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So after all the hand-wringing and gleeful doom-mongering from people only taking a passing interest in what has been going on with the Abbey Stadium saga, believe it or not the opening night on the modified track went pretty well. Not that that would be of much interest to some of the idiots on here. Firts half of the meeting might as well have been on the old track it was so dull, but in the 2nd half the racing got better and better. Crucially, there were no signs of it cutting up or becoming tricky to ride at all. Credit to Ron Russell and everyone else for putting in the hours to get it ready, especially as it sounds like Tuesday’s test didn’t quite go to plan. Particularly pleasing to see it go well in front of a huge crowd. Proof that there are still plenty of people out there who want to come out and pay to watch speedway. Hopefully some of the more casual attendees last night were sent home happy after watching a great few last heats racing, a tight score line and a tense finish, and are planning to come again soon based on the evenings entertainment. Thankfully this forum barely represents 1% of most speedway crowds. Reading some comments on here you’d think everyone would be avoiding the meeting for fear that the track would be unridable, and those that did attend would have been sent home disappointed after watching another National Stadium disaster unfold. Thankfully most attendees don’t think like that, they just want to turn up and watch some blokes bang handlebars for 4 laps at a time with a close score line and hopefully a home win. It’s not that complicated. The big crowd did create its own problems with getting in which the promotion really need to sort out. The car park was full by 10 past 7 (not a lot they can do about that admittedly), but the queues for the turnstiles were huge, with only two of them open, and there was no signage (that I could see) saying where people should go. I assumed as with previous years, pre booked tickets should go through the cabin at the top, but that apparently wasn’t the case, and it was being used as a normal turnstile, which I assume everyone queuing up for the main turnstiles didn’t realise. They were also telling everyone in the queues that they would be delaying the meeting by a few minutes to get everyone in, only for the tapes to go up 30 seconds later. Thankfully it sounds like Lampart got a late memo about the situation and decided to lay the bike down to buy everyone another 5 minutes. That aside though it was a decent evening. It shows that with some decent weather, the crowds are still there and not everyone has been put off by the daft rules or politics of the sport, we just need to try and make them come back as often as possible. Again, it backs up my theory that as long as the club is running with healthy attendances, it’s much harder for Osbourne to come up with excuses for not sorting the stadium out and trying to get rid of us completely. Well done to the club for getting the meeting on with their hands effectively tied behind their back until the very last minute.

Have you Poole boys thought about getting Lawrence of Arabia in as a heat leader? Could be a decent point scorer, particularly at home.

Quite agree, but there obviously wasn’t enough water put down before the meeting to soak the base. Tracks should be prepared and maintained for spectators not riders.

Riders didn’t want the track watered once racing had started. Riders should realise fans pay their wages so fans come first. Watering with bowsers happens every few heats in Poland. Riders don’t seem to have hissy fits over there about it. Promotion should tell the riders bowser will go out every 4 heats so get used it it.

Please enlighten us then all knowing one.

Nonsense. Belle Vue started at 1pm yesterday and Scunthorpe at 5.30. At both (especially Belle Vue) it was very hot and breezy. There was no dust at Belle Vue and very little at Scunthorpe. Neither track had a blue line and the racing at the NSS was decent, at EWR very good. I am not aware that Andy Meredith or Rob Godfrey have a magic wand, so if they can produce good racing strips for riders and customers alike so can anyone else. I should point out that the crowd at Belle Vue was the biggest I have ever seen for a Colts meeting and at Scunthorpe it was at least double that of last Sunday (word was they ran out of programmes). Bank Holiday afternoon meetings work extremely well if you can be bothered to put the time and trouble in to make sure that the track is up to scratch.

Promoters keep banging on about rain being the biggest enemy of speedway. when you can't prepare a track on a fine day early in the season you really have problems. Yes we have seen similar at some National League tracks but at Poole you are having a laugh. Jon Cook keeps banging on nothing is wrong with the product its just getting people in to watch it. I beg to differ, who in their right mind would return to watch that again if it was your first speedway experience ? As Rome burns Promoters just can't see it or don't want to see it.

Who is in charge? The riders or the owner/ promoters. Both the riders and the promoters need to think of the fans. I know that's a novel idea but at the end of the day it's the promoter who has the responsibility to consider all of the relevant issues and to make the decision.

Some people make their mind up before the event. I can only speak as i find, see and hear with my eyes and ears. Eastbourne v Birmingham Some dust but not excessive in hot sun. Track graded and watered every 3 heats. Had a walk on track after meeting, actually a lot of dirt on it as some stunning outside passes late in meeting indicated. Massive free car park, well marshalled and full to overflowing Crowd excellent, no complaints from anyone I heard about dust. Real buzz about the place and lots of children and families.Nice touch to have community team people outside turnstiles helping whittle queues down and point out which ones cash and card. Meeting Parade started no more than 10 past 3, first race went off at 3.15 Presentation excellent from the Cardiff GP guy, lots of crowd interaction and rider/management interviews etc, liked proper Parade, minutes silence for Colin Goody; home riders ride round stock car track after every race up close to fans.Excellent programme, good read and lots of quality articles and pictures. To say Officials and Riders not bothered is just a joke, some good competitive racing, Heat 14 re-run 3-4 times as neither Ashley or Wood would give an inch, some excellent from the back rides by Wood and Lawson for them and Shanes for us, Paco and Ulrich started well and passes almost every race. All Eastie pit crews in snazzy t-shirts and all Officials and track staff kitted out in team gear, hardly suggests "not bothered" attitude. Great viewing access in Pits after meeting.Good food and loads of outlets. Not seen Laurence so animated in a long time by Heat 14 and some Refs decisions debatable. Still a lot of folks in Pits and mingling round 30 mins after end of meeting. Complaints (if you can call them that) - young start marshall seemed to make a few mistakes, I missed my easter egg for grandchildren and late due to traffic (my fault), toilets a bit tired but clean.PA a bit loud but no excuse for not hearing results and times. Staying down in South for meeting at Kent on Monday - hope woofers not going may be a few specs of dust. We have to enjoy our speedway while with can with some many tracks closing or reporting difficulties, great to hear big crowds at Scunny and BV Colts too....

The track is the most important part of the business, but the majority of the promoters just don't get it.

So, so far @ Poole they in the first meeting had a delayed start cause they couldn't be arsed to pump up the fkn air fence at practice meaning leaving it to race night, then 2nd meeting the dust was so bad and no water bowser out really turning into a joke at wimborne road already.

No reason for no bowser apart from couldn't be bothered as far as i could tell. It wouldn't have made a difference to the result but would have made a difference to the paying public who once again are treated with distain.

They manage to prepare a track at NSS on the hottest of days that doesn't produce dust. They also regularly water with the bowser during the meeting and it doesn't appear that the riders complain. Yesterday was an example, extremely hot (for Manchester), watered every two or three heats and no dust. Andy Meredith and his team do an excellent job but then the management have invested in ensuring that they can.

How about an apology from the riders who didn't want the track watered once racing started?!

Poole missed a trick by not signing Chris Harris. He was the glue that held that team together and won the league.

Two national league meetings today both using RR sorry this is a development league clubs should use a unattached rider to fill the place.

Away back under your rock

The riders shouldn't have been granted their wishes, most of our team rode they didn't want to be there anyway.

Plus home and away wins over Leicester

No. Speedway riders get injured and/or are unavailable sometimes. The teams aren’t pretending to have seven riders...

At Belle Vue, Palin, Rathbone and Woodhull all had extra rides. All up to standard and all developing. What on earth is wrong with that ?

Well deserved win for a very solid Leicester side who just about all contributed to a good away win. Nicholl's best meeting at the STMP by a long way and excellent back up from RTR, Douglas and Perks (lucky to get a second chance in Heat 1 though). Special mention to Connor Mountain who was very good to watch. For the Bears the meeting started badly and never got much better. You can't win with just one Heat leader riding well - Wright was as excelllent as usual but Barker had his worst home meeting in a very long time and MPT is a pale shadow of the rider who rode so well as a visiting rider here over the years. Stewart picked up after a slow start and the reserves battled.Hope Tom isn't to badly hurt. Still some cracking racing (a lot of it by the visitors) and it least we get some entertainment. Results like this will happen to this Bears team because we have a very fair and good race track.

I thought this was a splendid meeting for a number of reasons. First of all, there was a very healthy attendance - certainly one of the biggest I have seen for a Colts match - and it was brilliant to see so many youngsters there. That's certainly influenced by the low entry fees for adults and letting children in for free, so credit there. The racing was decent enough, and its always encouraging to see some of the youngest riders put in excellent performances - Flint and Palin especially this afternoon. I have never seen Perry or Coles give up in a race and they didn't today, so it was more competitive than the score suggests. Hayley, Neil & Chase are the best presentation team in British Speedway and with games and free chocolate for the children, interviews with the riders and Chase's usual antics they proved it again today. There was also the most welcome sight of Adrian Smith working the crowd - something I very much approve of. Finally, on a very hot day with a breeze 10 out of 10 for trackman Andy Meredith. There was absolutely no dust at all, no blue line and you could clearly race on the surface. Major effort to attract fans, decent racing with young riders, superb presentation and interaction and an excellent track. They are four factors which, if copied, might just turn the sport around.

Reminds me of a Bank Hoilday at Rye House. How on earth does any promotion think that is acceptable ?

Can we get on topic please ...Glug Glug Glug Glug

Who granted them.. I thought Ford was going to fly in for home meetings.Looks like take the big crowds money, and keep the riders happy ,if Skidder is to be believed.. Something wrong here. Poole is a money maker for Ford. He has done a good job over the years ,because it has always been his interests. Now it might be not.

Any track is dependant on how much water has got into the base. It needs to be put in early as possible and left to soak in then worked. The colour of the track during a meeting is a usually a telltale of what stage they are at with water. Tracks start dark due to the water content but if it goes pink on the racing lines after few races more water at that stage is a give away. Mark Thorpe when he was at Newcastle in the 90's told me that in NZ, they went to the track early, soaked the track and then had a barbie. Seems like a very social way of doing work.

They can't afford to wait until the new averages kick in if they want to replace Simon. His average is dropping, however Max's average is increasing by more than 2.00 with the rest very much of a muchness (Danny will always be a minimum of 2.00). This means we will be over the points limit when new greensheets are introduced, therefore if Simon drops to 3.5ish then we will only be able to replace him with someone who is below 3.5, which is approx 0.75 his current GS figure.

Don't hold your breath.

Got to agree on soaking the base. On a hot day and a morning meeting, the track needed watering very early. Maybe preparing the track the night before, and starting to gradually water the track from as early 5 am to allow the base to absorb/ hold in some moisture, that's if its possible at Poole. I don't know about the access situation. Agree about the track being prepared for the crowd to a certain degree Baggy, but I think the riders should have some input as well. Saying that, the track was not acceptable at all in that state. Even if the riders asked for it .How many riders like riding in those conditions ? Not fair to all the customers paying their hard earned , and dangerous to the riders as well I would of thought. I'm sure I read that by a Poole fan that Klindt pulled up in one race because he couldn't see.

I call it as I see it too. Its not always popular, but there's no hidden agenda either. If people don't like it or believe that I do so for malice, I couldn't care less. Many on here are biased for the club they support. That's not just natural, its inevitable and I don't usually have a problem with them. The ones that get me are those that never go (usually they did at one time but don't now) and rarely do anything but slag the sport off. Their opinions are clearly motivated by prejudice and can often be disregarded - its most difficult to comment on speedway (other than by hearsay) if you don't actually attend and see for yourself. There is a lot that could be improved and those who do go have every right to be critical when its called for. We are all concerned about the low attendances and reported financial losses. But speedway can be very good, too. I have commented on the Belle Vue/Stoke thread just how impressive yesterday's meeting was, because Belle Vue did pretty much everything bang on. Have a great weekend. Kent v Belle Vue should be a cracker. PS If you get the chance, take in Isle of Wight. They have nothing short of a model approach to making a success of a track. PPS I once saw Mr Rogers smash the pits phone at Glasgow in a (justified) fit of temper

Nonsense imo. If Buster had allowed Craig coloured sponsors then he'd of had a game with the other 6 rider's. Buster in this case 100% right, and Craig has made himself 110% poorer.

Going to the Craig Cook Testimonial, Glasgow then are you.

It would surprise me!!

....not forgetting the current track record holder as well!!

With Kurtz having already been there and scored 13,,looks like the best choice of guest to me.

Craig was advised that all his personal sponsors had to be in black and white. The only coloured one on Ipswich is Tru Plant and I can’t see any on the Lynn kevlars. Troy can do what he wants as he isn’t a Chapman rider.

Sounds like a standard Peter Clarke meeting, just make it up as he goes along.

So a guess it's a waste of time trying to get a bus for Leicester next Saturday then.. got to look at our 2 & 7 positions now Lambert nice kid as is Danny but if our promotions wanting to win things they must do something when the new averages come into force

Would have either. The irony if Holder returned

It's worked for Ford over the years so he doesn't bother too much...

Bears just couldn't find their gating gloves and were out battled on the night by a very solid looking Leicester side. Heat 1 had two bad decisions in my view with firstly Perks going down on turn 1 without contact and getting a all 4 and then Nicholls taking Bacons leg going into bend 3. Nicholls said sorry to Bacon but it was Bacons exclusion light that came on. Take nothing away from Leicester though, they gated very well and raced brilliantly.

If we win the afternoon meeting then we’re through to the final. Though this will make the evening meeting a dead rubber it will give the lads more track time especially on a tight circuit. I’d run as per programme with no changes and give the lesser lights a run out in heat 15 if possible. Depends on the heat 14 vote I suppose. Just hope the crashes at Monmore aren’t too serious on Monday night.

Danny Phillips has got to go waste of time don't care if his father has a say in the team need to get a reserve that shows some b##ls

woofers, A supporter for many years, I hate these afternoon meetings. Many a dustbowl I have experienced over recent years... usually as the season opening meeting on a bank holiday. Attracts a one off large holiday crowd , but how many of the dusty new attendees come back for more ? I expect a similar problem at Kent on Bank Hoilday Monday given the forecast. Never seen any English track cope with the dust problem. Speedway in the UK is a sport to be run under floodlights. As for the tardy start of the meeting and lax presentation , this is something that is endemic in British Speedway. The " promoters" obviously know best, as is reflected in the healthy state of the sport in England.

I don’t believe a word of it - spin or a cover up in my opinion.

3 I know money is tight at Poole but that's embarrassing Do they seriously expect people to pay 18 quid to watch that. The sport is on its way out !

Lambert has took his place.

Pirates 52 Robins 38

It was 2008 when speedway began its current decline. Before that is was having something of a minor revival, with radio 5 even running a report on how Speedway had become "cool" at one point. Then, with crowds relatively healthy, the introduced low points limits and "cost cutting" measures time after time, and each time they did it the crowds dropped. So, each time the crowds dropped, they did it again. So they dropped again. It always amazes me when people say that the future is about cost cutting. That is what caused the trouble in the first place.