Wackie

Wonder if the meeting would still have been called "The champions of champions" if Gollob & Jonsson had won their respective national titles instead of 2 riders who were contracted to Poole for the season.

Some promotions scissors must have been blunt then!

Whatever, negativity or being realistic, can't it wait until next year when the build it due to start. It's less than 24 hours since the last ever meeting at Smallmead began, can't we hold onto the good memories for a few more days at least!

Could really do without your negativity today Fairy!!! Last night was a fantastic reminder of what Reading speedway can be like, and to see so people turn up to see some old favourites as well as more recent one's goes to show that the sport in the town can be viable. If people weren't that fussed about the club, they wouldn't have bothered turning up for one last time. A new stadium and a new era may be the kick start the club needs in the town. If the new stadium goes ahead the hard core supporters will be there waiting but potential new fans will also attend initially out of curiousity, it's the promotions job to keep the majority of those people returning. If BSI were still in charge I wouldn't hold out much hope of that happening, but in Mark Legg & Wellie I honestly believe that they are 2 people who genuinely want the paying fans who walk through the gate to be entertained & receive value for money. Reading Speedway may be on life support at the moment, but it aint dead yet!!!

Nigel, you didn't miss Tim's riding the last laps at Smallmead, but you did miss Dave Mullet taking the final chequered flag.

Despite people complaining that the line up was weak we saw a very competitive meeting tonight with the end result 99.999% of Racers fans wanted. Fantastic to see some of the old legends who donned the whinged wheel over the past 40 years, and fantastic to see so many old faces in the 3000+ crowd too and to meet a few new aquaintances. Very sad affair at the end of it all though and I'll admit to shedding a tear as I walked out of Smallmead for the final time. Still quite choked about it now. Here's hopefully to 2010!

Would have preferred another winner, but credit where it's due Pedersen has been the most consistent rider in the GP's all season. Congratulations to him on his 3rd world title. He's not a massive favourite of mine, but I thought Jason was very magnanimous in defeat tonight not a whinge or a moan from him at all, and was one of the first to congratulate Nicki after he clinched the title.

Must admit Gem, as much as I'm looking forward to seeing some old favourites back at Smallmead it's not a meeting I'm looking forward to, but is also a meeting I can't not attend. Being there for the first meeting at Smallmead I have to be there for the last one too as sad as it will be. One further change to the line up announced. Former Racer Glan Phillips has withdrawn from the meeting through injury and is replaced with Krzysztof Stojanowski.

Maybe they were in on it too, they've got an extra 5 days Sky Sports subscription out of me because the meeting was cancelled.

Hmmm, maybe it's just me putting 2+2 together but after reviewing this topic I reckon that smoke's getting thicker.

A crass & unsympathetic comment. Newport aren't the only club who can or have run an out of season meeting, but I think there are a limited number of licences available for out of season meetings (3 springs to mind for some reason). Obviously this makes the licences a valuable commodity as speedway fans are gagging to see a bit of track action during the long winter months, but if an application was submitted by another promotion, as suggested, 3 days after Tim Stone passed away, I quite agree with SCB it's akin to grave robbing! Don't think it'll be M&M promoting the event, but as existing BSPA promoters they can apply for a licence on behalf of someone else.

Think SCB could be wrong, this forum is full of expert tossers!

Most of the riders named have put in good competitive & performances at Reading. The line up is along the lines of that of the Denny Pyeatt memorial meeting held last season & that turned out to be a cracker. The stars of the meeting are going to be the Racers legends who have confirmed their attendance at the meeting. I know of a few people who are coming along to Smallmead for one last time (and most of them haven't been for years) to see Michanek, Andersson, Davies etc again & couldn't give a stuff about who's actually riding. Personally, I think there's still a surprise or two up Mark & Wellies sleeves for this meeting & overall it will be an emotional & fitting finale to Smallmead.

More Racers legends confirmed to attend.

The list is growing every couple of days now as we count down to the end of Reading speedway at Smallmead. Full list of guests confirmed to be in attendance so far on 19th October at The End of Era meeting:- Jan Andersson Bernie Leigh Tony Olsson Petri Kokko Sam Simota Tony Silk John Davis Jem Doncaster John Hammond Mick Bell Peter Glanz Dickie May Dave Lanning Dave Jessup Martin Ashby Andrew Appleton David "Diddy" Hamilton Anders Michanek Dave Mullet Riders confirmed for the individual 20 heat meeting as reported in this weeks Star:- Mark Lemon Chris Schramm Emil Kramer Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell

Meeting to be individual event. 16 riders over 20 heats plus semi final & grand final. Jan Andersson, Good Old Bernie Leigh, Tony Olsson, Petri Kokko and Sam Simota announced initially announced as former riders who will be attendance on the evening. More names to follow. Full story HERE

I did, I wanted Jan Andersson to win.

Rubbish! It's standard procedure in Moto GP, 250 & 125 racing for riders to respond in their native tongue when being interviewed after a race. Gollob intimated to Brandon that he hadn't quite finished what he wanted to say & would give comment in English afterwards. Sky Sports aren't the only one's who show the coverage, I'm sure the people watching in Poland, Denmark, Sweden etc aren't mainly English speaking. Personally I thought Gollob came over really well when interviewed last night be it with his responses given in Polish or English. He looked to be relaxed and enjoying the whole thing even though he only managed 3rd after dominating the main meeting. Congratulations to Greg on his win. These old boys can still do it & even with the call for new, young blood in the GP series next year like Holder, Pavlic and the young ruskie who's name I can't be bothered to look up the spelling of at the moment, I don't think they'd give the old guard too many problems next year and would still expect the likes of Gollob, Hancock, Adams, Crump, Pedersen to comfortably make the top 8.

I believe both the Speedway & the dogs have to be out of Smallmead by 22nd October. The end of era meeting is a final farewell to Smallmead. Wouldn't really have the same effect if it was the end of era - bar possibly one or two others - meeting really.

In no particular order Richardson Zagar Ulamek

Change of sports minister in Malaysia meant government funding for speedway was withdrawn. No money = no speedway

I wouldn't, that TR belongs to one man & one man only. To be honest, I'm dreading it but I hope the meeting does the club & it's fantastic history at Smallmead proud. FFS, we're about to lose our home & unless a fairy godmother steps in with a spare couple of million quid our club & all you can do is have a pop at the back room team.

When can we expect Mads to drop enabling the wonder kid to step in on Sunday?

Suchanek replacing Ostergaard in the Reading line up doesn't just rule out any hope of a rostrum place for the Racers, it puts us reaching double figures in the qualifiers in doubt too.

Was there not an attendant in the toilets waiting to spin the nozzle on the cold air hand drier upside down to cool your face?