Wee Eck

Not all would agree. I thought Shawfield was pretty mucky most of the time and there were better tracks. But I’m just a spectator. I liked White City but had nothing to compare it against as it was the first track I saw. Hampden was just too big and soulless. Coatbridge was an amazing track with fantastic banking but the rest was pretty tatty. Blantyre 1 and 2 were good tracks but, again, limited facilities. The latest incarnation of Ashfield is probably the best of the lot, though it’s taken a long time to get there. The facilities are excellent, you get a great view of the races from loads of different places and the track is providing the best racing in years

As far as I can ascertain, there is no legal restriction on the use of the word “speedway” so anyone can run a “speedway” event wherever they wish, including tracks that the SCB have licensed for certain events. The fact that the track is licensed by the SCB does not mean that every event run there also has to be licensed by them. Many tracks run “speedway” events without SCB licensing and, depending on the event, some tracks use Nora. Scunthorpe is one example as is Isle of Wight although the latter calls it “shale track” in an attempt to minimise the risk of upsetting BSPL

The ACU/SCB do not have the monopoly on “speedway” so they have only limited rights. For example, Scunthorpe amongst other tracks have run events under Nora 92. Further, there is no “ban on motorsport” in Ulster - the organiser of various motorcycle road racing events have cancelled these for 2023 because they say they cannot afford insurance cover. These events have high risk to spectators - so public liability - because they are run on closed public roads and not in stadiums. “Speedway” is run in more controlled environments where the risk to spectators is far less.

I’m confused. Too many Peters for me to follow. Are you saying there was no mention of two times world champion Peter Craven in the programme for the Peter Craven Memorial Trophy? Because there was. Or no mention of one time world champion Peter Collins which there probably wasn’t because why would there be? As to photos of Peter Craven in the suite named after him - which is a multi-use room not just meant for speedway - are there pictures of other riders there? If so, there should be one of Peter Craven. If not, why not asked the current promoters if they think there should be?

So you’re saying he was definitely in the team but isn’t now? All I was asking was where the information was coming from. As you say, it’s not the official site, but it’s not speculation so what is the source of information?

Because people are saying he WAS in the team but are now saying he’s not. I’m just asking if that has been confirmed by Peterborough as opposed to being speculation on here

Seeing as it’s a Glasgow thread, are these sugar plum ferries?!

Has it been confirmed anywhere that Holder is definitely not part of the Peterborough team?

Any idea why this topic isn’t pinned? And how would you do that anyway?

I think Blobby has just earned the Monarchs their first snake of 2023…..

I think the answer to your last question is Neil Vatcher and the British Youth Championship, and the GB Academy who carry out their work with no charge to the riders. Everyone else seems to get a reward including the tracks that events are staged on. And who are all these ex and current riders you refer to? Are any of them being paid by the “new and upcoming” riders?

Interesting point. But from my reading of the SCB rules, “contracted” relates to being contracted to a team, not a club. Probably academic anyway as I would hope SRBF would step in to help almost any rider who asked for help.

I was quoting from the SRBF’s objectives and aims. Under those, it appears any speedway rider contracted to a British team or riding for Team GB is eligible for support from the SRBF. It doesn’t say they have to be riding at a licensed track (or even speedway).

You’ve misunderstood what I was saying - I was referring to the SRBF, not SCB events insurance. The two are separate.

Looking at the SRBF’s “objectives and aims” they refer to speedway riders contracted to a British club or riding for the Great British team. So a non contracted rider, whether that’s riding in amateur competitions or the Nora league, or any other similar events is not included, but a contracted rider is covered regardless of the event. That then would extend to any non-contracted rider riding in UK open events so, for example, the five then unattached riders who rode at Belle Vue’s Peter Craven Trophy last year would not, strictly speaking, have been eligible for support. Fortunately, that was never tested.

I couldn’t be bothered trying to work out who he rode for in 2021 but reckoned he hadn’t been “no slouch” at Poole in 2022. Jake looked a real prospect when he rode for Somerset but hasn’t really kicked on. Maybe 2023 will be the year he puts his slouchiness behind him and shows his true talent?

Lawson’s last three years’ averages (all averages taken from declarations at the beginning of next season) are something like 8.31 (2020) 8.40 (2021) and 7.97 (2022) allowing - I think - for Brits 2.5% reduction. Over the same three years, Allen has gone 7.28, 7.88, 6.14. So Allen’s best is poorer than Lawson’s worst. And Lawson had his worst of the last three in 2022 not the best years in the last two. In addition, I can’t see when Allen last rode at Poole to be “no slouch” there I’m sure he must have in 2021 and/or 2022 but I’ve not found him! Much will depend on injuries with both teams carrying riders who are injury prone but overall, I’d be stunned if Scunthorpe get as far as the play off finals though things would need to go horribly wrong for them not to make the play off mini leagues. Meanwhile, I can’t see beyond the Pirates making another finals appearance but maybe this time, Glasgow will come out on top?

Am I right in thinking that’s also run under NORA rather than SCB/ACU?

Interesting Facebook post this morning about a new league involving Isle of Wight, Sittingbourne, Plymouth and Cradley Heath which, being headlined as Nora will be run without BSPL involvement.

Don’t be daft. But you do get three snake cards which shift Edinburgh to the bottom of the league every time Blobby has a whinge about the cheque book Tigers. Did you really expect ladders cards as well?

Define the conflict of interest, please, as I don’t see any. I see a group willing to invest in British speedway at not just team, and league but also at national team level and goodness me, we need more like them.

I thought it was a really good meeting. But then I’m not a supporter of either team. It is a very tight track and was clearly struggling with it being a very hot day but most of the riders got stuck in thought clearly some - McGurk, Morris and Pearson - found it too tough. Birmingham just lacked the riders to be able to compete. 2 heat winners all night isn’t likely to keep you close. But, if you look at the league result a few weeks later, you’ll see Pearson learnt from his first visit

I think the compilers forgot. The two PL meetings on the Thursday will have riders missing and limited guests available.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/relacja/144156/turniej-darcy-ward-invitational

Usually, there are more pages on the Poole thread than any other but, until Kyle Newman was announced, Glasgow were “winning” that battle. But thanks to the usual suspects, particularly HGould, Poole have romped ahead and are currently 125-122. So the Poole promotion and it’s supporters should give a big clap to HGould for helping to promote the Pirates. It seems everyone’s a Pirate at heart…..or wish they were!