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Does anyone care what John Cook says ? he should be fined for his ridiculous comments em he probably could not afford to pay.!!!!Look at the difference of Cook and passionate and progressive MR Bishop at the Isle of Wight they are like chalk/ cheese.

"Ben also needs to realise that he has the potential to be a professional speedway rider and that's a very different animal to being a star in a League where half your opponents struggle to stay on, get their bikes to do four laps and in some cases can barely skid a bike. I've seen him have some terrific rides at this and Elite level so the talent is there. I don't think the NL comfort zone is doing him any good" The above is a quote by Eastbourne's Jon Cook. Delightful to see what he really thinks of the National League, a league that Eastbourne have just moved out of and that featured a lakeside team not so long ago. Nobody claims that NL riders are the finished article but i personally find the above comments incredibly rude towards everyone who competes in and follows the NL. Here's my quote back "You can stick your opinions and any club you have anything to do with now or in the future where it doesn't shine as you won't be getting one penny from me."

Track not fit for racing Ray ? If so nothing new there

I saw an excellent meeting on the island on tuesday Sid. Cook's comments are an insult to all of those riders that put on a show to entertain us.

If you are on facebook, this is definitely worth a read (Isle of Wight Speedway page) It pretty much sums Barry Bishop up - honest, decent, caring and passionate. I daresay the words he first thought of aren't reflected in the post...………….

Let's hope the court case in Poland isn't adjourned.....

We have a youth meeting coming to Swindon in a week or so also with Kent bringing a side down in another meeting.I have seen a few NL meeting's and Swindon had a few a couple of season's ago ( Danny Ayres great value and entertainment).It showed me it does not matter what level it is at speedway it can still be entertaining the NL has come along way in my opinion a good product in its own right.

Totally agree. It needs a level playing field with fixed points money which then drives costs and if all riders participated using standard equipment and were then forced to hone their riding skills instead of being gate and go merchants on bikes that many if not most fail to control across a wide range of track conditions then the sport might get back to close racing, team riding and entertaining the punter. Until they bite the bullet and do what is right for speedway and not their own insular but contrived business arrangement where they operate on outdated business models with no idea of what the punter is crying out for, speedway will not even register on the sports radar of any potential new follower. SGP and many of the other televised European meetings as well as the overseas leagues have been given carte blanche to crap on U.K. speedway from a great height and this has been condoned by the BSPA headed by two cronies who the sport would be better off without. Sacrifice is needed for the greater good and the sooner that some of those running clubs realise this the better.

"Imperial Echoes" wasn't the original March-on music at Coventry. I made my first ever visit to Brandon in 1956 for the Final of the Midland Riders' Championship, and music played then was called "The King's Guard" which was a very stirring march. After Birmingham closed down in July 1957, I became a regular at Brandon and the "King's Guard" continued to be the introductory march for about a another season when so I was told, there was a break-in at the stadium, the record was broken and a replacement couldn't be obtained, so "Imperial Echoes" took its place. In those days, all tracks had a distinctive introductory march - there was "Entry of the Gladiators" at Wembley (which a lot of other tracks tried to copy), and "Marching Along Together" at New Cross, and my all-time favourite "We're on our Way" at Perry Barr. Birmingham's march-on was magnificent - all of the staff wore pristine white coats and marched in step with arms swinging, and at the end of the meetings the staff lined up and marched off just as smartly - a far cry from the way the staff come shambling out from the pits these days. Too many people seem to think that it doesn't matter these days, which is a great pity I think.

Was you in there when Nigel Leaver(sure it was him)done a collection because he had blown an engine,riders weren't so well off then.In exchange for people putting money in,his wife/partner done a bit of a strip.I soon got my money in the glass. Seriously though had some great nights in Champs bar,then food in Lynn then back home to Wisbech.Remember ending up round Henka's once for an after party,party.That was when Simon was about 2/3yrs old.I could waffle on for ages about all that stuff,but i did make a lot of good friends from those days.

Easy pop on ignore like i have. Then you just have to hope nobody quotes and everything's a winner.

I do t think it’s rocket science particularly. Better racing on hole-free tracks, more entertainment between raves to create an atmosphere, regular fixtures, less R/R and particularly guests, cheaper admission and better facilities for paying spectators where possible. Standards at the moment are very low and the bar needs raising.

They're getting too old, old and grouchy

I don’t agree that Cook has always been an unpleasant character. In many ways he has a lot of good qualities as a promoter. IMO Jon Cooks “ problem” if I can call it that is that he is not a “people person” , and an absolutely hopeless PR man. I do know riders who hold him in high regard as a promoter, but he doesn’t communicate well to the general public. He should be kept in the back office as an organiser, not let out in the spotlight .

I think the comments are not just an insult to the riders within the NL but also to the promotions attempting to keep their teams alive. Cook has basically said don't bother watching NL as the riders are no good and racing likewise. To generate a bit of publicity and gamesmanship between teams great, Eastbourne & Kent have done that very well over the past few seasons but to publicly slate opposing businesses is nothing short of desperation.

I'm afraid there are some serial moaners on the forum.Some just moan for the sake of it.Like some people need a coffee in the morning to get going,well some need a good moan to start the day and they are happy.

7 Team league, race each other twice, that's a wonderful 12 home meeting Plus the P/Off's for the lucky top 4. Fans moan at not enough meetings so the BSPA change the K/Out to the Supporters trophy, and what do the fans do......................................................moan. some of us still have the sport we love, stop moaning and support your clubs, to many once great clubs are no more.

The Promoters disrespect their own competitions by using a truly ridiculous operating model, taking away any credibilty or kudos in winning them.. Speedway meetings become meaningless under such administration.. Fans are not daft, therefore many who still follow the sport closely, and love watching it, don't attend domestic speedway but will pay good money to travel to Poland regularly to watch their Leagues, and attend GP's, SoN etc around the globe.. Stop running meaningless meetings by bringing integrity to the competitions and make them worth winning, and maybe those many, many disillusioned fans would start to return? One thing is for sure, keep doing the "same old, same old" and you only have one outcome..

Had my say on this on the Eastbourne 2019 thread. It's clear that most believe that Cook's comments are completely unjustifiable. Word I have is that he has little time for the lower leagues, including the old PL when Lakeside were EL. I know that the points limit in the NL was dropped to its present level against the wishes of most of the clubs and at the behest of the BSPA. This was apparently motivated by a desire to force riders up and lower pay costs in the Championship. There's no question in my mind that it made the NL's ability to draw attendances harder. Despite that, I think that NL teams have done an excellent job in putting out competitive, attractive line ups that are a long way from development league standard - anyone who has seen the Colts(for example) this year would, I am sure, agree.

Like all "leaders", politicians and dictators Chapman began with all kinds of honeyed ideas for bringing about a UK revival if things were done HIS way. Empty pointless hot air - shouted from the outside while he was a noisy looker-on, not sitting at the top table. The other promoters who had exhausted all their ideas gave him the green light and we have ended up going much, much faster down the slippery slope to non-viability.

A sensible rule book, properly policed and fairly applied would be a start and would give the sport credibility. For those who don't remember it was one of Chapman's promises when he took office. Many might think it is an easily achievable objective that wouldn't cost very much, if anything. For reasons I can't fathom, we are still waiting.

Totally disrespectful to both the NL as a whole and his own 2 riders who have chosen to ride for 2 teams. Also don’t forget that Bowtell has been touring around for an NL spot so his riders obviously don’t agree with him!

Think John cooks comments are just ridiculous. The NL is a great product. Let’s be honest John cook knows nothing about speedway as he couldn’t keep up with paying his NL riders last when they was in the NL, so god knows how he keeps up with paying the Eastbourne riders. As for the opponents staying on there bikes well stop lowering the points limit so much and forcing riders to ride above there means. Speedway is a progression sport, so if you dropping the team limit so much there is not point in haveing an MDL/SDL. I find NL good racing. But my personal opinion is that unfortunately this year the NL is a glorified MDL and it’s hard to sell a product like that and get the punters in. But that’s just my opinion. Id like to find out what everyone’s else’s opinion is...........

A rider failing to bridge the gap between the NL and the Championship (or PL as was) is nothing new. They can be nigh on unbeatable at the lower level yet still struggle when they step up - Barrie Evans and Jay Herne spring to mind. Personally speaking, I think your view of the NL is nonsense. The gap between riders in the NL is comparable to the higher leagues and may even be less. Is there anything in the NL that compares to the difference between Craig Cook and Danny Phillips, for example ? How about Jason Doyle and Simon Lambert ? As someone who regularly attends the NSS, the Premiership racing there is better than the NL. There is no doubt in my mind about that, but to suggest the NL is 'pretty boring' is rubbish. The meeting with Plymouth, for example, was to use my own words 'splendid'. If riders like Morley and Wood can't - or shouldn't - ride in the NL, what happens when Eastbourne drop them - as seems entirely possible ? Cook seems to have his own agenda here - Bowtell has 'fire in his belly' despite the fact that of the three his present average is the lowest and around half of Morley's. I wonder if the comments are motivated by the fact that of the three Bowtell is the only one not riding NL speedway. I think what makes me most annoyed is Cook's stupid and entirely inaccurate view of NL - 'where half your opponents struggle to stay on, get their bikes to do four laps and in some cases can barely skid a bike'. That, as anyone who watches the NL speedway regularly, is utterly ridiculous and an unwarranted insult against the riders in that league. Not only that, it has the power to damage the huge effort that NL promotions are making across the country to attract paying spectators and stay in business. They deserve better.

I don't often agree with Sings, but on this subject he is 100% right. Jon Cook should be ashamed of himself for this insult.

IMO Chapman is a clueless numpty. He couldn’t run a bath! He’s been chairman of the BSPA and overseen the biggest decline in British Speedway in recent years. Chapman and his useless sidekick are arrogant and don’t listen or understand the fans and are totally incapable of improving the sport. If you ignore your customers, they will eventually ignore you. Speedway and loyal fans deserves better!

£1900 raised so far at the break for refreshments. TK's own Bees racejacket raised £650. £2300 total on the night.

Doing the job he was retained for though.

I noticed

Hi guys. Thank you for your feedback about the presentation at last night’s very entertaining meeting. With your usual guys unavailable it was a pleasure to have been able to step in and help Garry and Debbie out. And to those of you who took time to have a chat at the end I thank you very much. Here’s to the next time.

Hope you get paid overtime Dave..

All this rain has caused a few sink holes to appear throughout the Country. Poole have been ahead of the game and had theirs for some time.

Could be down to the reserves Starke guests for Joshie

Did he witness a daylight robbery,,,,,,,??? Did he see Harris sign as our number 1

Too right, i came away from Peterborough v Poole a few weeks ago thinking, this is why i went to speedway in the fist place. Unfortunately these occasions are few and far between.

Brings back memories Tell. From about 18- 30 I used to arrive at the stadium around 6.30 on Sat night. Have a few pints in the back straight bar, and a scan through the programme . I used to stand on the 2nd bend, just before the bar. A few more pints during the meeting, then afterwards over to the home straight bar, where a good few riders used to come in. A few more pints in there. Back then they had Champs nightclub at the stadium, with free entry from the speedway bar, so many times I ended up nearly doing a 12 hour night (6.30-2am). Cost me a bloody fortune mind

I will certainly concede that what the previous promotion initiated and the current promotion have extended upon in terms of presentation both at the track and via social media channels has been nothing short of outstanding and really pushing the bar much closer to where it needs to be across the board. I think that is why it made the insults all the more disappointing. If they had been made via Cooks own personal media then whilst still stupid the club would have escaped fault but to feature within the clubs official programme means the views must be at the very least supported / validated by the club. They wouldn't allow advertising space to be purchased and then used to print derogatory comments about the club or its supporters but have gone to press with a statement that insults not just a few but an entire league, the riders within it and the supporters of any competing NL team.

But nothing to do with his involvement in a semi final tomorrow

Glad this is off to be honest, i would rather see two full strength sides ride i did fancy a close home win.

Whilst very diplomatic and gently throwing Cook under the wheels the fact remains that the comments printed in the Eastbourne programme by a member of the Eastbourne promotion fall back onto Eastbourne Speedway as a whole. If these were spoken comments on the mic after a match they could have easily been brushed aside as heat of the moment but putting into print is a deliberate and considered act. As Director of Eastbourne Speedway it is Ian's job to either proof read content in the programme or charge that to someone suitably PR savvy. Instead the statements are out there, the apologies are not and pitching that Cook is entitled to his opinion isn't really suitable given the scale of the insults dished out.

The hovercraft still runs to Ryde.

If the racing was great then I think we would be reeling from the excitement of it, talking about what we just saw etc, nothing else required! IF the promoters and riders could attract more fans/more money then it would open up more opportunity to provide more razzmatazz if that's what you are after, etc etc Hopefully more young people with oodles of enthusiasm would be attracted too because that makes a difference ....

“My family has made a big commitment to my career by moving to the UK on a permanent basis.”

I think that's owhat would please the current hardcore fans but it's the whole experience which could attract new followers. At present, between races its dull, the environment is poor with few seats/liitle rain cover at many tracks, presentation tired and no alternative entertainment in the downtime (and I don't mean on the centre green)

More exciting racing might save the sport imo (real or contrived). Every fan loves close racing/passing/team riding, it's what gets fans excited and talking about the sport away from the track. It's also something no fan can make happen, it's down to the promoters and riders ....

You can not turn the clock back, sadly I think it’s too late...the opportunities to restructure the sport have long gone. Speedway is in an uncontrolled tail spin and I believe it is beyond recovery. The sport is bust and there’s not a silver bullet that will save it. The people in charge are totally incompetent. TV money should have been used to promote and build the sport and not greedily pocketed by self serving TR or squandered on unsustainable rider pay. TV money will never return.

Maybe every promoter could promote a meeting monthly with solos, sidecars, juniors etc but would that keep our speedways going, I'd hate it, I want team speedway myself ....

Has the track work been completed?

Supporters Trophy don't do much for me.

Noooo! Not the best team of all-time, but one to pay money to watch every week 1 Nigel Boocock - who else but Little Boy Blue - no sponsored vehicle or motor home, just load the bike on the back of a Ford Consul and off to the meeting! 2 Col Cottrell - smooth operator who for a short time was quite unbeatable around Brandon and was part of a wonderful opening pair with Booey - sadly died aged 40 in 1982 3 Tom Farndon - never saw him (obviously!) but the one rider of all time I wish I had seen 4 Ron Mountford - they say that they had to repaint the kick-boards after each meeting where The Man had left tyre marks in his all-action style 5 Tommy Knudsen - the young Dane who made racing look so stylish and so easy (which it never is!), sadly left the sport way too soon 6 Les Owen - the late great Muscles, Coventry kid so seriously injured in 1973 in a track-crash from which he never fully recovered, tragically killed on the railway at Canley crossing - RIP Les 7 Gary Guglielmi - this has to be the young GG who first came to Brandon in 1977, not the later version - watching him try and complete even one lap around Brandon was worth the admission money alone