BWitcher

Of course, you were bothered enough to start a thread about it though. In other words you can't think of one single example of this 'problem' effecting a meeting. You just decided to have a moan.

Avoiding the question now. You've started a thread spouting about a problem... I've asked for some examples.. let's hear about the meetings that have been effected by this 'problem'. Firstly, there isn't a problem. Secondly, there's enough bleating from fans as it is about the quality of riders in a race without reducing it further. The 15 metre option can be exciting. Seemingly you'd prefer to have one less rider or a rider of lower standard in the race that will likely be tailed off.

I didn't.. I said there was a 'possible' advantage, negated by handicapping your other rider. Besides, I haven't got to prove there isn't a problem.. you've claimed there is, let's see your evidence. Let's have a list of all the races where this 'problem' has occurred.

Is there even a problem? Lakeside got a 5-1. The only time it would give you an advantage was if you felt gate 2 was the best gate to be off.. and you'd be sacrificing a rider to do it.

And if the starting marshal tries to get riders to come into line, you get riders like Iversen throw a strop and swing their wheel at them... then you get the fans moaning about the marshal! I agree completely with you by the way. Spot on. Amazes me to see people complaining about delays then advocating a return to the old starting system which took far longer to start a race.. and was much less fair.

It was deliberate, it was admitted as much about 3 times throughout the broadcast. Zagar was confident he could catch and pass them, indeed he was almost with them by the time they exited turn 2. Had Palm Toft gated, which was the plan it could have worked out. Not saying it was a wise thing to do though.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. There was nothing more farcical than how it used to be. One of the few things speedway has changed over the years that has been an improvement is most certainly the starting.

This is speedway, they're not the brightest... Seems Zagar fancied his chances of coming through if Palm Toft gated.

Interesting to see Zagar deliberately break the tapes there... didn't work out though, was relying on Palm Toft gating and getting in the way of the Lakeside duo.

Not often we agree, but you are spot on here. Lakeside wouldn't have a leg to stand on either.

Then it would be up to the referee to enforce if he felt a marshall was acting inappropriately or outside the rules. Not a prima donna rider.

It's not that difficult to avoid the result and watch it on Sunday morning if necessary.

The racing is so much better on Sunday mornings on Eurosport.

So a start marshall was actually doing his job?

Well done Iversen? He should be banned if he took provocative action towards an official.

Dear me.

Woffinden's form in Poland hasn't been as good as last year either.

Well done Nicolai, good to see him getting confidence back.

Oh.. I must add the pearl of wisdom from Gary Havelock. He was asked about the struggles against Birmingham the previous week.. He said that Birmingham got off to a great start because gates 1 and 3 had a massive advantage and Birmingham had them in 5 of the first 6 races.... Err... no Gary, each team has 3 each.

Fortunately as was leaving got wind of the issues and headed down the toll road and the A5, got stuck in a long tailback on the A5, I assume all the way to the M69 as there were issues there, so turned down a B Road, forget the exact one.. began with 4 and there were 4 numbers.. anyway, couple of B roads later it brought me out to the island on the A46 you would reach from the motorway. Got there just before Heat 1 so all was well. As for Woffinden, he wasn't all that bad last night. He flew out the start in Heat 1 only to overshoot turn 1 and head for the fence and had to shut off and lost a lot of ground. He chased and made up the ground, but the chances of passing were zero. Won his next ok, didn't move wide enough in his 3rd to block Hansens outside run and in his final ride missed the gate of an unfavoured gate and that was that. Someone said he had pulled a muscle, or picked up an injury hence not being in Heat 15.

Lots of overtaking?????? My word. After the 2nd turn, the only time there was a pass was when in Heat 9 and when Proctor passed Lambert in Heat 14.. which if he hadn't have done he should have retired. It was race after race of processional racing only kept interesting by the score. Just seen another post saying 'Great meeting'. Seriously, speedway has fallen a long, long way if this is described as great. I've even checked updates to make sure I was at the same meeting.. and yep its the same on there.. after turn 2 there was nothing bar in heats 9 and 14. Edited to add.. I forgot the amazing race when Ashley Morris was in 2nd place ahead of Howarth all the way to entering turn 3 lap 1. Was 10 yards behind after turn 3 mind you. Please let me know where all this passing was. 'Different riders' winning is no argument for a great meeting.. Ah, finally someone was at the same meeting as me!

Due to an unexpected visit to England I'm able to take in this meeting tonight. Weather looks perfect, lets hope for some great racing!

But then we miss out on the fun of his posts.. and more enjoyably, the responses to them!

He told us he had the answer later too with his 'dirt deflectors'.. which he told us would help solve the issue of rain offs as riders would be able to see. Hasn't turned out that way has it.. still, he's creaming off the money.

Yes, and you got absolutely awful processional strung out racing. Marvelous that was. That was the much hailed Barry Briggs Dirt deflector... the saviour of the sport... Oh wait... And crap racing. It's marvelous how folk continually try to re-write history. From this thread you'd assume no meetings were ever called off in the 'good old days'.