emerald tyke

I was totally embarrassed for Nige and Kelv watching that meeting lastnight, for once they were rendered speechless!! What a shambles. It sure tests a speedway fans patience when nights like that happen. I feel all minor indescretions ( delaying start, touching tapes and the likes) should be dealt with by putting them off 15m, that way the meeting isnt unnecessarily delayed and also the fans (yes, remember us?, we're paying the money to get into to watch racing and presumably pay riders wages!!) get to see 4 riders fighting for places.......assuming its a RACE track! Bomber was the only one worth the entry fee lastnight for his round the boards pass...just shows what a bit of dirt on a track can do. I fear for this sport I have followed for over 40yrs...but maybe I will, as always give it another chance

According to ticketmaster the start time is 16:00....maybe a few more people will attend as being able to drive home the same night .

I agree with most posters...If its not broken dont fix it!! Wouldnt attract a crowd big enough to look good for tv etc etc....let the FA pay their own bills for Wembley, theyd only do the dirty on Speedway when they not longer needed us. Same old, same old. The Millennium has been a good friend to Speedway (albeit at a cost) but unless London had more local teams again the Wembley scenario just wouldnt work., its too big anyway... AND its too far from the ferry for me

Well back to normality again after our annual gp trip....I know there are probably reasons which we as fans do not know about, but felt (in my opinion) that the fanzone was in the wrong position ( they had to pay for this road closure and maybe they had no choice but to move from Westgate Street it didnt work, but hopefully back there in 2015), there didnt seem to be much goin on, such as music, chat with NPearson/riders on stage etc and repeated again in couple of hours, only stalls of same old bikes etc and Magoos were repeated alright Once we'd been round there was no reason to go back. Monster drink and Stickers gone in no time, these giveaways should be more spaced out not a whopping queue into one area. As for the area cleared for the stuntman 'Stunter 13' to do his stuff....dont even get me started on that one! Why close a road the length of 100m to give him fenced off area size of 15'x10' to try and do his thaing!!! Loved the light show and opening ceremony although it did go on a bit too long...Felt the atmosphere in the stadium was a bit silent this year, I read we were not getting music pre event and interval so was expecting it but thought we'd have had the music to get the fans going, bongo drums on the big screen etc, it was just the presentation and racing, and a bit stagnated in between...........however I will be there in 2015 already got the hotel booked !! Think the idea muted in this thread about maybe having another meet on the sunday ( time the gp to be before the final of SWC or some other meeting) to make the effort of track laying worth more than a day!....probably boils down to costs of hiring stadium though. Had 5 newbies with us this year and they loved it......think next year we'll have to drive further and get to Somerset on the friday (if the pairs is on 2015) as it certainly sounded to be the place to be this year!! Well Done Tai and your charity fundraising GOSH

Hey Guys...anyone on here who has tickets in their possession in Block U31 who could tell me which gate you enter from please, just wondering as we've completely moved area for this year and im collecting tickets on the day. Thanks in anticipation

The 5 Champs programme was a very relaxed chat and well presented..... according to Twitter Crumpie is accompanying Tai on his cycle into Cardiff along with quite a few 'celebs' and fans who have ben lucky to be chosen to represent their clubs on the cycle and raise plenty of money for GOSH... wristbands are supposed to be available at the P of W pub, so I hope theres 8 left for us!! Roll on Cardiff...boarding the ferry tomorrow morning whoop!

Must admit the whole day is a buzz!! just one point though, I wish they would open the roof b4 the fireworks as the stadium does tend to fill with smoke before the spectacle has ended:) unless of course opening would suck the fireworks up like a chimney... roll on the 12th!!

SEC is on Eurosport in an hour (6pm) and the 'One Room' ...5 champs chatting about grand prix follows it at 9pm (.as mentioned post #84 is actually on tonight, you dont have to wait til the repeat on 10th!!). and PL Best pairs from Somerset Sky sports Fri 11July LIVE followed by British gp from Cardiff back to Eurosport at 430pm sat 12th LIVE

I dont like this 'removes pitch on bends to widen track for FIM events' .....sounds very familiar to me. Echos of Odsal Stdaium and their beloved pitch, always causing strife #Bradfordmemories

Strange one that

http://tv.eurosport.co.uk/tvschedule.shtml ...

Live Speedway on Eurosort 2 at 6pm Sunday 6 July...probably (and hopefully!) SEC from Gustrow ...also Tai has been teaching John McGuinness (of IOMTT and others fame:) ) how to ride Speedway, which he loves as often seen attending Belle Vue and he does also own one of Jason Crumps old machines as seen in 'Closer to the Edge' tt film, but apparently coverage of this is going to be shown on tv coverage in run up to Cardiff gp.....watch out people, dunno if it will be in 'advert' form or as part of Best Pairs Sky Sports coverage from Somerset fri 11July

Any ideas on which road the Fanzone is going to be on then Mr Rising?...hope its going to be a success after the expense of road closures. Think I had the pleasure of seeing Shunter13 at the Carole Nash Bike Show in Dublin a couple of years ago, when Ben Barker and Stuart Robson attended too....dunno how he will look in such a large space though, we saw him at very close quarters.

No mention in the press about who is playing at Cardiff during the pre meeting entertainment....dont suppose this fella is still on the go .....God Bless Ian Thomas (r.i.p).....he knew how to get the crowds in!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqV1FkBWUCM

I think the fanzone IS on again although there are talks thats its on a different street to previously. As for entertainemnt inside the stadium, I assume so as every year for the 14 Ive been going there has been, it is usually announced/advertised nearer the date.

Shouldnt be any trouble at all if you have tickets in your hands! It would have been a different scenario had he to collect tickets at the venue cause then you would have had to prove it was you who purchased tickets by credit card etc. If its your first time or 14th like me you'll have a brill nights entertainment.

Thats a nice gesture by John.......REALLY this meeting should be at Havvys favourite track of Odsal but as the capers going on up there have ruined that possibility.. this is the next best thing. Hope the racejackets raise plenty of money. Was hoping to get over (from Ireland) for this meeting......don't know how I'd get the bed home though should I have won it!!!.....

On twitter you are invited to tweet questions to Tai....great to see his coverage continuing....and his imminent "charity event" for 2014 being announced too.

Must agree, this was a most compulsive read.....was wondering though does anyone know the picture on the cover? from a world final? as I have a canvas of the same picture and was happy to see it reproduced on book cover. I think PC is one of the riders

Why should Havvy have to find an alternative date? He chose and planned for this date since last year!! Its only since the Sky tv deal was finalised that they "picked" this date, after it being originally supposed to be staged on sunday 23rd ....it shows total disrespect for a BRITISH W/C and I hope it rains in Coventry!! ...Maybe when Sky see the forecast they may move onto Poole

Brilliant news...for me anyway, it allows me to see League Speedway in Ireland. I can understand all the negatives about attendances etc but I for one have a smile on my face today Well Done Sky AND I am looking forward to Nige and Kelv too.....all I need to make my year complete is TMole succeeding in talking the Bradford Bulls into letting speedway back into Odsal. (I visited it during a trip 'home' this past weekend) and theres no doubt the track or maybe a smaller track CAN be accommodated there. If they leave it much longer to decide NO sport will be there anymore. #Bradfords loss.....Now whats Skys phone number need to sign up to a deal again

Can't wait to see Tai in his dicky bow!! At least we know he's a sure fire see. Must admit though if last year was anything to go by, this ceremony has NO atmosphere at all ..Is Suzi Perry the compere again this year?

Made my day reading that one!! ...tbh though in all seriousness all I would like is for this fantastic sport that I have followed for years (and its makes me grimace at some of the rules etc) is to pull itself out of the doldrums, cop itself on as regards the promoting of the sport ( by actually doing some!!) and capitalise on Tai's achievement. Saddened that he didnt get into the final 10 for SPoTY but speedway did get a mention on 'The One Show' that night as there was a clip on Sheffields Local tv station back in the 70s (but theres that world again!!! the 70s) we need to 'live' in the modern times. Read lately that Valentino Rossi would love a go at speedway and I think if we can encourage working together with other 2 wheelers it could be good for us all. John McG, Si Andrews to name just a few LOVE speedway. 2 wheeled sport in general failed to get into SPoTY for years but a bit of collaboration could pay dividends. Would love sky to be back as its the only chance I get to see a few meetings (except I do get to Cardiff and Somerset a few times yearly )

Thats all well and good PR but that coverage in SS will only be read by the "already converted"!!

Not too many people to read this in Suffolk!! No, in all fairness how many airfilled sack kickers have been up for this kind of thing....seems its quite the norm in the papers these days. (not that I'm condoning it!)