Aces51

Can the Aces continue their good form and bring about Rye's first home league defeat of the season? It won't be easy but we need to pick up away points to ensure a play off place and we have a decent record at Hoddesdon. I think we can.

There were more empty spaces on the terraces than I have previously seen on my many visits to Wolves. It is worrying if that really was only 20% down on normal. What I did notice last night was that there was only one racing line and that was right down by the kerb. I know that there has always been the fastest line coming out of the bends by the kerb but in the latter stages of meetings there was often an outside racing line. Last night the track staff were obviously concentrating on maintaining the "Karlsson Corridor" during the mid meeting track work and all that did was to continue the processional racing.

Well I wasn't expecting a win on the night. I thought Wolves would be fired up and after the first 3 races, when they were 8 points up, it looked as if they were but Cook, Fricke and Tungate got dialled in and it was the Aces who were up for the fight and wanted it far more. Damian was all at sea in his first ride and I expected him to struggle all night but in heat 8 he passed Greaves down the home straight going into the second lap and won easily. Those who made comments about Tungate's lack of ability at Wolves last year, when he and others struggled with the track, were made to look foolish tonight when he beat Thorssell and Masters with ease. Bewley wasn't making good starts and paid the price on a track where it was difficult to pass if those in front hugged the white line. For Wolves, Howarth was impressive and Greaves more than did his job. Thorssell we solid, Morris is struggling now he has moved into the top 5 and Schlein and Masters were disappointing. I don't know what the crowds have been like this year but it looked a poor turn out. Perhaps not surprising with England playing in the World Cup and the size of the defeat in the first leg.

I think you will find that there is a coach travelling from Belle Vue and I shall also be there. I don't count my chickens and think the overall result could be closer than some expect. As for football, I wouldn't dream of missing speedway, even if it is England but accept that many casual fans will.

It doesn't matter what you do or how good the product is you simply won't get the crowd on a Monday that you would on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. People have a limited amount of money to spend on sport, entertainment or leisure activities and most of it is spent at the weekend. It's common sense that people are more likely to go out when they have no work or school for their children the next day.

Can Wolves claw back a 24 point defeat at the NSS? I don't think they can despite a significant home advantage but Cookie is still struggling, Rohan doesn't do well there and I don't expect Damian to do anything on his first visit. It may depend on Garrity. He can do well at Monmore but there are no guarantees with Jason. We have done well this year despite losing Steve Worrall and I can't see us failing to score at least the 34 point required.

Dan finished second in his World Under 21 qualifier after a three man run off for first place and is now through to the final. Another step forward in his remarkable progress.

Zach did very well though to score 10 and get in the run off for the final qualification place for the final.

Dan did well to finish second in his qualifier after a three man run off for first place. Zach did well to score 10 but was unfortunately third in a three man run off for the final qualification place. Robert Lambert currently unbeaten in his qualifier after three rides. Things are certainly looking up for the British youngsters.

It's 4. The will be three permanent wild cards in each of the rounds of the final plus one temporary wild card in each round.

There is something in what you say about when the leagues amalgamated but there are many and varied reasons why some of those clubs who moved up found themselves in difficulties. Berwick's problems were due mainly to the then owner. Somerset and King's Lynn seem to be content to stay in the PL and the problems at Rye House are down to having to change their race night because of the FNR. Yes, Ipswich, Redcar and Sheffield were asked to change their race night and refused but let's not forget that FNR wasn't just for the benefit of the PL. It was done mainly to resolve the problem of missing doubling up riders and the CL stood to gain as much from that at the PL. As it now stands the CL are, subject to the SCB rules, enjoying the benefits of having their doubling up riders available and paying none of the price, which falls entirely on the PL having to race on Wednesday's when Denmark has priority.

The problem at the SWC race off was that the track was too grippy. The result was that it was virtually impossible for riders to catch the rider in front and most races were from the gate. The following night it was much slicker, which is how it is normally prepared and the racing was brilliant. It was at the race off that Iversen set the current track record, which is about 3/4 seconds faster than usual race times.

FNR has largely resolved clashes for doubling up riders but as has been mentioned previously, the crowds at Belle Vue have dropped significantly since the change from Friday to Monday. Why the BSPA ever agreed to Monday is a mystery. There is only one PL team which operated on that night and previous experience at Belle Vue, when the then landlord forced a change to Monday, was that the club had no sustainable future. That is why we changed to Friday as soon as we moved into the NSS. If TV was the reason for Monday all clubs have shown they can race on that night when on TV and could have done so for their televised meetings. As it stands now those clubs that had to move to a Monday race night have also to compete with the TV meeting. Maybe our crowds will improve when the children are on holiday but that isn't going to compensate for the losses already suffered.

Jason has had good and bad meetings at the NSS. He is one of those riders who seemed to have the potential to be a good heat leader in the top league and maybe better than that but has never been able to achieve it. He was confident and rode very well on Monday. If that and his other good performances this year are an indication that he has matured as a rider he could be a very good signing. It is an opportunity to show what he can do. Jason is a Mancunian, was a Belle Vue mascot and signed for the club when he was 16 but things didn't work out. Whilst hoping that Steve would have been able to return I think most fans will be pleased to see a local lad back in Aces colours, albeit only temporary.

Belle Vue have signed Jason Garrity on a 28 day contract to cover for the injured Steve Worrall.

I agree with you about Ronnie More. I should have remembered his rise to fame at such a young age. He was an exceptional rider who seemed to reach a very good standard within a couple of years and was a brilliant exponent of the art of team riding. Again I'm not sure when he first started riding a speedway bike but he was only 16 or 17 when he came to the UK. I'm less sure about Nygren because I don't know the standard of riders in Sweden in 1949 but his rise was rapid when he came to the UK.

It's on at the moment on BT Sport 2, it started at 12.30 but like tonight it is the 2 hour condensed version.

Looking at the British Final thread it seems it recorded with a SkyQ box but it didn't on my HD box.

I have the Sky HD box, if that makes a difference but there were certainly a number of people on Facebook complaining about it last night.

My point was within 3 years of first sitting on a speedway bike. I'm not sure about John Louis, if I remember correctly he was about 29 when he first rode competitively and what a great rider he was but I don't know when he had his first attempts at riding, Michael Lee was certainly riding long before he was 16 and Peter Collins was in the same category. Dan's first competitive race was at the start of 2016, he was injured, I think in July of that year, which ended his season, had a full season last year and obviously has ridden this season. If you add it up he has about 2 years experience of competitive racing.

I can only echo the comments already made. A superb meeting with top quality racing and a brilliant atmosphere. Robert Lambert a deserved winner. He showed just how much he has moved on this year with some exceptional racing and a determination to win. Dan Bewley, what a talent, I can't recall another rider who has got to Dan's present level in such a short time. It is less than 3 years since he first sat on a speedway bike. Craig Cook, struggling by his own standards but showed the grit and determination to keep accumulating the points and to end up on the podium. I hope this can be the start of his return to form. Howarth had his best meeting by far at the NSS, Garrity showed that he can put together 5 good races without making silly mistakes and Nicholls had his moments, as did many others. As OveFundinFan said, we owe a huge debt to to David Gordon and Chris Morton who worked so hard for so long to provide us with this remarkable track and stadium. It is a sadness to me that, for whatever reasons, they were unable to enjoy the fruits of their achievements. Like many others, it was disappointing to get home and discover that the meeting had not been recorded on my Sky box. I know I can record the repeat today but when I've seen the meeting live I actually prefer to see the full recording with all of the comments and interviews, not just the highlights condensed into 2 hours.

After the history you've given I don't think there's much money left for any of us. You don't know much if you think an Aces fan would be supporting Rory. A typical whinging Aussie who rides for Wolves? As you say back to more important matters. I've arrived in God's chosen city after the usual nightmare journey. The sun is shining and a tremendous meeting is in prospect. An Aces 1,2,3 in any order will do nicely.

You missed the point. I hope that I had explained in the simplest terms that a complaint has to be justified. Also, the comparison was not comparing the NHS with theTai situation as you call it. The comparison was between making a criticism which is justified by giving a full and proper explanation and those who respond to a criticism, in the example given about the tactics in the final of the SON, by simply calling people haters rather than justifying themselves by way of an explanation of why the criticism is wrong. I was not suggesting that both issues are equally important, merely that there are similarities and the example given was appropriate to this forum. It you consider that criticism should always first be addressed to the individual or body concerned I assume that in future you will be contacting the BSPA, the rider or the team you are criticising before giving your comments on here. What did Rory say when you told him before voicing your recent thoughts on here?

Hopefully, Steve Worrall will have a successful comeback from injury tonight. If he does it will be good to be able to field a full team next week. Something we have not yet been able to do in any league meeting.

I don't see a problem with any criticism from any source providing it is justified. It should be how we learn and improve but of course, far too often, it is ignored. It's a bit like this childishness of calling people who have commented adversely on the tactics in the final of the SON Tai haters. That's what you expect in the playground. An adult response is to offer a reasoned reply explaining why they think the tactics were right.