Shadders

This past week or so, I've been to see the Rockets at Plymouth, Redcar & Scunthorpe, spending hundreds of my hard earned, without a hint of trouble. I'm sure all the lovely people I meet at away tracks will testify to my character. If you saw one of your riders writhing in agony after a horrendous crash and saw someone attempting to take a photograph how would you react? . I'm a proper speedway fan, not a know it all, bitter has been old whinge bag.

Glad to see he's still going to Rye and isn't as bitter as some

A lovely elderly lady Monarchs fan was getting pretty irate, gesturing up at the box as Nelson was digging around. She later told us that Jim McGregor had come down to the start gate when Matty Whethers was doing the same and told him to stop. I don't know if it was this year or in the past as her accent was giving me problems.

Not close at all if you saw the latest X-ray. Story is he took the plaster cast off himself, which hasn't helped... Luke will probably continue his rehab, ready for next year

He didn't stop Tyson Nelson from preparing the gate for Anders Mellgren before heat 15. The Monarchs around us were going nuts! Is that why Cookie arrived late?

A puncture on the last bend when leading is bad luck. Trying to anticipate the start and going through the tapes is poor judgement. There is a difference... If he pulls that stunt tonight he'll be villain of the year.

Wouldn't mind seeing him back if averages and wage demands allow

I think so too. I was there that night. Still can't believe he won that race

Strange one that. We were standing pretty close to the stand on the first bend. Didn't notice there wasn't anyone filming until you mentioned it. It's usually Bob Tasker filming isn't it? Wonder why it wasn't covered?

Saw him at Rye House tonight. He looks a little more doddery than he did when he used to don the mascot suit. I seem to remember him telling me a few years back that he was told he was not to perform the mascot duties anymore. I don't think he was even the official mascot. He did it off his own back I seem to recall.

Ricky Ashworth for Berwick last year. Last to first within a couple of laps

To say I'm gutted is an understatement. Rockets deserved to win that, no doubt. The ridiculous tactical rule which allows a home team who've been dominated to get back into the meeting done us up like a kipper. A rule that's gotta be looked at during the winter Saying that, it was a fabulous speedway meeting with close racing and passing a plenty. Much better from Kasper tonight. Mellgren was superb until heat 15 and Nelson was scraping the boards providing lots of thrills. Pontus was more subdued than last night. His first race fall didn't help his score. Couple of good rides for Jason B too. Josh didn't look as dominant as last night. Poor Simon was in the wars with a couple of falls, neither were his fault. The worst news of the night was Nikolai Klindt announced as a Scunthorpe rider in place of Palm Toft, so a pretty crap night all round for us.

This is beyond a joke now. Both reserves were utter pish last night. Kasper well off the pace and still can't gate. Simon was Simon. Need I say more? They're both probably really nice blokes, but I don't travel thousands of miles a year to cheer on really nice blokes. I want to see my team winning. Redcar were there for the taking last night. We should've come away with a win, but only 2.5 riders came to the party. Still reasonably pleased with the score, makes the second leg more interesting. On the question of Pontus Aspgren, from what I've seen of him at Plymouth & Redcar has been impressive. Waiting to see how he goes round Rye before I'm totally convinced. Unfortunately his home debut comes against Edinburgh, who will give us a hard test. I can see a Doyle/Boxall situation developing here. Lets hope Silver has learned his lesson. On the positive side, fantastic guest in Grajczonek, he was very impressive. Pontus on a 6 point average on that performance? Yes please!! Anders started off like a train, but tailed off. Tyson had a difficult night. Jason B deserved more points for his efforts. No chance of passing in heat 1 when he couldn't see through the dust. That track was as dry as a bone at the start. Anyone who thinks Rye House is dusty should've seen that. Thankfully the water cart came out pretty quickly and gave us the biggest cheer of the night when the pipe disconnected and flooded the second bend. Pie & peas were delicious

Don't forget Pontus who was superb. Gotta be nuts to let him go when Jason G returns

Cameras at the ready!

Racing up the M1/A1/A19 after work for this. Weather forecast looks good http://www.redcarbea...aspx?NewsID=513

I thought it was bollo*k$ then and I still do now.

Ahhh, well found Lioness, thank you. That explains it now. I presume medical clearance came through, otherwise we'd have heard something by now. As far as I can see he didn't race in Poland on Sunday either. ps... the Rye House rider is Kasper Lykke Nielsen, but as in MIkkel B's case, he drops the last part and is just known as Kasper Lykke. I'm not sure why they do that. Something in the back of my mind tells me the latter name is from the maternal side, but they don't use it when over here.

Home track advantage? Have you seen our results this year? That was last year.

Here is the article from the Devils website... http://www.plymouthd.../article-1.html Here are the latest Danish speedway results... http://speedwayresul...Speedway League This is the only match I can see that ran on 3rd July... http://speedwayresul...781&season=2013 Can't see his name there, unless he races in Denmark under an alias! The only Mikkel Bech I can find has "Jensen" at the end and he rides for Esbjerg, who haven't had a meeting since June 26th prior to last Friday. Interestingly, Mikkel Bech stared following my Twitter updates during the meeting last Friday!! I had a conversation with Dick Barrie during the Plymouth v Berwick meeting. He told me that a medical certificate has to be produced within 48 hours for a missing rider. I presume if this isn't produced within the required time the rider replacement points are taken away and the match scores amended... Berhaps Mikkel Bech's dad is a doctor?

I didn't wanna argue with him. He was rather irate as I'd posted a week earlier criticising the track prep, which he'd taken exception to, seeking me out to berate me in the Tempstand.

These rolling averages have me baffled. Don't understand them at all. Over complicated system due to some teams taking the pi$$ probably

Probably the most important match of the season for us. If we don't keep it close the season could be over

I was told by a member of the track staff (more of a lecture really) that it helps to slow a rider down if they should come a cropper on the first bend. Didn't believe it then, and still don't believe it now

He was off the tricky gate 4 in his first race, so was handicapped from the start, especially not knowing the track. Looked impressive in the three heats he won, but missed the gate in ht 13 off gate 1 and trailed in last. Beat Lemon twice, in heat 11 literally flying past him on the back straight on the penultimate lap. He's not in the Cook/Robson class, there aren't many of those around, but if it means a settled team I'd give him a go if he's available. The only other option is the lottery of guest bookings which can be hit or miss, as we've seen recently