The Voice Of Reason

I don't think it's fair either............to give some cock and bull story (July 31st 2013) about having to cancel a meeting due to 'electrical problems'; which turned out to be nothing more than a blown fuse. But Hey Ho....Chapman and Lyon got away with it. Quite honestly, I'm appalled at Lyon's scant disregard for Birmingham's predicament by these comments. And if Jon Cook or Neil Vatcher stated similar about us losing 7 points, I'd be utterly disgusted with my clubs' promotion. And as for your comment "Rob is as devastated as anyone that Birmingham has folded". In all honesty, your words to defend him have about as much depth as a grain of sand.

Is Tom in 'a positive mood' for his 'tough test' because, as he said last week (pre-Cov appearance) he's 'going to be giving it 100'%? He really is becoming a real little king of the clichés isn't he. Tatum and Pearson must know that their days are numbered; and with you as his PA, who can blame them!

Ask to see the sick note Vatch! You are fully entitled, given that this was not the line-up that would have been initially declared before the weekend.

To be fair, I don't think it's mind games. You can't blame a promotion for trying to promote! As stated, kids are now off school for the Summer, and with nice weather, it inevitably realises a good attendance (Brandon was pretty full on Friday). Let's just hope that you witness more passing/closer racing than that place generates!

Generally (this season aside) Proctor seems to be a bit of a thorn in our side - pulling out a race win to cost us a point or two. He's just generally one of those riders who does well against us. Jason Doyle is another.

Blimey - we may nick a point then. In my honest opinion, having Ben Barker at Monmore makes us stronger (watch that comment come back and kick me up the arse by 9.30 tonight)! If we are to consolidate our position, we need to get something out of this meeting. There's a number of teams breathing down our neck.

Looking at your grammar and spelling, suggests that you've been on both.

Going through the scores on Speedway Updates, and reading comments here, suggests that Arlington produced a good speedway meeting tonight. Bloody well done Eastbourne - your team have done you proud this week.

It was indeed. The one thing that Speedway Promoters strive for is cancelling meeting such as this - especially when they've had the opportunity of riding against a weakened team. Paying for riders travelling; paying staff wages; apologising to sponsors in attendance; racing when your team has hit some decent form, etc. pales into sheer insignificance when you can get a meeting cancelled mate. They must earn thousands through cancelling meetings.

So it's R/R for Lewis, and for Bechy? This don't look good. 6pm and to be honest, I think I'll phone for that ruby I missed out on last night. Slowly, but surely, losing all faith in this sport.

Come on SCB, be fair. Last nights Belle Vue squad was about as inspiring as an interview by Gary Havelock!

It was banter dear boy - stevebrum actually mirrors my thoughts more often than not. Are you related by any chance?

"Read all about it. Jensen Jensen Racing hacks stevebrums account. Read all about it".

If I'm honest, that meeting was a complete and utter borefest of some of the most processional racing that I have witnessed in many years. Even the two people I went with, who are Bees die-hards from the early 80's, thought it had all the spectacle of an un flushed karsy. One of them, who kept an eye on the Speedway Updates forum, had to question why the Lakeside meeting (starting at 8pm) was finished before the riders for Heat 15 at Cov had even been announced. Last night certainly did seem to drag. Not blaming the Cov Promotion entirely for that - as I was thinking many times last night how slow the ref was with the 2 minute warning. MJJ (to give him his due) rode very well - his hold-off of Nicholls, and his cut-back on the second bend possibly being the heat of the night. That aside, Belle Vue were absolutely dire - apart from Palm-Toft who appeared to give it everything in his outings. Scotty woke up around 9 o'clock and Zagar failed to overly impress. In fact, BV looked extremely poor if I'm honest. Scotty is clearly past his sell-by date and Belle Vue seriously have to get rid in the winter to progress. There was just no fight. No passion. They just looked like a team going through the motions. Guys, I can appreciate your delight that Cov picked up 3 points - but the entertainment value of tonight's meeting was woeful. Excellent crowd yeah - but here's the problem. A couple next to us were clearly 'newbies' - my mate actually showed them how to fill their programme in; and explaining the double point rule wasn't easy. I asked them at the conclusion if they were coming back next week. They replied "maybe next year". If I was a promoter, that would cause me to worry. 3 points to the Bees - and well done for that. But, at the end of the day, that meeting was absolute sh*te. Sorry Cov - but I truly wish that I'd have spent my dosh tonight on a ruby murray and got to the pub earlier.

It's unfortunately where I see most of my Speedway these days Steve.

Interesting point really. Eastbourne would have potentially missed Lewis Blackbirds' contribution, whilst inevitably Coventry are going to miss Jason Garrittys'. With no disrespect to either rider, what a sad bloody indictment of supposed 'top level UK Speedway' these days when key men are regularly double-uppers/fast-track reserves.

Not doubting him for one moment. But shouldn't EVERY rider be giving 100% in every race anyway?

Thought I may as well start a thread - as nobody else seems arsed. So tonight, Lakeside host their friends and neighbours from God's waiting room. The return of Kim Nilsson will be interesting - as will Davey coming back from injury. Go on Nilsson - make the dissenters eat their bloody words. Meanwhile, Lewis has got the opportunity to step up to a heat leader role; as long as he's remembered that he's actually racing tonight. Passport isn't needed for the Dartford Bridge. We have Schleiny in for Bech - I think Rory's been an ever-present at Lakeside this season. Concerned with the current form of Adam Ellis - his returns at Foxhall Heath are dire recently. Let's just hope he stays safe (and doesn't get chucked out of tomorrow's meeting by the Leicester Medical Officer for sneezing or farting). Could be difficult for us to get all 3 points (albeit it would do Cov a favour). Woodward and Lahti tend to ride our track well; and Lewis Blackbird looks a particularly in-form rider. Any success for Eastbourne probably sits with the performance of Kylmakorpi - who's form is about as reliable as a Mark 3 Cortina from Arthur Daley's car lot. Thoughts?

Hoping we don't get beat by the weather. - again! What was forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far (89 for the Midlands) all we've had in Nuneaton so far is regular thunder and heavy downpours. Moving on. Looking forward to this one. It could be much closer than many predict; with Zagar and Nicholls knowing the fastest line around Brandon. And SCB is on the money regarding Garitty's contribution - or the subsequent lack of his points in his absence. Heats 2 and 9 will be crucial for The Bees tonight; along with Palm-Toft's performance for the visitors. R/R for Craig Cook will be interesting. Cook sits second in the current Aces Green Sheets (issued 16th July) so both Zagar and Nicholls can take an additional R/R ride. Add Heat 15 into the mix and that means both of these riders could potentially be refuelling 6 times each tonight. It will be interesting to see how they use the additional R/R rear tyre! Let's just hope that golden balls has got a few packets of Kleenex tissues to hand, and that Hansen can also display the performance that he is capable of. As a neutral, this will potentially be a very good meeting to watch. But Cov suffer a similar problem of Lakeside's in the past - failing to kill teams off at home for all 3 points. Another point dropped at home could be crucial in the run in for the top four places; Eastbourne are the Bees first target to pick off in the league - and all 3 points tonight could propel them into fourth; albeit I'm not overly confident of The Hammers getting all 3 points tonight if I'm honest. That said, if we can both deliver a 3 league point home win, then we'll all be going home pretty happy. P.S. If the guy running the burger stall on the 2nd bend reads this, if the weather does turn hot, maybe you could store the cartons of milk in the fridge, instead of leaving them out to get a sun tan? Doesn't really take a lot of savvy does it. Getting a last swig of tea full of lumps does tend to make one gag!

So apart from her falling off her bike (lots of riders do that), what else is she saying is wrong now?

I don't think all the action did happen in the first lap if I'm honest. And riders passing through the failure of others IS a part of speedway racing; in the same manner that driver error in Formula 1 is part of F1 racing; and mistakes by defenders enable goals to be scored in football. And as for Hemsley - well, if his track isn't fit for purpose, then it begs the question why gates at Leicester are pretty good. To be honest, I noticed more people at Beaumont Park earlier this season against Lakeside, then I saw at Saddlebow Road last year. As for Chris Louis. Sorry but I take anything that this guy states about tracks with a pinch of salt. After all, Lakeside is (according to Mr Louis) one of the narrowest tracks in the Elite League - when in fact, our bends are the second widest.

I thought it was a bloody brilliant meeting if I'm honest! Well done to both teams; and particularly the Leicester Promotion. I'm sure that I wasn't the only neutral on the edge of the seat. Don't really get the constant criticism about the track; particularly as the majority of people possibly making these comments have never even sat on a Speedway Bike; let alone ridden/raced one. If all speedway meetings were that entertaining, the sport may not be scratching it's arse looking for punters.

One bloke didn't turn up for a shift because he got pissed (many of us have probably been there, done that) - as opposed to someone not turning up because he's got 'hay fever'. The difference between a geezer and a wimp I'd say.

Yep - we should take a leaf out of Matt Fraud's book of communication techniques; as in the case of Lee Smart, eh?

I think 'dumped' is somewhat harsh if I'm honest. It was mutually agreed with PK that he left - and I would imagine this was more his decision than our management. Kim Nilsson is clearly just his immediate replacement; given he was dropped last year, I wouldn't imagine for one moment that it was a case of dropping Karlsson for Nilsson. Now, if you really want to see an example of a rider being 'dumped', I'll give you two words.........Ryan Fisher.