Leaderboard

Not going to happen. Fridays, Saturday's and Sundays have to be kept clear in case Scunthorpe have a match.

That is exactly the way I feel. Speedway evolved from "dirt-track" racing. Watching burly men wrestling bucking broncos through heavy cinders was a spectacle! It wasn't just about passing, or close racing; watching the skill and sheer strength that was needed to keep a bike upright was worth the admission price! Sad thing, it's not just speedway. Now, we have fancy "motocross" on man-made indoor circuits instead of "scrambles" in waist-high mud! We have cool looking indoor trials over man-made obstacles rather than run the risk of getting dirty outdoors. Football went from a man's game to a an over-refined non-contact sport. Hell, look at life in general. We see these Facebook posts about what life was like when we were kids. We went outside, we got dirty, we got wet, we ate dirt, we drank from hosepipes, we played football with metal studs, we fell off slides and roundabouts and landed face first on gravel! "Ooooh no, we can't do that now..." None of that is cool now, and a much duller world it is as a result... Steve

I sincerely wish Lakeside every success in their efforts to find an alternative venue. We certainly do not want to lose any more tracks to the developers, and when things looked so bleak at Birmingham, we were showered with good wishes from Lakeside supporters in particular and one did send us an anonymous donation of £100 with the message "from a Lakeside Supporter" - and these gestures are remembered.

Purely by chance due to work and getting stuck behind an accident on the m6 I ended up at Belle Vue last night, so I thought I would share my fan experience, I brought a ticket in the grandstand which was £21, now to me that is way over priced for league speedway, so I took to my seat a read the programme, around 7pm the crowd which was a good size crowd filled the stadium, the announcer said we will interview the team managers around 7.10 however belle vues team manager was working on the first bend with a rake while we were treated to 40 mins of tractor racing, no interviews, there were a family next to me with 2 very young lads who had never been to speedway before but thought they would try it, around 7.20 there was an announcement that the meeting would be delayed to let the que’s that were still outside in, however that turned out to be a bit of a lie as some rides equipment hadn’t turned up,think they were caught in the same motorway problem as me ,but by 7.40 the kids next to me had got a bit bored and quite frankly so had I, chase the ace works very well in raising some excitement in the crowd, finally what felt like forever we get what I thought was a very well thought out parade and then the racing started, 2 heats and then the tractor is back out, apparently the track was to grippy, another 2 heats then more tractor racing, at around 8.30 i had seen 4 heats and 50 mins of tractor racing, the first half the meeting was pretty much gate and go stuff with nothing happening after the first corner, the match being close kept the interest up ,we had a couple of jumped starts and riders going back to pit gate to fiddle with their bikes, more delays (make it so no mechanic allowed on track in between restarts ) then the racing livened up so they had an interval,the second half the meeting was excellent and Kings Lynn deserved their win but I just felt like a few little things added up to spoil the entertainment, the racing, chase the ace and the presentation was all great but it’s just those little things that drag it down and kill the buzz and as I said it’s too expensive, the family next to me didn’t seem that taken in by it left before the end, this is not just about Belle Vue but speedway in general

I want to see is my team v their team with the contracted riders and not a whole host guests and doubling up etc. Until they can get rid of doubling up and and guests no one can take it as a serious team sport. Its impossible to build up rivalry either between teams or individual riders if the following week some of this weeks visitors are riding for you. The blame for the chas that doubling has brought and the resulting lack of riders can only be placed firmly at the door of the BSPA. Before I get shot down and the 'guests are part of speedway and can't be helped' line comes out remember if you can the National League of the mid to late 1980s. That league ran for number of seasons with out guests and injuries were covered either with a member of the junior team stepping on or with rider replacement and a number 8 being named. So it could be done however the policy changes brought in over the years by the BSPA saw that system removed and changed to the shambles that we see today.

Only teasing, Steve. We all know you’re a top independent trader.

The race for the Play-Offs may be exciting to some as it's a close scrap for the final places, but turnstile clicks are the whole thing that keeps the sport going. The crowd may seem good but compare it to even a decade ago and the trend is worrying. The attendance may be good but it isn't good regularly, isn't keeping speedway in profit. Tracks will struggle and close. Or the diminishing number of fans will happily pay more to subsidise the ones that have gone. The confidence has been lost that our promoters can resurrect it any day soon. In fact, the slowing at the turnstiles will probably just see them order another can of WD40 and try to get another year out of the way with the promise of a fresh dawn next winter. Speedway runs entirely on short-termism.

Damn right, girlie! Last time it was two spots of rain at five o'clock, a panicky call-off 'cos the Witches were understrength and then a lovely sunny evening.

Something else not helping is that every time you see a video on youtube from speedway portal or speedway gb the tracks are dry, they are already down to the base on the inside even after just a couple of heats, you cant expect the track to soak up and store water when there is nothing to soak it up, in the summer you get dust as we have seen a lot recently, but at least the meeting can go on, and providing the vision of the riders isn't overly impacted its safe, but if tracks continue like this, when we start getting the wetter whether in September and October, meetings will be rained off left, right and centre because the rain will just sit there, nothing to soak it up and therefore you cant scrub the wet shale off because there isn't anything of substance to scrape off. What on earth is going on? are promoters en bloc refusing to buy any more shale in the hope that some miracle will present itself as a cheaper alternative?

Or even late march when the season starts

...Interesting views and I have watched speedway via you-tube and/or DVDs from the so-called Pioneer Years and it seemed so much rawer back then and less refined. Perhaps modern speedway is too clinical and less 'dirty' but I guess that would be a backward step in this modern age? I'm just glad that I followed the sport during it's last "Golden Era' which is commonly accepted as being the seventies but even then one could see changes taking place as the decade advanced towards the eighties and beyond.

No surprise to me. Boxall was like a second son to Silver at Rye. He thought the sun shone out of his a*se. Whenever he needed equipment (often), Uncle Len was there. Promising as a teenager, but thoroughly unprofessional

He has been riding for a decent club all season - Glasgow!

So worky had all meetings arranged...then they were told to cancel those meetings and re arrange, think that's a bit off if they are not given extra time.

You see, that's exactly the problem in a nutshell - who uses postcards anymore?!!

I don't mind the the truth...his name is Leigh Lanham. As for what you lot are going on about, you still remember it, we need more things in speedway that people will remember 20 odd years down the line. The sport needs a good punch up or fencing to get people talking.

If only we had covers

Ref is for equipment not injured riders in which it is a well supported cause

That "miracle" has been and gone. It was Sky Sports.

First of all let me set you straight. 1/ I am no longer a Poole Speedway Ltd sponsor, so I don’t have any direct access to the club or, it’s officials. 2/ I am one of the few on this forum that are against collections for named riders and have been advocating a “Poole Speedway Riders Hardship Fund” which would be available for a rider who is struggling either through injury or equipment damage. 3/ I would never disclose on an open forum any details of private discussions between two parties. 4/ I’m not sure any club promoter “cares” about “their” riders in the way you appear to believe the poole promotion should. Perhaps as an interim solution, you could make a case to the Swindon REF and, I’m sure poole supporters would contribute to a Just Giving Page if you were to set it up on behalf of Stefan. Please let us know the details if and when you set it up... Thank you.

Or April ☺

I think this has the potential to be a mauling if I am honest, apart from heat 2 and 8 Brum will have at least 1 heat leader in every race. Thomas should be good for around 12-15 points, The engine room of Rowe and Hampshire have performed above and beyond this season, but 6 rides against tougher riders away from home is a big ask, something I have every faith they can do but don't want to put any pressure of expectation on them for this. The reserves match up quite well, Spooner has been great and picked up points not expected of him and Couzins looked far better then many reserves in his appearance for Kent Monday. That leaves Perks who on Monday looked sensational and dare I say too good for the league. He interacted with the Kent fans well Monday as all his wins were applauded generously, so hopefully he will be 100 percent committed tonight. Kent have had very limited luck with guest number 1s over the years. Not seen a forecast but hope weather is set fair for the number of fans travelling up. With so much talent on either side a bit of rub of the green either way could swing this. The Kent boys have risen to everything thrown at them recently, and with so many young heads, Jack Thomas himself no veteran has galvanised the team unit and the composure of everyone has been a joy to watch. Gutted I can't go myself as whatever the score, with the riders on show there will be some entertaining racing pretty much garunteed. As a Kent fan if you offered me a league point now, I would take that and stick it in the bank.

You would think all the years he has been riding he might have been able to bring that forward a bit to say...................June?!!

So fortunes really went in the Stars favours. They say 'small drops of water, little grains of sand' can always make a big difference. the answer to this problems is to be on top of everything and keep these problems to a minimum... The main reason you lost was because you top riders didn't score enough points...

Connor Mountain was dropped due to the numbers for three changes. He has a brilliant attitude. Good equipment and always gave his all but he really struggled to get to grips with foxhall and rode much better away from home.

Every time a Scorpions rider gets injured the rest of the clubs start to wonder if their fixture list is safe.

Looking at Sundstrom's ave (with bonus) 7.48, only half a point behind Kurtz & Harris, doesn't seem that bad!

Yes it is a s**t hole but its our s**t hole, if I had Belle Vue or Poole on my doorstep I would go there but I don't, and unlike a lot of football fans, us speedway supporters follow our local teams.

Really don't know why as he didn't ride in the final or the semi

Guess we will have to just stick to Freddie. Oh well.....

No points no surprise, cant comment about the ref as I couldn't get time off to get down there, not really great from the No1 but Worrall, Tungate, and Drozdz cost us as they never turned up at all, Lemon should have got rid of the Pole and Worrall has really let the club down by returning when he clearly is not fit to do the job disappointed in him, tbh his return is looking a tad selfish as he must have known he wasn't up to it. I predicted not another away point and still cant see it, Leicester being the best chance but I fear that would be too little too late.

Absolutely hosed it down at 5 for a good half hour. Its gash most weeks for no reason but they do have one tonight.

Unbeaten at home and 12 away points already, you're already certainties for the playoffs unless something goes horribly wrong. If Wolves don't get there will be keeping my fingers crossed for you guys

I bet the bloke who tipped it over the rack got a rocket up his arris

I've had a bet on BV +12 win.. I'm thinking 48-42

I must admit I'm surprised an official statement hasn't been released from the SCB.

Very sorry to hear this. Always figures in anyone's list of the all-time greats and probably could have won even more individual titles if he hadn't been such a committed team rider. Probably, in that respect, he actually was the greatest ever.

I’m sure he’ll get better when Flint is fit,

Better still clean the 'flying finally sorted out' bikes at the end of the season and put them safely away in October ready to for once hit the ground running in March? Doubt it will ever happen though because some riders, although saying they can't manage and might have to retire if they can't double up, always seem compelled to get new stuff.

are you blaming them for lack of shale on tracks? The last few meetings i have seen Redcar v Scunthorpe--super race track and well prepped,some excellent racing Peterbourgh V Scunthorpe-- mega hot day and evening,brilliant race track, billiantly prepared,great racing and a close score,it was excellent speedway Scunthorpe v Glasgow -- mega hot day,great racing an even ,fair race track,last heat decider outstanding meeting put on on by both teams Sheff V Scunthorpe --smooth and consistant race race,all riders prepared to have a good,good crowd and a good meeting then you look at both the main leagues,the race for the play offs is wide open in both,impossible to call and the teams that can make the play offs are evenly matched, an exciting finish to the season ahead in both leagues yes we still have doom and gloom, i dont understand it really

It's pretty much how I see it now. Re-structuring with one medium sized league etc etc is NOT going to bring in new fans and grow the fanbase. Why would it when it offers more of the same strung-out racing with so many heats over within half a lap. Only another form of motorcycle racing on dirt track ovals is likely to do that. Smaller capacity 250cc or 350cc - standardised sealed machines are a must. Slower but closer racing with more likelihood of passing might catch on. But the starting area must be changed ( to stop all gardening and speed up races ) races run immediately after each other with as little delay as possible ( to avoid boring and turning off the new generation of fans ). Even the name of the sport should be changed. Without such massive changes, speedway is beyond rescue. Way past the "last chance saloon".

It was an exciting race. So was the race from the NSS ( saw it on fb) and that was brilliant. It isn’t a competition.

He didn't care about his rules. He just wanted another reason to slate Bellego and Smith so the other 12 names didn't matter!

Too young to have any significant memories of him but one of the long list of local riders that made the club at ipswich what it was as it established itself Perhaps overshadowed by those higher profile stars but still every bit a part of a team - the type of rider that was (and still is) vital to making speedway work

That would mean 7 lap races at Plymouth!

If there is racing at rye next season, any prospective new promoters would have to deal with BMR, as they own the lease and the stadium.

How about In stadium betting like at the dogs? Do it the same way a pub does on race night. you pick your rider and don't know until all bets are in what you could be set to win. I bet that would create an atmosphere in itself

But you wasn't there. Or was you??

People can say what they like about Speedway about it dying on it's arse and poor standard of riders etc etc... but when was the last time the top division was so open? Who knows who will make the top 4 and in what order. Has to be the most open season for many a year. Somerset are the only team to remain unbeaten at home but even then have dropped points in a draw. The next few weeks of the season should be brilliant.

It is no Swindon fan!