Bitter Sweetness & Eternal Optimism

You know, it can be pretty hard to find a semblance of motivation, inspiration, whatever you want to call it, when your team is having a rotten run of luck.

In fact, if it wasn’t for bad luck the Bandits wouldn’t have any luck at all. The Bullets on the other hand are on a bit of a purple patch, so to say it’s a little bittersweet would be wholeheartedly accurate.

I’m not negative about my speedway or anything like that, far from it and you better believe it when I say that my love for all things Berwick Speedway will never, ever bend, break, tumble or fall. I’ve watched and supported this team through the thick and the thin for over twenty years, so safe to say I’m in this for the long haul.

Many of you reading had been in that same long haul longer than that before I was ever on the scene, and I appreciate that too. The point I’m making is that the Bandits have a bunch of loyal fans, the hardcore if you will and they are desperate for success.

I, much like them truly thought that 2022 could be the year that could happen, however after a promising start, the injury bug bit and the luck ran out quickly.

In fact, since then we haven’t won a meeting and the constant we have been missing is Jye Etheridge and simply put we haven’t covered his absence well.

But truth be told it has been an impossible task covering the absence of a man who was nigh on unbeatable at home but still on an average of less than seven points. Hindsight is 20/20 though and there is much that can be said about it but the reality is what’s done is done, it can’t be changed and we simply must move on.

There is still a job to do, there is still a team to support and there is pride to be restored.

In other news, it is quite the contrary situation for the Bullets as they ride high at the top of the National Development League following their win over Leicester at the weekend. It was a workmanlike performance from the Bullets but in my opinion, it was a meeting thy were fortunate to win.

Leicester’s Lion Cubs threw a good few points away though a combination of engine failures and fallers and in truth, they could easily have picked something up from the meeting on another night.

It was the Bullets who prevailed though, and they maintain their perfect home record and they maintain their stranglehold on the top spot in the National Development League.

This is speedway though, and as we know, finishing top of the league really counts for nothing, there is still the small matter of the playoffs, and everyone starts from scratch again.

As I’ve said before though, there is still a job to do, there is still a team to support and hell, there might even be a league title to be won too.

It’s still a little bittersweet though.

The Bandits return to action this weekend with what many will believe is their last throw of the dice in terms of silverware in the form of the Knockout Cup. A twelve-point deficit will be tough to overcome but it isn’t insurmountable.

Yes, Redcar beat us in the league, yes we have lost three on the bounce and yes it’s going to be tough but what is sport without a bit of eternal optimism?

Of course if you wish to agree, or disagree with the Mythman, have an idea for a feature, or you simply wish to chew the fat over all things speedway, you can email me jbspeedwaymedia@hotmail.com or get in touch via the JB Speedway Media Facebook page. If your compliments, or indeed gripes can be contained to limited characters you can tweet @Mythman666.

Until next time…and there will be a next time.

Right, I’ll hae’tae gan.

Mythman