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What a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon that was yesterday. We all know speedway has its problems , but when you get a superbly prepared track like that , two good teams giving their all , and for a change no rain , there isn't a better sporting spectacle in this country . After two relatively heavy away losses to probably the current best two sides in the league , there were a few nervous home fans in the stadium before the meeting . Scunthorpe didn't come just to make up the numbers , they gated well in the majority of the heats , but one thing we do have is a team full of racers and some of the passing yesterday was breathtaking . Craig Cook in that kind of form is a joy to watch round Ashfield , and Sam Jensen and Connor Bailey just get better and better . What the Pole brings to the party will determine whether we're good enough to challenge the likes of Poole, Leicester or Redcar over two legs , but if we get racing like that from now to the end of the season , its the best £17 for a sporting event out there .

I've seen electric bikes racing on an oval, including one who would have finished on the rostrum in the pro class with the lap times he was doing. Speedway with a few 1 minute races is made for electric bikes if any racing is, current battery capabilities can very easily cope with that. The spectacle was almost exactly the same as normal flat track but the lack of noise definitely made it feel less exciting, whether you would get used to it and feel the same about the racing in the long term I'm not sure. However the prospect of motorcycle racing including Speedway taking place in inner city areas does appeal a great deal. As does the idea of being able to practice and train without complaints from neighbours. So much so that I am currently looking into the idea of getting an electric trials bike purely for the ability to ride at pretty much any time I want very locally.

I heard a Makem suggested that sports designated land at NE1 4ST is currently not being used.

I asked my chum if he was going to watch King''s Lynn tonight. He replied, "not sure" as he thinks it's not King''s Lynn but another Championship Select line-up with riders from Plymouth, Newcastle, Birmingham, Eastbourne , Scunthorpe, Newcastle & Berwick!!! Also not sure if it's the KL rising stars, fading stars or just Stars? But he hopes to recognise the riders easier as they will be in non matching team leathers! Either way we can chat about it in the Pub afterwards. We feel at home there because there is always three guest beers on!

The Dutch F1 GP was nearly prevented from happening because of a legal challenge on environmental grounds, and this sort of thing is only going to increase as the world moves to electric vehicles. Whether traditionalists like it or not, speedway is going to have to move to electric if it's still around in 10 years time, and possibly even before. I'd have thought speedway with its short races would be well suited to electric propulsion, and might even bring down the costs of engines and expensive tuners.

I think the Nielsen situation for Sheffield/Poole is fair enough if his injury was after the deadline but Panthers have had weeks to replace Ulrich and chose not to - completely different positions in my book sorry.

I wouldn't say the strongest, but probably the most expensive.

Over the 13 heat format of the 70's opposing number 1's only met in heat 1. Now they meet in 1, 13 and usually 15 so it is much harder to get a 9 point average now than it was then. Also, bonus points counted in the averages then but don't now.

Totally agree. Any rider who drives around the country to gain track time and experience deserves praise for putting himself on the line even for little return. I wish a few more experienced riders would make the effort. I just hope that he does not lose heart.

I can't start this thread without a mention about Bob Cole After hearing the sad news today of the passing away of Bob on Saturday it does make you think about life and how precious life is. The meeting on Wednesday is quite poignant as I know Bob was based down in Devon for a number of years very close to Plymouth and the Speedway. He was still going down to the Coluesium on Tuesday evening's on a regular basis although still a committed Pirates supporter. Anyway the show must still go on but it will be a sad evening when i Iook behind me and see his empty seat. The other thing making it a little sad is if fit it will be Bjarne Pedersen's last ever meeting at Wimborne Road before he retires. Let's hope for a great evening's racing and 3 points for the Pirates. Thoughts?

Such a comment never fails to mystify me. Dead rubber? It’s a speedway meeting - Monday night is speedway night. There’s a meeting on, two good teams, some class riders, a great track (so most people seem to say). So why the hell does it matter. There’s no lack of effort from the riders, they’ll give it their all, put a show on for you. I just don’t understand…. turn up and enjoy the racing - at least you’ve got a team and a track. I haven’t. Never missed a Saturday night at Brandon - or Fridays or Thursdays as it became - because it was speedway night.

Interesting rumour heard tonight that King is joining Panthers.....

Crump is just ruining his legacy, a fantastic rider of yesteryear getting mullered by people not fit to wear his kevlars, sad to see

You know nothing about the track, it’s far better when it’s slick. When it’s grippy just leads to a fast inside line.

Just been announced bikes have been retrieved.

Now a win for Thomas. I owe him an apology

No thank you

Far too close a gap.. With a substainable league structure for Eastbourne to ride in, I can see them running..

So with Middlo away playing golf in Tenerife, Havvy takes charge of the Pirates for this one. Advantage Gladiators.

Well I am currently sitting looking at the picture feed, so I hope so.

But first you need a piece of land that you can actually run speedway on with council permission and that my friend is the major stumbling block.

The move against noise pollution is getting stronger by the week it seems and isn't going to go away. I posted on her possibly a year ago about some moves. Towns and cities banning loud motorbikes at the weekend. Now Paris has even gone to a 30kmh limit in most areas, and noise was one of the factors. It is getting hard for private people, so a recreational sport will find itself under even more pressure and especially one that is only watched by a small strange section of society has no real pressure working in its favour You could say it is even less necessary in Denmark as most of their tracks, possibly all are outside residential areas. Often well away

Pearson and Tatum witter on all the time & not just about the NSS. They are unprofessional when together. It has been proven that when they are with someone else, i.e Tatum & Louis then hey presto professionalism returns. Why Eurosport haven't given Dave Rowe or Dave Goddard a spot on the main commentary I don't know. With Dave Rowe reporting on the night from the other meeting taking place or doing interviews I hope he is given an opportunity to take over the main meeting coverage. p.s I'll be at the SON so me ears will be free!

Mr Crump could be the difference, hope he fades in the later heats as hes been doing on the bigger tracks Hard for me to say this as he is my all time Panthers favourite since the spotty young 16yr first rode for the Panthers in 1992 , when he left the Panthers to go to Lynn in 2000 that was the begining of my interest in attending speedway disappearing

Dankeschön Or as we say here in the North East "Donkeysh!te Mate" Regards THJ

E-speedway, no thanks. Battery vehicles will soon disappear anyway once people realise that the batteries are much more environmentally bad than they'd have you believe at present. Hydrogen engines may be one possibility for vehicles but piles of batteries dumped at sea/in the third world does not fill me with hope for e-vehicles.

Of course, most of us love the sound of a speedway bike, but local residents do not, and by extension that involves the councils, who give permits. On that basis it’s got to be seriously considered as the future for any noisy sport. F1 is very aware of noise and I sure if they are then others need to take note, after all, F1 would love to race city centres to gain even more prestige. Is it the way to go? Apart from less noise, it would probably be less money to purchase and maintain the machines.

There lies the problem . We've had a much stronger second tier in the past. Blimey in 2004 my team had Parker , Stancl, Grieves and Bentley and finished 11th . It's the weakness of the top flight that gives the impression that the second tier is too strong

Every meeting will have to be at Plymouth... Edit. Just thought the BSPL will no doubt have a cunning plan to ensure the large tracks can also host electric Speedway... They will attach a huge extension lead to each bike and plug them in.... (Only using official extension leads endorsed by a former World Champion obviously)....

Will it mean half hour breaks between each race as we wait for the bikes to re-charge? And bikes running out of charge after 3-laps, rider range anxiety

*Coughs* Andy Grahame, Birmingham and Milton Keynes. 1979.

Well Ray that's what's wrong with modern speedway - the smell has gone! There's a thread about reinventing speedway and the solution is staring us in the face - or wafting up our noses. Or rather not wafting. Bring back castor oil, take it from mothers' spoons. A good dose of castor oil made many of us what we are today and would reinvigorate the younger generation and speedway.

Not sure who is guesting at number 6 for Poole, but would guess it’s Zach Cook.

Maybe find out all the facts 1st doubt he's earning a fortune with kent in the NDL or Redcar only had 2 meetings and dropped by Kings Lynn earlier in the season. How he's obtained his equipment is irrelevant as long as it was legal !!! . The poor lad has been a victim of crime which could greatly impact his life and lively hood or is it by the same token if you live in a nice house or drive a nice car you deserve to be robbed ? At least if he's still in need of tools he could maybe contact you for some assistance ?

Fair play to Thomas for chasing rides and meetings all over the Country for not to many points.

I think that horse has bolted now, and the British leagues just need to try and move forward in a financial sustainable manner without trying to accommodate the multiple International demands they derive no benefit from. If that means teams essentially being made-up of juniors but who're able to turn up every Friday or Saturday, then that's what needs to happen.

I think I'll have to watch the action without any sound!! As good as the NSS is I can't stand messrs Pearson and Tatum wittering on about it yet again. We still have to put up with it in the SoN!!!!

I think most of the Witches would favour the Showground over Foxhall so should mean a closer contest (if they want it) Could be Crump's swansong in British top flight Speedway - perhaps the most fitting place for it to end??

He hasn't cheated but honestly an experienced ref like McGregor shouldn't be making a mistake in a last heat decider like that. It could have such abig impact on us missing out on play offs you never know. Hope the SCB review his.performance

My mate went and said it was well supported with lots of families attending. He said the presentation was very good, refreshments great and minimal delays and he got about 25 heats for £12. He also saw ex Glasgow promoter Gordon Pairman taking a close interest in what was going on. Well done Isle of White by all accounts.

You may need to lend him a calculator on the journey as a fully fledged witches fan hes not used to counting over 40 these days so the high numbers that the Panthers have been achieving may be a bit much for him at first but given a bit of tutorial he will be fine .

Guilty as charged! I have kept in contact with Barry and Martin since I met them at one of Neil Vatcher’s junior training sessions in February 2017 (I think) but last Thursday was my first chance to attend an event. Although this was the first meeting after the kids had gone back to school and many of the holidaymakers had gone home, the crowd was better than was often the case when the Islanders were in the PL. In my view, the reason is simple: this was a value for money evening’s entertainment and I would commend it to anyone who can go. It’s a shame that there is a restriction on which riders can race there - I know many more would if they didn’t think it might jeopardise their chances of having a speedway team place, but maybe something can be sorted for next year. After all, if the likes of Chris Harris or James Shanes can race grass track here and in Europe without needing the consent of their British speedway teams, I’d like to think they could race at the IOW without fear of being banned. Just my view, though.

Well Under estimated. The grandstand holds 1850, at 6pm there had been 597 pre sold in grandstand (last week against Wolves there was 1000 pre sold) plus some people buying on the night probably around 650 in grandstand. south stand holds 1200, I was stood in that, it was full at 2nd bend end but spread out at 3rd bend end, I’d say about half full altogether so that’s 600.

Poland only imposed these restrictions this season. Speedway in the UK has been dying a slow painful death for years. Nothing to do with the Polish restrictions in my opinion, all to do with mainly greedy promotions ripping off the punters over a period of years.

Yeah done that last night cheers.

Jack Thomas really would be shocked if he troubles the scorers

That's too close a gap really, should be about half, but we know the reasons why.

Gypsies Green stadium in South Shields is unused and looks almost derelict to me. It has or had a velodrome in it so might be the right size? I don't know who owns it - the Council? Outside Newcastle but good access through the Tunnel, and catchment area includes Wearside.

I thought some scum might of stole it for the van, and wouldn't know what to do with the bikes, and maybe leave them somewhere. What scumbags

I agree with most of what had been said on this topic. The GP's in their current form just aren't doing it for me anymore. After a lengthy absence I got back into Speedway in 2014 and couldn't wait for each GP to be televised. I also went to Cardiff four times, Poland three times and twice to Prague. Great times I have to say but there is now something seriously lacking which has been evident for the past couple of years at least. The points scoring system doesn't do it for me and I think they should revert back to what it was - every point counts. There are several riders at the moment who are just making up the numbers and when they're out on track you can pretty much predict the result. There don't seem to be any riders in the Nikki P mould and the lack of any controversy seems to have taken the excitement away. In effect, the GPs are very much becoming "same old, same old" and in my view a total revamp is required. As things stand, I would much rather watch British Speedway (didn't think I'd be saying that four years ago) and I really look forward to the matches on Eurosport. The stadiums etc might not be up to much etc but most matches I've seen have had some reasonably good racing with the odd bit of controversy thrown in. I think at the end of the day I probably prefer team racing as opposed to individual events. Anyway, back to the GP's, I hope there are major changes planned for next year (different format, new stadiums etc) to get that buzz back. Fingers crossed!