Halifaxtiger

The simple truth is that racing is no better or worse than it has been for decades. The problem is perhaps more related to the fact that while the experience has remained the same, the price of entry has gone up disproportionately to people's incomes (to be fair, that might be the very point you are attempting to make). Clubs simply have to do more on race days, although I should say that the attendance was maybe 2,500 today. The market is there, at least to a degree.

Speaking to track curator Andy Meredith, he told me he was 'caught out'. He put a substantial amount of water on last night and again this morning but the sun failed to materialise until almost start time. He'd anticipated - and all the weather reports stated - that the sun would come out and dry the surface out far more than it did, leaving it really grippy (hence Dan Bewley breaking the track record). Further watering was then needed to keep the dust down. It was poor, with only heat 10 & heat 15 being up to the usual high standard. It was, nevertheless, job done, with Jaimon Lidsey in particular very impressive.

Reading a biography, Benny Hill was a speedway fan. He moved to a new home as a child that was around 100 yards away from the Banister Court stadium in Southampton and followed the sport until his death in 1992.

Superb meeting and a terrific advert for both handicapping and Isle of Wight Speedway. Some brilliant racing, capped by a stunning 6 rider final in which the massively impressive Joe Lawlor came through the pack to win. Throw in a top class track ( no blue line, no dust and racing lines) the wonderful sight of youngsters enjoying themselves hugely and even having races of their own and it was a top night. Makes me think that Speedway might just have a chance after all.

One thought about this meeting. Anyone who was there must have seen the incredible battle for third between Chad Wirtzfeld and Arron Butcher in heat 9. Brilliant stuff as both riders refused to give in and didn't allow an inch. Probably the best race I have seen this season, huge credit to both lads and proof you don't need superstars for quality entertainment.

Definitely wrong. Wood got injured at Birmingham, no doubt about it.

I think he will miss Plymouth Speedway. So will I and many others. As I have said many times, it was one of my favourite tracks and I visited 21 times 2011-16. That's a lot given that I live 350 miles away. But very few of us who no longer attend will miss Plymouth Speedway as it is at the moment, and Plymouth Speedway at the moment will soon start missing us. As I have pointed out, barring 5 regular fans will lose the promotion around £1,000 a season. As they already apparently losing money hand over fist, I would have thought that every single paying customer would be valued. Criticism does damage a business, no doubt of that. Some are critical precisely for that purpose. Most, however, (and I count my friends from Plymouth, Bob C and I in this category) are critical because they are unhappy with what they see and want things to change. All of my pals and Bob continued to go - despite the criticism - right up to the point that they were barred. The worst kind - and there are a couple here - are those that tell the promotion that everything is fine when clearly it isn't. When it comes down to it, their views are far more damaging than a paying fan who wants things to change. Let's look at the 4TT. The referee turns up, sees the track and orders that work is undertaken because it was unfit for racing. That is done, but after three races and a couple of injuries its still not fit. Some of the riders refuse to ride and two teams want the meeting cancelled (of one of the others, Isle of Wight's team manager Kevin Shepherd very discreetly said that conditions were 'difficult' but his team were 'determined to finish the meeting'. That's hardly complimentary).The referee then orders further track work that took best part of an hour, and circumstances are apparently now to be subject to an SCB investigation (almost certainly as a result of the referee's report). If someone went to that meeting for the first time, how likely are they to come back ? My pals have been critical of track preparation for weeks, so they unquestionably had a point. Their criticism has been ignored and, indeed, dismissed. Had their views been heeded things could have been very different, and woe betide any business that fails to take account of its customers views. The Plymouth promotion view of that meeting - expressed in Speedy Star by Matt Bates - was that it was 'good' for speedway. He is - to quote Edmund Blackadder - either 'lying, blind or mad'. It does sum up, though, that however bad things might be and however justified criticism is they are not changing one bit. That will be their downfall, not the views of people on the pages of this or any other obscure forum.

I am not quite certain of your emphasis here but I suspect it is that there is something wrong that such a small club should be getting far more credit - and that is across the board - than much bigger ones. If so, and as Pirate Nick says, you're right. But its not necessarily a negative. There are signs that others are realising - finally - the need to make sure that customers are treated as though they are valued and that you want them to come back again. As I said, I was very impressed with Redcar the other night and although I wasn't aware of what Eastbourne are doing its brilliant to hear that they are really getting stuck in to attracting new people, especially young ones. Speedway desperately needs that kind of enthusiasm and positivity, so more power to their elbow.

I think Isle of Wight got a four page spread All credit to Eastbourne I was hugely impressed with Redcar the other night doing something similar.

On the first point, I tend to agree but SCB Regulations make it clear that the announcer must act 'in a strictly impartial manner'. That makes criticism or comment about the opposition a non starter. On the second, three words : Isle Of Wight. The most praised speedway team in the country and their whole ethos is based around 'family sport'. On the third, I really don't see why you can't promote both together.

Rain was indeed predicted up to about 2pm but nothing at all after that. I must admit when I walked in about 6.30 or so I took one look at the track and hoped they were going to water it. I don't remember any track preparation after that time and, reading my own updates again, I have referred to 'clouds of dust' after heat one. The thing is that the quality of track preparation is absolutely vital - possibly even decisive - to the future of speedway in this country. Crap tracks are, frankly, unacceptable. What is even more unacceptable is that paying customers are forced to stand around while remedial work is undertaken because the surface wasn't sufficiently taken care of before the start. You might as well open the gates up and let people out because they won't be coming back again. To be fair to Somerset, I think its the first time I have personally experienced something like this there and the meeting after the work was completed was very decent.

You're right, although my understanding is that this wasn't just Rob Godfrey. The only reason I can see for the withdrawal of riders is spite provoked by vicious jealousy. BSPA members (or some of them) simply don't change I can just imagine certain Championship promoters - faced with near wall to wall criticism, empty terraces, an underperforming team and mounting losses - viewing as absolutely intolerable the equally wall to wall praise that Isle of Wight receive, the situation then being made worse by them landing a unique meeting - and which of us wouldn't want to see a similar event at our track - backed by one of the worlds biggest speedway sponsors. The worst thing, though, is that this isn't just about Isle of Wight. What the BSPA should have done is pulled out all the stops for this meeting, making riders available, waiving guest fees and even possibly assisting with costs. We are talking about the involvement of a company that apparently provide several million euros sponsorship in Poland and the chance of making a favourable impression and getting them involved over here was an opportunity not to be missed. Instead they did precisely the opposite and tried to sabotage the event. Shameful isn't the word. My understanding is that NICE were impressed with what they saw, but I am sure we can guess at what they thought of the decision to withdraw riders literally a couple of days before the meeting took place without adequate reasoning and by a senior member of the BSPA at that. I would agree with your view about Rob Godfrey, and not for the first time he has shown that he is unfit to be a member of the organisation that promotes our sport in this country.

Quick recommendation : buy the Island Liner ticket and do the electric railway as well. A lot of the stock is older than that on the steam railway !!

Not totally true. Isle of Wight do shows, carnivals, posters, banners, leafleting - nothing is too small. If you read the Isle of Wight v Mildenhall thread, one fan is going simply because of encouragement by the promoter. It can be done, and it doesn't have to be ridiculously expensive. Hands on, personal contact is far more beneficial than an advertising billboard.

Paulco, Tsunami and I were agreed on the very same thing at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago.

On the parade lap, red flags and red lights mean return to the pits practice is over, not stop. Seen red flags many, many times on the parade lap but never seen a rider stop yet.

Hardly. While his absence at Belle Vue might be subject to question, he won't be the first rider to pull his back while racing. You don't need to fall off to get injured. In addition, I can't see any reason why he might want to miss the Isle of Wight meeting, so this looks entirely genuine to me.

I don't agree. The way I see it, a flag marshal deliberately walked in front of a moving rider - something I was told when training for the post that you must never - never - do (when approached by a moving bike, you stand still every time). Had he not done that, there would have been no incident at all. I actually think that Craig Cook's reaction was rather tame. There's no way that's a head butt or even an attempted head butt (if that had been the intention, he'd have done it), its a shoulder charge. Hardly violent assault, I suspect most riders would have reacted in some way in the same circumstances and I can think of a few who would have done a lot worse. Even then, the situation was under reasonable control until some unnamed person confronts Cook and says something that makes him lash out. Cook is guilty, definitely. But the flag marshal, the person who confronted Cook, Eddie Kennett, Claus Vissing and possibly a few others are equally so.

The first hour was a bit of a disaster. A failing starting gate followed by the necessity of substantial track work after a bad crash in heat 4. Promotions simply have to make sure that track preparation is undertaken before the meeting rather than during it Unnecessary delay will drive people away. Once it got going, however, this was a very decent meeting with Rowe & Stoneman in particular catching the eye. If those two keep banging in a few points, Rebels could be a real threat come play off time.

I like him but I accept not everyone does.

Tough one for the Warriors. Mildenhall are undoubtedly made stronger by the inclusion of Stoneman for Brooks and RR for Edwards, with all others able to take a ride.

Looking at this and the initial clip posted by Martin Dugard, I would say the flag marshal deliberately walked into Craig Cook's path - it certainly wasn't the case that Cook rode him down. When I was trained as a flag marshal, I was told that if I was on track at the same time as riders I must - absolutely must - stand still. Eastbourne should be held accountable for what the marshal did. Cook then shoulder charges - not head butts - him. If truth were told, I think he at that point at least acted with some restraint. I think every rider in the same position would have shown some reaction and many a great deal worse. It then appears to me that the situation is exacerbated by someone confronting Cook, at which point he lashes out and it all kicks off. Whoever that was should be punished. If Cook deserves a ban - and I think he does - so does Eddie Kennett. He piles in as soon as it starts and he is equally as guilty, which is probably why Martin Dugard edited his video so carefully. Looks like Claus Vissing deserves disciplining as well.

I must admit I thought Musielak put in more than some of his temporary team mates. Cracking meeting with some excellent racing, good quality presentation and all done in about 90 minutes

'Numerous people' actually includes Bob & I. This is what he said : 'I chatted to Ellis Perks after his second win. He asked is the track always like this? I replied that this was the best its been for a couple of months. His reply? 'The track is sh.t. Dont know why you guys pay to watch this, Id be asking for my money back'. When someone close by asked if he felt quick, he said 'not really as theres no dirt on the track. Its far too slick' By that alone, wouldn't you agree that it should be Ellis Perks that should be barred from the track as it was his view ? My view (on the Plymouth-Leicester thread) was 'huge step up from last week'. Which of us is never going to change our mind ? What you really can't grasp is that everyone - and I think it is everyone - who is critical has the best interests of Plymouth Speedway at heart. As I have said before they don't want it to fold, they want it to change and change for the better. They are met with a blank wall of denial that anything is wrong, yet clearly it is. To my knowledge 5 people have been barred from Plymouth Speedway, all of the them long term committed fans, sponsors and track workers. At say £15 proceeds from each one over a 14 match season, I make just over £1,000 income a season that would be lost. That doesn't count any that might have walked out because they believe that is wrong (I planned to come on Friday, but won't be now). For a promotion reportedly losing a shed load of money, they seem hell bent on losing more. As to resolving the situation, here's what you do : 1 Apologise for past failings, say that every effort will be made to put them right. 2 Drop any barring from the forum and the track and say that those who have been barred will be welcome back without any repercussion.. 3 Plymouth used to have a very capable track curator, bloke called (if memory serves me correctly) Nigel Prynne. Get him back. 4 Get advice from Barry Bishop on PR. Since there's more chance of my tabby cat growing wings and allowing me to fly on his back to the south west, I won't hold my breath. With respect to your experienced opinion, this really isn't difficult. Truth is, they are absolutely determined not to listen to anyone. They are right and that's it. Read any of the views on the Plymouth Speedway Forum and it will tell you that there is absolutely nothing wrong so there is nothing to put right (if you are wondering why there is no criticism, its because they have all been barred). Consequently, any view otherwise would be dismissed out of hand. There are some that will post negative statements on here (or to you in your business) out of spite. Bob C most certainly isn't one of them, and nor am I.

Plymouth's problem it seems to me is not the shale or the track, but preparation. Absolutely nothing wrong with it at all under the last promotion (quite the opposite I'd say) or even under Mike Bowden. I see from the Plymouth forum that Mr Phillips response to Bob's criticism is to bar him. From experience, that's par for the course and potentially another £200 or so he will have to find from his own pocket.