screm

Giving the events of the last couple of weeks, especially last weeks drubbing, defeat is not an option. I`m hoping all of the riders have been left in no doubt about that.

Quite simply a must win meeting for Berwick, Matej Kus is back from illness, hopefully Mathew Wethers will be fit enough to return, though nothing has been confirmed one way or the other, for those Berwick fans who are thinking of giving this meeting a miss might find the incentive from this, which is taken from todays Berwick Speedway Newsletter. Your promotion, and your Bandits, are well aware of the way things collapsed -- the best-laid plans, etc, etc --- around our ears on Saturday as the Panthers of Peterborough deservedly lifted the points. There are no excuses. Promoter Dennis McCleary today issued a rallying call to everyone -- team riders, all our crew and every Berwick fan who is proud to be a Bandit! He has highlighted that Saturday will bring Britain's No 4 rider (and Shielfield Park specialist) Ben Barker back to Berwick and that the New Holland Bandits will be determined to prove last week's horrors were a one-night-only affair. This will be a great match, and well worth your patronage Everyone -- and that means YOU -- is encouraged to be at Shielfield Park this Saturday night, to kick-start the second half of what we fully intend to be our best season of the past decade. Let's make it so! Edit. Ex-Berwick rider Josef Franc has signed for Plymouth and will be making his debut for his new club this Saturday.

No meeting should ever be delayed because of sun.

Steen Jensen was riding in the same meeting and scored 8pts from 5 rides, all second places,

Totally agree, maybe its something the Berwick promotion will look at going forward.

Berwick Bandits regret to announce the resignation of stalwart club servant Ian Rae from his roles as team and track manager. Club co-owner John Anderson said: “Ian approached the directors at the close of last night's meeting, and explained the pressures of his roles has become too much, not least the horrors of attempting to beat the weather during the recent FIM postponement, and it was the time for him to step away.” Ian suffered a cardiac problem in 2011, and was hospitalised in the past winter with severe internal bleeding. Ian himself stated: “It is with sadness that I have had to inform the club of my resignation from all my duties within Berwick Speedway with immediate effect. “My health and personal life have been badly affected in recent times with an ever-increasing workload at the Speedway on top of holding down a full-time job outside of the sport. George Hepburn, club co-director added: “The decision was Ian's and of course he is welcome at all club events - everything in every way. When Ian feels refreshed again after taking time out from active participation in track and team affairs, there will always be a role for him within the Bandits' organisation, we can all guarantee that!” Rae continued: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with everyone at Berwick Speedway – for which I am forever grateful – but I have to take a step back and recharge my batteries. “Who know what the future will bring as this break may – or may not – be temporary and only time will tell.” Hepburn confirmed there will be a board meeting called this week to discuss the best way forward in filling the roles vacated as a result of Ian stepping away, and expressed the club’s best wishes and extreme thanks for the countless hours and sheer effort “Razor” has put into the club over many years. It has also been confirmed that Ian’s wife Lani will thankfully remain fully in charge of the club’s commercial department with her usual efficiency, enthusiasm and expertise. Taken from Berwick Speedway site.

Bit unfair on Bellego, in general he has done well this season and top scored for Berwick last Thursday at Sheffield, though he was poor last night. Whatever was wrong with his kit last night needs to be worked on this week so it is in tip top condition for 7pm next Saturday.

Track prep by some is seen as a dark art, and like you I don't pretend to have any definitive answers, I just comment on what I see. Over the last couple of weeks I have seen two poor race meetings, where riders at times have struggled to cope. Up till then the racing had been good, if the track guys have been trying something new, it hasn't worked IMO and we need to get back to where it was. All fair points, but doesn't it enhance your evening knowing you`ve just seen a cracking nights speedway, for much of this season that has been the case and speaking personally I have been keen to get back the following. week. Reading through post meeting opinions from last night I`m wondering whether some will bother with next week, which is sad as once you start losing your diehards your in bother.

Wow right there, are you alleging some have one opinion on a Saturday night at the speedway, and then another on here.

I agree about making a change though just because we have the points to do so shouldn't be the sole reason, riders poor performances is more of a concern. It seems Doolan`s the one getting the most criticism, to be fair to him he did score 7pts, his average is just slightly less, there are other areas of the team causing concern to. Agree about the product needing to be right, which for me is the most frustrating part, we see the promotion making huge efforts when there is a FIM or Sky meeting and are rewarded with a big crowd. Surely that effort should be made week in week out, I don't suggest that we will see the kind of attendances we see for the bigger meetings, but there must be a way of getting those floating fans at Shielfield on a more regular bases. Also a big part of the product of course is the track, thorny subject I know, so far this year the track has been good and the entertainment served worth the admission, sadly that hasn't been the case of the last couple of weeks, that leaves some feeling short changed as they know the potential Shielfield has. Agree that fans who can get along on a regular bases should do, but you have to give them something worth watching, not just a Berwick but Country wide over all three leagues.

Having rattled up 50+ pts they`re hardly going to slate the place. Wonder if our riders thought the same.

Doolan was the worst of a bad bunch last night but we shouldn't be lying the blame for last nights debacle solely at his door , though he has been consistently poor this season, maybe he fancies a shot a reserve. Its a fate that awaits us all, though some are a bit nearer than others, I cant wait for the dribbling stage.

Point taking and your right bringing in a young rider with potential as an asset is always a plus though maybe that could've been done when putting this years team together.

Good point, though signing a rider of that age, it will mean missing meetings for Under-21`s, Danish Junior and Senior Champs etc, and we already have that with Bellego.

The amount of times they were out last night they wouldn't have lasted much longer. Thing is, for all their laps I couldn't see the track improving as the meeting went on, time to get the track to where is was prior to the FIM meeting IMO.

This meeting would've easily been over before the rain came had we not sat around for what seemed like an eternity during the interval, why did it go on for so long.

As you say crowds have been holding up reasonably well this season, though the alarm bells must be ringing for the Promotion when you read customers leaving early last night, maybe not to return. Maybe a new face or two in he team might energise those missing fans to come back, it is to be hoped this isn't going to be a missed chance to strengthen the team and another season left to drift. If that happens crowds will dwindle still further which is the last thing anyone would want.

First off it would be childish not to congratulate Peterborough on their win, with a weakened team they won easily, far quicker out of the gate, far quicker there after and far more willing to put in an effort, in short everything Berwick didn't do. You don't see an away team having so many heat winners all that often, so all credit to Peterborough. Apart from Worrall, the Berwick performance was as bad as the score line suggests, its was shocking, maybe one or two riders have let all the praise they have had up till now go to their head and have become complacent, well if that's the case last night was a real wake up call. Doolan was awful, but his performance was matched by Jensen who was equally abysmal. Carr again struggled, and Bellego looked a shadow of the rider we have seen this season, hopefully in his case this was a one off. My concern is do the Berwick Promotion and/or management have it in them to shake things up a bit, as last nights performance was totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated. No good coming out with the usual party line of "one of those nights" or "never mind it will be better next week", last night needs addressing, so it will be interesting to see what the club comes up with for next weeks visit of Redcar. Maybe the time has come to change things, after next week we have a break due the Cardiff GP, I hope plans are already in place to bring riders in if needed as we have a chance of a decent PL finish this season, it would be a crime if we didn't try and build on a half decent start to our season. Now I love watching the tractors go round, but even I grew tiresome of seeing out after every other race last night, clearly for the second week running there was a problem with the track, though should not give anyone an excuse, how the track team used to do it can we go back to that, what ever they were doing can we go back to doing that, if someone else is doing the track please change it. It is no good pulling out all the stops for FIM or Sky meetings, surely you should put the same effort in for the customers who attend on a weekly bases. All in all a poor nights entertainment that has thrown up many questions, answers that only the Promotion have the answers to. Absolutely, everything summed up in just one sentence.

That's the prize winning post for today.

He could then put his findings on Twitter.

Tai Woffinden Nicki Pedersen Greg Hancock Jarek Hampel 1 Dane in the Final.

How entertaining would it have been to have Lawson guesting at Shielfield tonight.

Surely a well employed guest could give Peterborough a chance at least of taking a point or two, especially with Berwick weakened, a point or two could be vital at the end of the season when it comes to Play-Off places.

Aye that's us, and God bless everyone one of us.

Giving that Peterborough pushed all the way last night I`m surprised they haven't gone for a guest tonight, a decent choice might've made this meeting a bit closer than IMO it will be tonight.