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Some people can not help themselves. I think Plymouth have called off about 3 meetings the day before to save expense for riders, themselves and fans money and time. Guess what, they have been proved correct every single time. I personally remember at least three times this approach would have saved me time and money. One to Edinburgh another to Middlesbrough and one to Ipswich following the Pirates. With regard to the other moans re Plymouth how do people think they can replace injured riders or one being suspended. Not one single rider is in the team from the original team for several meetings. No 1 Edward Kennett. Signed long before start of season and crashed in first meeting causing big damage to existing injury. They have tried to sign a replacement but have been blocked each time No 2 Alfie Bowtell _ injured at Birmingham and could be out for the season. No 3 Ben Barker - now suspended awaiting hearing. No 4 Michael Palm-Toft - Tried coming back after that very bad crash at Poole . Will he be back this season No 5 Hans Anderson - Crashed at Sheffield and was out for a few weeks No 6 - Dan Gilles - crashed heavy at Scunthorpe on 29th April still out and could be for the rest of season No 7 Henry Atkins - walked out on cub for some reason. Try replacing these riders with the lack of riders in this country and restrictions for riders riding in other countries. Has anyone else heard of such bad luck. Yet the fans have still backed the team, crowds do not seemed to have dropped and are very good. This sows their commitment to the team, manager and promoters.

Every rider is given a list of banned drugs when they are issued with their licences and few cannot be aware of what is and is not permitted. Very few prescription drugs are banned, only those that are believed to affect performance, often through making riders fearless or indeed reckless. I very much doubt that there are many riders “who in extreme pain and under pressure to ride have taken a prescription drug” that would be in breach of the rules. Indeed, I recall Shane Parker back in 2005 riding with a recently broken collar bone saying he was unwilling to take any pain killers for fear of breaching the anti-doping rules. Drug testing at UK speedway meetings is carried out regularly and independently and it is testimony to the “clean” nature of the sport, possibly fuelled by a fear of being banned, that few are caught. I would expect that the same systems operate in other countries which have caught very few over the years either. Your comment that “Whatever the outcome the Sport needs MORE tests and more education and not just gloat that they have caught one and then sit back and do naff all for another 3-4 years.” is, in my view, very wide of what happens. Riders ARE educated and tests are already frequent. I have no inside knowledge about the current case but am aware that there are clear procedures for the hearing that will take place and these are laid down in section 018.5 of the 2022 SCB Regulations. Until that takes place and a decision made, it would be pointless to speculate further.

Apparently it is. Starke and King for Ipswich.Hawkins says they use the months averages a month prior to the event that is why they can use Starke as he was then 4th in their averages then. Lynn are allowed to use Klindt even though he wasn't in the averages last month. Sheffield are using Howarth even though he was 5th in Sheffields average last month.Although with releasing Cook and the injury to Ellis that only left Musielak. So in reality now,it's pick who you want and not 2 out of your top 4. Edit:Just having looked at the previous events in July Wolves used Worrall at Lynn,he was 5th in their averages the previous month and Peterborough used Nicholls at Wolves,he was 5th in their averages the previous month. So who is telling the truth,seems like the same old thing is happening here and it is do as you like and carry on.

If it was not technology you would not be posting on here, now.

Halifax Dukes Captain Eric Boothroyd has passed away in hospital after a heart attack. Ninety five years old a great rider and team captain for the Dukes. R.I.P Eric

Carl Johnson on the local radio on Monday night sounded quite positive about the future. Should be announcement soon. He reckons they have two potential sites that have been found, they want to build something that can be used all year round and have some of the events that used to be at the showground moved to one of these new sites. Obviously will need help with funding from the council and local businesses but fingered crossed this isn’t the end of speedway in Peterborough

by all accounts they got gazumped on Lawson and Ellis (short term) refused another rider from Denmark who rides PL only and tried about a dozen other options. If other accountsare correct Bowtell and Gilkes are out for the season and MPT still in considerable pain. Barker has a hearing in September (very vague so probably the 30th) and as for Kennett, well believe who you want to but its a long term injury and the fact he's not been spotted in a grass field all season where he could earn good money I think proves conclusively that he ain't fit to race. So how long do you wait for or should they have chucked in the license for the season, got a whopping fine, pissed off a loyal and growing fan base and undone a lot of good work over 4-5 years. Pretty sure Play off cut off will be 31st August based on all the scheduled fixtures unless the next 2 weeks are a complete wash out. As a Lakeside fan you should be only too well aware of what happens when fixtures are delayed and backed and crammed in to Autumn.

It sounds a lot like pick whoever is prepared to do it.

So the three teams in the final have worked out a way more of their supporters can see part of the final, and i would imagine make more money out the final as well think these three teams need to be in charge of how the league is run

I was hooked form the very first meeting that I attended...everything about it! Standing on the terraces with fellow enthusiats and chewing the fact/arguing made it a great night out! Never bothered me personally the gaps between races...that's when we all became an 'expert' Team Manager! Don't go along with gimmicks which is what the general public with their short attention span now seem to expect. I attended two American Football matches at Wembley and I found all the razzmatazz all a bit tedious and it struck me that was what the fans were more interested in. The Mexican Wave was in vogue then and the spectators appeared to take more notice of that rather than what taking place on the pitch. Speedway when presented right takes some beating but, alas, those in control thru' years of mismanagement have allowed it become a pale shadow of its former glorious self!

Just wondering what all the kids starting out in the sport think about all the negativity regarding the Cardiff GP. I can't believe there isn't one young British rider who hasn't dreamt about riding in Cardiff in a GP (and perhaps the Polish Extraliga as well) The Stadium has a "wow" factor about it which Belle Vue (and no other Stadium in the UK) despite being one of the best racetracks in the world sadly doesn't. By all means have a 2nd British GP elsewhere but leave Cardiff alone.

Are 't all speedway meetings fundamentally pointless?

Good to see josh recovered from his injury from last week !!!!

Pirates 1 and 3.

Definitely APPROVED as you say by her majesty as it was a feeder for borstal lol

Jepsen Jensen in for huckenbech. Any complaints about that...

Not when there's a poxy strike on!

The BSPL link to the Tigers website has the ".org" suffix and this is the root of the problem. You get through ok using ".co.uk". This has been pointed out to the promotion a few times.

Agreed Newman at reserve helps but he hasn’t been doing much for along time now so not that worried if he gets 7 rides don’t expect more than 7/8pts tbh

Don’t think the track will need watering. Thundering in Parkstone and heavy rain at the moment.

People are unbelievable really. We get one chance a year to have a Speedway meeting in the UK that feels like a proper sporting event and people don't want to know about it. Yes, the track was bad this year. But the event itself was still great even though speedway fans decided they don't want a proper sports stadium inconveniencing their schedule and stayed away. Watch Chris Harris winning in 2007. The riders were bouncing all over the place, but they still went for it. Jason Crump and Greg Hancock both seemed of the opinion that this track was no worse than the older Cardiff tracks. It had improved in recent years, though, which, I guess, is why this one seemed particularly bad. I also wonder if having the practice the day before added to the track cutting up. If Cardiff ends up being dropped because fans decide to stay away then it just proves that Speedway fans really are completely nuts.

It has but worth repeating- 2 new mini leagues will be created with the 3 winners in one and the 3 losers in the other - these will be on match points and then race points. best loser (4) goes through to meet no 1 in the winners table and 2 v 3 in the winners table completes the semi`s.(over 2 legs)

We have no fixtures due the decline of Clubs in GB.That’s not going to turn round any time soon. 1 League with riders who are available and committed to GB speedway( although it would probably mean a lower standard to begin with would be a starter) but we know that will never happen.So we will just muddle along.

Seems odd that Ipswich are abiding by regulations.

Rain is dissolving in the channel south of Poole so fingers crossed it won’t hit us now. Might get a heavy shower late afternoon but much less rain than was expected. Had none at all so far.

Agreed. The problem is that it is the same three teams most of the time so Leics, Glasgow and Poole will see plenty of action and if the weather turns fixture congestion, but the likes of Birmingham, Berwick and (unless they scrape 6th for a play- off place) Scunthorpe are almost over.

Same here. In Swindon 70 mile round trip, too risky.

Poor old Richard! Think of all the guest bookings he'd have missed if he'd agreed to the Plymouth promises.

Happened near start of season Plymouth vs Poole KOC meeting. Crashed and from what I remember an existing metal plate was sticking out of his arm. I'm sure that is what was reported. No close up shots on the stream thank goodness as I'm not sure I could cope with the image!

This was a decent event up until now. Tomorrow's teams are taking the p1ss and devalues the whole tournament. I have no issue with teams using who they want in their teams, but why no Doyle, Fricke, Zagar....and I'm not really sure why Lynn have gone for Lawson over Pickers as I'd have thought he was a deffo round his old track. Have the top teams been told to field substandard teams to even things up before the final round? No wonder there has been no promotion of this event. British Speedway doing its best to screw things up yet again

Looks like 2 hours of rain. Track should take it and be nicely watered as long as it’s not a deluge.

Wait for one or two to return or try and sign replacements if it’s long term. Clearly some clubs are in no rush to complete their fixtures because of calling meetings 24 hours ahead of time so whether it’s the weather or a lack of a team, what difference does it make, the outcome is the same.

What would you have done then when you have 1 fit rider ?

Not sure that's correct Warsaw GP weekend holiday Inn 4* with breakfast 3 nites £145 premier Inn Cardiff room only £335 3 nites, far cheaper to go to Poland, but better craic in Cardiff . Unfortunately due to holiday commitment next September Cardiff a no go. So looks like another trip abroad for a GP

That`s because of the drifts

The other issue in regards to Eddie Kennet is not actually a problem to have with Plymouth but more with the BSPA rules. What people actually forget is that We were the first team to sort our number one out before Poole came in and took him over the winter. this left very few riders to fill a number one slot. With this in mind 12 riders were tried to save signed but due to Visas and BSPA committee Plymouth were not allowed. The reality is the BSPA is going to die a death whilst people with club first interests as apposed to British speedway first interests run the show. How I’m any sport/social element where there is competition can you have some selected group of teams creating the rules that are ultimately going to benefit themselves over the sport.

I think you may find that hotels in the big cities will increase the prices when ANY big how is in town.

Having had a few days to reflect, what an absolute shower of $hite. Cardiff is a great social occasion but what was served up in the stadium was absolutely dire compared to past years. No pre event entertainment? they've had bands, singers, tribute acts and all sorts in the stadium before. The Viking Clap was a massive embarrassment , Amarillo played twice and announced as the first time was poor, nothing for Nigel when they had hours to kill during track grading, the painful legends section where they should have all been sent out together instead of filling 15 mins with it, 2 interviews with Top Gears Chris Harris where he said exactly the same, Ellis announced at the tapes after he'd been on the big screen pulling out of the meeting. That's with out the suicidal track and the booing of Leon for pointing it out and the list goes on....... If this is meant to be an improved product I'd like to no how. 20k crowd at the most and doubt it will be bigger in 2023, we are definitely no longer the flagship GP. As they say in Dragon's Den for 2023 "I'm Out" better off having friends round for a bbq and trying to bear watching it on the tv.

Enough of the snooker puns, time to give it a rest.

2 Tickets...from a very kind Swindon fan who couldn't go..FREE..in the V.I.P. section..would have been £180! Food and drink in stadium..£25 Programme..£10 Parking park n ride County Hall.£10 Fuel..£30..Swindon 160 mile round-trip..3.25 hours there..2.00 return. 75 quid..bargain!!!

If you are in to saving money, the University Accommodation is superb. En-Suite single bed room £30 per night. 10 minutes walk from St Mary's Street, where most of the pubs are. Couldn't believe the bar prices in the air conditioned pub 'The Borough'. 6 drinks for our party for only £15:00! Wow!

For me the return of the bonus point is a good idea. But for they should do away with the nice try point, the one that awards a point if the away team loses by 6 points or less. Whoever heard of a sport where you are rewarded for losing. For me it has to be; 3 points for a win 2 points for a away draw 1 point for home draw. 0 points for a loss

I think its a good idea to change it, each track should make money with a large crowd, instead of getting a cut of a small gate, and more people will be able watch their team in cup final. Not all changes are bad

I say this as someone who has lived in London and has great affection for the place. Wembley (the area) is a sh**hole and the stadium is soulless. It's a place trading on its name and very little else. Its not even the best venue in North London, never mind the UK.

Allitt was rumoured to be in deep negotiations for over an hour until someone told him he was talking with Ronnie O'Sullivan not Ryan Sullivan,

Yes it is Chris Mackett. Below is a photo from the VETS meeting at Lydd in 2018, Chris Mackett in Blue, Graham Knowler ( aother ex Canterbury) in Yellow.

Nice to see “proper” speedway bikes in action. Sorry to hear someone injured, hope they have speedy recovery.

What we could do is sell tickets for the price of a McDonalds meal and give out a few freebies and tell the media it was a sell out. We should also promote British speedway as being the same standard as the Polish Extraliga and if anyone dares say any different we call them uneducated ignorant oinks. Seemed to work well for the Women's Euro's