MrsNiceman

Well how wrong was I! I thought watching it would be a little bit flat as I didn't have A GB team to support. Wrong Wrong Wrong.... the final was brilliant and in some respects better for not having the GB team there as I was able to just enjoy the races without focusing on 'our' team. I don't like the Joker idea but I can see why it was put in place. As for cutting it down to 16 heats....noooooooo. I want to see more speedway at that level not less. Poland are the cup holders but after last night Speedway was the winner.

Thanks for the reply Villiers. As I have said in previous posts I am new to following speedway and, with no pun intended I am trying to get to grips with it all. I, rightly or wrongly thought that a speedway referee would be experienced enough to make a serious judgement call on whether a track is rideable or not and I did ask in another post if referee match report was for public viewing as I would have been very interested to see what it said. I wasn't specifically referring to wednesdays meet when I made my reply but as you mentioned it, it was a spectacle I really do not want to ever watch again at any level of the sport. I was just giving my opinion that the lads need to gain experience on all types of tracks (as long as they are trully rideable and not dangerous)to progress as far as they would wish to. The feeling I had about if their was any dissent or problems within the team came way before first gate when I was hanging around pit gates, at the time I put it down to pre meet nerves/anticipation but on reflection it seemed something more. As I said, its just my opinion.

But surely if the track is deemed by the official as 'fit to ride' then the riders should adapt their racing style to suit the tracks. I know a lots of the riders are youngsters learning their trade and testosterone rush often means they have to be saved from themselves but by giving them the ideal track conditions they want everytime is doing them no favours if they want to progress to top level. This isn't just the case in this sport it is in all sports, they have to adapt to all conditions at any given time. I did wonder last night if there was dissent in the ranks with the Heathens management/Captain/riders , can't put my finger on it, there was not 1 specific incident that gave me that impression it was just a general feeling I got. Just my personal opinion.

Point taken. I just thought it would have been better, once the inspection had been done to take it away from the public viewing. The discussions were very heated(understandibly)and individual riders should not be under scrutiny or criticism for their personal feelings and decisions because they have been overheard or interviewed when in a very emotive state.

Firstly I am so glad to hear the lads are going to be ok. Can I just ask, does the referee have to give a meet/match report to a governing body and if they do is it available for public viewing? Personally I thought it was completely unprofessional of the referee,(and the teams) to stand in the middle of the track having heated arguments on whether the track was rideable or not. He should have done an inspection himself and then taken it behind closed doors with the team managers and the captains. There will rarely be a referees decision that suits both sides, that is why there has to ref's there in the first place. However once his decision has been made then that should be final. I know some of the lads did not want to continue because of injuries, and I know Jon took a heavy knock in one of the heats, but if he just decided he wasn't going to ride the remainder of the races ( as he suggested in his tannoy interview) will he now be open to disciplinary action either from his team or from the governing body? I have also noted people mentioning about why the racing was stopped at 10:22 and not continued through to curfew 10:30pm... why, if they are saying the track was unrideable/unsafe/dangerous and the meet should have been abandoned are they now arguing the racing should have been continued ? Confusing. Or is the fact the meet was 'called' before the curfew cut off is this going to be a grounds to have the meet declared 'void' Not trying to cause any trouble just trying to get to grips with all legislations and rules of speedway.

Your right Wembley it should have been a good meeting between 2 good sides, It felt a very hollow win tonight.

Only Just got back from the meeting. I hope Perry is ok and wish all the lads a speedy recovery from any injuries they picked up tonight. I can't comment on the track as I am not qualified or experienced in speedway to make any judgement calls on that matter, however I would like to think the referee is and once he called the track fit to race then that should be the end of the matter. The individual riders can still make their own personal decision whether they want to withdraw themselves from the meet and some exercised that right. The lads from Dudley who came to the gate after the referees decision got a brilliant reception, every extra lap they completed added to their experience and it showed what a passion they hold for the sport.