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Yeah, am sure many would have bailed earlier, hopefully many folk with integrity will keep backing him and, maybe we'll get to see the club thrive in the murky future.

To be honest I think this year would have been the last one of the three agreed by the previous promotion so RG has got them to extend it for this coming year and to be fair I think he would like a longer term rather than being on a year by year lease but with the whole world being upside down who knows what the future holds... Ya not wrong and you have to empathise with him after all the crepe he has had to put up with and having still not turned a wheel in anger he's hanging in there when most mere mortals would have been heading for the hills long ago... Keep fighting the good fight RG you'll get that 90th anniversary meeting on some day... or maybe a 95th eh... Regards THJ

And shouldn't have entered into it if he only had "loaned" equipment (if that was the case as I havent seen any confirmation saying as much).. It's very intense in Poland, it means something financially to the teams and emotionally to a good proportion of the communities they serve.. Not to mention the brand awareness of the national companies that sponsor many of the teams and the TV rating requirements that justify the large outlay these TV companies make to generate the return on advertising.. It is 100% full on, no hiding places, no easier nights to make a few quid by guesting, no "there's always another match tomorrow somewhere".. Darcy Ward was verbally abused by ZG fans when he signed for them such is the rivalry over there, and it was only after a fair few strong performances that the ZG fans came on board and accepted him.. Night and Day to over here, and very much akin to our Football leagues rather than the Speedway Leagues which dont carry any of the same pressure to win due to the lack of publicity, financial reward and status they have.. But if it comes good, what a career a young lad could have.. And there is only one way to find out..

Wightlink Warriors and Wizards 2020 Season Report. Firstly, I hope this update finds you and yours in good health and good spirits. Like yours, our 2020 was like no other and the knock-on effect for the clubs and sport has been traumatic, frustrating along with many other expressions that spring to mind. For us, and many others, 2020 was a non-starter for the Wightlink Warriors and Wightlink Wizards on our track due to government restrictions for the use of stadiums preventing the publics attendance, which culminated in the sport’s governing body, the BSPL/SCB, abandoning any form of league racing. But that’s not the end of our 2020 story……… Did we actually get to go racing? Amazingly, yes we did. The Warriors got to go racing at Plymouth for a 3 Team Tournament involving Plymouth, Eastbourne and the Isle of Wight. The Warriors management team worked extremely closely with Plymouth to ensure that fans were safe in a Covid secure environment before the meeting which proved to be a huge success. This kind of meeting involves 4 riders representing each team and our quartet of Ben Morley, Tom Woolley, Connor Coles and Chad Wirtzfeld did a superb job missing out by just a single point for the top spot on the night. The result being Eastbourne 31, Isle of Wight 30 and Plymouth 28. It was a great meeting in front of 400 spectators and streamed live to a wider audience and while this wasn’t on the Island we can rightly feel proud that we helped enable this meeting to happen and we were able to represent you all with pride. In addition to the team efforts Chad Wirtfeld continued to ride on the grass in the few meetings available winning all in his class – so congratulations to him. What else did we do? BDO Darts Sponsorship Working with our partner ASGUK we managed to arrange for a super opportunity for the Warriors logo to appear on stage at the BDO Darts. This raised huge interest in the club and also excellent marketing with speedway fan and professional dart player Scott Mitchel ensuring our logo was not only on Eurosport but also around the world on his twitter and FB pages. GB Young Lions U21 Training Camp The Warriors provided 3 days of intense on and off track training with Neil Vatcher for the GB Young Lions. The camp offered the cream of Britain’s young riders the chance to develop their on track knowledge with expert riders Steve Worral and Paul Hurry as well as media, nutrition, and fitness classes. My First Skid With the relaxation to allow training and amateur sports events without spectators, we reintroduced My First Skid. Unfortunately, we could not allow the use of hire bikes and places were limited to 15 riders who owned all their own equipment and had to follow a strict Covid guide. This proved to be a great success allowing us to ensure that our track equipment remained functional and our island-based riders more time to further develop their skills. Re-run of Meetings via Speedway Portal We have worked since the start with Speedway Portal and its owner Andy Hague. Andy has established a full history of the Wightlink Warriors from our very first fans forum, when we nervously announced our plans to return speedway to Smallbrook. Andy and his team have recorded almost every home meeting since 2016 and the quality and ingenuity is clear to see – so much so Andy is now invited to film at other stadiums across the UK. Andy asked Martin and I if we would like to stream our meetings for free to fans to ensure we keep them engaged with the Warriors and the sport in general. Of course, and we didn’t need to be asked twice because for us not only did we engage with our fans but by watching re-runs we can see where we can improve on race day as well as afford our sponsors more airtime which is always a great thing. Our re-runs were so popular that it encouraged our governing body and other clubs to do the same. Moving forward with Speedway Portal, we shall continue to stream our meetings for our fans throughout the winter period up until press day and should there be a delay to the season start we will continue to spread the Warrior Way using this forum. Hot Heats Unannounced spectacular races from across our seasons to keep the Warriors in the minds of fans across the nation and beyond. Rob Dyers Speedway Quiz From the start of the 1st lockdown our track announcer Rob Dyer produced a weekly quiz for fans to participate in. This proved extremely popular and indeed encouraged our own governing body and other clubs to produce their own. Virtual Skid Virtual Skid came about as a way to create a real meeting using historic footage. Working with Speedway Portal we invented an algorithm that would take 4 meetings, (60 races) and jumble them all up so to give 15 race choices of A, B, C or D. We invited two celebrity team managers, selected from ex-riders, referees, sponsors and super fans to try and guide their team to victory by selecting each race. So far, we have produced 15 meetings, all available on YouTube including one which raised over £1000 for the Ben Fund. Face Masks. The club has raised well over £1000 for charity from the sale of Warrior branded face masks. We employed two methods for the face masks. Firstly, key workers, no matter what they did could request one for free while anyone who was not a key worker we requested a donation and anything over the cost price we gave to charity. We gave £605 to Capt Tom, £261 to Mountbatten Hospice (IOW) and £250 Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund to injured Speedway Riders. And there is more. Even today, volunteers are giving their time and effort to ensure that Smallbrook Stadium is on point and ready to go and ready to serve the community in every way. We have refurbished rooms, improved areas and much more. We know it is a long continuous process but without your support nothing our volunteers do would be possible and Martin and I thank you so much for it. Our drive and enthusiasm is as strong as ever as we look to continue to win awards, trophies but most of all provide the best night out in Speedway in the UK. With 2021 just around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support this year, to assure you that we have continued to do our bit for club, community, and sport and together we look forward to a fabulous 2021. May we also take the opportunity, early to be safe, to wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas time and a brilliant New Year. All the best Barry

Record here: http://www.zuzel.ugu.pl/index.php?profil=3021&tab=1

When i attended the Dragons amateur meeting at Rye last December, it felt like a farewell to the old place. The writing was on the wall when i saw the partly demolished grandstand. Plenty of happy memories at a convenient and user friendly track. RIP the launch pad.

On Sunday, 3rd September 1939 Holbeach & Spalding Tulips were due to meet The Dominions at Bell End, Holbeach on what had originally been a grass circuit, but by mid-1939 had been levelled to form what was a dirt-surfaced track. There are references to the circuit having cinders on the bends immediately after the war, but it is not clear if this was the case in 1939. Meetings staged at Bell End followed the format for speedway meetings, with individual events over 20 heats and team meetings regularly taking place, sometimes against teams from league clubs. The meeting against The Dominions was cancelled following declaration of war earlier in the day, but in defiance of a government ban on public assemblies impromptu races took place that afternoon, with around 400 spectators present. In the final race of the afternoon Alan Smith beat Buster Yeomans.

It wasn't the only time Roger did something like that! Not sure what year - it may have been 1979 - the Aces came to Plough Lane, and he scored a 12-point max which included two fantastic wins over PC. In one of those, they passed and repassed, but it didn't matter what PC tried, he just couldn't get the better of Johnsy.

Lovass for me was in the Knutsson / Penhall,Autrey, mould they all knew they would not be around for ever and none of them were ever tempted back.

Even if there was a site available, when would RG be prepared to go in even further to develop such a place, while this covid carry-on still only has a candle light at the end of the pipe? Any hope's can easily be blown out.

Yeah, not the easiest thing to do! One of my favourite trips there (apart from the fact it was dry) was for the KOC in 1980. Johnsy top scored for us with 16+1, and beat PC three times!

This is an interesting debate. Personally I think it boils down to what these young riders want to achieve from their careers.....based the the assumption that British speedway is reasonably unaffected by COVID then they can learn their trade in this country and probably end up earning decent money doubling up across our two leagues and emulating the likes of Cook, King, Wright, Worall and Harris. If they aspire to be more like Woffy & Lambert and want to give themselves the best chance to earn the big money in Poland as well as getting into GP, SWC and SEC then broadening their horizons now as teenagers and getting themselves known in Poland and learning the tracks etc is a must. Being an expert around Eastbourne, Edinburgh and Wolves is no good if you want to be riding on the biggest stages and making the grade on them one day. There may be setbacks along the way as it’s a cut throat business over there but if they want to see how far they can go and really push their potential to the limit it’s got to be done.

As far as I’m aware he has already been re signed for next season

While this is about British Youth signing up in Poland and I wish them well,but unless they are getting a decent retaining fee I fail to see how they will get enough chances to ride and make money given the number of youngsters in Poland.Like has been pointed out British riders at a much higher level have failed to “ cut the mustard” at Polish level.

Not sure about Poland but he rode in Germany in League when he was 15.

That was after the heat 11 incident Steve?? Briggs/ Hitch refused to start.The Cheetahs officially won 80/75 on aggregate i have the programmes .I also remember Middleton beating Briggs in heat 1 in one meeting and Oyvind Berg also surprisingly Mckinlay/ Middleton scored a 5.1 over Briggs in heat 1 in another fixture tense meeting's.

...and we were conned the tie in 1972 due to Briggo spitting his dummy out!

Rode with his dad at Hackney on the 27/04/73 remember that year well remember Martin riding in second half ride's with Bobo Valentine.1973 that year sticks in the mind because the Sumner McKnight venture did not come off and without Briggo the year was a long one .One good memory though was Swindon thrashing the Cheetahs in the Midland cup.

Both Josh and Lewis gave it a go in Poland.Bridger actually not doing too bad.Gave it a go when just turning 19 and had 7 seasons,although only doing 2 fullish seasons out of the 7. Auty on the other hand managed 2 matches one in 2008 and one in 2011. So they didn't stick to the comforts of their home surroundings they gave it a go and Poland didn't make them go forward. Same with B.Barker he went to Poland aged 19 and his teams managed to give him 1,4,6,1 matches in 4 consecutive years.So that didn't benefit him and push him forward. Richie Worrall another. Just because Poland is undoubtedly is the best league,it doesn't mean it will benefit our young riders by going over there.They will be dropped like a stone like the riders mentioned above if the don't perform. No British rider has gone their recently and basically learnt their trade.Woffy was already good,we knew Lambert was going places,he was helped by early learning in Germany,yep Germany not Poland gave Lambert the racing experience to push forward. I just hope the teams give our youngsters matches even if they start off slowly,but i can't see that,can you?You only have to see how many riders are used during the season in the lower leagues in Poland.You think teams are bad here when they use 9 or 10 riders through the season they are quite often near the mid teens.

Totally agree with you Sydney, That five year ban was a joke aimed solely to stop him riding. When his appeal was heard on the day of the British final , because the case was so fictitious, everyone assume it would be thrown out of court leaving him free to ride in the final that night. Hundred of supporters travelled to Coventry believing he would ride only to be informed over the loudspeaker, that the BSPA then concocted another offence against him with this time a 12 month ban instead of the five year one. It was so obvious to each and everyone one of us that they were out to get him no matter what........ I can personally name 6 people who travelled to that British final that night who, on hearing the announcement, packed up and went straight home, never to go to another speedway meeting again.... Since that day in question the belief of many Stars supporters have never been so keen as they were years gone by. When somebody Like Michael Lee comes along to grace our sport, one would have thought the powers in charge would do everything in their power to use situation to elevate this sport to greater heights, But it appeared these people were so jealous of his ability to enthral vast crowd they did their upmost to destroy him... Its no surprise, when thinking back 40 years, when we ruled the world, and this sport was compared with football , that we are now the poor relation when neither the fans nor the riders want to participate. and how much blame can be proportioned to the people who made all those dreadful decisions....

There are many instances I can remember Michael being sublime, probably one of the earliest was when he was first started riding for Boston against a top Newcastle outfit. Riding high at the top of the second division, it was only ever going to be a close encounter. It hadn't been a good meeting for Lee scoring only a handful of points, but the whole meeting rested on the final race. Tom and Joe Owen off gates 1 and 3 with Lee off 2. Their intentions were clear from the off., squeeze out lee then team ride for the 4-2 for victory. Their plan worked a treat.. Down the back straight , Lee was well last. Lap 2 he moves into third chasing hard. As they start the last lap Lee dives inside the team riding Tom, the crowd could sense a tight finish. Taking to the boards on the last corner Lee rode round Joe to acclaim a stunning victory. This was truly amazing for someone barely 16 yrs old. Everyone there that night knew they had witnessed an awesome talent....

That's right. I was there that night to support the Hackney Hawks v KL who were gunning for the BL title. Mike the Bike was just awesome. Bo Peterson was top of the BL averages for most of that year. ML steamed under him on bend three and then took off and left him. He then rode in between team riding guests in another heat up the home straight like they weren't there. They were from Cradley . Gunderson and an other ? I think he scored a maximum that night.Forget the off track stuff . Kings Lynn came to the Wick c 1976 or 1977. Had read about this wonder boy that was clocking up massive scores for KL and Boston. He came to Hackney all of 16 or 17 and cleaned up. Having watched the sport since 1969 HE was our best ever rider and could have been up there with the greats and been our best ever rider. Woffy is terrific, all respect to him and three World titles BUT Mike Lee for me was even better and as other poster said could have been up there with Mauger and Rickardson. Have to say Dave Jessup also terrific. He could teach our youngsters how to gate !!??