Halifaxtiger

Completely agree A friend of mine who has attended on/off for a number of years gave it a go yesterday but left after 2 hours and 10 heats. Chances are he won't go back. I think the problem stemmed not from a lack of care, effort or hard work but the decision to run less than 24 hours after a monster truck meeting at the stadium. That probably damaged the track so badly that it was impossible to get it into good condition and the fact that Mildenhall chose to run yesterday may well be beyond the promotions control. I'll certainly give them another go. Seen far too many top quality meetings at West Row to allow one bad one to put me off.

That's harsh. In my experience Mildenhall can be an excellent racing track. the next 5 heats were run in half an hour. My understanding was that they would race only when the Stocks were not operating the day before and so avoid the chaos they create. That didn't happen this time. The track was difficult at first and poor until the end. The way I saw it only Shanes (a grass tracker) Halsey and Armstrong looked comfortable. That meant there was little racing and a lot of falls which in turn meant to a lot of delay. Not good.

I think every (or almost every) fan will recognise that riders have patches of good and bad form and that personal circumstances can affect that. What they might finder harder to accept is paying their money and seeing a rider fail to make reasonable effort, which is an accusation that can be levelled at Watt's performance on Friday.

I agree, although I think its the surface rather than the shape as it seems to me there is easily enough room to pass on any of the bends. The problem was all the grip was up against the fence and apart from Robson's brilliant pass of Risager no-one went through on the inside all night. That meant that if you gated and sat right on the outside you were almost certain to win. As an example, Kennett knew precisely where to ride to make sure Covatti couldn't beat him. Still, I see no reason why that can't be remedied and, to be fair, there has been a lot of money spent at the stadium and it looks as though there will be a lot more. I thought Karger tried hard but there will come a point when that isn't enough, Ipswich (Covatti aside) were disappointing and Rye House are a better team than many have suggested, principally due to resurgent Robson and Lanham.

I don't have a problem with this. Ellis is 20, Clegg is 18. Both of them can still be referred to as developing riders and will make their teams more attractive, pulling in fans home and away. Eastbourne need a new no 1 to make their team competitive - which means whoever took Hughes place it wouldn't be a 3 point junior so Ellis isn't taking a young lads position. Its all very well being critical, but precisely who else are they to sign ?

5 heats on you tube.........................

I have always said its not level that the speedway operates at, its the track and how its prepared. I have always said it is one of my favourite tracks. Those who criticise it are living on the reputation that it built up during the Ronnie Russell era when it was rubbish. Messrs Douglas & Cook changed all that when they took over. More's the pity. While I can very much appreciate the BSPA wanting to protect their product, putting Bridger's stunning last to first on the internet is far more likely to get people to go than stop them going.

Personally, I find that the majority of negative comments on here are made by people who don't actually go any more, and some of those say they wouldn't go if it was free. If they have so little interest, I wonder why they remain as members of this forum. Having said that, there are (and will be) many occasions when the sport leaves you frustrated, disappointed and even angry. Crap tracks, appalling public relations, annoying, self important presenters, disastrous mistakes (Belle Vue being a good example) and ridiculous, unnecessary delays seem to be part and parcel of attending and following speedway . On occasion, though, you are reminded of why you love it so much. Lakeside last night was one of those occasions - a close meeting, brilliant racing, excellent presentation and finished in 90 minutes. Great stuff

Completely agree I thought to myself when Lakeside were 6 down they would just collapse but they came back amazingly fired up and Poole simply couldn't cope. Seems to me that was something in the pits that affected them all. Bridger and Kerr more, perhaps, than most. Kerr pulled off a crucial win in heat 12 after busting a gut the last time out and Bridger's last two rides were just brilliant, showing how talented he is. From a neutrals point of view, it was better than that . Cracking meeting with some brilliant racing, excellent presentation, no interval on a freezing night and all done in less than 90 minutes. Take a bow, Lakeside Speedway.

And yet if you check the predictions on the Leicester-Lakeside thread no-one predicted that score line. I don't think anyone suspected they would be a good team............but equally no-one thought they would be quite that bad.

I agree................but the simple truth is a few defeats at home and half the crowd head for the exit and don't come back (and that's not just King's Lynn but most tracks). There are an awful lot who prefer 5-1's and winning than excellent racing and losing - ask Rob Godfrey about that one.

He may have done, but BCD is right according to the rule book. Making it up as they go along again.

I must admit I am wondering how someone born in Britain to British parents who wears the Union Jack in the GP series and rides for team GB in the WTC is regarded by some as Australian or a closet Australian. Complete nonsense. Woffinden is that good - and was that good when he was 15 - that he would be world class whatever country he rode for. I think he should ride in the British Final, but its also nonsense to expect him to ride in a semi final. He should have been seeded.

After Monday night, Daniel Bewley.

Put me off. I was going to come but why go to a challenge in which one team has 3 or 4 riders missing when I can go to Sheffield for a league cup match instead ?

Agreed Good racing, good presentation and finished in good time (pity about the absolutely unnecessary interval) is precisely what speedway fans want.

In this case I'd say it is pretty clear - no tacticals. Nowhere does it mention qualifying rounds and finals. You're right, and yesterday there was the strong contrast with the likes of Bailey busting a gut to score.

I agree - 18.2.4 is clear. No -one ever admits to making a decision.

That depends on whether the home support are happy with top quality racing. Poor and he needs to sort some anger management courses. For anything but the first time, he started on an opposition rider after a race for no reason at all. He should channel that aggression into his riding. Only Auty (probably the best I have ever seen him ride) Douglas and the battling Bailey were up to par for Scunny. Davies and Wilkinson simply weren't good enough, there have to be question marks about Holub (although I thought he tried hard) and the less said about Klindt the better. Sheffield were very impressive, even Greaves deserving a better reward. Carry on like that and they will be a real title threat. The track was a bit wet and heavy after a couple of light showers but there was still some cracking racing - notably from Auty and Garrity.

A few showers blowing about but I think it will be OK. As far as I am concerned, Scunny is the best racing track in the country. If its anything like last week, you're in for a treat. One small piece of advice : wrap up warm. EWR can be absolutely perishing.

Usual good quality meeting, especially given the weather conditions Two mates who haven't been to Arena Essex for a while commented on the standard and I'd maintain that those who criticise the track are simply living on a reputation it built up before the present promotion took over. Very impressed with Nilsson. There won't be many who can pass NKI and hold on to win in the EL or, for that matter, anywhere else. Mear, too, rode very well for a rider 2 years out of the saddle. Thought Lambert was unlucky to be excluded. As far as I could see, Swiderski locked up so hard he had nowhere to go.

I'm not surprised as they just don't have a weak link. There was a lot said about the two Jack's at reserve (not unreasonably) but I was impressed by Hume. Completely agree Besides, Graham Drury said in the programme that the Brummies have done everything possible to avoid fixture clashes.

Birmingham will take some beating. Stoke are poor.

The attendance at Redcar last night wasn't bad at all, although their gates seem to hold up reasonably well no matter what. That's taking into account that it was a cold night (although not as bitingly cold as it has been on occasion there) the meeting was a challenge, Redcar's team isn't the strongest and Berwick aren't the most attractive opponents.

A ray of light in a bad week for speedway : a brilliant meeting at Scunthorpe on Sunday. Cracking racing, a brilliant last heat decider and all finished in 90 minutes. That's how its done..................and if Rob Godfrey can do it, why can't others ?