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With the end of the season just around the corner I would like to thank Sue and her very special team for the magnificent service that they provide. For many many years we've maybe taken the updates site for granted, but believe me each and every texter and updater, and Sue's right hand people are really appreciated. Thank you guys

Woffinden a better rider than gundersen,I read that two hours ago and I've just come around after hitting the floor in shock.

As has been said previously Poole cheated in the final by using Nick Morris in the second leg. They had an opportunity to win it fair and square but they chose not to. They can crow all they want but at the end of day, Nick’s score should be expunged and KL are therefore the true champions.

So our season ends at the semi final stage again, I always say it’s better to involved in them rather than finishes 5th or 6th. great effort down at Workington on Sunday night when you consider how well they have been riding at home recently, Looks like a Workington v Lakeside final to me, with a very well ballenced side against a fairly top heavy team with 3 big hitters in Lawson, Morris and Ellis. Most will point to Cook missing though Wells was very good in both meetings, where as I believe Stewart scored more than what Greaves would have over the two meetings so it may have balanced itself out. Roll on 2019, I believe this could be a difficult winter for clubs so let’s see what the next few weeks bring and also what league we will see the Tigers in when the tapes go up in Spring.

To be fair you're half way there already, you don't even have your own track.

Come along to Derwent Park and play where’s wally, or where’s workyworky Now I wouldn’t call that big geordie bloke in the stand a witch either, honestly!!!!! Bet you can’t hunt me out in the same place again, fetch your devils gladrags, Halloween’s coming!

In all the years I have been watching speedway, for me personally & been very fortunate to watch Tomasz in his prime all over Europe & particularly in Poland, NEVER seen a rider so graceful on a bike. Thomasz was by far the best rider I have seen. And so missed

OMG IronScorp you are swimming in dangerous waters there Honestly I was selling the programmes for the second Glasgow meeting as well sharing the same stall as WorkyWorky and I wouldn't recommend going toe to toe with that feisty young lady, you would definitely be backing a "losser" on that score Regards THJ

Your imagination is running rings round your logic....if you have any

Common sense would be a good start

Chris Louis said in an interview published today... “Are the bikes too fast? Not necessarily, but the characteristics of the bikes are all wrong. They are so unpredictable. Unless you are riding them flat out they can be problematic and as soon as you back off you’re in whole new territory.”

The tractor at Wolverhampton is probably valued at £150,000

It says a lot that this has been going for 20 odd years, organised and run by the fans for the fans and the BSPA are still unable, with all the technology at our hands these days, to organise something to replace it for the fans... Mind you, i doubt we'd get some of the comical comments on the race reports if they did. Knowing the BSPA they've probably looked at ways of closing it down Long live live updates

I would agree 100%.... We all had our favourites when growing up "PC was mine" I am a London lad, so the only time i got to see him was at Wimbledon and the big meetings at White City. I like you, love watching the top riders of today. Theres no doubt these top riders of today are just as talented on a speedway bike as the big guns of yesteryear. "just different eras" I think a lot of us oldies, do look back with rose tinted glasses. We had bigger crowds, bigger leagues and when you look at the state of British speedway today compared with then, its rather easy to get defensive when it gets criticised. The British league of the 70's imo is the equivalent of the Polish extra ligua today. If they were only 8 teams back in the 70s like there is now in Poland. Could you imagine how strong it would have been. Unfortunately I think British speedway has run its course as an out and out professional sport. A massive shake up in the winter is the only thing that can save it.

THJ , your ideas have a lot of merit , but for something like that to work , the governing body ( especially the second half of your season ) has to take charge and take away the organising of fixtures from the clubs . They have to implement the fixture list to suit the competion not the clubs themselves . If riders are missing for whatever reason , too bad deal with it .

Everyone knows we were fortunate, if thats the right way to put it,' with the injuries to the other teams riders at critical times. All credit must go to both Somerset and KIngs Lynn for taking the semi and Final to the last races. I am in no doubt we almost quite literally rode our luck.

True,think he's earned an off night once in a while though.For most of the season though he has pulled this team through.

Shale? What’s that like never heard of it down at our paradise of gaters, brings out the best, some even gated before the tapes had gone up!!!!

Guests may not be required fingers crossed! If no room at the inn with the suggestions given by THJ; there is a great big oval shaped concrete structure behind Tesco with plenty of room, even comes with large air cushioned blanket and check in usually starts around 6/6.30pm Safe travels, and may the best team win

Thank the lord for that!

Thought they were standard set figures in line with averages

I dont like to upset u but there are a few more than 3 witches.. be very careful as they are in varying different locations ar DP.... little do you know....

Zengota to Smederna.

Gollob is up there. I was just relieved at the time when he won his title. A rider you'd pay to see.

Gollob can in my eyes!!!!

Would add at least we are now in realms of sensiblesness. PC x2 And Lee I can at leastcsee arguments as to why they might be considered better than Woffy. Carter I'm struggling tbh, and this is as one of the biggest admirers of his ability. Only in 82 could u argue he was the best rider in the world. Tai has been 3 times. I'm certainly not convinced the standard of competition in 82 was higher than today. And Carter at his peak had arguably the quickest bikes in the world, which seems to contradict esrlier arguments about Woffy mechanical advantage...

Opinions are worthless without something to back it up. I haven't seen the article, but goals conceded wouldn't be the strongest claim to being the best goalkeeper, nowhere close.

Bless. It might make sense if it wasn't for the fact that both Tatum and Ermolenko rode on changing machinery throughout their careers. Modern bikes are far more volatile and unpredictable when a rider gets out of shape especially.

You should go on stage , either sweeping up or riding shotgun.

Jeez I've never known a club to make such a pigs ear of their fixtures yet blame everyone else for their own mess.

Peterborough must have just seen the two Lakeside riders riding the grass track meeting and decided they now fancy riding. Fingers crossed Lakeside release a statement saying they can’t do that date now.

We are all very proud to have been nominated for an Isle of Wight Radio Local Heroes award. Martin and I are invited to the awards dinner on Nov 8th so we will keep you all posted. This is a very nice surprise and totally out of the blue so, now we know about it, it will be just brilliant to win it although being nominated is equally as fabulous when you consider where the club was just 4 years ago. Thanks everyone for your support in 2018 and enjoy the off season

It's the wimborne whoppa grass track meeting on sunday, which is probably the reason Eastbourne are starting at 19.30. This might have an impact on Peterborough finding suitable guests.

This has been discussed on here before. Basically, there is a generic riding style used by most riders today, and it is not easy to identify individuals. In the old days, everyone seemed very different, and we had no trouble picking out the styles. We could identify riders wearing identical masks, and even when helmets like the Bell Moto III was popular, it wasn't hard to tell riders apart, even from just a head-and-shoulders pic! Steve

don't worry now you have challenged the delicate flower he will have a list of excuses as long as the straights at Berwick, If you think he is "passed" it (no crime as all riders do eventually, except Hancock) Glasgow fans just remember him hunting down and overtaking Jason Doyle in heat 15 to win the play off match, the man still clearly has it, well for some clubs.

I remember Dave Jessup once wearing tasselled leathers. Personally I felt it didn't match Dave's very conservative image as he wasn't the most flamboyant of riders although very successful over a number of seasons. However even when black leathers were all the vogue (I perhaps saw the last years before coloured leathers were the norm) I was able to differentiate the riders by their distinctive riding styles (foot forward variety) and helmets, masks and flowing scarves. Tony Lomas who was recently interview in the excellent 'Backtrack' magazine used to wear highly polish black leathers as did Ken McKinlay with his socks tucked over the top of his boots...all individual distinctions. Also football shirts that some riders preferred. 'Mad' Malcolm Ballard used to wear an awful cream coloured top over his black leathers I recall!

I am not sure about that... Just because the same business plan has been used for the past fifteen years or so and failed, doesn't mean it won't be a roaring success this time...! Maybe one day, British Speedway will be revered the World over as being one of a very select group who have proved Einstein wrong...

That was dropped due to priority given to each different leagues race nights. Hence why Iversen did Sweden, Denmark, UK and Poland. There's absolutely no chance of Lambert giving up on the Danish league as that has way better quality rider's than British Speedway. Even the German league is of similar standard, if not slightly better than the UK. Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, UK is probably the World Speedway order in terms of top league standards. With how poorly fixtures are planned here with huge gaps in the calendar and then forced double headers, it makes no sense in Robert continuing with British Speedway at all.

The only way Harris will pack it in is if Promoters refuse his pay demands. ps I don't know what he gets paid, but I'm certain it is too much for the crowd levels he attracts nowadays. His effort at Workington on Sun was poor,but I'm sure he will blame his Machinary or set up.

I would suggest that if you don't enjoy watching Woffy, Zmarzlik,Emil or the likes of Bewley and Lambert, then the issue isnt that the riders are not as exvitimg as they used to be but that you no longer enjoy the sport. Which then baffles me as to why you would spend time on a speedway forum. My favourite riders will always be Ross, Mort, PC, Smudger and the Moran brothers. But it doesn't stop me from enjoying the riders of today. I'm sure Bewitcher would argue that Ermolenko is the most exciting rider of all time. But he's not going to argue that that makes modern riders dull, or that Ronnie Correy was better than Greg Hancock

Considering everything comes down to the final four meetings of the season its no wonder the regular season matches are so poorly attended, they are just seen as qualifying matches and as we see every season the crowds only turn up for the finale where something is actually at stake.

Throwing money at the wrong riders even less so. I dont think the throwing money at riders really applies outside the top two. We allegedly said no to Lunna for this season as he asked for more money to cover his increased flight costs as we were changing race days to Fridays. The problems for this season were there from day one when the manager chucked it after the first meeting. That unsettled Worrall who went on a woeful run of form, in part at being under constant pressure in 13 & 15 to make up for the shortfall in points from Harris. Lewis Kerr and Vissing thankfully covered our arse in the early meetings but both started to tail off in early June. As well as yielding little points at the top of the team, the same was true at the bottom as Jack Thomas struggled with the big step up from NL and Sarjeant often could have got the same points sitting in the house, particularly at home. The home thrashing by Workington and unforgiveable defeat to an average Edinburgh in May underlined the fragility of the 1-7, but wasnt a surprise if you attended the home meetings to that point. It was widely speculated we tried to replace Harris in May and June to no avail. He was embarrassing at points, with unreliable machinery and perhaps worst of all, a lack of fight. An already poor season got worse when Paul Starke tried to ride through injury in May & June, and Kerr got injured at the end of June. It meant r/r required Sarjeant to take at least two of his rides, and he couldnt even cover his own rides. The team had no chance of making the playoffs until Kerr and Worrall made way for Cook and Nathan Greaves in mid July. Despite only riding 8 meetings Cook had an immediate impact and Harris finally started scoring. It was enough for us to scrape into the playoffs with that holy grail of away wins but ultimately not enough to make the final. Stewart Dickson wont be there next year so the mental policy of having a stellar top five and whoever will fit for the reserves hopefully cant happen again. Its never worked for us previously. The marquee signing of Harris promised much but delivered little and can only be described a spectacular failure, as Sarjeant too. Whatever the league structure for 2019, we know what hasnt worked, its time to learn from it and not make those same signing mistakes again. A bit of continuity may also serve us better than another sweep out.

But giving everyone a chance isn't what formula 1 is about is it? It's about building the best car. Major manufacturers aren't going to invest millions to gain an advantage only to have it negated by a ballot. There is Formula Ford & Renault where everyone has equal cars but the masses aren't interested in that as it hasn't got the kudos of F1. Quality of racing isn't important these days, it's all about branding & image like everything else these days. People who don't understand football follow teams just because they're Premier league but wouldn't watch lower league even if it was more entertaining football. Gifted musicians play in pubs and clubs while pretty boy karaoke singing dancers fill stadiums. Take the crocodile logo off a shirt and it's worthless. Unfortunately that's the world we live in these days. Speedway isn't fashionable in the UK and all the talk of getting an independent governing body running it, close racing and consistently applied rules which may please the few purists would do nothing to attract the masses needed to make it a commercial success. People like to attach themselves to success.

THJ, unlike others I am not going to quote your comments verbatim - unless we are going for the longest thread in history. They are a great read and make a lot of sense but probably too much sense! As I have said on this thread earlier I don't think there is much wrong with the rules and regulations as they are, they just need to be overseen and ruled over by an independent body (including if possible a couple of ex riders). The 2 league single league would end doubling up which is my biggest bugbear and if some riders decide they are then not going to make enough money let them ply their trade solely in mainland Europe. Guests, which I think are inevitably going to be needed due to injuries to come from the 'other' league only. At least guests, though not ideal I know, help to ensure meetings remain competitive. We have all had seasons where our team has been decimated by injury and none of us want to want to watch a couple of National League riders trundling along half a lap behind for half a season. I hated the use of the joker and do not particularly like the tactical sub either - I would rather see a return to the bonus point system for whoever comes out on top on aggregate after the home and away meetings, however this could lead to tracks being over prepared to suit the home team (so maybe not). I have been harping on about trying to get a Barry Hearn type character involved for years, to grab hold of the sport and give it a real good shake but it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation as the sport really needs to help itself first in order to make it a more attractive and marketable proposition. Over to you THJ - now get on with some work!

Ohhh in amongst all that bickering with the tiggers, almost forgot about the delightful scorpions! Probably staging one of our 3 finals those dates but you lot will be free any week eh?? Unless you’re staging ‘A night with Rob Godfrey’ wouldn’t miss that for the world!!! very tasty bite that was indeed, 5 stars on tripadvisor

Re season ending dates, lets remember we had more rain-off at the beginning of this season than ever before so we were always going to be playing catch up. Just one other point, and this is as a speedway fan not a Scot, how many teams postponed fixtures because dates clashed with the World Cup or other football matches and thus wasted good, available dates?

Interesting interview with Kev on BBC Tees earlier tonight. Sounds like budget was one of the key drivers for his decision. Worryingly for me, sounds like the brothers are not keen to pay for track preparation. I think Terry has done a great job over the last couple of seasons with the track and is money well spent in my eyes.

Keep the SGP on BT Sports. Shut down the Premier League and Championship. Put everyone out of their misery. Keep the National League with its teams of part time riders and affordable pay rates and admission fees.

This was my 14th season working for the site and Sue was there before me. it's certainly flown by.