Garry1603

Staines Removers

For Mia's sake, I am pleased that he has apologised and hopefully a line can be drawn under this sad affair. Whether it changes people's opinion of him I'm not sure, I think that the damage has been done. However, I think that bringing up a 35 year feud was a rather petty way to somehow justify his actions, and whether he knew about Steve's cancer or not, the comments were disgraceful. Thank you to Tony Mac for being an intermediary in this, it can't have been an easy conversation.

I loved PC as a rider and he was always approachable to young fans like me. I eagerly awaited his book and read it from cover to cover when it arrived. It was well worth the wait and gave an honest, entertaining review of his life and times. I especially liked the first third of the book when he talked about his childhood and his schoolboy friends. However, I have to say that, following the disgraceful treatment of a true gentleman like Steve Casey has changed my opinion of him completely. He suffered a stroke several years ago and I am sure that he still has medical issues. The 'old' PC wouldn't have stooped as low as this, I'm sure. So sad that he has ended up a bitter old man, his legacy is in tatters for me. I was going to read his book again in a few months, now it will sit on my bookshelf forever.

Sadly, it was announced tonight that Steve Casey has passed away after a battle with cancer. A wonderful man, a wonderful speedway FAN. After his riding career ended after spells at Ellesmere Port and Newport he returned to his spiritual home at Belle Vue where he performed a superb job as a presentation manager. I was proud to know him when he worked with Allied Dunbar (along with Chris Morton) in the 90s, and used to love our chats at the NSS every meeting in recent years. He always had time for people, and there's no greater compliment that I can give him. It's a lovely coincidence that he passed away as his team are finally the champions again. RIP Steve. A speedway legend who will be missed by many. Thoughts are with his family and friends.

Some great drama with plenty for the fans to discuss, speedway at it's best. When speedway gets it right it's still a fantastic spectacle. The celebrations afterwards by fans, riders and management showed how much it meant to them. I much prefer a great team match than individual meetings. As far as the matches go, yes there were controversial incidents and none of the referee's decisions were easy, but let's concentrate on the positives. Well done the Aces after 29 long years and Sheffield will be contenders again very soon, I'm sure.

Well done the Aces. Whatever people's opinions, they came through and are worthy champions. What great two speedway meetings, A credit to the sport.

It's been lightly raining in South Manchester since about 4-00 today. Never thought I'd want a rain off (and the forecasts don't expect the rain to continue to be honest), but wouldn't it be better all around if the Aces could put out a full team in another week and let's see who wins with full(ish) teams?

Sadly I agree unless Brennan and Blodorn can really step up a notch.

I can't see r/r bringing in too many points - maybe four from Zagar and Brennan (a first and third or two seconds) and one point from Blodorn & the guest. It will certainly be less than Charles Wright would have scored I'd have thought.

Charles Wright wasn't at the press conference after the meeting (unlike the rest of the team) - was he taken to hospital or just sent home to rest? Lemon said both Wright and Etheridge were feeling pretty beaten up and bruised - but is that enough to keep them out is the questipn.

The fascinating thing about this match is that there are riders on both teams who can step up to the plate and win the title for their team, Wright, Brennan and Blodorn for the Aces and Howarth, Ellis and Mountain for Sheffield. It could be a classic final and should bring some great racing in both legs.

I'd say anything less than a 10 point lead to the Aces makes Sheffield favourite, 12-14 it's even and a 16+ lead would put Belle Vue in the driving seat. The no tacticals rule could mean the middle order riders decide the silverware.

Potentially it could be a very close final between equally good teams and a great advertisement for the sport. I hope that both sets of clubs and the BSPA try to promote it properly - not holding my breath though.

Whatever anyone thinks about the rights and wrongs of the Lambert signing, he was sensational tonight and for however long he is involved again in British speedway he'll be a great asset to the sport. One thing is for certain, he didn't just turn up for a paycheck tonight.

Great idea, it would bring the sport right up to date, surely attract a younger audience and would fit in with the 'green agenda'. I would have thought that the bikes would be more evenly matched as well, so the racing could improve. Would love it to be trialled after matches next season when possible and slowly integrated into the mainstream sport if it catches on (maybe open meetings to start with)

So, who do you think will return for next season? Assuming the rules stay similar of course. I'd want to keep Fricke (if he rides in the UK), Kurtz, Brennan and Blodorn and maybe make a move for Ellis if he were surplus to requirements at Sheffield. Presume that Zagar might be too expensive to return which leaves Wright and Etheridge as options depending on the average limit.

Lashed it down 6 miles south of the stadium at about 2-15, but it's stopped now.

What's really spooky is that I said to my friend before the afternoon match that it would be 47-43 (!)

Can't see the Aces getting anything tonight - hope I'm wrong but I think t will be around 50-40

It could have been good television to have the three riders racing at Cardiff in the afternoon for the British Title - maybe over three heats with each having different starting positions for fairness. The winner (if not Bewley) would go into the GP and the other would go home. At least they can say that they had a chance.

No one was a winner tonight - Bewley, Brennan and Harris will obviously be disappointed, but the real losers again were the poor spectators who had to wait for the inevitable result in the rain, and most of all the sport itself (again). How can they not have hard and fast rules in place for a meeting called off after 12 heats, it's not like it's the first time it's ever happened. What would a casual tv viewer have thought of that I wonder?

Surely it should be rerun, but if not the fastest heat winning time of the three eight pointers should prevail? Not great, but it's the only fair(ish) result.

Raining again about six miles south of the stadium. Weird weather!

Really enjoyed that. Belle Vue were certainly 'on it' today and were fired up from the off. The return of Zagar has given the club and crowd a real lift and he didn't disappoint - a real showman. For the Panthers, there were two or three that are starting to ride like their age I'm afraid. Comes to us all. Maybe a season too far for Harris, Nicholls and Andersen?

Good first GP of the season with more passing than might have been expected, the coverage was very good to be honest. Kelvin stepped up to the plate (Nige wold have been proud) and the general presentation was fine. I liked the heart rate graphic, even if wasn't maybe 100% accurate (maybe!) We're in the Zmarzlik era though and it will be hard to promote as he's a few percent above everyone else at the moment (Laguta and Sayfutdinov's absence doesn't help obviously), but that shouldn't detract from the event'. To me he's like a Schumacher of the early 2000's - great equipment obviously, but also a little bit better than anyone else. Let's respect that even if it detracts from the promotion of the sport to the wider public,