European league already declares after 10 heats so it would appear that others have already beaten the BSPA in making "a laughing stock of the sport". Maybe the Poles/Swedes enjoy cheap rhubarb emanating from Suffolk

IIRC league results in either Poland or Sweden have stood after being abandoned after 10 heats, pre-2013, and still do.

This could be closer than some reckon, and if Vissing is missing or not fully fit, then it could go either way. Ringwood certainly seemed at home with his impressive win in his last ride in April and Screen is surely due a decent meeting at the Dale. For the home side a lot might depend on Fricke continuing his steady improvement, and Helfer being competitive, instead of trundling round, well behind the rest.

Could the home fans give their assessment of Marcel Helfer's performance today. Reason I ask, is that so far his home form has been abysmal, but some folk reckon he will do better on away tracks.

You are correct and in post 161 I cited Newcastle using a guest for the missing lower GSA rider (R Worrall) and r/r for the higher average absentee (Tully) at Plymouth recently.. However the alleged knowledgeable Berwick posters on here , claim that only a guest for Ashworth & r/r for Bellego is permitted. My understanding was that if a guest was only permitted for Ashworth, then it would be because only a NL replacement would be allowed for Bellego.

When 2 or more riders were missing, last season, the club could choose which rider for guest and r/r for the other. As Newcastle used a guest (Newman) for the lower average R.Worrall and r/r for Tully at Plymouth on 26/4, looks like this is still the case If Bellego's absence does not permit a PL guest as you infer, then are you certain that r/r will be allowed, or will it have to be a NL guest, as similar happened with regards to Hans Andersen absence for Swindon at King's Lynn due to a UEM meeting, when the Robins were only permitted to use a lower league rider,

When did Helfer join the unattached, available riders list

Given that Dyer's current GSA is lower than Bellego's, why do you believe that Bandits cannot use Dyer as a guest for Bellego, and r/r for Ashworth ?

Agree and I do not think there is a possibility of major changes, given that this is a football stadium where I believe Berwick Rangers FC are unlikely to sanction the changes necessary, such as widening the first and second bends.

It's not that many Monarchs fans will be going to Hampden, but that the M8 is likely to be congested in the early afternoon, and that is the problem. While there may be fewer Monarchs fans than previous go to Ashfield now, imo the home support has also declined and the percentage of visitors is probably still a significant chunk of the total gate. A delayed start of 5pm would avoid the hassle on the M8 and the Tigers bar takings could also increase if they opened up to show the live footy on the telly from 3pm for those who follow both sports