Halifaxtiger

Tungate did go from gate 1 to gate 4, but Auty went from gate 4 to gate 1 to gate 4. Had they crashed going into the first bend, all four back (or Tungate excluded). But that's not what happened. Tungate got to the outside first, so Auty cut back and went 45 degrees across the track coming out of turn two and ploughed into him. My view was very good indeed because as Auty exited bend two he was heading straight for me - hence he was heading diagonally across the track from the inside to the outside. I know my mate in the stand on the bend 1 side of the tapes didn't see it at all, so bend 1 wasn't a good view (as my view of Nielsen/Wilkinson wasn't). To be fair, you're right that the referee's start line position wouldn't have been the best place but he's certainly up higher and he can't have missed Auty going from the inside to the outside at 45 degrees straight into Tungate's path. In the incident with Richard Hall last season, Auty was definitely at fault and it was said at that time that he is notorious for reckless moves that result in crashes and that Hall's reaction might have been provoked by Auty's reputation. That reputation certainly doesn't lend itself to supporting the position that he did nothing wrong here.

My view is an entirely unbiased one. Is yours ? I had no barriers (bar the catch fence) in the way, I was looking at it head on. Auty went from the inside to the outside and straight into Tungate. He might have being trying to block but he completely misjudged it and definitely should have been excluded. Indeed, all four back wasn't just poor, it was laughable. Some riders might get the benefit of the doubt in such a situation but Auty most definitely isn't one of them.

I think he's saying that Tungate hit Auty. Definitely not the way I saw it and, as I have said, Auty has history for making reckless moves that lead to crashes.

I had a poor view of that one but a mate who was on the home straight told me that Nielsen never touched Wilkinson. For what its worth, I think Superstar's account and mine are almost entirely consistent.

I had a very good view of both incidents as I was part way down the back straight. In the first running of heat 10,Tungate bolted for the outside off gate 1. He made no contact with anyone and was clearly in front. Auty was off gate 4, moved to the inside on the second bend and then turned right and wiped Tungate out. The referee, to my total disbelief, ruled all four back. In the re run, Scunny took a 5-1. As the race finished and the riders slowed round the second bend, Tungate ploughed into Auty and I simply don't believe it was not deliberate. Riders do collide after a race but that is rare and clearly Tungate had a motive to hit Auty. I don't believe he intended to injure him but Tungate must have known that that could be a consequence. Tungate's actions were totally unacceptable. He should be heavily fined, subjected to a lengthy ban and should have been thrown out of the meeting. I should say, though, that I don't have an ounce of sympathy for Auty. He did exactly the same thing to Tungate in the race and, as some have pointed out, he has big history where reckless riding is concerned. Some are rightly blaming the referee, Peter Clarke. Had he got the first decision right and excluded Auty, the Scunny No 1 would not have a suspected broken arm and Tungate would not be facing an SCB enquiry. The decision to allow Tungate to continue to race was ridiculous. I should say that putting this (and the punch up between Lunna and Morris) aside this was a brilliant speedway meeting, easily the best I have seen this season. The racing on a superbly prepared track was simply top draw and I doubt if FTG was mentioned in the updates. I think Rob Godfrey's actions were a bit tongue in cheek but even if they weren't, they were entirely understandable. His team are bottom of the league and struggling for survival and he sees his returning No 1 break an arm in his first meeting back in a totally avoidable incident. Which of us, in such circumstances, would definitely have behaved differently ?

If its anything like last week (and there's every chance it will be) you have made a wise decision. It was extraordinary.

While admittedly more racing is at weekends, the NL seems to survive (and indeed prosper). With rare exceptions, their riders have to have some other form of income to even compete. Speaking to Adam Kirby on Wednesday, he self funds because he's on NL pay rates. He has to - what he has earned this season in its entirety probably wouldn't pay for a bill he has received for a blown engine, and he blew another the same night. I think its remarkable that some of these lads keep going. I agree with (and indeed applaud)95% of this. But I think the point is only the top EL riders (or those at the top end of the PL doubling up eg Craig Cook) will make a decent living out of speedway. It simply has to be recognised that that is not going to be the case for most of the rest and that that is not new - its pretty much always been like that. In addition to Mick Bell (see above) I can remember Dave Morton saying after his move to Ellesmere Port in 1985 that he repaired and bought and sold cars during the season to make ends meet. I suspect that there might be some who believe that speedway is a quick way to earn a lot of money.There must be an understanding that speedway isn't going to pay the household bills even during the season.

Indeed so. Graham Drury mentions it in the programme from Wednesday night.

I think that's very fair point. I can recall Mick Bell saying that when he rode for Coventry's championship winning teams in the late 1970's speedway was just a good paying hobby, not something you could rely on for full time employment. Even in the hey day of the sport, only the top boys really made money at it.

Its a question of trust. The person who told me has links to both Kent and Lakeside and has invariably been correct. Its also a question of plausibility. Is a move to Kent any less plausible than a move to Romford Greyhound Stadium or Crayford (no offence to those who have suggested it) ? Is it, indeed, any less plausible than a new track being built next to the existing one ? As I understand it, the initial position was that Lakeside were to be out of Arena Essex this season, that subsequently being changed. Given that (arguably) the best speedway stadium in the country is around 30 miles and 40 minutes away and its promotion have made no secret of their ambition to take the club to a higher level, to my mind it would have been surprising if there had been no attempts to move the Hammers there.

According to the radio, Morley didn't ride because he had machinery problems. Another meeting where the score rather than the racing made it riveting, although it was most certainly possible to pass. Kent deserved their point but while they benefited from rider replacement the Brummies lost out big time, effectively having a 5pt rider for an 8.5 one. Bates (or Perry) would almost certainly have scored more than 6+1. It also didn't help that Ellis fell off in his first two rides - on both occasions on his own. Wajtknecht was very impressive for a first season rider but I was also impressed with Ayres, Shanes and, not for the first time, Bacon.

I must admit I didn't look. Even if I had, I'd still have said they were keeping quiet. Saying disappointed but accept it is hardly a comprehensive statement regarding what happened, is it ?

Word I got was that the Hammers moving to Sittingbourne was a done deal. While I also heard (at the same time) that that will definitely not be the case, I don't know why it didn't happen.

No - all being well I am off to Coventry for the match against the Brummies. I should be there against Plymouth, though. The celebrations at EWR on Friday weren't much behind yours, I'll bet.

I am not certain how you are laying this all at the door of Redcar and the referee. According to the SCB report, R/R for Graverson was discussed prior to the meeting starting. Somerset had no issue............until heat 12 (by which time, of course, they were losing). Who on earth checks the average two thirds of the way through the meeting but not at the start ? There is blame on all sides - in my view, the principle one at fault was the referee. After all, he made the decision on R/R and is therefore responsible for allowing Kus to ride. If a statement needs to be made by anyone, surely its Somerset ? They, after all, were the ones that protested and in terms of match points they lost out. I suspect they are keeping quiet because anyone who makes public noise about an SCB decision usually gets poleaxed from all sides but it could easily also be because if they do go public they'll look foolish. As I have said above, who checks the averages two thirds of the way through but not at the start ?

If you didn't go, you wouldn't know. I wouldn't say he was impressive but he was much better than his score suggests.

Actually, and at the risk of sounding contrary, to me an illegal ride shouldn't be allowed to stand. But for that to be the case present regulations need to be amended, so the decision is correct. There should be a time limit on protests but it should be longer than 4 hours. In some cases, you're right. This one seems pretty simple to me, though.

Its not just their error, its the referee's and Somerset's as well. The thing is though is that not to take action is - for right or wrong - the rule that applies in this case and its been applied consistently and explained in detail. I get annoyed when the rules of the sport are deliberately flouted and no explanation at all is given (Bradley Wilson Dean's PL average is one that springs to mind)but that's not the case here. You make fair point about an illegal ride and whether it should stand, but if the clubs don't like it then it is in their power to change the situation.

I agree. This hasn't been ignored. And it isn't deliberate cheating, either. It is - as you correctly say - a catalogue of mistakes. What we have is a full and complete explanation of the actions and circumstances and a ruling that in such circumstances there is no ground to amend the result. If memory serves me correctly, that is entirely consistent with other judgements where the same position has applied. Somerset supporters should stop pointing fingers at the SCB (or BSPA) and start looking elsewhere for someone to blame. Their management were totally happy until they started losing.

Definitely. Looked like he hadn't been away. I think Krcmar will be OK, too. He was never off the pace by any means.

Not sure whether the gate was bigger than normal or not but part of the reason I went was to see Ward and I doubt very much that I was alone. The other reason was on my last visit the racing had improved. It was brilliant tonight but it wasn't awful, either. Ward was impressive, Krcmar was better than his score suggests and Zengota was man of the match. Swindon were unlucky not to get at least a point. Wozniak, too, was impressive, Doyle as consistent as ever but Swiderski was poor. At the end of the day it was all about the reserves and there Leicester blew the Robins away.

Back straight, mate. Usually go there (unless Islander drags me into the stand) as you can't stand on my favoured third bend at Scunny. Had that coming home from Redcar on Thursday. A1(M) closed at Wetherby and two lanes closed on the M62. Fortunately, it was neither a long diversion nor a long tail back. EDIT: One thing is most definitely true : Mr Godfrey's boys most certainly did not go 'belly up'.

Up to heat 13, I didn't think this was the best meeting I had seen at Scunny by a long chalk. The racing was OK, but Peterborough - with Ostergaard, Tungate & Kus dominant - were just too good and I really didn't see anyway that the Scorpions were going to get anything out of it. Then the whole thing exploded. Three pulsating races - especially a screamer in heat 14 - later, and Scunny had staged a smash and grab and won. Brilliant stuff, and no wonder Mr Godfrey needed a lie down I will be attempting to go to about 4 of the last 6 meetings at EWR and I hope a few others will come too (the attendance tonight seemed better than when I have been before) as it would be a crying shame if - and here Mr Godfrey & I very much agree - our best racing track closes.

I am pretty sure that when I started watching speedway in the early 80's meetings took longer than an hour. Including the second half I suspect it was more like 2 hours. What I do agree with, though, is that the sport should do away with intervals. Never met a fan who likes them and by all accounts riders don't either.