Halifaxtiger

Personally, my experience of Laurence is that is very decent bloke who always has time for a chat and a laugh (even when he doesn't), has put a huge amount of his own time and money into the sport and is as passionate about it as anyone I have ever met. He's been in the sport for at least 40 years and has done everything - announcer, promoter, team manager, has ridden bikes for charitable purposes and organised youth meetings (and probably a lot more besides). Seeing him at Lakeside this season he still remains as truly incredibly enthusiastic about speedway as he was when I first met him in 2006. I am very pleased to count him as a friend.

It wasn't brilliant last week...........but it was still better than many tracks get.

I did............after I had posted But the point I made still stands - without Horton, there's every possibility that Peterborough would not have run this season anyway. SCB also has a point, too. Frost closed the track, so will Horton. Yet somehow the opinions are good riddance to Horton, please come back Mr Frost. The only difference is Frost has money, Horton doesn't.

Is it me being ridiculously optimistic or is there some hope in those words ? Wouldn't he say that there would be no speedway at all unless he was able to sell the club if that was his intention rather than pointedly ruling out PL speedway ? That's very harsh, Rob - he deserves better than that. Its entirely possible that Peterborough would not have run this season without his involvement. EDIT: that piece in the paper has sunk my post without trace

Aside from the tapes exclusion which was bizarre, I'd agree with all that EDIT: Hiding my Somerset fleece as I do so

Having had a look at the teams, this will be close. EWR is still the best race track in the country so it could also be real cracker. Hope it gets the attendance it deserves.

Weymouth is a seaside town and there is a difference between that and Sittingbourne, but when planning permission was granted at the Wessex a few years ago it was stated that every signature counted wherever people were from. I think you are dead right.

Not that you're biased, of course. You obviously missed Auty clattering into Morris the lap before. The only difference between the two incidents was Morris stayed on, Auty didn't. As far as I was concerned, Auty got a taste of his own medicine and, for that reason, I thought the correct decision was made (and I suspect that's how Dave Dowling saw it too).

Its hardly unheard of although Rossiter, as GB team manager, should know better. Personally, I thought the referee called both decisions (Morris/Auty, Morris/Jorgensen) correctly although his decision to exclude Morris for tape touching was a bizarre one. Even the spectacularly biased if very Mr Godfrey didn't see it.

If they were in a helicopter, maybe. Its 150 miles or so by road from Glasgow to Newcastle or about 2.75 hours travelling time (according to the distance calculator I used, anyway). Allowing two hours for a meeting, they'd arrive back in Newcastle at 9.45 (and that's if they don't stop). I have been to some late meetings at Newcastle before but never one that has taken 3.25 hours.

Based upon that information alone, its a perfectly reasonable decision (although riders dashing to and from meetings is hardly unheard of). But that's not the whole picture. As Lioness has said, Glasgow supporters do not want 5pm starts and the later time will put Newcastle supporters off travelling. So what we have, yet again, is the long suffering speedway fan and their wishes and requirements being placed at the back of the queue. One day speedway promotions will learn that taking fans for granted is one the main reasons why the sport is on its knees.

That's why I'm not going.

I am still not happy but that's just because I can't go now. Its difficult to argue with the reasoning.............although I could say that it is about time the interests of paying customers are put before paid employees. Lioness is spot on, though. There's no way we should find out a start time change from a fan on the BSF.

I was going to come to this match. Not now

Even if he is, his riding for Belle Vue this season speaks volumes.

You can't stop people being untruthful, particularly when it is in their interests to be so. What you can do is expose them as liars - and if you do you inflict significant damage their on their case because their word can be shown to be wholly unreliable. That means its worse than worthless in that it actually strengthens your position.

Let them lie. In fact the more lies and the more ridiculous they are the better. No easier way to win a court/tribunal decision than to expose your opponents case as untruthful, biased nonsense.

That's what I'd do. Probably the most impressive performance by a visiting rider I have seen all season. From the gate or not made no difference. Dead right on both. As you had said elsewhere, though, despite the league position there have been positives for the Tigers this year.

Definitely one of the best. There is such a short run to the first corner that the first two bends are most certainly the best. There was a debate about this very subject on the first bend on Saturday, with there being some question as to whether Sky could get all their equipment in as the entrance is somewhat narrow. I think there's also a problem about whether they could actually run mid week. If possible, though, a Plymouth-Somerset match would be a very good choice indeed. I suspect Mr Taylor would very much like to be a TV star

I think its the damage it has done to certain tracks rather than generally. Plymouth have had just two rain offs, Workington have quite possibly had 5 times that. To try and put a bit of a positive slant on it, based upon personal experience and those I know some tracks have had increased gates - most notably Sheffield. Although Peterborough's are still not enough (and I suspect the double headers will do further damage to the average) I am advised they have gone up too. Plymouth's have certainly increased in the latter part of the season. What I have noted is that the standard of racing has improved. The usual suspects - Plymouth, Somerset, Scunthorpe & Peterborough - are as good as ever, but one or two have really upped their game - most notably Glasgow, and I have seen a couple of cracking meetings at Redcar as well. That's got to be good news.

Cracking meeting with the highlights being a no holds barred clash between Franc and Worrall in heat 13 and an equally excellent heat 15. And some were saying a few days ago that Newman hasn't improved this season

Personally I'd say it is. The way I look at its no different to allowing the home riders to use 600cc bikes or wider tyres because it gives an advantage over the away team. I have said all along, though, that tracks shouldn't ever be prepared for riders want anyway. They should be prepared for what spectators want.

There was a lot of track work and the surface wasn't watered but it didn't turn into a dust bowl .I certainly didn't get the impression that there was any fixing going on. What changed was that Rebels started gating. In fact, I thought it was the usual good quality Somerset meeting. One interesting point : programmes were half price because it was an old one with an insert and Debbie Hancock took the trouble to explain why in the insert notes. All credit to her not only for reducing the price but taking the time to say why. Are you listening Belle Vue, Glasgow & Edinburgh (amongst others) ?

I don't know if gates have increased but I do know that I attend regularly now. That's not so much about the team as the track, which has improved beyond all recognition. The Aces put out a decent side at the start of the year (sadly, it hasn't worked) and with the improvement in the quality of the racing I can very much believe that gates have indeed gone up.

Best bit of the lot was you getting a mouthful from Gail. Seen a few things in my time but never a promoter being put in his place by his Mrs and on the centre green at that. Each to his own, but I think he's one of the best............if one of the most biased.