Hawk127

BS will challenge TR for the most number of wins but it was good to see Freddie battling through. Not a bad finish to the GP and let’s look forward to next year. Given the state of U.K. speedway the GP’s and the Polish top division are the only level worthy of support and free T V coverage. Subscribing to BSN is the next best option for domestic racing as Eurosport are a waste of space.

You could not make it up with all that has/is going on with regard to the oppositions riders and to add insult, Ipswich race on an off night to no doubt accommodate Sheffield who have limited nights available to race and so priority over race nights is conceded. One rule next year should include available nights to race and if the stadium owners consider that they can earn more money from other activities then the club has to have a question mark against it competing in the top league. At the end of the day it is a Mickey Mouse end of season competition and the real winners are Belle Vue who finished top and are league champions and Ipswich who won the cup, this end of season race off debacle are a series irrelevant fixture fillers.

As I said, not many really care now it has been devalued by the BSPL and rules which apply to the league but not the final, where they allow riders to be dropped at a whim during the season even if they are not injured and then allow clubs to almost select a team from those riders not riding in the Polish play offs. It is what it is and the current set up of the sport allows clubs to stretch the meaning of the rules. It use to be Poole that were the culprits but many now adopt a similar policy. As to Sheffield again who cares apart from a few hardy souls who turn up week in week out. You enjoy your final, I sure you think you have earned it.

If as seems likely Sheffield do get through you end up with a club who will do whatever it takes to win and the rule book goes out the window and one club who has basically stuck with the same team all season and has got to final on merit. Mickey Mouse sums it up and as you rightly say most will not care and will see it for what it should is a contrived event. Add to this the powers that be who have no balls and a TV company who really are not interested in domestic U K speedway the event has now become a sad reflection of what it use to be years back. Sadly not many on here will hold out any hope that the situation will improve in the future.

Scott really does have a downer on Ipswich. Ipswich were lucky and need to be on the game in the final but this sis speedway

Yep. Got Hawkins in charge and sat on his arse thinking it was all over from the first leg. It would be good to see the witches win through but they do not really deserve it based on tonight’s performance. Th Aces ought to go through on effort. If that happens then hopefully Hawkins is on his way out of speedway and Ipswich rebuild.

Yep. Too complacent and not enough consistency

I agree It’s not a team riding track. It is after all only a speedway meeting and whoever wins on aggregate tonight deserves to be in th3 final. Ipswich scraped in and could have the fairy tale ending or Wolves could bow out as homeless champs. No one really cares any longer as it is a Mickey Mouse competition and the only thing that is worth considering is decent racing and a close contest with no injuries.

Jarek is sublime and to think he rode for the witches all those years ago. Ipswich were so lucky and so was U.K. speedway. Add to that we saw Mr G at his best and yes they were the days. Hopefully what goes around comes around and the witches now have Emil and Jason.

Good to see Joe getting among the points. A confidence booster hopefully.

It is a shame that the ultimate showdown is blighted by injuries but the real champions are those who topped the league table at the end of the regular racing season. The play offs have an attraction from a media perspective and the build up in whatever European league/country they are being raced generates some tribal following which adds to the atmosphere but when the end of season matches are subject to manipulation through the use of rider cover, it does seem to devalue the result. Let’s hope that the four teams taking place can put on a competitive show and notwithstanding the current crop of injuries, the final meetings are close and competitive events and fingers crossed regarding those hopefuls who will come to the tapes in 2024.

Will cyclist have to obey this or are they exempt as is the case When it comes to insurance as other road users are normally required have, number plates for identification purposes, ignoring traffic lights, riding on the pavement, deliberately pulling out in front of motor vehicles etc. riding too fast on public footpaths in the countryside and expecting everyone to get out of their way and generally being some of the most inconsiderate road users.

Agree, it looks like Rayleigh but cannot see the refs box which sat on top of the stand and was reached by stairs up the back wall and across the rear roof of the stand. The only other issue is the lighting. Cannot remember it being like that in the 60’s.

Not a bad meeting. Great heat 15.

Heat 15, Emil was sublime. Let’s keep fingers crossed for him in the upcoming play off match against the Aces.

Gate 4 no winners, Emil pops out and goes from last to first in heat 13. He is without doubt one if not the best rider in the world but alas cannot prove the point in the GP. He makes speedway worth watching.

Well done Witches.

Sad that a rider of his calibre/stature still seems unable to tackle a track head on and get on with the racing and looks for the correct set up to be competitive but instead decides to bemoan the standard of racing surface when it is the same for all the riders. Why does he bother?

He needs help and space to sort himself out. If he feels he is not on the game it is justified in pulling out of meetings. One is to many to be lost to the sport for this sort of thing and the guy needs to be cut some slack. If he can get it together and come back great but we do not need another Danny Ayers. Unless you have been through it you really do not know how the individual copes or deals with the demons. Let him be and give him support. He entertained you once, don’t knock him when he is down, we have all been in the same situation by varying degrees and may not have realised it but at least it seems he is trying to deal with the situation.

What a contrived result. Still that sums up the sport. Form suggests it should not be but but no doubt no one will ever prove what a load of crap this sport has become with results like this. Stage managed or what.

Yep but as most witches have heard over the last twenty odd years, it is the same old story. If only and what might have been. The management have been too loyal and suckers for being the mister nice guys of speedway when the rest of the teams are less than honourable.Chris probably has other things on his mind with his father and relied too heavily on Hawkins to see them through but that trust has let him down. Still you always have next season.

Who would have guessed that. How much were they paid to throw the match? This shows what a contrived crock of sh... the sport is. Sheffield tried to buy the way to the final, Wolves just want to be in the play offs to have something to show for the history at Monmore and Leicester need to enhance the club value given they are up for sale. Bellevue are the only credible qualifiers for the play off. Still you have the Polish title race to watch but the sport needs to get real. Makes WWE and Smackdown look professional.

Keeping it close at Wolves. Who knows but whatever happens Ipswich can only have themselves to blame if they do not make the play offs. Still where you have some hope who knows. For next season depending on the set up, some changes would be desirable as long as you can keep the top two for entertainment value.

Unfortunately without a good deal of luck the witches are going to struggle and it could be all over except for the cup. Sadly sticking by riders who are not up to which is in isolation when other teams have gone for bust in bringing riders to get to the finals may have bitten the witches on the rear. It would be good for speedway if the likes of Doyle and Sayfutdinov are in the play offs but who knows. Maybe as guests if Ipswich cannot carry it off tonight.

Perhaps what the younger riders need is compete with the better riders but not under the pressure of a league meeting. Bring back the second half event of a meeting and give the youngster a chance to ride and learn from their peers. As it stands these events are not really enough to bring them on a give them confidence. Unfortunately the short sightedness of clubs and officials means that the new ‘Bewley’s’ are taking longer to rise through the ranks. With club closures and fewer opportunities to ride it may take even longer.