Halifaxtiger

You're right on both counts. So is the comment about rider replacement. To me, guests aren't the problem so much as the number of them. Scarcely a meeting has been raced this season with full teams and that simply must be addressed. Sadly, though, that is not all that is wrong with speedway. One meeting this season did that for me: Kent v Mildenhall, Bank Holiday Monday. An dreadful track with the chalk base showing through after a few heats, numerous falls (at least partly caused by the track) , a 15 heat match that took 3 hours to run and the appalling sight of an injured rider walking the length of the straight because the first aid people refused to allow the ambulance on the track (something, apparently, that the management were fully aware of) despite the fact that there was a gate less than 20 yards from the accident. Bryn Williams is one of may favourite presenters but even he was hamstrung into doing anything about this 'farce'. Then we have the clubs press officer arrogantly stating that they would not comment on the pages of this forum about the meeting and that replies would only be made by E mail. Elsewhere it is confirmed (very correctly) that most clubs can't do anything about stadiums. What they can do, though, is make every effort to ensure that track surfaces are prepared for the entertainment of paying customers, that the presentation is good and that there are as few delays as possible. I am sure I don't even need to mention the safety of riders. I am also sure I have said this before and will probably say it again, but that simply isn't case across the country.

Malcolm Vasey says on the Eastbourne thread: 'it is essential that it (the points limit)is related to the number of teams in the League and the more there are at this level the lower the points limit must be so that the best riders are shared around between the teams as far as is possible. Therefore it cannot be formulated prior to the commitment of Clubs to compete at National league level for the 2015 season'. He's right, although that might apply to all riders not just the best ones. What would be needed is some careful consideration regarding the pool of riders available before the limit was set and even before teams were allowed to join. What Scunny did this season was by choice. If next season the points limit is much lower and teams are much weaker (at least on paper) that will be by necessity.

About that, yes. Kent v Mildenhall on Bank Holiday Monday. 3 hours to run one 15 heat meeting.

I do go (a lot) and don't often buy it. I'd agree with your comments, though. I think that reflects far more on the promotion than the Star.....and if there was a ban (which would hardly affect the Star's sales) it would be very good publicity for the magazine.

I am sure Phil has said that subscriptions make up the overwhelming number of Star sales. Personally, I think it would be better giving objective criticism than appearing to be placid and docile in the face of some of the issues that face the sport. I am sure that there was an article about the ELRC earlier this season that pulled only a few punches; it was very good indeed.

I think Steve Whitehead confirmed that the team would be running in 2015 a few weeks back when I was up there but I couldn't swear on it. They have really tried hard and deserve better. Fingers crossed for next season.

Got a meeting planned for October 31................ Spot on. I am all for completing all the fixtures but there must be a limit, surely.

I agree and if you haven't been there, try Plymouth. The first bends at SBA are without doubt the best in British Speedway - its often a case of looking away because there's going to be carnage. Thankfully, that rarely happens.

As a neutral I think its one of the best . ................and I should say that unlike some tracks it does have racing lines.

I think that is spot on and agree with you, Humph and arnie about this issue As you rightly say, it shouldn't be controversial or critical for the sake of it but simply ignoring or refusing to tackle issues within the sport damage Speedway Star's credibility and will put some off buying it. Its not just a matter of investigative journalism, its also about giving critical opinion. They used to do some pretty hard hitting stuff in the 1970's and 80's and I don't see why that can't be the case now.

To be fair it did drag on and on a cold night and with nothing to play for it wasn't brilliant(the NL meeting was better). To also be fair, it wasnt Rob Godfrey's fault and he did put the fireworks (which were pretty good) on during a break in the NL meeting.

There most certainly is a points total (40, I believe). Cradley used their financial muscle to build the best team they could while Scunthorpe made no attempt to build a competitive side and just chose to give some youngsters experience. I suspect the points limit will be lower next season, but that will depend on the number of teams - I doubt very much that Plymouth will run again and I think that there will be a minimum limit too at least potentially ruling Scunthorpe out. Cradley may go PL. Malcolm Vasey advocates setting a points limit year on year as close to the start of the season as possible. He's right.

Never touch speedway food anywhere else. Mr Anderson's burgers, though, are famed through out speedway and rightly so.

Weather forecast looks good so I am coming up Few beers in the Black & Gold, nice stay in the town and a couple of Mr Anderson's famous burgers .

According to the Scunny website, Ash Birks away average is 5.18 including bonus points. I think Sheffield need to build a side next season that makes winning at home a priority. He wasn't just exciting to watch that night (and, to be fair it was only one night) he was simply brilliant.

My favourite five are Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Somerset, Peterborough & Mildenhall. If I had to choose it would be Scunthorpe from Plymouth. I actually think that the overall standard of racing has got better this season. Places like Glasgow, Redcar and Belle Vue have really upped their game - Glasgow v Plymouth, for example, was one of the best meetings I have seen this season, and that's on a track not recently renowned for entertainment. Sadly - and I won't name them - there are still those places that could be a lot better than they are. You sound like my pals from Plymouth (who on least one occasion had their words rammed down their throat, as Pirate Nick would confirm). Its a lot better than that and still one of the best even if its not quite as good as it used to be.

I'd certainly consider it but I'd want to see what the racing is like first.

Got to be Bellego, surely ? That performance the other week for Berwick was amazing and the most impressive I have seen from an away rider all season.

I don't think anyone will really hope that it fails but there are an awful lot who said it wouldn't happen (despite all the statements to the contrary) and who now stand to look pretty foolish.

I am probably going to go, promotion or not. That's principally because I might just get a bit more of what I saw last Friday but also because I think the Stags (at last) will have worthy opponents in Buxton and because I can't resist the prospect of being slagged off for 4 hours by Sunglasses Dave He does refer to his ignition on his twitter page. Scampton, Lincolnshire rohan tungate@rohantungate · Oct 3 Gutted with tonight! Slectra ignition oh well we have to go big at Somerset

Can only comment on tracks in this country but that's Scunthorpe by a short head from Plymouth.

..............or a neutral. For me, it was top drawer stuff I can't believe that one of the best racing tracks in the country has no-one filming there. Big D from Plymouth is always after a fast buck and he does a very professional job, I'll ask him It just shows how a fans view of a meeting can turn on the result (and I am certainly not being critical or sarcastic here because I have been there myself).If Ipswich had got the point (or more) they needed, I suspect you would have thought it was a brilliant meeting too.

You watch Tungate every week, I don't. But there are just 7 riders in the PL with higher averages. How can he not be number one material ?

It would surprise me greatly. While there's no excuse for jacking in, there's a significant difference about doing it in a heat when the match is dead and buried and doing it in a play off match when a place in the PL final and a possible PL championship at stake. Tungate certainly put it in in heat 15 and it would be quite incredible if a team manager chose him for that when he had simply given up in a race two heats earlier. According to green sheets his average has improved more than any other Ipswich rider (Hawkins is the same) this season. To not 'touch with a barge pole' a rider like that for next season seems to me to be a little foolish. I think that's fair point - I am sure that if Scunny had something to go for it would have been different. I have to say, though, that throughout the season they have not been as good as the standard of meetings at EWR (and that's the whole package, not just the racing) definitely deserve. I do M62/M18/M180 and on the latter two I have never encountered any problems (to be fair, that's coming from the north). I set off at 5pm last week and arrived at 6.15 because there was so little traffic on the M62 (to my surprise). Not using the present system when meetings are dead, even if that is just one club. I think Tigerite (and others) are correct in that 4 teams only is better. Bit harsh, Rob. They wouldn't have got in to the play offs in the first place if they were a poor team and that takes away some of the credit from a quite brilliant backs to the wall performance from Scorpions. This wasn't just about Ipswich throwing it away.

I did the updates tonight and while I first thought Tungate was passed on the inside and outside at the same time I thought it could only be down to slowing with engine problems when he stopped immediately afterwards. It never occurred to me for a single second that he was passed and merely gave up and bumped onto the centre green (to be fair, he certainly didn't give up in heat 15). That's because it is absolutely incredible - given the importance of the meeting in general and that race in particular - that a rider would do such a thing and I can only wonder what the reaction of his team mates, the management and promotion of Ipswich and its fans would be to such an action. Personally, I'd be bloody furious and it will be interesting to see what is in the Witches match report. I thought it was out of the top drawer Wilkinson's attempt to protect Williamson and Howe and Auty's brilliant passes of Worrall were capped by an amazing heat 15, which was probably one of the best races I have seen this season. It was a performance of real guts and effort by the Scorpions, and their supporters should be proud of them. The only sadness was the attendance, which didn't look good. Rob Godfrey puts on an excellent show - with cracking racing, limited delays and quality presentation - and if he can't attract gates then there is genuine cause to fear for the future of the sport.