Steve Irving

First thing Ipswich need to do is get a new track man. I understand the word loyalty and I know the chap has been around for donkeys years and given terrific service, but there comes a time when you have to move on to improve your product. Chris Louis has spent an awful lot of time and money changing the track shape over the last 6 years. You’ll still hear people saying the track shape doesn’t produce good racing, which is absolute bollox. There’s nothing wrong with the shape whatsoever. The surface on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired and Chris himself needs to hold his hands up and accept some of the responsibility too as he also gets his hands dirty with the track prep. Every year tracks are short listed for track of the year in all divisions voted for by referees. This is for track preparation. There is a reason why Ipswich haven’t just never won it, but to my knowledge have never been shortlisted to be in contention either. Get someone in who can consistently prepare a surface that consistently produces good racing and you improve your product tenfold.

I assume you weren’t there on Thursday evening then? Pity, you’d have seen a good meeting (for the first time ever)

Couldn’t disagree more. I support neither club but now living in Colchester and recently retired, I visit both quite frequently. Ipswich is a much better race track IMO. Having been to both venues Thursday and last night it was night and day. Respect your own personal opinion of course. We all have an opinion and what we see. I’ve seen Covatti for example pull of moves at Foxhall in recent weeks that he’d never have a chance in hell of pulling off at Lakeside.

Some riders at the same age are more ready than others. I’ve no doubt Drew will take it in his stride, and he’ll score points too. A completely natural motorcyclist who has the potential to go very very far.

Ipswich fan, Ipswich mascot, Ipswich second halfer, big talent. I somehow don’t think Chris Louis will let this particular fish slip the net. Having spoken to the lad at the Sheffield meeting a few weeks back, it would be a major surprise to Drew himself..

So let me get this right. He would have been 51 years old, lured an emotionally fragile 17 year old in to the back of his sleazy van with the promise of free merchandise, whilst also bedding her 23 year old Sister in same said van, all whilst his poor wife was battling Cancer? Absolutely despicable.

Maybe you were right Tsunami? http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/tommy-gunning-for-speedway-bosses-1-134675 http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich-teenager-tells-of-harassment-1-100203 So which is it, Raymond or Tommy!!? there can’t be two Ipswich based Scott Nicholls speedway riders surely?

Prickly lot you Panthers fans! You really do come across as a horrible bunch of @rseholes on here.

A new assessed German? Struggling to think of a half decent one to be honest..

Incredible bad luck for Witches

If the rumours prove to be true and Lakeside and Ipswich move back to the top flight, Peterborough should look to do likewise. Easier said than done obviously and I understand the current unsettled situation, but it makes much more sense for Peterborough to move back up than remain in the predominantly Northern league.

For what its worth Ive found these smartphone weather apps next to useless. They literally change every 10 minutes depending on what the current weather is outside!!

In the top flight? Very much doubt it.

Good racing. Thought Lambert was excellent. Season is ending at the wrong time for him!

Looking forward to this.

You asked for that Crumpet tbh. Your dig was totally unnecessary.

Congratulations to Sheffield, at the end of the day it’s their name on the trophy. Fair play to the Ipswich supporters for being so gracious too, not sure I would be! Had their work cut out before their season even got started with Newman coming a cropper at Poole. Then as soon as he returned the injuries to Covatti and Hume (who was making a mockery of his average by the way) were catastrophic. Then as the season came to the climax they lost their in form rider (Heeps) and then just as he returned for the final, they lost an in form reserve (Mountain) and replaced him with inferior riders in Bacon and Bowtell! Sheffield on the other hand went in to the play offs at full strength and got a lucky break picking up Gravesen at reserve who has contributed hugely. Not sure I agree that the best team always finishes top or wins the league, in this sport luck plays a massive part too. No doubt in my mind that the 1-7 Chris Louis put together last winter was a title winner. Their chance had gone as soon as they replaced Covatti with Sedgman. 1 point last night from R/R when Covatti is usually good for double figures tells you everything. Sorry Ippo fans can’t help but have a little chuckle at your misfortune. Ever since Ipswich dropped to the PL they’ve put together some corking sides but still the wait goes on. Maybe next year!

From an Ipswich supporters point of view you're right it's probably good to see a change of strategy from your promotion. Nice guys finish last and Ipswich haven't been successful for a while. Didn't Somerset sack Proctor a year or two ago before he'd even turned a wheel in anger because a better option cropped up late on? Now that's ruthless but Somerset have been very successful with that mindset. At least Sedgmen could have few complaints as he's been utter tripe! If he'd been doing the job he was brought in to do then changes wouldn't have been necessary.

Couple of tweets from Hawkins the last few days to questions about the track.. "A lot of work went into the track over the winter to improve racing. Expect big improvment next week." "Chris is working his b0llocks off to get it right. We want to win & entertain " I wouldn't hold your breath, but there is hope!

Maybe Ipswich should get in another trackman? I understand the current chap has been a loyal servant to the club for many years, but if the track is crap he has to accept responsibility surely? I refuse to accept that there is anything wrong with the track shape. It used to be famously very tight but that's no longer the case and there's now plenty of room to race. So if the racing remains poor then I'm sorry but you have to point the finger at those that prepare it.

He may well have a bit more time on his hands though if the mooted Poole changes come to fruition.

Well if it was engine issues that caused Skornicki to perform so crap, I'm sure now those issues have been eradicated he will be inundated with offers!

Ah the old "it wasn't him it was his equipment" excuse that's so often trotted out. Skornicki always looked a strange choice for Wolves and surprise surprise he was crap. A half decent rider in his day and would have been a good signing a few years ago, not now.

"Still, the boys got a good win, Peterborough made the track look twice as tricky as it actually was and we all went home happy." And those the comments from another "professional speedway rider", the British champion no less, in his column today.

The only people to blame for any lack of entertainment were the majority of the Peterborough riders. When you first got there, did you look at the track and immediately think "this is far too grippy and won't produce good racing"? I'd be surprised if you did. Yes the track was grippy and when I saw the track upon entering the stadium I was delighted at what I saw and was expecting a good meeting. What I wasn't expecting though was to see most of the away side wimping out and not even bother trying! Absolutely disgraceful and so are the subsequent comments from the Peterborough management who I can only think must be trying to deflect the deserved criticism away from their riders. The track was a racers track and was there to be raced, for those that were actually prepared to attack it and race! Perhaps the Peterborough riders would have been far more happier at Sheffield on Thursday. That was an even worse meeting I promise you for totally opposite reasons. No matter how hard the riders were trying, if you didn't make the jump you were going nowhere fast. This is part of the problem these days, the tracks by and large with a minority of exceptions, are not prepared for racing due to the request of over pampered riders who seem to prefer a slick easy to ride billiard table to ride on. This is what they've become used to and IMO it's wrong. The fans are the most important aspect here. If the fans aren't there the riders won't have a job that's the bottom line. Tracks should be prepared for entertainment and the fans, not the riders. As has been said,Cameron Heeps' attitude was spot on. He opened the throttle, chased the dirt on the outside and was always making ground on those in front of him. He made some terrific passes. As for Rathbones sly dig in his press release, he too should be ashamed of himself. He should have been praising the efforts of the people at Ipswich for producing a race track fit for good racing, and then apologising to everybody who attended for his teams abysmal "effort" in doing any racing at all!!!