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Hi everyone. A big thank you for all your comments and messages - they mean a lot. After a serious concussion/head knock all scan results have come back clear, which is a huge relief. I’m feeling a bit second hand today. I just need some time to recover but luckily I’ve escaped injury. I’m hoping to leave hospital later today. Ben Fantastic news.

The seizure is more than likely the body responding from being knocked out. Brain and body not as one. I passed out 20 years ago from a knock and my wife said she was very worried as my body was jerking about all over the place. Once I had come around I was fine and had no idea what had happened. Looks scary to witnesses. Found the rolling pin in the drawer with blood on it the next day.

Middlo has posted on Facebook. Ben has been kept in hospital overnight. Nothing broken. Zach stayed with him. Hopefully released today.

Let's be fair here, it's not at all Abi's fault. She's just doing her job. The nonsense chat is usually requested from directors through an earpiece. Man or women, it's irrelevant. Even Tatum & Louis (whomever is partnered with Kelv) chat absolute s#!+e most weeks. The discovery team as a whole has no idea what the watching viewers want to hear or see. Camera work, commentators, trackside presenters, the lot is absolutely dreadful. Terrible to just out the Lass, just doing as she's told.

100% this! He's a rider with a high ceiling and he could end up in GP Series. Concussion, especially deep concussion is a potentially silent killer. IF he has had some sort of initial seizure he will need some constant monitoring for a period of months and plenty of rest and relaxation. Even if he hasn't had a seizure, the nature of the crash (as descibed) suggests he'd be VERY wise to sit out the remainder of the season. He may be restricted initially in terms of long distance Air travel but ideally he can get home, get some sun on his back and come back fit and fresh next season. You simply cannot take risks with head injuries and concussion, fractures / muscle injuries you may be able to "patch up" - the brain you most definitely cannot!

Nobody watching on TV can blame the track because the incident was out of camera. The Sayfutdinov crash a few weeks ago was a different matter, that was caused by the need to ride very wide to use the dirt at the fence, with both Emil and Jack Holder going for it. "High risk but high reward" is exactly the right description. I think Sheffield are using it to intimidate the opposition and it should be discouraged as strongly as possible. It's not the kind of speedway I want to watch.

I actually think she has improved a lot and is quite good now.

It’s always quite amazing how Poole are always weakened when using guests but the opposition are always stronger when they have guests.

They could still move the dirt away from the fence & back on to the track as that is an issue

I'm glad somebody else feels the same as I do. My immediate reaction to seeing the discussions about replacements , when the lad was on his way to hospital under blue lights with paramedics in attendence (which is not a good sign at all) ; was one of uneasiness to put it mildly. Unfortunately I have witnessed a fatality at a speedway meeting in the 1970's and a separate crash that resulted in paralysis and let us all pray to whoever our God is, or even if we dont believe in one, that this incident has an ending that is as positive as it can possibly be!

Agreed that Eurosport coverage is poor, but a disgrace to single out Abi, who actually isn't too bad. I am not sure if this down to Eurosport or a production company, but the actual TV fcoverage is poor. As others have mentioned the helmet cam/drone footage mid race is stupid, we lose half the action. They are good innovations to the overall coverage, but use them wisely, mainly post race when showing replays from various angles. The producer responsible for controlling the main camera coverage often pans in on the race winner and misses vital racing for the minor placings. For commentary I like Kelvin, but I am not sure he is right to be the lead commentator, perhaps needs a broadcast professional with Kelvin as the expert alongside. Scott brings a lot to the pit interviews, and often feels he is underused at times.

I decided a while ago that the track staff at Sheffield are the speedway equivalent of Schrödinger's cat. If I go to Owlerton every meeting and see people dragging the dirt back after every heat but the British Speedway Forum says they don't exist, are they really there, or are they both there, and not there simultaneously?

Just got a text message from Ben saying that he’s feeling a “bit rough today” Think that must a bit of an understatement! But glad he’s not seriously injured.

Totally agree with you, thinking the same thing. She stands in the pits, with that stupid grin on her face, knowing not a lot about the sport she is involved in. The sooner she is replaced the better.

Adds 1.5 to his average despite woeful management of him at reserve and not deemed good enough to return. Madness.

British speedway needs Workington Comets ,to much hard work has gone into the project .Good luck in 2025 from a Scunny fan

I’m talking about real time action,at the time of the crash it was a close race at the back but the cameras are focused on the front 2 that are spread out, they do this all the time, they are so amateurish, BSN are far better on a fraction of the cost, BSN capture the essence of speedway, Eurosport are like cable network channel from the 90s

Thoughts with Ben. Couldn't give a toss with all the talk about possible guests!!!!! Jeez!

Thought I had seen it all in terms of poor professionalism from TV "presenters"....but last night was probably the lowest of the lowest. It is evidently clear that the person doing interviews in the pits is so far out of their depth it is brutal to watch...when a team manger tells you to not interview a rider yet you ignore his advice, you are left with an absolute cringeworthy situation live on air. The same "presenter" has no real rapport with the riders and thus makes poor viewing, the incident with the obvious bad injury to Ben Cook is a example, instead of waffling and digging a bigger hole why not try and use some common sense and leave it to the likes of Scott/Kelvin/Ollie who have been in that position and know what to say and what not to say. Last Monday night when Pickering was revving the guts out of his bike, why would you try and have an interview with him? Thought it was poor last night and in general over the season it has become more and more of the same, how many times have we seen pit interviews that have been interesting and entertaining?...it needs someone from the TV side to have that rapport with the riders, a person the riders respect, something Scott Nicholls does and has with the vast majority of them.

Can't be from a playoff team and can't have guested for a different playoff team in the semis I believe

I take that is a pop at me. I am 60 year old Grandad and have followed my team for over 50 years. In that time in the top league we have had little success until recent seasons, apart from a KO Cup in 74 when we beat a very good Ipswich team. Fair enough we did beat an injury ravaged team, but you can only beat what is in front of you and over the two legs that is what we did, and I make no excuses for celebrating that success its been a long time coming for me as a Sheffield fan who can remember long years ago when we were in the top league and winning nothing. Sometimes you just have to accept that its not just your year or season and move on and stop playing the victim. Ipswich have a good promotion and a backbone of a decent side and I am sure that they will be up there challenging for honours. I wish Ipswich fans all the best for next season and look forward to our meeting next season. And to all of the Belle Vue and Leicester fans all the best for the Final, there are both there on merit after the Semi Final places and may the best team win.

Disappointed to see price rises for the final. There is a cost of living crisis and many pensioners have lost their Winter Fuel Payments.

The Sheffield track has remained the same since 1929. Unfortunately we haven't had the same benefit as the BV fans of having a brand new stadium paid for with taxpayers money. Those on here who lionise the wonderful NSS and criticise the "lesser" stadia like Sheffield should remember that.

Really good news that Ben is not too badly hurt. I have quoted your post as I wanted to thank you for the honesty. So many people on this thread jumping on the 'dangerous track' bandwagon last night, but as the majority were watching on TV they hadn't even seen the crash. From where I was standing near the bar on turn 3, so with a good view down the back straight into turn 2, it looked like a rider pushing the limits and making an error. Nothing sinister about it and he looked pretty much mid-track to me, nowhere near the infamous outside line. The bike high sided and he came down heavily on his upper body. My initial thought was collar bone or shoulder. Belle Vue were the better team over the 2 legs and deserved the win. We didn't lose the match last night, we lost it on Monday. Picko having 2 bike failures put us on the back foot, and the 5-1 in heat 15 gave us a mountain to climb. Sadly, when we needed them most, our top 2 riders were both way off their regular home form last night.

Wish they would stop using them helmet cams all we see is a rear wheel.

Lidsey definitely riding within himself this season, and now Poland is over for him you can see a difference in his riding. (Is it his Polish kit he is on as his straight line speed is tremendous).. On his average I would think the Aces will keep him next season.. His gating ability will be very important at Leicester... Kurtz must be the rider of the season if the Aces lift the trophy.. A proper throwback captain who fights for every point.. Heat 13 last night was truly an incredible first two turns, with respect given to Jack Holder too who left "just" enough room for Kurtz to get round safely.. Will miss the first leg as still away but will have the red smoke flares packed for Thursday... "You can't use them".. "I can't see now".. "Why are you making so much noise?".. "I stand there" "If you want to do that, go to football"....

I agree. Think it was pilot error myself rather than the track

Sounds like he has been very lucky. If he had a seizure they would keep him in longer?

Remember nobody wanted Dan T last year. Started without a Champ club, Birmingham used him for 28 days but didn't keep him, then finally got signed by Plymouth & sadly go injured. It's a surprise no one saw his promise. Hope he remembers this & stays loyal to Plymouth. As for Pearson he reminds me of Connor Bailey, had a 7 home but 3 away average, so they let him go.

The woeful management will continue next year. Unless they send him on a crash course of some sort.

They don't like his away average. They seem to ignore that he's barely ridden those tracks, is still only 19, and has shown fantastic week-by-week improvements at Ashfield. The away improvements would come naturally, but I keep hearing this line about the away average from too many people, so either someone is playing a weird bluff, or they're not interested in having him back. Sad if they're not willing to invest a second year in the one guy who has shown real potential. I hope he makes them regret it if that's the case, because he was first on my list. He's not the complete package yet, but he's working it out pretty fast.

MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE the play off semi finals was forced onto the teams for commercial reasons so they could advertise and sell tickets etc. But arguably the bigger meeting we only have 4 days to promote and sell tickets. Make that make sense

First of all. My prayers are with cook. That was an horrific crash and word from the track is that it’s not good. So best wishes to Ben. great 2 legs and I wouldn’t want to do it against anyone else. Any belle Vue Sheffield matches are great for fans in attendance and long may it continue. We will battle with you boys again next season and I can’t wait. it’s play off time your need your big hitters to show up and they did that for us, and vuolas been a terrific signing for us. Onto Leicester we go where I have us as slight favourites but this is play offs. Anything can happen.

No offence to Sam McGurk, but he could be considered an "ambitious youngster" but I'd never pick him ahead of Paul Starke.

Well done belle vue and special mention to anti voulas who’s points over 2 legs don’t justify the effort he put in

He doesn't know the rules,just thinks he does.

Congratulations to Belle Vue on making the final the best team won overall. Sheffield have had a good season making the semi finals & winning the cup against an injury ravaged Ipswich side. After all the crap that they have thrown around about the state of the Foxhall track it was great to see passing galore last night & not bore fest gate & go racing! Also the second horrific accident in 5 meetings on one of the best race tracks in the country. Any how congratulations on a super season & hopefully we’ll have some more rivalry in 2025 winter well!!

Definitely Maybe it's a Manchester thing. 😉 None of the other 3 clubs in the playoffs increased their ticket prices, and unlike Rob's local league 2 football team, my local league 1 team don't do it, and didn't do it in league 2 last year either.

The Speedway Star is great. My problem is with the Post Office, five out the last six week it hasn't turned up on the Thursday. When I ring up the duplicate issue turns up the next day. Sometimes, the original will turn up on the Tuesday or Wednesday but usually not at all. It is getting so bad I am becoming increasingly suspicious about the Royal Mail as if this is going astray what else is?

Or a 100 quid on twenty shovels to move all the dirt back to the kerb every fourth race?

The advent of air fences causes dirt to pile up around the foot of the air fence. Track staff do their best to shovel it back between races, but Sheffield is a huge 400-yard track and referees are under pressure to keep the meeting moving on at pace. What can be achieved between races is therefore limited. However, no-one wants to see riders injured (and we're all delighted that Ben is none the worse for his incident) but perhaps the speedway authorities might look at technical options for re-distributing the gathered dirt.

No air fence in the 60s,so track would have been wider.Also,Frank Varey knew how to prepare a track,and there were also rakers dragging the dirt back.

I completely agree with your comments, unlike the UK kids he has only raced three times maximum on the away tracks and only twice at Poole - surely seeing a 4 point average rider consistently score 8+ at home anyone can see that will also be the same next year on the away tracks. Seems like UK speedway doesn’t see the potential - unlike his Polish club who Flint also rides for but JP average a lot better then Flints. Some very strange decisions being made for sure.

Fully agree on Ben, really hope its nothing serious and he's back fit and flying for March at least. Missing Ben in the final is a blow but hopefully we can get a good guest. His paid 11 was from 6 rides due to Dan crashing out after 1 heat, he got 6 from his programmed rides. Anyway Fingers crossed for some good news on Ben in the next few days, as long as his long term health is OK I will be happy.

I can only think related to Ben Cs crash!

Picko just saw a close mate have what seems to have been a horror crash. I wouldn't want to be asked questions on live TV while he's still laying down on track.

The irony of attempting to call somebody a moron and spelling it wrong, unless you meant Shooey and Kelly. 😉

A pleasing outcome Another match at the NSS rather than that wall of death . Cannot stick jack holder , the most stinking attitude of any rider for donkeys years .

It's been a second rate and predictable series without Emil and Artem...