BroadsideAce

Whilst I wasn't at Buxton yesterday, I was at Belle Vue last Wednesday. To read of more "issues" involving Dudley fans is disappointing to say the least. Last Wednesday there was cheering when Belle Vue Riders fell off, particularly Jason Garrity who Dudley fans seem to love to hate with a vengeance. One of them explained to me that they regard Jason as a dirty rider who takes opposition riders out - apparently he has previous from his time at Buxton. Now everybody is entitled to an opinion but some of the stuff being shouted (and gesticulated) last Wednesday went too far and has no place at a Speedway Meeting. Please folks, cut it out. Support your team by all means, but retain a degree of balance/sportsmanship. It's easy to forget sometimes that, at NL level, we are often watching 15/16/17 yr old kids who are setting out on a career in the sport. Quite often their brain isn't fully connected to their right wrist!! On the plus side, it's their enthusiasm that attracts many of us in the first place! I gladly pay £10 to watch the likes of Garrity and Morris race - their willingness to race is often in sharp contrast to the efforts of some riders higher up the sport. Dudley are a good, well balanced team who should win the NL, providing injuries don't stop them in their tracks. Just let them do their talking on the track!! As to starting procedures, I see many races where Riders are stationary 6 inches away from the tapes, clearly looking to get a "roller". This needs to be nipped in the bud with Starting Marshalls becoming more determined to bring all Riders into line closer to the tapes. I'm not excusing what may, or may not, have happened yesterday but stronger policing of the start area is essential by both the Starting Marshall and the Referee.

Garrity is guesting for Lambert this Saturday, 2 April. Well worth going to see.

Really enjoyed the Meeting - plenty of good, competitive racing. Well done to all of the riders. Message to PL Promoters - get this lad Jason Garrity on board. He could be something very special. Lovely style on the bike and clearly a true racer. Shame about the crash in the Bronze Helmet Race. It will be interesting to see how he fares at Stoke on Saturday in the U-21 qualifier.

Glorious start to the day here in the sunny North West and the forecast promises more of the same throughout the day. Really looking forward to tonights' match and seeing the relaunched Colts on track. Great "derbies" ahead against Buxton and Stoke and renewing old rivalries with Cradley (Dudley). The National League is a wonderful league filled with enthusiastic youngsters looking to make their mark in the sport. Takes me back to the Division 2/National League days of the 70's when I first caught the speedway bug. I only wish I could be as enthusuastic about the Elite League start next week!