Nobblytriers

I can't really see any bitterness in the piece on speedwaygb website, just DH stating that he's saddened by Doyle's departure. If it's true that the club has invested a lot of time and effort re the visa application, then surely that's just a statement of fact? With regard to DH's immoveable stance with the track and race night, whilst I don't agree with him, isn't it his business? Who in business doesn't want to do it their way?

Strange that it's gone quiet with the "get over it, suck it up, end of, Poole are Champs" posters now that lots of examples of points being deducted, (for a variety of reasons), and a result being altered, are coming out. I really hope that the SCB adhere to the rules and put some credibility back into the sport. I thought the two legs of the final were great and it's a shame that it's been marred by this controversy. I don't really see it as some do, it's not like a goal awarded when it wasn't one, or a try. For me that's an error of judgement and/or opinion. In this case, it's a clear breach of the rules, nothing to do with the refs opinion or judgement, it's the failure of the ref to implement the rules.

There's a name from the past, sort of rolls of the tongue. Pretty sure I saw him ride too (but could be wrong). Another name (same era?) Dag Lovass. Always enjoyed seeing him. Sorry this is off topic but I couldn't resist!

lol

But the tactical ride is allowed in the rules, riding without goggles isn't

Is it possible that could change in the not too distant future? Aren't we reading that crowds are down in Sweden and that some Polish clubs are in financial difficulty? Maybe a few more will come back when, or if, continental speedway goes a little pear shaped. On that note, why is it that we have to dance to the tune of the Poles and Swedes? They always seem to get first dibs on where and when riders race. (or maybe I've got that wrong )

Seeing as we're talking track again, does anyone know if the 'no mans land' between the track safety fence and the spectator fence is mandatory? If not, my proposal would be to widen the straights by using half of the gap between fences and to bring in the corners by about 6 meters at each end. By shortening and widening the straights this should offer more racing lines. As we know, this wouldn't be a guarantee of great racing at every meeting (too many other factors in the recipe for that) but I think it would help a great deal. Anyone with an idea of how much this would cost?

What about the paying public?

Good point. Why was it called off without an inspection? Can anyone provide a sensible answer?

I think abandoning the meeting around heat 7 or 8 would have been the right idea. The meeting should have been re run and the fans would have got a bit back from the abandoned heats. Disgrace to let it go to 10 then call it off. It's either safe or it isn't!

I can't understand how it can be safe in heat 9, then after a crash, to allow heat 10 to be run, then abandon the meeting after heat 10! Why not carry on till the end? Either it's safe or it isn't!!

I thought it was good to hear Jason's support of the management over the mic, got a cheer from the crowd too, and his disappointment over the way Bridger let the team down. Some hard racing at times and at one point thought that Jason and Janowski would end up in a heap, close stuff. Does anyone know why there was another restart in ht15? Didn't see a bad start but the red light didn't seem to come on until all 4 were into turn 2!

It's interesting Shale Searcher. I couldn't get down for the Cov meeting so was hoping to see some sort of match report from someone who was there. From what I can gather from the odd comment on here, and the stuff on Updates, that it was a close fought match with passing and close racing. It would seem that certain fans are not happy unless they can find something to complain about! J PS managed to get down for the Lynn meeting and thought Max Fricke looked very good. If my memory is right, he also did well at the U21 last season. Seems to me that if you get stuck in then you get the rewards. Good to watch. Sign him up DH, he's definitely one for the future.

Hi Gordon, not having a go at you, just never thought I'd read or hear that statement I tend to agree with you that the tracks with shorter straights and longer bends will produce better racing. I didn't think about the evolution of the bikes, (I think John Boulger made a visit to Leicester last season and said he couldn't believe how fast the bikes were), and that must also play a part. Another one, I think, is the exhaust pipes. The power isn't delivered when the riders need it and they can't cope too well with deep tracks. It would be good to find a solution to the problem ... if there is one! J

Well there's a thing! Never thought I'd read that Kings Lynn's track was the wrong shape! If you look at the Leicester threads, you'll see that there are a lot of fans who think that BP is the wrong shape and they're all saying it should be made wider .. more like Lynns perhaps? We have seen some good meetings at BP and I saw some at Lynn years ago, so it is possible to have good, close competitive racing no matter what the track shape is. I have said many times that there is more to it than just the shape. Watch the first GP of either 2013 or 14, on a huge track with sweeping curves and count the passes ... and that was at GP level. The riders determination, the bikes, the shale (type and depth), moisture content, banking all play a part. Years ago, when the bikes were using total loss engines, it's even been suggested that the oil deposited over the track over a period of time, gave the surface extra grip. All we can hope for as fans is that it all comes together on the night. When it's right, it's the best sport in the world. J

We've only got eight teams and out of six meetings, one team isn't in the list. Does anyone know why Leicester isn't being shown, even away?

But sadly it isn't just 'a' bad meeting. According to some fans, the track is not what it used to be and there are more FTG races then they'd like. Apparently Buster, the track man, is 'the man for the job' so why do we end up with these processions? I don't think it's just about track shape. If it was, with a top track man and the right shape it would be great every week ... wouldn't it?

There's another thread on the forum, in news and discussions I think, and it's about the silencers. It seems that the power is now delivered differently and it's not as responsive as it used to be. I think they say that there's a time lag between opening the throttle and the power kicking in. That must make it difficult to control. Make interesting reading (if you're into that kind of thing)

Is this true? The ONLY SET? Surely, every club, in the EL at least, should have a set. They can't cost that much compared to the millions that Sky have pumped in over the years, what happened to that money? Even if TWO SETS were made available for this very situation, it's not as if this is the first time we've had the play offs and we all know how the weather can be ... IT'S OCTOBER! And if there is only one set, why was only half of it used at Swindon? The starting grid was appalling.

The crowds at these meetings are massive!! The clip from Lezno with KK seems to have a better crowd than most GP's. How do they do that? Also, with large Polish communities living in the UK, does anyone have any idea how many (if any) go and support our tracks up and down the country? If it's not many (and I suspect that is the case), then is there a reason why we can't attract them through the gates? Would love to see crowds like that, the atmosphere must be great.

Good meeting last night, some close racing, Harris really trying and I don't think his score reflected his effort. Some good, genuine passing. Harris and Buz into turn 1 was scary, Harris hard under Buz but both raced well, thought it would end in tears, and Cook's pass on Thorssell down the home straight was breathtaking. Came from nowhere and shot past him, taking so much speed into turn 1 we didn't think he'd make it make it into 2. Great move. Not sure what happened to Tai in ht15 (dropped a chain?) but it would have been a more exciting race if he'd have been in it I'm sure. Well done to the Lions and commiserations to the Wolves. Bit of bad luck on both sides but Wolves had theirs just when they didn't need it. All in all, a good meeting. Races rattled through, very little messing about at the gate, one bad start but all straight back to the tapes and one extra grade following some rider concerns. Good crowd too, delayed start to get them all in.

Could we put all of the premier and elite teams together, and then form two leagues of roughly equal numbers with promotion and relegation? The top division could have one top rider (current elite?) per team. I say that because todays Elite isn't really that elite is it? Alot of top riders don't ride here anyway so there's not that many to go round. No doubling up/down of riders for both leagues. Have a third league, todays NL, and allow doubling up/down between that and League two. Have two fixed race nights and use those to ride weekly at home and away. Scrap the current tacticle rule. Watching the Swedish league last night was far better with the old style T/R rule in my opinion. 6 points down and put in anyone you want but each rider can only have one T/R ride per meeting. No T/R's in the reserves race. Get the riders out for each race as the last one finishes and stop them going back to the pits after tape infringements. Keep it moving. I'm not sure about extreme type presentation like some are saying the sport needs. If you go too far you might loose as many as you might gain. Just make the facilities presentable, the refreshments value for money, the breaks interesting and the racing entertaining.

I've never heard anyone say that the racing at BR was dire (if I read your post right). The Blackbird Road track was always viewed as a very fair racetrack with no home advantage and plenty of passing. British semi finals that were held there were full ... and it was a big stadium! The track had an even banking around the wide bends but this was taken away when Martin Rogers took over. The banking went up to the middle of the track and then went flat to the fence, which meant that if you went wide, you struggled to pass. From what I can remember, the racing in the MR years was never as entertaining as those before. That said, it was still better than what I saw at BP on saturday.

4 miles south of the track, rain been stopped for a while now. This site for predicted weather seems to be right at the moment, been following it since I got up, so if it goes as it predicts, then it should be OK for tonight.

I'll miss his avatar