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I believe this to be correct. Very mickey mouse for professional sport and yet another indication of how relatively poorly the sport is run in the uk compounded by the continuing inability to attract major sponsorship.

It was a great race...but generally the races in the 70's weren't any better than today...today's GP's are generally better racing wise than most meetings back then...I lived 70's speedway and went every week at Hyde Road and quite a few away matches....I was probably spoiled a bit with Collins and Morton but I can remember some terrible strung out follow the leader meetings if I'm honest...today's meetings cannot match the crowds and atmosphere of back then but it can definitely match and better the racing in many cases and definitely can at GP and world level

never say never!!!

I'd still argue in the case of losing your job I still don't see it as remotely the same. Yeah, riders might pick up places later in the season, but it's not a guarantee and life doesn't stop for these riders. Who are we to know these riders don't rely on these jobs? They live in the here and now, and for the likes of McDonald, Lambert and Campton you have to feel awful for. In Campton case, he's in the absolute worst position because it's looking at 2 years out with how the visas work. Again, I do feel sympathy and you know I'd be heartbroken if Sheffield closed. I am 100% sympathetic to their case, but you'll never convince me that the riders haven't been hit hardest by this.

Whats to stop the opposition supporters voting for riders who are not going well on the night to ride in the last heat to make it easier for a team to win if its a tight match with a last heat decider.

I presume you meant "morale" rather than "morals" !!! Or maybe not ???

What you say is true, but if someone promised to help and then reneged on it I don't think that should merely be swept under the carpet. Based upon what BB has said - and he is usually right - the entire scenario of Workington coming to the tapes in 2019 and riders being signed could have been avoided. That's no small matter and broken promises regarding sponsorship have hit speedway hard over the years. Having said that, the criticism should be kept in context and with 2020 in mind. When a track closes, riders generally move on to another club. Of the Lakeside team from 2018, all are competing in 2019. Lets face it, riders losing their team place - often through no fault of their own - is hardly unusual. In this case, it is the timing of Workington's closure that has hit hard. I must admit I haven't read any article, but I find it most surprising that one team folding means that a riding career is finished. I can't recall another rider like that. On the other hand, it is entirely possible that should the Comets not come to the tapes in 2020 or for years after, many of those who attended in 2018 will never go to speedway again. The overwhelming majority of fans simply do not switch from one club to another - some of the Workington faithful will having been going for 20 years - and that's why a track closure hits them harder.

I'm sure gavan is far too intelligent to do something like that. That has to be worse than selling the Big Issue on a street corner.

Being a Ipswich fan myself I would ask aII of the people that it would be a good idea to stop all these negative posts regarding the team etc and save any negative posts until the season has started then we will all be in a better position to judge based on the teams performance.

My thoughts exactly , I never thought he would buy Peterborough and the same applies to Ipswich, I bet there fans would have doubted it just the same as Panthers fans did , so like say never say never.

Totally right Steve Halifax could of signed Bruce but it never happened.But before the infamous incident 82 both Kenmy/Bruce got on well after were both respectful of each other's ability.

Workington get a national league team together now keep speedway alive.Northern rider's ready to ride

Was he a supporter or a fan, though?

Must admit I have my doubts that Workington will be back in 2020 , hopefully they will, but if they do you highlight their biggest problem. Very easy to get out of the habit of going to the speedway each Saturday.

It's going to be interesting to see how it works. If fans from anywhere can vote for any rider to be included I can see one team in particular ending up with their worst two riders in the nominated heat in all of their cup meetings.

And still no comment from Harris about him joining the Witches... or have I missed it?

Understood Steve, I was more referring to KOC. I also noted that BSPA had shown Leicester in Group with Birmingham; Eastbourne; Somerset (on Speedway GB website prior to Fixtures) but at 11th hour they have been moved North. The Borders Group which was 3 Teams (missing Workington) has now been boosted to 4 Clubs? Call me cynical but seems to favour the "old guard" with an extra meeting conveniently disadvantaging the 3 new boys - Somerset from PL and Birmingham and Eastbourne from NL. I suppose many will say "we have to pay our dues LOL" so will take it on the chin! Good Luck for the coming season.

Correction it was Matty Bates not Josh. Other riders in the meeting included Austin Novtatil, Tuff McBride and Liam Rumsey

The whole sport has been sanitised.

Being in construction I can tell you right now that the track alone will take longer than a week , there is no chance of a semi new stadium being completed before march let alone a week.

Was listening to BBC Radio 4 in the car (bit of culture there) and at 7:30ish after the main news there was a comedy programme and comedian Mark Steel was performing in King's Lynn. He mentioned Queen drummer Roger Taylor was born there and joked various Queen songs were inspired by the town: "................of course We Are The Champions was written for the King's Lynn speedway team winning the league in 2006". It wasn't of course but the comment got lots of cheers. Just thought I'd add that....

British Speedway is a ticking time bomb. Clubs are closing down, but there are no buyers out there. The difference between loss and break-even, is so large that an "ego/self indulging" person is totally not interested.

If that is what you think I hope truly that you are correct. God works in mysterious ways and the ways of Buster are even more mysterious

If Ged has walked out who is in charge of the Panthers now.or are they running themselves.

But they will in this cup - there will be a voting app for nominated heats in every match!

The last thing any speedway club would relish is trying to compete against live matches on the telly. Not yet knowing the schedule of the TV meetings it would be a no brainer to try and run your home meetings when there are live matches screened on the Monday Night Match..... When the numbers are the life line of many clubs, this would have disastrous consequences…..

I was there. It very nearly kicked off the time Kevin Jolly 'fell' and failed to clear the track in a last heat decider with Lynn on a 5-1. Of course the Tiger went on to win the re-run and secure a Witches victory .... Happy days

Very sad indeed !! If there is any chance that Comets can come to the tapes in 2020 we need to do everything we can to help Laura bring it back....

We do have a May bank holiday afternoon fixture though against Lynn so looking forward to that one.

I was there in 1977 i remember hearing Bast / Penhall did not get the practice sessions that they required and were promised.Penhall scored 3 points beating Bast, Keith White, Crump(ef).I cant think of anyone believing that day that Bruce would go on and be favourite in 1980 and win his first title in 81.I do recall Dan McCormick saying when Cradley signed him that he was a future world champion.

Belle Vue 49:Bradford 29 Ht1:Evitts,McKinna,Courtney,Ross:69.4 Ht2:Eccles,Ayres,Whitaker,Graves:72.1 Ht3:Collins,Morton,Havelock,Willmott:70.0 Ht4:Blackbird,King,Ayres,Whitaker:69.0 Ht5:Morton,Evitts,Collins,Ross:68.5 Ht6:McKinna,King,Courtney,Graves:70.8 Ht7:Havelock,Blackbird,Willmott,Ayres:69.5 Ht8:Evitts,Courtney,Ross,Eccles:71.4 Ht9:Morton,Collins,King,Graves:71.5 Ht10:McKinna,Courtney,Willmott,Havelock (f):71.8 Ht11:Blackbird,Evitts,Havelock,Eccles:70.9 Ht12:Morton,McKinna,King,Whitaker:70.5 Ht13:Evitts,Blackbird,Havelock,Collins (f):71.3 Golden Sash:Morton,McKinna,Willmott,Graves (ef):72.2 According to the Star,Belle Vue v Swindon was the meeting planned for the 18th of October ,but it was rained off and never restaged.The Cradley meeting was on the 9th August. Belle Vue 35 Cradley Heath 43 Ht1:Gundersen,McKinna,Bastable,Courtney (ef):68.3 Ht2:Eccles,Fry,Leaver,Ayres (ef):70.1 Ht3:Pt Collins,Blackbird,Cross,Ph Collins:68.8 Ht4:Gundersen,Morton,Leaver,Ayres (ef):67.5 Ht5:Cross,Pt Collins,Blackbird,Bastable:69.0 Ht6:Gundersen,McKinna,Fry,Courtney (f):68.2 Ht7:Morton,Ph Collins,Cross,Ayres:68.0 Ht8:Bastable,Courtney,Leaver,Eccles:70.0 Ht9:Blackbird,Gundersen,Fry,Pt Collins (ef):68.4 Ht10:Ph Collins,Cross,McKinna,Eccles:69.4 Ht11:Blackbird,Morton,Ph Collins,Bastable:68.6 Ht12:Gundersen,Cross,McKinna,Blackbird:68.9 Ht13:Bastable,Pt Collins,Eccles,Ph Collins (ef):70.6 Golden Sash:Blackbird,Morton,Cross,Gundersen (f) :No time.

I think he feels his promoter does not listen and he will do exactly what he wants to.do.Yes he has every right to do that at Lynn and i respect that he puts his money in and that is his right.But overall unless there is an improvement in gates ( etc) and thing's look brighter he has to go as the front of British speedway.

From the STAARS meeting; Kyle has kept fit by going on holiday with his girlfriend to Costa Rica. The referees don't report back on the quality of the track any longer. Steady thinks Somerset will be up near the top of the league. Fixtures will be out any day now. First meeting will be 90th anniversary celebration. There could be something different about the race jackets for the 90th anniversary season. No plans to run a national league team as access to stadium for race dates would be prohibitive. Ricky Ashworth has been riding a pushbike at Manchester velodrome.

Or Concession.

It was Adrian Smith, CEO at Belle Vue, who came up with the idea of the National Supporters Group and put it forward at the AGM, I think with the support of Peter Adams. Adrian has only been involved in Speedway for two seasons and can always be found on the terraces during meetings talking to fans. He is always willing to listen to what they have to say and to explain his own views. He shouldn't be tarred with the same brush as some of the longer standing members of the BSPA. It's got to be an idea worth trying. Maybe the BSPA still won't listen but if the fans representatives put forward well thought through, sensible and practical proposals, they just might.

Splash inordinate ammounts of cash on something that the Brummies would currently find unaffordable, and end up in the same place as the Workington Comets. Reality can teach some harsh lessons and fans need to be mindful of that. 2019 may not feature a team of Galacticos, but at least it's a team that should ensure some continuity of the club into 2020 and hopefully beyond.

As you quoted me, please show where in my quote I said that the faith school "should not be allowed"? Then please explain why a matter of fact report on what's going on is "very racist"? As for the rest of the trip you wrote, well that's not worth repeating.

" I really would like the agm to ban the opening of the pit gates after a false start and the riders should go straight back to the start unless a rider is being replaced or being put back 15 mtrs. It is the delays between races and the time wasting at the start that need looking into and reducing. " Ths should be top of the list at the AGM, I for one detest the waiting around while the riders in turn stand around chatting at the pit gate, they wouldn't lke it if they were kept waiting while members of the public returned to their viewing postition after having visited the loo, track shop, food outlet, etc. After an unsatisfactory start, no tape breaking, no falls, all four back, riders should be given one minute ((you have one minute)) to line up again at the tapes once more or be put on 15m handicap or excluded. A speedway bike can easily do 30m + 4 laps on a tank of fuel so the only exceptions should be, after consulting with the clerk of the course or machine examiner, if something is dangerously wrong with a bike e.g. loose or too tight chains or if a component has worked loose then, and only then, mechanics allowed onto the track to retify the fault, if a rider realises he has the wrong set up or is on the wrong bike, too bad....

I was informed there wasn't a shield as it was a new revised comp Jacko had to buy it and the BSPA reimbursed him....

August is traditionally the Showgrounds busiest period and has been for years. I am afraid it is what it is, I doubt it will change for the foreseeable future.

Five home fixtures in 19 days in May, yet none between July 16th and Sept 4th, the seven weeks kids are off school can stay up later. Is the Showground shut for the school holidays. Very bizarre fixture planning ....

Garrity's form around the showground is not that great I think I've seen him have more falls than race wins, I think we would not be in a position to use Tungate as his average is 0.01 over what we have left to use up . I believe there is still a lot of unrest behind the scenes we are not getting to know about especially with Carl Johnson trying to gee supporters up with his rallying call to to boost morals and talk of an exciting replacement rider for Chris Harris. I just wonder what Ged's honest thoughts are at the moment , rumour has it he may just walk away and wash his hands of it all