Plymouth v Poole 1/08/2026

[PersonalResponsibility]

2 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Zach Cook signed his Polish contract before Poole's as he wasn't intending to do Championship in 2026, as he announced at the end of 2025 season. It was only the uncertainty of the Premiership's future with decisions delayed to Jan '26 that made him change his mind (helped no doubt by Middlo offering encouraging words). Cook made it perfectly clear that he would not be available for certain Pirates fixtures if his Polish club Lodz required him.

Good for him. However, the UK doesn't operate a squad system at present, so it's irrelevant whether he made it "perfectly clear" or not - if he's happy to sign a contract then honour it, if not then don't bother.

My point was more that this type of stuff just gets overlooked so much, so continues to happen. It's too late now anyway, the ship has sailed, but it's just a bit sad to see fans brushing it off so lightly. 

Poole have had some of the world's best riders over the years, and were one of speedway's biggest clubs, yet fans are now seemingly unbothered that Zach Cook(!) is dumping them for a meeting in the Polish 2nd tier. I thought they'd be up in arms but perhaps that's just me.

[Trackrat]

13 minutes ago, Whitelinehugger said:

You are fake and an impersonator. Play your own character and not someone else’s.

Which one of you two accounts wrote that 😂💦

[Sadman]

40 minutes ago, Whitelinehugger said:

He’s pissed

No it was Lawson on TV who went to the loo and left the door open dureing one of the track grades.

[LisaColette]

4 hours ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

That attitude is exactly why UK speedway gets shoved to the bottom of everyone's priorities.

Cook has signed a contract with your club, he should honour it. Why are you not p1ssed off that he's decided he couldn't be bothered to make it work, so has just dumped your club? Instead it's just "oh well, Plymouth is rubbish anyway lol 🤷🏻‍♂️" and no blame apportioned to the rider who didn't turn up.

He's happy to take the money when it suits him, but not when another club comes along offering more money.

I'd almost guarantee that if it was an important individual meeting (that benefitted Cook himself) at Plymouth, and he had to make it to Poland this afternoon, the travel options would miraculously appear.

 

Tbh i was more annoyed by the Lawson one on Weds than this one. 

[Tim G]

1 hour ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Not sure how asking a question is trying to be clever? What I do know is that Cook's management in Lodz required him to be there on SGP day. This was flagged up to the Poole management when he signed his Poole contract. Maybe (that word again) he had to collect his equipment/mechanic/van/ whatever before travelling to Lodz' away meeting today where they won and he scored 7 points? Maybe?

The way you worded it did not come across that way.

That’s fair enough and makes sense to why he couldn’t ride on Saturday, so why not just say that anyway.

Maybe that would have been a good idea? 

[szkocjasid]

14 hours ago, arnieg said:

That's pretty normal, no 8's are often named on the day. But let me amend your original post:

Dan Thompson isn't down to ride watch today in Poland

That was pretty amusing lol!

I wish it wasn't the case though.

[szkocjasid]

15 hours ago, Arthur54 said:

Perhaps Zach was booked on the same flights that Klint used to get 

Very funny lol!

[szkocjasid]

13 hours ago, Bagpuss said:

All this missing meetings here to be in Poland stuff has to stop next year, as I've said several times before the BSPL need to grow a set and veto signings where riders are going to be absent regularly, and in the case of FIM meetings organise the fixtures much, much better.

 

12 hours ago, Neila said:

If they do sign for polish teams any replacement can only be NDL should be a new rule

Agree, wish they BSPL wouldn't so willingly accept riders missing British matches. If clubs don't mind as they get guests, remove (or limit) that option, hopefully clubs then look for riders who don't miss so many meetings.