Halifaxtiger

Cracking meeting with the highlights being a no holds barred clash between Franc and Worrall in heat 13 and an equally excellent heat 15. And some were saying a few days ago that Newman hasn't improved this season

Personally I'd say it is. The way I look at its no different to allowing the home riders to use 600cc bikes or wider tyres because it gives an advantage over the away team. I have said all along, though, that tracks shouldn't ever be prepared for riders want anyway. They should be prepared for what spectators want.

There was a lot of track work and the surface wasn't watered but it didn't turn into a dust bowl .I certainly didn't get the impression that there was any fixing going on. What changed was that Rebels started gating. In fact, I thought it was the usual good quality Somerset meeting. One interesting point : programmes were half price because it was an old one with an insert and Debbie Hancock took the trouble to explain why in the insert notes. All credit to her not only for reducing the price but taking the time to say why. Are you listening Belle Vue, Glasgow & Edinburgh (amongst others) ?

I don't know if gates have increased but I do know that I attend regularly now. That's not so much about the team as the track, which has improved beyond all recognition. The Aces put out a decent side at the start of the year (sadly, it hasn't worked) and with the improvement in the quality of the racing I can very much believe that gates have indeed gone up.

The cheating annoys me as much as anyone and in truth I agree with you in relation to there being some central control but to put my views in a nutshell when I was watching Peter Kildemand go from last to first last night or Ryan Douglas go between two Workington riders on Sunday the last thing I was thinking about was how Matt Ford is going to pull another stunt so Poole win the league. I was marvelling at the skill and courage of the two riders and revelling in the excitement that it created. What matters is four blokes on bikes without brakes. Everything else is more or less irrelevant. I simply cannot grasp the mentality of those who claim to love the sport but don't go. In a word, no. If there was an issue before hand it shouldn't just be swept under the carpet. Mick Horton says that management committee member gave him permission to use Priest. Let him state who that was, because this is about responsibility. My point is - and remains - that all the 'proceeding crap' was, in the end, massively secondary to what actually happened out on the track.

Its interesting to read the before and after comments both here and on the Swindon/Wolves thread. Before, all abuse, aggression and criticism. After, no complaints at all and virtually everyone saying how much they enjoyed the meetings. To me, it just shows only too plainly that for all the shambles off track, the spite, backstabbing and attempts at cheating when things get out on the track just how good speedway can be and that what matters most is four nutters on bikes without brakes. Some of the keyboard commandoes on here who never go and do nothing but slag the sport off should think about that once in a while.

I need to apologise too then because I enjoyed it as well. Big win but not quite the massacre predicted. Some decent racing and the Wolves select full value. I thought the attendance was pretty good considering.

I think you are dead right here (on both counts). I didn't think that the Aces weren't putting it in, quite the opposite in fact. The Bees were just very good, especially from the starts. Last Saturday week, I saw them do exactly the same to a Lakeside side who were also (with one exception) giving it all they had. Not for the first time, there was cracking racing as well

Best bit of the lot was you getting a mouthful from Gail. Seen a few things in my time but never a promoter being put in his place by his Mrs and on the centre green at that. Each to his own, but I think he's one of the best............if one of the most biased.

Having said that Plymouth was last week I had my mind changed yesterday. Great stuff

Stags much, much improved since I saw them last time

Cracking meeting

I think you express here very aptly some of the feelings I have had - not just this season, but over several seasons - and I am as enthusiastic as anyone. As you rightly say, if we find it hard to stomach what would a newbie think ? Far too often fans are taken for granted and that simply has to stop.

I think you might just be able to put it that way so yes, I am. Personally, though, I see it is a very astute decision that will create additional income that the sport desperately (more than desperately) needs and I think that while the majority would still prefer the team at the top as champions the overwhelming majority now accept that the reasons for using the play off system are fully justifiable and do not object to them. I have said this before but I will say it again : the best match I have ever been to was the NL play off final, second leg in 2011 at West Row, Mildenhall. The principal reason why it was so good was because it was a play off.

I got told that after the first four heats the track was fine - and that comes from a rider (a Stoke one admittedly). The track should have been right to start with, though, not after 70 minutes.

On a positive note, I thought last Thursday's meeting had in it everything that is good about speedway. Good track leading some cracking racing. Some top quality presentation - Clive Fisher really does give you the impression that he is there for your benefit rather than the other way around, the live music was a top idea and the remainder of the music was pretty good too - and a referee - Stuart Wilson - determined to keep the meeting going. I have been to a fair few meetings this season at a fair few tracks but as a package that was just about the best.

Spot on. I prefer the team that finishes top wins. But our sport simply isn't in a position to turn down the crowds that the play offs generate.

I actually don't mind the bloke in the middle but his music is simply dreadful, the only bonus being that you can hardly hear it (I am advised that that is because the locals won't stand it). The gang I stand with seem to regard it as a sort of a joke, to be seen as part of the entertainment because its so bad. There's a great deal of difference playing Land of Hope and Glory in a huge stadium with 40,000 people present and an international field of riders competing than playing it between heats at SBA during a league match in front of maybe 1,000. I think SBA is a terrific little place but with the best will in the world its difficult to see it 'rock'. MikeyT was my updater on Friday and when I complained about the music he responded by asking if The Wurzels had been on......

The same as my hopes for 2014 (and it would apply to the NL & EL too). Good track preparation. Good weather. Good presentation. Keep delays to a minimum. Speaking to fans across the country, that's pretty much what they all want.

I thought it was a very decent meeting too .

Press release by Peterborough 13/08/14: “In fact Joe had indicated to the management that wanted to miss as few meetings for Mildenhall in the coming weeks, something which would have caused us a problem as we have pencilled in two more Sunday home fixtures.”

As a texter, its occasionally difficult to actually confirm the teams even when you are in the stadium and even if you have a programme. Sometimes, you don't know who is riding until they come on parade. I was lucky on Friday at Plymouth and on Saturday at Lakeside in that I know Ashley Taylor and Laurence Rogers and they confirmed the line ups for me. I can vouch for that

Fisher has been out for 2 months and the season has another month to run. It would be unusual (and probably undesirable) for a team to run with rider replacement for that long for one rider. Peterborough also have two double header meetings. I disagree about Hall. 7-8 points at home (not away) is not an unfair return for him based upon past form and on a track he apparently favours. His poor scoring has cost the team dearly in the last two home meetings. I think you're right about Dilger for Jacobs but I am sure I read that the reason was not scoring but Jacobs commitments at Mildenhall.

Absolutely agree. But one man's childish names and silly comments are another man's justified term of reference and reasoned opinion. Better to have an open forum where some can make remarks that apparently lack a basis in reality and are even offensive than a closed (or even partially closed) shop.

The question is what did you expect ? The injuries to Fisher and Blackbird meant that replacements had to be found and given that Jacobs had stated that Mildenhall had priority with Peterborough's Sunday fixtures it wasn't surprising that he was replaced, too. Roynon has (with the exception of flattening Bjerre) done better than I thought he would, particularly at home. Dilger will take time to settle down but I suspect he will match Jacobs. The problem has been Hall. It would be unfair to blame him entirely for the recent losses but had he scored what was probably anticipated of him its likely Peterborough would have won both matches. I can very much see that it would have been disappointing to see Fisher, Blackbird and Jacobs replaced by the above three but I am not quite sure what might reasonably have been done otherwise.