Halifaxtiger

Adam has been injured recently but I think he'll be there so I'll be coming over. If you need any help on the day, Richard, send me a pm.

Not possible I am afraid, young Mr Evans being a man of his word and having given verbal agreement to Hackney before Mildenhall were declared as running he was unlikely to change it The comparison between Rayson and Halsey is interesting. Rayson has just turned 18, was an Ipswich asset and has improved his average year on year since riding in the NL. Halsey is 5 years older, had to be bought from Poole and his average has decreased year on year since he first rode for Rye House in 2005 (according to the Mildenhall website anyway). Having said that, I thought Halsey was very impressive at Weymouth at the back end of last season and I'd have had them both. As to Oliver's riding style, I have yet to see a six foot rider who doesn't look awkward. I, too would have Evans over Jack Hargreaves but with that ruled out I'd have had Mark Baseby. Baseby knows Mildenhall, has also improved his average year on year in the NL and is still young. Whatever happened with Hargreaves before (and I, too, have difficulty getting that meeting or, more accurately, the appalling phone call we had on the Monday after out of my head) he's been out of the sport for over two years and I don't think anyone would dispute that on 8.30 he is a gamble. Mildenhall took a similar risk in 2009 and it backfired spectacularly; I hope it doesn't again.

The news item on the Mildenhall website does not actually disclose the complete position in relation to the transfer of Oliver Rayson to King's Lynn. I do not propose to reveal the full details because I do not believe that would be either in the interests of Mildenhall Speedway or Oliver himself. What I will say is that having spoken to Oliver's father Paul both he and Oliver were upset and angry at the circumstances involved, both of them were very happy at Mildenhall and looking forward to the season ahead at West Row and at no point did they instigate the transfer. Having said that, I know that they are also pleased that Oliver has been given the opportunity to continue his career at King's Lynn. I have been party to all of the circumstances involved here and, taking into account other information unconnected to this issue of which I have been made aware, have decided not to attend home matches at Mildenhall this season .

Very easy to be critical but I too am surprised that Northside hasn't got a round. They did a terrific job last year and deserve it. Touch wood I'll be able to make at least 3 of the meetings

I agree, Philip : In my view (and I suspect a few other Fen Tigers fans) would have been good to have them both at Lakeside.

Completely agree You would have thought that after all that has happened over the winter every effort would be being made to ensure that the administration of British Speedway was in good hands. Clearly not, and a very poor show indeed

Taken from RDC website: 'Joint statement from Terry and James Waters, Cliff Bastick on behalf of Moto-land UK Ltd, and Dave Coventry trading as RDC Promotions. The Judgement was handed down on Friday in the High Court regarding the alleged noise nuisance from Mildenhall Stadium and the adjacent Motocross track at West Row. Whilst we are naturally disappointed that the Judge found the activities at the Stadium and Track to be a noise nuisance, there is no immediate threat to the future of either the Stadium or Track as the terms of the injunction are still to be finalised, and in any case will not come into effect until the Claimant’s property is habitable, or the 1 January 2012, whichever happens sooner. The Judge has totally dismissed all claims against all of the Defendants in relation to the alleged campaign of harassment and intimidation, including the most serious claims regarding the forklift attack and the fire at the property, and stated that the alleged circumstantial evidence amounted to little more than the coincidence of the attacks upon Fenland during the period in which this action was pending. Damages were granted to Ms Lawrence and Mr Shields jointly in the sum of £10,425 against Moto-land UK Ltd, £10,325 against Dave Coventry, and £100 against James Waters. The Claimants’ insurers will however have to reimburse Terry Waters, Tony Morley and James Waters’ full costs as the case against them failed. The Claimants’ legal advisors asked the Judge for the right to appeal against this decision, which he refused, as he believes there is no realistic chance of success. However, there is still the option open for them to approach the Court of Appeal, so we must wait for now to see what course of action they are going to take. Meanwhile, activities at the Stadium and Track will continue. We would like to thank everyone for all of their support throughout this action, particularly those who wrote letters of support and appeared in court as witnesses on our behalf.'

That's right. The other side also have to pay the costs of two others (Terry Waters was one) so they are probably up to £250. I bet the costs the BSPA & C& P have had are substantial and all for bugger all.

Dead right I am not certain what anyone has gained from this. Dave Coventry and the Moto X chap have huge legal bills and the possibility of their facilities closing for good and the complainant also has a huge legal bill, a gutted house and the possibility of long term harrassment. According to the newspaper report, Dave Coventry & the Moto X chap have to meet 60% of the complainant's costs, while the complainant has to meet costs incurred by those who have had their cases dismissed. The bill will probably be around £1m all told, with the complainant liable for around £250k nd Dave Coventry and the Moto X chap liable for the rest between them. Truly astonishing.

The court summary indicates that the injunctions were to be decided after consultation with counsel. The newspaper report seems to suggest that they have been issued but the details aren't clear. The costs are mind boggling, and one has to wonder whether it was all worth it -even the couple who took the action are looking at £250k.

They usually have both in the same meetings.

There are a mass of figures on the court summary but: 'On 18 August 2007 he measured the noise of speedway activities at the Stadium at 64 dB. On 15 September 2007 he measured the noise of banger racing at the Stadium at 63 dB, falling to 54 dB after 23:00 hours. On 23 September 2007 he measured motocross at the Track at 62 dB, falling to 54 dB at night'. Speedway is the noisiest (just) according to the report at one point, anyway. I don't think Dave Coventry has done anything here to support stocks over speedway, and to suggest that he has is very unfair. As Simon Barton will tell you, and as I would confirm, he has usually been very supportive of the speedway at West Row - it is, after all, in his interests to have the speedway there. As I have said, I think it is not so much the actual level of noise but how long it goes on for and until what time. Where that is concerned, speedway is nowhere near as much of an issue as both the stocks and the Moto X.

I quite agree Mick but, reading the contents of the report, I don't think the speedway is the major issue. The Fen Tigers will ride between 10 & 14 matches this season, so that will be every other week. They start at 4.30 and are almost always finished within 2 hours, and what's more the start time could probably be moved back to 3.00pm or so. Although speedway is the noisiest of the activities, it does not go on late (when I have been to the Stocks they rarely finish before midnight) and they don't go on all day every weekend like the Moto X. The times and lengths of usage were, it seems to me, the real problem rather than the level of the noise and that's where speedway contrasts favourably with both stocks & Moto X.

That's the way I see it. I tried to get to talk to Dave C last night but the place was packed and he was needed pulling pints and replenishing stock. Good to see so many in attendance.

I stand to be criticised on this one (I will speak to Dave Coventry tonight) but : 1 The judge ruled against the stadium owners; 2/ Compensation totals about £20k; 3/ The judge has suggested that an arrangement be made between the parties over events at the stadium; 4/ The people who made the complaint have suggested 40 days a year and if it runs after 6pm 35 days a year; 5/ If no agreement is made, the judge may impose an injunction on noise levels that will not permit speedway (I stand very much to be corrected on this, but it appears to me that the noise levels he will allow are way below those made by speedway bikes). One thing has definitely emerged from this: even with planning permission no speedway track is safe.

Whatever the motivation for such threats (and I completely agree with your comments here)they have to be taken very seriously, although I suspect that the outcome of the court case will be the be all and end all. What I find most difficult to grasp in that court case is that the decisive point is the level of noise, not a persons decision in choosing to live next to it. Having said that, responsibility for one's own actions seems to have become secondary in the determination of legal cases and you only have to look at litigation taken by housebreakers against those defending their property to see it. Surely the point is the reason for the creation of the situation in the first place and bearing in mind that the stadium has been in existence for 35 years that can only be the person deciding to move in within earshot. In my book, that's their responsibility and no other persons, and how many of us would have sympathy for someone who moved in next to a cat food factory and complained about the smell or moved into a lighthouse and complained about the sea, because I just don't see the difference. I don't know who your source is but he is very ignorant of the actual situation, and I speak as a member of Mildenhall's track staff who starts work at around 9am on Sundays. I have found that the key to good track prepraration at West Row is the quality of the shale and the person actually undertaking the work (pretty much the same as everywhere else, in other words). In 2007, Mildenhall was voted by members of this forum as one of the best racing tracks in Britain because we had the quality shale needed and Robert Huggins as trackman. That deteriorated during 2008 due to lack of funds, and during 2009 due to poor work. I can, however, remember one Sunday when Bob Ellis took over and we got a terrific meeting, no dust and no blue line either. Joe Evans showed it could be done by getting to the track at around 10.00am and getting plenty of water down to bind the surface. Read through the pages of this forum and you will see that he attracts a great deal of deserved acknowledgement for his ability to produce a decent race track. Its entirely possible that Bob Ellis will take over again given Chris Louis' involvement and if there is a commitment to decent shale we could go back to the standards of 2007. I, too, have never had (with one notorious exception) any trouble with Dave & his brother Ron at the stadium. Quite the opposite, in fact.

With Barrie going to Hackney, I can't see Joe doing it but you never know. With Chris Louis coming in it could be Bob Ellis, a very good track man and a terrific bloke as well.

I don't think I could stomach seeing 'Nikko Racing' everywhere Fortunately two of them will have 'HT' masking it a bit. I saw James Brundle in the pits at Boutrnemouth last year and he could easily take over from Barrie Evans as the mentor for a few of the youngsters. It will be a big year for both JJ and Oliver in terms of their future in the sport, and I think they will both recognise it and step up to the plate. We all know they can do it.

I didn't say you were wrong, I just didn't think it was necessary.

Bit unnecessary, Iris. In fact, if you listen to Chris Louis's interview on BBC Radio Suffolk he gives Steve Ribbons a lot of credit and suggests that there may be a place for him at Mildenhall.

Sod off, quisling And remember you are NOT doing the longest commute to home matches.

I was just thinking after I saw Damon's post that all it needs is Adz back....... See you there mate

That's almost as good news as the team returning. You'll have to put up with the presence of your kid and Nikko, but you can't have everything

Fingers crossed for you all down there. Whatever the situation, Rob, I echo Posties comments that Steve's spade work almost certainly helped to enable the Fen Tigers to make a come back and for that reason he definitely deserves some credit.

Be nice to see Weymouth in as well.