Halifaxtiger

I think the comparison is a slightly unfair one, although I see your point.. I think your view of BAGS contracts keeping dog tracks open is correct - I heard one speedway promoter was terrified that he might lose his - but greyhound racing is all about betting, nothing else. The television coverage is just so that people in bookies can bet on meetings without even being there and see what is going on, which is better than just hearing the results over a tannoy for sure. Betting in speedway certainly exists but it is a much, much lower level and is nowhere near as important. Speedway is about people supporting teams or just liking the racing and I doubt that there are many who go to a bookies just to watch the dogs running round.

​I am sure I don't need to remind you that the most successful team manager in British Speedway is Peter Adams.

Having been in the pits with Dale on a number of occasions, I always got the impression that he was a highly capable team manager (in all aspects of the job) who rarely missed a trick. I am just surprised that he wasn't given the opportunity at the highest level at an earlier point. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that there is an explanation for what on the face of it is the most basic of errors.

I think it was but more for the rest of the league than just Mildenhall. Quite simply, no-one predicted that score and it shows just how strong Belle Vue are at home on a track where horse power is very important. Bewley and Smith never really looked like being beaten and Payne was only slightly troubled. Bickley was impressive and Woodhull showed promise. Credit to the Fen Tigers, though, because despite getting battered they never gave up - Mountain especially.

You changed your forum name, you bugger ? No doubt due to some indiscretion or criminal activity

Says everything about why riders should have absolutely nothing to do with track preparation when every single comment from fans is positive about the quality of the racing. The joke of Britsh Speedway are riders who spit their dummies out because they can't have what they want. They need to learn what we as fans want is far more important because we are paying customers.

Enjoyed that Bit of a spring in the step for Redcar Speedway. They have a very decent team (which will only get more decent when Busch returns) and a top two capable of beating anyone, occasionally in spectacular style. STMP used to be one of the best racing tracks in the country and getting a decent curator on board has meant that there were signs last night that it will be again, with some very good heats considering how wet it was at the start. The boys on the home straight agree, and its clear that one or two are coming back. Got a thumbs up from the returning Yearbyred, and especially pleasing that my old mate Rolypolygoly was there. When he wasn't around last year I thought he had gone to a better place (Hartlepool or North Shields, maybe) but there he was, large as life and at least 6 times as ugly. Good to see you, Kenneth. 4 matches planned for Redcar this season but after last night I suspect it will be more. Big thanks to Boz for the weather updates. He needs to grow up. The track was wet but there was some excellent racing later on and the conditions didn't stop the likes of Barker, Lindgren, Wright, Perks or Andersen.

I fear Workington don't even get that. Isle of Wight's attention to customer service is amazing. One person - just one - complained about the signage at the food outlet last week. This week, the signs have been moved

The rider the Comets need going is Proctor. I thought he'd make mincemeat of that 6 point average of his but he wasn't impressive on Saturday and it looks as though he was worse on Sunday.

I think television viewing does affect attendances at tracks but only marginally. I could ask why hundreds of thousands of football supporters attend every week when there are 3 or 4 live matches and almost blanket coverage of highlights.

I hope for Scunthorpe's sake you're right but he was a different rider last season. He's dropped 2.5 points off his average this year and is receiving barrage of criticism, to the point where last night a team manager tried to get him excluded for not trying. There aren't many options out there but I would be surprised if there isn't someone better.

That is an extraordinary choice.

Its not quite the same, but its still one goal counting as two. I must admit I haven't really missed TR rides in the NL.

He's also a 6.50 heat leader. 7 other teams have third heat leaders who have higher averages than that, so he's not going to beat opposition first strings consistently nor should there be an expectation that he will. He's also more than half a point above his starting average at this point and his performance against Eastbourne was far, far better than anything I had expected. Early days as you say but Mason has been a lot, lot better than I thought he would be.

You could equally ask can he afford not to ? Poor performances so far, jumps on Carr's bike (which, with due respect, probably isn't the best) and pulls off two brilliant wins. Bridger should stay. As Screm has said, looks very much like the machinery and not the man.

Workington was up slightly but, I fear, not by enough.

Not the best meeting I have seen at Derwent Park but not a bad one either. Comets should have won the tie. Jorgensen was a clear leader in heat 7 when he stopped (throttle cable, apparently) and then Cook didn't seem to do Campton any favours in heat 10. Roynon's commendable efforts at team riding came undone in heat 14 when he came off the white line momentarily and Lindgren caught him. Should say that my two pals from Newcastle weren't impressed by the decision to exclude Morris in heat 1 (I didn't have a good view) and Hoggy told me it could have gone either way. Shout for Campton - riding like that he might just be a real trump card for Workington this season.

Nothing wrong with that at all. I have just never seen a blade used for one race only before. That begs the question as to why it wasn't used at some earlier point.

Yes, you could call them that Still has to be that what the fan wants comes first, second and last every single time.

Nor have I, anywhere. I thought it was extraordinary.

One of speedway's real problems is that on occasion it puts rider interests above those of the fans. Promotions need to listen to what their paying customers want, not what their paid employees want.

Me too - although about 10 years ago would be more accurate. I haven't been this season but reports were the match against Kent was pretty decent. Its certainly the case that it can be very good indeed.

No chance this time, forecast is very good. My first visit this season to one of my favourite tracks.

Spot on. Size and shape does affect the quality but its far, far more about preparation. Now matter how good your track shape is if you sod that up the racing will be rubbish. Sheffield and King's Lynn used to be good racing tracks. No reason why they can't be again. You can't have been to Plymouth. I have seen some fantastic speedway there and it remains one of my favourite tracks.

Based upon what I have seen and read, I think there is reason for cautious optimism. Rye House, in particular, was very impressive - biggest I have ever seen by far. Lakeside, Kent, Peterborough, Ipswich, Berwick & Belle Vue have all had good attendances when I have been there. What has to be the case is that the quality of the product is high - although I haven't done too badly, there have been a lot of complaints about the standard of the racing.