Pinny

Spoken with Steve Mallett and they arent DEFINATELY running in the NL in 2011, he still has to make a decision before tomorrows meeting. It is not a forgone conclusion that the Hornets will be in the NL. It was put on the Official Site earlier but has now been removed because somebody jumped the gun.

Nicki Pedersen will be back up there challenging for honours in 2011, I have no fear about that. It was clearly his mechanical setup which hampered him in 2010. Looking at the new team he has in place, I would definately put money on him being 2011 world champ.

What is your point?

Isnt it? Mike Manning runs www.newport-speedway.org despite being a Rebels fan for years, or do you disagree with this?

A function for the OFFICIAL site to appear on google has been applied for and within weeks should be active. Most speedway fans will probably either have the official site already bookmarked or will find it via a links page they may have book marked.

http://www.newportwasps.co = official http://www.newport-speedway.org = unofficial (run by a Somerset fan) Could you not favourite both sites and label them so you know whats what?

No idea what Manning is doing but http://www.newportwasps.co IS the official NEWPORT WASPS website. It covers only the NEWPORT WASPS and not the Hornets as well. Mannings site is unofficial and so is his fan forum. There is NOT an official Newport fans forum.

He has retired, thats why

Watch this space

Yeah I heard we were speaking to him. He could fit in place of Mark Jones in our team which would turn us from a decent team into a league challenging team. But Mark was our first signing, the guy is a gutsy rider and is a top bloke. Would be harsh to release him for Justin.

I would imagine Sedgmen would be a dream signing for most 2011 PL teams. On a 6.5 average, he could push 8 in 2011 in PL. Its very weird how he hasnt been snapped up.

Why oh why has Justin Sedgmen not got a PL berth? I know he wants to ride PL, so what is the problem? Can see it being 1 of 2 things. Either Swindon are making things difficult for a PL team to loan him, or he is simply asking for silly money. Why else would it be?

Then he should of rode it during an interval or before the meeting or something. It didn't pay off? Don't tell me you think Bridger rode that bike with the intention of winning the meeting? Missed today was still recovering from New Years Eve. Will be over for March though for sure.

Certain people may of came all the way from Eastbourne to watch Bridger ride as hes recently re-signed for them. To come all that way to discover he is riding a 20 year old bike and messing about is not on. If I'd travelled half way up the country to watch Leigh Lanham and he was riding a 20 year old bike and basically taking the mick, I wouldn't be very happy and I should imagine 90& of this forum would feel the same.

I heard that Bridger rode a 20 year old Weslake in this meeting. If true, what a total disgrace. He was arguably the best rider in the lineup and took the urine. Hope he is never invited again.

How did Mark Jones do Dave?

Why no Alex Davies or Todd Kurtz?

I just dont understand why newcomers get given a go in these meetings (Tarp and Westlund). Neither have much pedigree and wont attract any travelling support. Even second strings from British Clubs would bring more fans in. Looks a poor line up and I won't be wasting money watching that. I remember Westlund riding in the 2009 welsh open and was nowhere near as good as Jonas Andersson, who posted a sub 3.5 PL average. Poor show.

Its probably true, Hackett. But how can a nation thats even worse off than us in World Speedway (the USA) afford to make it to the Ukraine, yet we can't?

I see that Team GB have not even bothered entering a 2011 world under 21 team into the qualifiers, therefore will not be taking part in the tournament. What a total and utter shambles, and people wonder why British Speedway is on its arse?! Even the USA are sending a team out to the UKRAINE for their qualifier. Think how much this will cost to fund their journey, and they probably wont even go through although we shall see. There is no ambition in British Speedway whatsoever. After this latest scandal, I and I expect many others, will be furious to read any total rubbish from young British riders family or friends regarding them being left out of team places in the PL or NL. They probably only rode in it in 2010 because it was on home soil, in 2011 a bit of travelling is involved and they aint interested. There is no excuse as to why they havent entered. Go into the internation section and look at some of the teams that are in! Britain would wipe the floor with half of them I am sure! Sad, sad times for the sport.

Can this thread now be removed from the PL section? Dont like any EL snobs on here.

Because the PL is a lot cheaper to run for a start therefore if they spend as much on the 2010 team in the EL on the 2011 PL team they will be able to track on hell of a PL side, providing the riders want to go there. Most towns and cities have high support for their local team if they are successful. If the Witches are going well in the PL, the crowds will be big. If I was an Ipswich fan I would be looking forward to a new challenge. The PL is top racing. It isnt the NL where half of the riders struggle to ride into the bends at top speeds. Put it this way, you still get bad meetings in the PL. But the Scunthorpe/Sheffield meeting in 2009 on Sky was, barring the world cup at Peterborough, IMO the best televised meeting of the season. It was better than any EL sky meeting I seen all season and this year too I would say.

A winning team in the PL will see bigger crowds than a rubbish EL team for the club. Fact.

Its already been stated that a takeover has fallen through, Trees. I certainly wouldn't be willing to spend much on buying Ipswich Speedway, its a buisness losing money with very little assets.

You must ask the question, how much are Ipswich asking for? They dont own the stadium. All they own is the name Ipswich Speedway and a few riders, the majority of which don't want to ride over here.