Pinny

How?! Batchelor is better in all 3 leagues! Neither are world champion material but Batchelor is a better rider and the facts and stats back this up. Usual Wolves bias from you, again.

Dont be so dull. Batchelor is better in the EL, is streets ahead in Poland and a good scorer in Swedish EL too. Your sensible, average fan would rather Troy in their team in any of the 3 main leagues than Tai.

Heavily watered, drenched, soaked... same thing. The gate was not watered heavily on purpose. David Howe is a very well liked rider at Newport amongst the fans, the previous and current promotion and I very much doubt our promotion would try and stitch him, or even Scunny up. The Wasps promotion are actually very helpful with track conditions with away riders, often walking the track with an away rider and preparing it as they want it, ask any rider and 90% will agree. The manager got the wrong end of the stick and took matters into his own hands. He should not of gone onto the track and started tampering with gate 3. It appeared to most that it was actually him trying to mess with gate 3, not the Newport promotion. the Scunthorpe manager was asked to stay off track after this incident but then in heat 6 (?) he dived in front of the start gate as the riders were preparing to start the race and was moaning at Doyles position. He was making a scene on the centre green for some time before the referee asked him to remain in the pits and the word in the bar after the meeting was that the Scunthorpe Promoter was less than impressed with his team manager. I am all for a bit of panto booing, a controversial interview with an away team manager or rider, but for the away team manager to start tampering with the gate his rider is of is not on and an instant fine should of been issued there and then. I did not see the confrontation between Mallett and Hollingsworth in the pits so can't comment on that but can comment that two Newport riders have told me that Hollingsworth was being a nuisance in the pits all meeting.

After heat 4 the track was watered due to it being one of the hottest days of the year. The outside of the track was watered and that meant gates 3 and 4 being heavily watered. It was not fiddling with the gates at all. The Scunthorpe team manager has no right to interfere with track grading anyway, even if the Wasps were tampering with the track. Surely if soaking gate 3 prior to heat 5 was done to cause a disadvantage to Howe, then it would of caused a disadvantage to the Wasp off it in heat 6? Drenching a gate would not last for just one race, no matter how hot the weather is.

Its funny how scunny fans are stating newport tried messing up gate 3 for howe in heat 5 yet they weren't there. No fixing was done to gate 3, the water bowser was going around the outside and wet gate 3 and part of gate 4, hollingsworth didn't like this and took it upon himself to go onto the track, pick up and rake and start tampering with gate 3. Fact. His actions were silly and it was even funnier to see an official shout at him to see him running around the centre green.

any streams?

Will pass the message on to Pinny when I see him, DB

Why move it from cardiff? Crowds increasing each year, its in the middle of a superb city, its got a roof, the riders love the place and its also not too far for most. Scotland would never happen, no way would you see near 50,000 fans in murrayfield or HP. I think its best left as it is, a second gp in britain could well see the cardiff gate drop significantly.

Surely not mr bridger?

I thought the racing was pretty good but then again most things do when plenty of beers been consumed Thankfully, wasn't sat by any Poles this year. Had a great day out before it, meeting Squall and Jacques for the first time as well as catching up with Shadders, Paulco, potts, Tsunami, Najjer and the legendary H Man once again. I must admit that I am quite keen on these 5pm starts, OK you have less drinking time pre meeting but we spent a good few hours in Cardiff drinking after the GP. My only negative point is that for the price of it, the beer is terrible. No idea what the Cider or Bitter was like but the lager was warm and tasted like it had been there all week. Something that needs to be looked at in the future as it wasnt just a one off, all the beers I had were exactly the same.

There is no consistency in meeting formats across the sport though which is a nuisance. I think the GP format is spot on. If a 16 rider line up, have the top 8 to two semis and then the top 2 from each semi into final. 1 engine failure can cost you a rostrum place if the top scorer format is used.

If he was head and shoulders above the rest, he'd of won the meeting. He didnt.

Cracking day, many beers consumed, not bad racing either. I thought after his first heat Lindback was going to make at least semi final, how wrong could I of been? Was dreadful after that win.

Looking forward to a few beers on this glorious day

At least they got the meeting to heat 12, thankfully for Dudley as they probably would of lost had it been completed. Kurtz and Herne superb. Kurtz this year is flying, could well be pushing an 11 point average around Newport. I just cant see who the next NL rider will be to beat him at home, hes riding that well.

What time you getting on it on Saturday Mr Davis?

Barkers flying and is in much better form than Bridger. Whats his problem? Yet again, the guy is showing what an utter buffoon he really is. Your not good enough, get over it.

I have a feeling Lindback may make the top 3 on Saturday. May have to stick £20 eachway on him.

Great news. Will also shut montie and co up to. Happy days.

Surely one of Gjedde or Doyle will be in this?

The track is a lot different to previous years now but its almost impossible to produce a perfect track for afternoon racing. As well as a lot of riders dont want to ride, with it being the GP the night before

On paper Newport should easily win this but the same was thought last year. Kurtz averaging 10+ whilst Herne is only averaging 8.5, but has been a 10 pointer before.

I reckon this meeting should be replaced now with a league fixture. We have already had three cancelled at home and I doubt that is the last of it either! Put Newport vs Plymouth on this date instead, I think it makes sense. Will still get a large crowd for it.

Surely its in the best interests of the sport to include Newport's Doyle and Gjedde. Doyle would of raced at least 6 meetings for the Wasps by then, as well as around 10 for Rye House so has a valid PL ave and Gjedde will have raced at least 3 meetings for Newport by then and also had a valid PL CMA. Those pair would challenge for honours, leaving them out is daft. I agree all sides should be included, have a mini tournament before the main event. It includes 4 extra sides so more chance of more fans travelling.