Halifaxtiger

You're right about bank holidays but the contrast between that attendance and last night's is a stark one. Its possible that there were 5 times as many people against Wolverhampton, suggesting that the day meetings are held has a huge impact on gates. Personally, Monday nights are bad for me simply due to the fact that I work the following day and need to wake up at 5am. Its not that far away, but given the propensity for motorway diversions its simply too late. Fridays, and given the stunning racing, I'd be buying a season ticket (as would Mr Tatum if he lived locally). You're also right about winning teams but what you have to consider is what the attendances at Scunthorpe(in particular) would be if the racing was rubbish. Based upon personal experience in past seasons (first meeting there this yearfor me on Friday) I'd have a guess that half the crowd are Scunny fans and the other half are there for the quality of the speedway.

Huge crowd for this meeting. That suggests that the reason Belle Vue isn't booming is start time and weather. I think its fair to say that if all tracks had Belle Vue's quality of racing and presentation speedway would be attracting more fans than it does.

I don't think that's true, Steve. Isle of Wight's gates have increased season on season and that's largely through word of mouth about just how good the experience is. And therein lies the problem. Unless it is a good experience - and, let's face it, frequently it isn't - they aren't going to come back. Get the product right - and this isn't just about what happens on track - and you might stand a chance.

Its a little harsh to say 'all the hype' - I don't recall much of that. There's no doubt he is struggling but its a massive step up from the NL. I can only hope the Comets don't drop him because riding at Championship level will only help him improve and they won't get anyone else to score more on the same average. As to the result, fingers crossed this will pull a few more in at Comets home matches as they simply don't get enough.

Peterborough score says it all. Give him a track to race on and he'll bang points in every time.

He is absolutely extraordinary and a huge credit to himself, Belle Vue and speedway in general. I suspect many, like me, view mascots with a mixture of indifference and embarrassment. They rarely do more than wander about waving. This guy, though, does everything. On Monday there was a break in racing between heats 14 & !5 due to a chap being taken ill. Chase led everyone in a sing song (Sweet Caroline) , did his incredible John Travolta Staying Alive dance and then attempted (sadly, unsuccessfully) to start a conga. He'd already got the Grandstand cheering and done a dance with the start marshal before and during the meeting (these can be viewed on the Belle Vue facebook page). He is often the star of the show Throw in the ultra professional Neil Drummond (in my view, and with some pretty stiff competition, the best box man in the game)and Hayley Bromley - although I missed her 'Come on Manchester' chanting this time - and there is very little that other teams can teach Belle Vue about presentation.

To my knowledge, Chris Johnson did precisely that when he was severely injured at King's Lynn. Also to my knowledge, he won. I believe Jamie Smith did too, again at King's Lynn. I don't think anyone would dispute the fact that speedway is most dangerous and that riders have to be aware of both that and the fact that they risk their lives every time they take to the track. They should therefore take every precaution possible, including - if necessary - personal insurance. However, that in no way absolves a promotion of any responsibility should someone get badly hurt because they too have a duty to make sure that the track is as safe as it can be. Chris Holder and Luke Priest were very seriously injured as a result of an air fence not being properly fastened down, and they would certainly have a case against a promoter - something was certainly mentioned about Holder taking legal action - for failing to take adequate measures to ensure their safety. Lights is a very good example. If they blew in the middle of a race and a rider crashed as a result (when he most certainly would not have done otherwise) if it is found that the electrics were faulty the promotion would be culpable and therefore liable. Riders do accept just how dangerous speedway is, I am sure. But if it is shown that the risks have been increased (to whatever degree) by the negligence of a promotion that goes beyond the dangers that they might reasonably have accepted.

It'll help because they are far more likely to put their house in order to avoid further financial penalties and because we simply cannot allow such negligence to go unpunished. Perhaps a suspended fine might be a possibility, payable only if matters do not improve. What must be the case is that our tracks are made as safe as they can be and that anyone who does not ensure that basic conditions for safety are in place - and there is no doubt that adequate lighting is one of them - is dealt with appropriately.

I am sure that we can all agree that a promotion who risk riders lives by having faulty electrics - and, lets face it, this is anything but the first time - deserves to be heavily punished. I really don't see that a club being unable to afford a fine for an act of gross negligence and irresponsibility is any reason not to impose a financial penalty. The alternative, of course, is to allow them to get away scot free and continue to behave in exactly the same way.

This is what I had to say yesterday : PS I must admit I am wondering why I bother going elsewhere when Belle Vue is the closest to my home . There was more passing in one race here than in all 30 at Workington and Berwick over the weekend. At about two-thirds full there was plenty of atmosphere in the South Stand and, at least in part due to extraordinary efforts of Belle Vue's remarkable mascot, I'd be surprised if there wasn't quite a bit in the Grandstand. I have a lot of time for your views, always have. But to refuse to go to what is, I believe, pretty much universally acknowledged as the best racing track in the country - Peter Adams was saying only yesterday how all the riders love it - simply because of H& S is plain daft and to prefer Stoke borders on insanity. Still, your choice.

I cannot believe you are being serious here. One is a world class stadium with a world class track with a management that engage with the supporters and the best presentation in British Speedway. The other is an utterly rundown dump with a dreadful track and a surly, aggressive and indeed abusive management who turn out poor quality teams year in, year out. Its little wonder that this forum is full of critical comments and I can say that it is the one track that I refuse to go to (regardless of the opposition) and I know I am anything but alone in that. Kirkmanshulme Lane wasn't much better and I very much doubt that there is a single Belle Vue - or indeed any other - speedway fan who would choose that over the NSS. Most of them would laugh at such a suggestion. I went yesterday and it had everything - except a close finish - that a speedway meeting should have. Huge crowd, wonderful weather, fantastic racing (go on youtube to see Dan Bewley's astonishing pass of Sam Masters), superb presentation and Adrian Smith (the CEO of Belle Vue Speedway) in the South Stand talking to fans.

12(6) at King's Lynn and 7+2 (4) at Poole suggest otherwise. Even taking into account a poor performance at Swindon, he's still averaging over 6 away.

Having seen all three meetings over the weekend at Workington, Berwick & Belle Vue he was disappointing at the first two. I should point out, though, that he is an inconsistent gater and there were more passes in one heat today at NSS then in 30 heats at Derwent Park & Shielfield. Such a rider will always have problems if the surface simply doesn't permit overtaking. Give him a track that he can pass on and maybe things might change. His overhauling of Sam Masters was simply brilliant (its on youtube).

Cracking meeting with Wolves playing a full part. Bewley's brilliant win in heat 6 to beat Masters was the highlight but there was some decent stuff in almost every race. Glorious day brought out a huge crowd. Word for the track staff who did a fantastic job given the weather. Star of the show was, again, .................Chase the Ace. Mascots are usually pretty mediocre but he is nothing less than magic. PS I must admit I am wondering why I bother going elsewhere when Belle Vue is the closest to my home . There was more passing in one race here than in all 30 at Workington and Berwick over the weekend.

That's the way I saw it. Its an attempt to cut out cheating where a team has no chance of getting anything more than a third in a race and one of their riders deliberately lays down to get a re-run. You can see the reasoning quite clearly and I'd be surprised if many would disagree with it. Heeps simply fell - it was only on the first bend after all - but, to be fair to Mauger 65, he could (probably) have cleared the track and may have failed to do so just because Pickering was third. Not a deliberate lay down, but still potentially attempting to gain an advantage by staying on the track and causing the race to be stopped. While I suspect that is not the precise ground for use of the rule - which is highly discretionary - thinking about it in the end there's very little difference between staying down after a fall and deliberately bailing out.

Its affected my attendance at Belle Vue. When you wake at 4.45 for work getting home at 10.30 or so isn't the best.

Highly entertaining meeting, one of the best I have seen at Newcastle. Ipswich probably should have won as the decision to handicap Pickering in heat 10 was harsh to say the least.

36-36 after 12

Think you are spot on with both posts here. The riders certainly seem to be having trouble with bend 2 in particular and that looked down to too much grip rather than not enough. It was, however, possible to pass - as both Jensen and Wilson-Dean proved. I thought the closeness of the score line kept things entertaining and there was indeed a huge amount of effort from both sides. Meeting all done in 90 minutes and no interval

There are two inches of snow on the track at Belle Vue as I type. The meeting tomorrow - at least at present - is still on. What do they know that Peterborough don't ? My point still stands : I have never heard of a meeting being called off due to the weather 5 days before hand. 24 hours is exceptional, and actions like this during the season would create chaos. Put it this way, a club could postpone a meeting 5 days in advance in full knowledge that it would affect their - or another - teams play off chances on the strength of a weather forecast and/or track conditions at the point of postponement. I wonder if questions would be asked if that happened ? Weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable for 1 day in advance, never mind 5. My criticism here is not in calling a meeting off on the strength of a weather forecast - that is absolutely understandable and a matter of financial expediency. Its setting a precedent that doing so 5 days before hand is OK that concerns me - and I really don't see that the Ben Fund being a one off makes any difference.

Two reasons : Its speedway and so early a call off that it is without precedent. I still think that calling a meeting off 5 days before hand and on the strength of a long range forecast is ridiculous. As I have said, where would the sport be if that became common practice ?

Belle Vue don't seem to be having a problem for Monday, nor was there one in having their press and practice last Wednesday. I don't think that in general teams do call meetings off too early. They usually do so on the day of the match in the face of an adverse weather forecast and given how much a rain off with the riders at the track costs (I have it on good authority that even an NL meeting is thousands) its difficult to argue with that. Calling a meeting off 24 hours before hand is exceptional, to the point that it will provoke comment. Doing so 5 days before hand solely because of the weather is, to my knowledge, unheard of and the chaos similar actions would cause during the season doesn't bear thinking about. This is speedway, so inevitably there will be a suspicion that the unprecedented early call off might be for some reason other than that that we are being told about.

Matt Marson is an Australian rider born in Australia. Under NL rules in force, he is permitted to start on a 3.00 average for Mildenhall. Apart from the fact that Marson has one British parent and this Polish lad apparently has none, I really don't see the difference yet I haven't seen anyone complaining about what the Fen Tigers have done. I am also unbiased and, to me, its simply a question of adhering to the specific letter of the law (or, more accurately, SCB Regulations).

When I have seen him I'd agree. I'd be surprised if Belle Vue took him on on the strength of his name, though, so hopefully he's improved significantly. We'll find out on Good Friday.

British passport + new to British speedway = 3.00 average. Its in the NL regulations. As to a rider taking advantage of that, cue Nick Morris.