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THE following statement has been issued by Eastbourne Speedway: As supporters and all speedway fans and well-wishers will be aware, Tom suffered a bad accident in heat 12 of the meeting at Eastbourne against Glasgow last Saturday (May 18). Following admittance to Hastings Conquest Hospital on Saturday evening, Tom was assessed and diagnosed with a broken leg in three places to his tibia and fibula. An operation to pin and plate the breaks was planned for Monday. However, on that day, Tom showed signs of breathing difficulties which meant that the planned operation had to be delayed and these symptoms worsened on Tuesday. Following a full consultation with the family, Tom was placed on to a ventilator and an induced coma on Tuesday to both give his lungs chance to recover and to ease his distress. On Wednesday, the specialists were confident that this had worked well enough to allow them to undertake the important operation on Tom’s leg and this has now been completed and the leg pinned and plated. As of this lunchtime (Thursday, May 23) the surgeons are "very happy" with the outcome of that operation. Tom remains on a ventilator and the plan is to bring him round sometime later today so that further assessment can be made. The diagnosis is that the impact of the crash has caused some damage to Tom's lungs that can be fully assessed once he wakes, and now that the vital operation on his broken leg has been successfully completed. The family are very grateful and overwhelmed by all the messages of support at this very difficult time and have apologised for not responding to many of them at this stage. They have also asked that all messages are passed on via the club at this stage and Eastbourne Speedway will of course pass those on for you. The club will only comment when authorised by Tom's family. We send them collectively, individually and on behalf of everyone all our love and support. Eastbourne Fineprint Eagles will be holding a "bucket collection" for Tom at the meeting against Berwick on Saturday and there will be big GET WELL cards for supporters to sign. So as to not inundate the family, if you wish to bring your own Get Well cards for us to pass on, we would be delighted to do so. Tom is very much an integral part of the Eastbourne family and we hope that you will all come along and show your love and support on Saturday, so that we can all collect together to support a very special person and family.

Won't see a better meeting than that in the UK all year. Bloody superb.

I know we lost but if anyone didn't enjoy the racing tonight speedway is not for them.

Or , depending on your agenda, half full. And that'd make it 1,100 plus a couple of hundred or so on the bends and back straight. So not exactly a pi55poor crowd, and I'm guessing loads of other clubs would be happy with it.

Brilliant meeting. My girlfriend who isn't normally into speedway was really excited. Not seen her get that excited before.

Cracking meeting and well done to both teams. Poole deserved a point. The big difference tonight was that the tractor did not come out until after heat 10 when the interval was. This enabled an outside line where you could race. Great performance from Charles Wright again tonight. Worrell was the main culprit for Poole as he was poor.Tonight is what I go to speedway for....excellent.

Cracking meeting passes galore

What 7th of 11 ??? What a peculiar person you are . You seem to be a very angry little man .What is your issue with Birmingham or do you just have issues with life in general ?

What a really funny post ! : )))))))))))))))))))))) From someone who thought that Edinburgh were going to turn us over last night ?

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, it may be right, it may not. But that won’t stop him coming on here and spouting bõllocks

It looked a decent crowd for a thursday night. A fabulous meeting tonight. Well run, hard fought with some fantastic racing. It shows what can be done when all the ingredients come together, speedway at its best!

Cheers, shame Hans didn't have a Danish commitment!

For what it’s worth Badge I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the racing this year! More than previous seasons and I never thought I’d be saying that

Apart from beach volley ball cant think of many

I know Zach is highly thought of but he has so much pressure on him due to Shanes being the other reserve and not scoring so with Perks in the team maybe some pressure will be taken off and his scores may improve.

Totally agree Mort should be applauded he was treated terribly and i would love to see him back involved in speedway again a great guy to.

Josh Pickering was released from hospital earlier this morning with a shoulder injury, he will miss Friday`s meeting at Armadale.

A brilliant speedway track and a stadium right up there with the best in terms of viewing. I'm just so damned angry about all of this. Town have been in the rugby league wilderness for years now while the Reds are further away from the football league than ever. The Council owe it to the Comets to get seriously involved in helping any initiative to make a comeback wherever that maybe and not sit on their hands in resignation of the situation. A visit to Redcar's South Tees Motorsport Park would aptly demonstrate to them just what a bit of support and ambition can achieve at not huge cost ! I wonder if the Reds will have to pay rent to their rugby league landlords and be denied any profit from bar takings like the speedway had to financially endure ?

Spot on post, since new silencers were introduced in 2010 a lot of tracks in the UK are not suited to todays machines. As you say todays bikes are suited to big wide, fast , throttle open tracks, any tracks where you have to shut off and rely on throttle control , the quality of speedway has been severely effected. Add to this the shape, lack of banking and poor shale and you have an unwanted cocktail. Even Terry Russel eluded to the point when on BT last week. I know speedway has a dedicated band of devotees who like to protect the sport from any criticism but anybody independent watching the first 2 live matches on TV can see the problem. Regardless of what Rob Godfrey and Jon Cook tell us " the product is not better than ever " its significantly worse than it was. If BT sport is the window to advertise to the rest of the country its no surprise the terraces are empty. Interesting in the Speedway Star last week there was an analogy between Formula 1 and speedway. Similar to speedway the F1 devotees think they have a good product when in truth you are watching a boring procession. Both also have commentators that repeatedly try to sex it up, insulting the intelligence of those who know the sport What can be done, nothing, there is no money ,the best riders are not coming back, a TV deal worth peanuts, no major sponsorship and falling crowds. As for changing the bikes , no chance while the current bosses at the F.IM are in charge. Very Sad

Unbelievable!

Great meeting well done to all concerned

Best meeting round there for years got to admit I never thought I see andersen ride like that again gave a true captains performance

Aye must have been a barrel of laughs he was only surpassed by Craig Whyte as being not fit and proper. But as Kevin the Keegan would say, I will tell you I would love it , love it if you beat them on Saturday.

What a match!..best speedway meeting I've seen in a long time..superb..welcome back Hans..that wall of death ride was Rickardsonesque!

Certain fans like myself would pick and choose matches due to work and family I’m guessing Peterborough fans are only interested in local derbies or the top teams

How is it average manipulation? Perks had a good season for Redcar a couple of years ago his average rocketed to over 5 I think then he got left on the shelf so to speak last year until he was signed on a short term deal by Peterborough halfway through the season he was playing catch up and struggled at no2 this season Mountain has over taken him in the averages I fail to see how or where the average manipulation is? I’d say they’ve built there team better than us regardless of who they have at 2 or 7 they will be strong.

Lets face it, what's the point of him riding there? Those days are gone. Has been a great rider but bread and butter on the track that he loves must be the sensible option surely.

My goodness what a lot of doom and gloom.

Good to see Josh Embleton getting a run out for Belle Vue Colts at home to Plymouth tonight (Thur 23 May).

but I don't think Birmingham has many beaches, does it ?

In a modern era of equality between men and women I think that has to be the most derogatory post towards women I have seen on this site. I’d be amazed if you out played a single on of the ladies in a sport you just mentioned above. To finish the sentence with “no offence ladies” really doesn’t justify your actions.

So how I see it. Proctor and Andersen out. We'd have to go back to 42.50 team average as it'll be 2 changes as like for like isn't permitted with 2 or more changes at once. 10.39 available for changes. In comes Cook on 7.00 and Drew Kemp on 3.19. That way it'll really pee off both Peterborough and Ipswich

Looks likely to be a close match.

In fairness Morley's average was up a little due to his knowledge of Lakeside last year but in the majority of meetings this year he has been getting 4-5, couple of duffers at Glasgow & Leicester but won't be the only rider to do that. Whilst progress hasn't been rapid it was unrealistic to expect him to end up on a 6+ point ave by now. What better 2 point riders are about to replace Wood & Bowtell? If either is released they will be snapped up elsewhere. Not sure that Dan Spiller could come in on less than a 4.00 average and Ethan was not high enough in standard last time he was over.

For God's sake! It had already been on Perk's Instagram and Phil the Ace had already posted on here that Perks had signed for someone before you came out with your big "revelation". Why do you do this? I get the impression from your normal posts that you are pretty knowledgeable on speedway. Why not just stick to that?

This thread has turned into cluedo...what rumours, what spoilt brat!?

Bjerre and Barker statred on converted averages as their previous 2017 performances were considered irrelevant having not ridden in 2018 Prem Riders starting this year in the Champ only joining Prem clubs now will have their 2019 Champ figure converted as their 2018 figure no longer applies Yet for this reg an average achieved in ANY PREVIOUS season is considered acceptable to satisfy the condition And people wonder why speedway is in the position it is......

Great news about josh about Josh it sounds like he is just battered and bruised mainly (tough kids these speedway riders ) i assume he will now have the standard 7-9 day concussion period which will give him a nice bit of time to recoup. Now that incident has come to a satisfactory end (as well as hoped anyway) lets talk about the meeting . Birmingham were Brilliant From start to finish and in all honesty we should of won by more Shanes snapped a sprocket last lap when leading. Ulrich packed up when in a comfortable 3rd. Adam Ellis - Imperious head and shoulders above anymore with a couple of great passes James Shanes- scored 5 but deserved much more . This is the James we expected this season Zach Waj- If he gated he won if he didn't he was last . I get Hobbits point he made a few weeks back he never really goes for the gaps 100% committed. Ashley Morris -Was superb always chasing when behind and team rode superbly when out in front. Ulrich Ostergaard - Poor very poor.Had bike issues couldn't get out the gate looked ill prepared before every race with his mechanic on the start line . Paco Castagna- Brilliant evening for Paco and probably his best in British speedway so far. Nathan Stoneman- Well what can i say scored 4 points deserved more . scored double his average. Loads of effort always trying . Many will point to the very poor performance from Edinburgh and yes they may have a point . But as i pointed out before the meeting we are better at reserve and better at number 1 so it only need a couple of the other 4 riders to put in a good performance for a comfortable win. This Birmingham team has far more balance to it still not sure it will win many away but should be enough to win a few home meeting.

proper brummie fans NOT . the team is what it is and you are where you are in the league . but you still want to keep oystercard eh . he is only good @ the borrowers club where he gets his but t wiped for him . support your team . hope you like the NL LEAGUE , COS THATS WHERE YOU ARE GOING BACK TO .. JEEZ .

Assuming none of those variables in the everyday life of a speedway rider affect him: attitude, form, injury, illness, equipment, pay, travelling, home life etc. They’re not just governed by their averages!

Brummies gated on a 5-1. Pickering chased them down back straight and ran into Paco’s back Wheel causing a very nasty fall. No fault from Paco and just down to out and out effort from Pickering very heavy fall. Think he took a hefty blow to the head. Despite his trip to hospital, I’ve heard he was conscious and lucid, talking to paramedics etc so hopefully it’s nowhere as near as bad as it looked best wishes Josh. Get well soon

Be disppointed ...

Can only see a Poole win. Happy to be proved wrong. Just hope it’s not a ‘Buster’ gating competition.

Heat 15 : https://youtu.be/6nTctUfM0e8

And Worrall went from first to last Im in my car ready to go and tell him that he is struggling Peterborough seem to be struggling only a matter of time before Poole pull away

Would just like to pass on my best wishes to Tom and his family and a speedy recovery.

There may never have been any integrity among those who have run speedway since 1928 ( or 1923 - see even the birth of the sport is lost in the mists of time ). If there ever was it's a small minority for sure. Most have been wannabe Arthur Daleys.

What's typical about it? Would have thought it to be the other way round!

Which is exactly why we're at the bottom and still falling.

Danny likes big fast tracks is why he is still at Berwick.If you see him at small technical tracks he looks like a junior ,he is doing the job he was brought in to do.