Pinny

Olsen was a class act in 1999... some of his tussles at Newport with Watson were thrilling to watch, and the PLRC at Sheffield. He never seemed to be the same powerful figure after 1999 though.

Stumbled on some old scorecards whilst having a clear out on my PC... what has happened to the following riders? Jesper Olsen Neville Tatum Paul Bentley Scott Swain Phillipe Berge Robert Eriksson Scott Lamb Steve Masters Peter Jeffrey Paul Pickering Dave Mullett Petri Kokko Mario Jirout All were superb riders at PL level on their day, most of them true number ones who were in action when I first started going to speedway in the late 90s. What are they doing now?

But from good sources, the switch to Rodney Parade for the County has proved very successful. Would be brilliant if someone did look into taking speedway to the former County stadium, would be a very good venue and if as is said the council are keen to get the sport back to the city, then they may look at this.

Gjedde Avenue in Berwick

And of course,youve never gone off topic on a thread before?

Riders go where their offered the best deals its as simple as that, anyone who thinks they chose their club because of "the benefits" are wrong. You can be sure the SRBF meeting was sod all to do with any rider signing for Berwick.... otherwise you'd have the likes of Harris, Barker, Korneliussen etc on the phone to Anderson begging for a team place. Although I am sure the Berwick PR guru will find a paragraph or two stating they'd love to ride there if it was an EL club! There is no doubt the Andersons have made Berwick a more attractive place to ride since Waite's reign but like the Malletts with Newport, are the crowds any better or even as good as when the previous promoter was in charge?

All three are streets ahead of Tai out of EL racing.

Or maybe they were just simply offered good points money and deals for 2013? TBH its 99.999% the reason why riders sign for a club

Yet again one rule for one and one rule for another... what a total effing joke the powers that be are in this country.

Also the fact people turn out at meetings dressed in wulfsport crap, donnay trackies, lonsdale trainers, kappa jumpers along with program boards, tip ex, assorted pens for the program etc etc... listening to a track that didnt even make the top ten in the 70s over the tannoy has a big part to play... try moving with the times!

Probably because the sport is in a big crisis and not much money is on offer?! Maybe last season he was on a contract based on any potential improvement Sheffield seen in him i.e improvement to a 7.5-8.0 rider...it didn't happen so they now want to pay him based on his average? He is no big hitter in the PL... far better riders about.

Not a bad side I think Kurtz at reserve will prove a masterstroke, he had a very good 2011 with Newport and although his average dropped in 2012 he was at #2 all season in a struggling side.

I reckon the double points tactical rule has done the sport absolutely no favors at all.

Same scenario as at Newport in our last few seasons. Ashworth, Smith, Aspegren, Bellego, Wethers, Edberg and Barrett looks a decent team that wont come cheap just as our 2012 named team of Gjedde, Lanham, Gathercole, Aspegren, Mellgren, Kurtz and Jones. As I have said before, you cannot write to the press begging for more people through the gate or sponsorship or threat with closure. I would be stunned if none of the other Bandits riders are making other arrangements now for team places or making inquiries, although theres not many spaces left. Aspegren in particular after his 2012 club shut down on the eve of the new season! I dont even recall Steve Mallett threatening to shut down in between signing the 1-7 and actually closing down... threatening to close once the side is all signed up leaving them with little options of a ride elsewhere IF the club shuts is very unprofessional. As Backless has said on here countless times, those Berwick press releases are absolutely awful... I know football is a much bigger sport than speedway but can you imagine a football press release being like some of Berwicks? I remember the signing of Bager was quoted as being the signing of the PL season, an international superstar being signed in Magosi, Swedens next big super Swede in Benny Johansson etc... not to mention that shocking one about Gjedde and the bonfire in 2011! Berwick have a decent-ish side lined up and now its signed, I think their best bet would be to get out and advertise, plaster posters all over the North East, try getting some tv coverage, offer decent deals for entrance fees (sure I read it has been done already, well done) and generally just promote the place and see how things are after a few meetings... they have the biggest meeting on the GB calender after the Cardiff GP in the ben fund, use this as a massive promotion for the Bandits too. It's not my money so really I am only posting my opinion BUT I think pulling out now is a silly move. Not only will it see seven riders without clubs but also it leave the promotion out of pocket (I dont believe they are entitled to get their £40,000 bond back once they've declared to ride in the next season but maybe wrong?) and will give the Andersons a bad name around Berwick like it has done to the Mallett's in Newport. Also what about the fans who have bought season tickets or paid sponsorship money, do they get that back? Berwick really should have learnt that getting the begging bowl out and pleading with fans and sponsors to the local press wont work. One thing I did wonder when Newport closed was would a meeting where riders raced for free of worked? I mean it could of been possible... fans turned up in numbers for the Air fence meetings in the EL where the riders raced for nothing whilst the fans paid normal prices to get in so the promotions could purchase the air fences. If it could be proved Berwick are in need of say, £10k to keep them afloat for the season, could something be done? May sound silly but worth a think although once one club does it I imagine every club will be looking for excuses to do it! That said, good luck to Berwick and I hope to see them see out the season at least.

This team will struggle. Stead was a better rider when he last raced PL than he is now IMO. Sure he will get 8 with ease but will struggle to get 9 unless he is dominant at home like Wilson was. I can't see him being untouchable around Sheffield personally. Albin is struggling in his homeland if you check out the Argentina scores, theres about 3 or 4 other local lads beating him . That said I dont recall Carlos Villar being thought of very much until he banged some scores in for Berwick so you never know.

Rob grant in the pl? Good lord!

I'd expect him to get snapped up quickly... on decent kit he would make a mockery of a 4.9 average without a doubt

Can anyone send me a stream link via pm please, cheers

Just about!

Nah, think this is actually Cockle. The guy who has done absolutely sod all in over a decade in speedway!

Correct Shawn the closure of Newport Speedway is as much Tim Stones fault as it is the Malletts he ran the place so far into the ground

Can only praise Berwick for their price... thats a cracking deal.

Kurtz will be a fantastic signing once permitted to ride.

Have Newport ever had big crowds? Well up until about 2003, yes! During the Wasps first five years or so they probably had the best following in the PL, ask the likes of Reading, Exeter and Swindon fans what the travelling support was like when the Wasps were in town!

And as i have said, just because he lives local and doesnt require much travel pay it doesnt mean he is cheap!! Comparing him with cook is ridiculous. Cook is the top rider in the league. Comparing him with riders between 6.5 and 7.00 is a better idea. You can be sure other clubs were sniffing around Lanham on a figure of 6.92. As i have stated numerous times, having been aware of what he was being paid during his time at Newport, unless hes taken a big pay cut then Lanham is far from a cheap rider. Id wager that hes on a better deal than some 8 pointers. Your constant claims that Lanham is a cheap option are pathetic and wrong but most can see that.