Tsunami

How old are these pictures. It doesn't show any pits or other buildings.

Middlesborough being one of them. Shane Parker a decent second string had to be a No1.

Saved 'losing' money last year, you mean.

One thing with your team now, it's opened up the discussion of who is going to get the wooden spoon now. Scunny, Plymouth or Newcastle. We will have our own mini league.

Blame the top Yanks for that.

Thanks. I would like to think that as well.

I would say interesting, as you have qualified your decisions in a constructive way. I agree with practically every assessment.

Berwick have a curfew of 9.30pm, so unless they start earlier it doesn't seem possible.

It's not unheard of for an Inspector to stand outside, and estimate the crowd going in.

True Ray, but I can't remember seeing a large stox car park unless it is high up, and they use the big ramp on the 3rd bend to enter and exit the track like the speedway riders do.

It won't be a runner with that overhead. Who is going to set up and pay for the pits and pits carpark, and where would they put them. It's a very difficult shape being a bowl, and previously the Ham's had them at the upper level where the the hospitality suite is now, Could the pits be put under the suite building ?. Too many questions and financial restrictions to overcome and would have to be in place even if it was considered only for the bigger events in competition to Cardiff and BV,

Looks a great shape and you can really see it capable of some great racing on a par with Belle Vue.

Quite agree about progress and magical gains. Unlike some on here I don't even think of comparing young riders with others in the past who got to Poland and world championships. Riders all have their own ability, which as you say can be enhanced with fitness, nutrition, life style, coaching, competitive racing, etc, and it's by following that sort of path that riders and their supporters can gauge how far they are capable of getting to in our sport. Looking at Palin, Kemp, Thompsons twins, Rowe, etc and only thinking they are successful it they reach the world stage is foolish. If say any of them reach contesting being British Champion, I would say they were successful even if circumstances mean they can't go to the next stage. There needs to be a more realistic assessmeant of the next set of young riders.

...and Robert Lambert

Well there's never been a better chance of that happening Steve.

in the case of Archie he is concentrating on the NL along with Danny Smith and Josh Embleton. All local lads but I'm not involved with the new promotion.

HI Sidney, nice to hear from you again. Yes we currently have the best set of kids up and coming for many years, and it couldn't have been any better for them when, simultaneously, we are missing many riders due to visas and the Poland dictates. They will compete and grow together by competition, and I really can't see the alleged drop in standard will reduce the intensity of the racing. This could become a milestone year both for speedway and the riders development, which should do well for the future. If they do progress as expected they may have to revisit the 2 rising stars for next year decision. I could be down in your parts at some stage, so I will let you know if I am going to make it. Take care.

No question that Kemp and Rowe are a tad better than Palin at the moment. Kemp was brilliant at the Championship meeting at Scunny last year. Ironically Palin fell and was excluded in their heat together and Kemp got the 15 max and Palin the 12. Interesting.? Rowe had a brilliant meeting Berwick for the U 19 /championship. I saw Rowe at Newcastle for Somerset and he really took to our track.

Palin is a top performer, and the one that everyone will be watching. Brennan needs to calm down and stop getting injured.

I agree this is the perfect opportunity for decent young riders to set up their career without the usual pressure from having to out perform existing lower order riders to get a team spot. A lot of the new bunch have been riding against other for a lot of time in junior competitions, as well as the BYC, so it would nice to see them all survive together and produce the next crop for the immediate future. Looking forward to see their progress,

He did when he rode at Mildenhall, but I read last year he has moved further up so you never know he could be interested. Didn't he ride for awhile for the Monarchs many years ago.? He rode for them at Newcastle and he gated well, was right behind the rest, and although he didn't score a point, he was not outclassed. Knowing him from the junior days, I was impressed with his efforts.

I would guess it will be Luke Ruddick on a 3 star.

And also I believe a stalwart of the group of riders that regularly rode at Ken Marshall's Felton training track.

In one of the most senseless accidents in speedway, Sean overtook Derrol Keates in heat one at Brough in 1999, shot forward without trying to slide the bike for the 3rd bend, and hit Robert Erikkson sending him flying and breaking Robert's collarbone. No remorse from Sean. Excluded from the race rerun, but should have been excluded from the whole meeting. He continued to take his rides, whilst David McAllan had to take Robert's rides.

Andre was Newports favourite guest for your Northern tours. Used to shack up in the hotels that the team were using, as he wanted to be part of the team. Always gave his best for you.