theblueboy

I like Masters and thought he did well winning the final ever meeting at Blunsdon. On his average I thought he might be in the Roobins line up this season. Thorsell is not bad but usually takes 2 rides to warm up and if Scrabble can't beat him then we will be in trouble. Lindgren on a downward spiral, Cup of Coffee distinctly average at Swindon and Bech not seen enough of him but if he was good enough he'd have been at Lakeside this season. Howarth could score well but Wright is no mug and will give him a decent run for his money. Swindon to win comfortably 50-40

Has Matt filled Starman's hole in yet...anyone know?

Great to see Hans back. It's clear he loves Swindon. Just disappointed he wasn't on the lap of honour as he certainly deserved to be. No idea if that was a good performance or not as Bees so poor, although, I thought Bomber rode better than his score suggested and Ellis looked excellent as everyone predicted.

Andersen is a good guest. He isn't going to weaken the Bees that much, although, it is kinda funny that some people's faith in KK has been restored. If it was the KK of 5/6 years ago that regularly beat Sir Leigh then I could maybe understand those comments, but it's not, so given that Andersen has generally been excellent at The Abbey in the last 3 years I wouldn't be too disappointed. Ellis looked tidy last season and caused us problems so, I would say that this is another decent guest replacing someone who has little experience of Blunsdon. As for King, he just flatters to deceive and is generally rubbish at Swindon. I think, he had a decent meeting last year but he isn't one I am too worried about. 51-39 to the home team.

It is disappointing that Morris has been put in this position. Wroclaw, out of courtesy, should have checked the British fixtures and if any riders were likely to be affected. That said, Morris is a self-employed worker and he is therefore free to choose who to ride for. As disappointing as this is for both Swindon and Somerset, Morris' long term development depends on riding for Wroclaw so a pragmatic view should be taken on this occasion.

Sponsorship? Brown envelope in his exhaust pipe? Life is full of kickbacks and extras. Just because a pay rate is implemented and agreed it doesn't have to be adhered to. Ford has manipulated most things in speedway, so finding a few extra shekels, is a doddle. I cannot believe people, particularly Poole fans, are so naive to think Newman is busting his balls for the agreed rate.

*beep* *beep *beep* *beep* caution: Lionking is reversing....

The King of The Wheelies returns to Blunsdon for a limited period, and in my book is second only to his brother, Chorlton. Extremely adept at providing this service, gratis, whilst sitting at the back of a race, some 50 yards behind everyone else and maintaining minimal racing effort to showboat to the crowd. I woudnt be surprised if he is a big favourite with the Lakeside promotion too as they wont have to pay him much. Every team Lakeside visit is guaranteed 3 points and a free show, which surely is a winner for the speedway public, although personally, I would hope he mixes it up a little bit rather than just pull wheelies...

To be fair, his statement is correct. When Adams was still riding and before the economic downturn attendances were 2.5 - 3000 every week. In current speedway terms that's a great crowd. Now we get that once maybe twice a season depending on opposition. Since LA retired, the continued reduction in quality of speedway rider availability and Honda's much publicised reduction in staff, attendances have continued to decline. Would change of race night affect attendances at Swindon again, who knows. There is only one way to find out, however, they will never ever return to this level and it's now too late even if these proposed changes are possible. The damage has been done and promoters haves 'fiddled' whilst Rome has burned and, in my opinion, is too little to late. Speedway will die a slow death...

There is no way Sid, even at his best, that Tungate could be classed in that bracket. Morris was no 1 last season, he struggled admittedly, but Tungate nowhere even close!

is it Henry...the mild mannered janitor?

I have seen enough of Wells to know that when he gets dialled in he is plenty quick enough and has done so on many occasions at The Abbey. He is a solid 6 point man, something which cannot be said yet of Tungate. However, I hope RT proves me wrong and that a change of scenery, Vegimite sandwiches on tap, a Fosters tinny at the team meetings, INXS belting out over the tannoy and with Sheila's Wheels as new sponsors he is going to be an adequate replacement for North. I am basing my opinion for Tungate on gut instinct, nothing more, and Wells on what I have seen over several seasons. Polar would have been the best shout of all on that average but I am guessing he's booked in at The Stars

Nothing personal against Tungate but it's a move that has taken Swindon from play off certainties to also rans. He will need to get dialled in at home v.quickly. They may well qualify for the Play Offs but there is a lot of pressure now on Morris and 'his mate' to score highly both home and away but given their inconsistencies this will be above them. Wells would, for me, have been a better signing and added some depth to the team with his EL experience. Overall, for me a disappointing signing and I hope he and the team prove me wrong. Too close to call with regards the play offs.

No need to bring him back...there is already plenty of candidates for the name 'King Dick I'...answers on a postcard.

I doubt they would have been able to afford Darcy Ward's tear off's let alone pay him to ride for them if attendances were that poor...

I am not sure that statement would be correct. JD, I would say is very competitive. Australians are generally v.competitive (well except Troy ) and I have witnessed some serious moves by him (that's JD not Troy obviously ) at Swindon so for him to ride for a team that is not a 'winning team' I don't buy at all. In the link below JD mentions the play offs and also being around fellow Australians so I am guessing that he enjoys working in a comfortable and familiar environment with the opportunity to win silverware. That may or may not have been the case with Leicester this season. http://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/4653/doyle-named-swindon-skipper

What do you mean the club don't know where to go? The club, if the information you have provided is correct, in my opinion have been the architects of their own problems. Doyle wasn't going to put with more mediocrity around him again, particularly as he has his eyes firmly on the GP prize. I accept the promoter may have had some verbal understanding with Doyle but hey people can change their mind. So what was Plan B or C in Doyle's absence? The track, which is probably the main issue why there is no enthusiasm in Leicester, has been slated for several years by all and sundry and is, quite frankly, rubbish. I attended the meeting in which Charlie Gjedde was badly injured. There was no grip or passing. Quite why the tractor went round during the breaks in between heats God only knows. It has taken the stubborn promoter all these years to finally back down, accept he is wrong and make adjustments to the track. Excitement and entertainment go hand in hand for everyone. If the Leicester public, feel the product they are being offered is poor, season ticket sales are slow and sponsors are not interested then the promoter needs to have a good look at what he has offered to them over this period and then do the maths himself.

It's what he is doing with the 'other hand' that worries me... Perhaps Starman fancies SCB? Maybe this has all blown up because this is some unrequited love Starman has for SCB and is trying to deflect the attention away to Lisa? Years of facts and figures provided by SCB has led to more than just admiration? Maybe Starman, who is definitely from the Dark Side, is the father of SCB? Maybe SCB can't accept this. We all know that Starman likes to use his light sabre until shines a bright red... Or is Starman the father of Stacey Branning's baby...Stacey definitely said 'they must not know who the father is...it's our little secret'.,.? Looking forward to tuning in later.. Edited because I have a new Apple (not from Santa) and don't know how to use it properly.,,

BSF Premier League: Daknorf Stadion: Orion 1 Starman 0 A controversial own goal by Starman was the difference between the sides in this bitter local derby. Orion got stuck in from the start and was unlucky not to take an early lead as his long range efforts bamboozled Starman. The one dimensional Starman hit back but Orion easily dealt with the occasional powder puff efforts and kept him at arms length. The spat looked like it would end in a no score draw but just minutes from time Starman inexplicably handed Orion the victory. Starman still reeling from an earlier defeat on the Poole thread is now going in to the hectic Christmas period on the back of two demoralising defeats. The most worrying aspect is the manner of these defeats as it seems he is not learning from the same mistakes made week in week out. Starman who has a history of imploding when the pressure is on will struggle when the thread really kicks in in the New Year. New tactics are required from this dinosaur if he is not going to get pasted regularly on this site. Occasional victories over forum minnows such as Steve Brum (sorry SB) will not be enough to stop certain relegation in to the Poole Silver Thread League.

Bournemouth and Poole are full of myopic people... Don't forget they have excellent doctors too...

So who's left in Tier 2 that hasn't been announced? Or is there a list somewhere someone can point me in the direction of....

An excellent signing. Improved massively over the season and a good start to the team building.

That's a long sponsored walk...

Should you be mentioning this sort of thing on a speedway forum...

For 40 years I have been to the chapel for quiet prayer. Initially Saturdays, now Thursdays I have stood solemnly, shoulder to shoulder with many of my fellow supporters. Each of us had turned up to bid our farewells. The smell roared in to the Wiltshire sky for once last hurrah. Some fans shaking vigourously, others more stoic. The dampness oozing....into my trainers for the final time. I zipped up, turned, nodded and said my goodbye. The Blunsdon Bogs are dead...long live The Blunsdon Bogs.