The Voice Of Reason

Never give up on your team mate. The track to me looked fine - maybe a little over-watered for the early heats. I did actually notice after the first three heats especially (as I was standing near the track entry gate/2nd turn) that riders were coming back in after the heats absolutely caked in shale - so clearly visibility was an issue for anyone that didn't trap. However, I thought the tractor grading did the job thereafter. Presentation - yep, a bit of a time-warp but nothing that cannot be improved upon IF the promotion listens. Team-wise, I think you've got a team to be proud of supporting. Excellent strength in depth - with potentially two of the strongest fast-trackers I've yet seen at numbers 6 & 7. Based upon the quality of racing that I saw last night, Lakeside will not be my only visits to Brandon this season. Keep the faif !!

Ahhhhh, just checked the programme. Yes indeed, Peter York - a name from the past. The very long, distant past. Fair play he may not have been the DJ - albeit I bet it was his record collection. I bet he's also got a Ronco record cleaner and stores them in a K-Tel record rack! Truly embarrassing.

Just to add that Davey Watt's sister has advised that he had to withdraw from the meeting after his hand got hit by a rock. Knowing Davey, he isn't the sort of guy to pull out of a meeting unless he is genuinely injured. And unlike Leicester's doctor, I assume that Cov's actually examined him before deeming him unfit to ride.

Nice little topsy-turvy battle last night. Not sure what happened to Watty to cause his withdrawal. PK looking jaded in most rides. Sorry, but two last places and a third from 5 rides isn't his usual return, and we need to see better. Adam Ellis looked desperately slow - shutting off into the bends like someone on a practice day. Then, partnering Lewis in Heat 14, he rode like a man possessed for a 5-1. Meanwhile, Liam Carr looked out of his depth at this level if I'm brutally frank - although he may have been riding injured after his fall during his first ride. Bridger - improved but what on earth was he thinking in a heat 11 - went into the 1/2 bends with far too much power and shut off; then gave up! Why does Lewis do this? His bike was still under power as he rode it back to the pits after the heat. At least keep going Lewis - someone else could always pack up or slide off, etc! Onto our two stars - take a bow Richard Lawson and Mikkel Bech. Richard was our only rider who, in his 6 rides, didn't get a last place. I really don't think that there's enough Lakeside Supporters giving this guy due recognition. He is Mr. Consistency - and just goes about his work in the Number 2 berth doing what's expected + more. Nothing flashy. Nothing controversial. I've said this on the Lakeside Forum - give me a team of 7 Richard Lawson's, and I'll show you how to win the league. And Mikkel Bech - this boy is a revelation. An extremely fast rider - not necessarily a gater either. But for a 19 year-old, what a speedway head on young shoulders. Willing to try every racing line and never gives up. Heat 13 last night, and Bech's race with Hans and Bomber was worth the admission in my opinion. Also, WELL DONE MIKKEL BECH for your sportsmanship and professionalism in Heat 15. I'm not saying this because I am a Lakeside Supporter, but I can think of quite a few riders who in a last heat decider, may not have got their bike off the track so quickly having fallen - if at all. A great gesture particularly because it must have been clear we were on a reverse 5-1. I would rather lose a point through honesty and go home empty-handed, then gain a point through cheating. I can think of some supporters from a different club that couldn't ever get their head around that ideology. Moving onto our hosts. Hans had an up and down night - wondering if he's still carrying sickness from Saturday? Bomber looked on much better form after a dire opening ride - great to see him returning to something like his former self - still a very exciting rider to watch. Ryan has improved so much since the early days - again, a rider who just gives total effort and chips away hitting numbers, akin to Richard Lawson. I happily donated to his fund - because irrespective of some anti-feelings expressed above: 1. He needs his family here 2. He always entertains me 3. When he's guested for Lakeside, he has always given us everything for the cause Kyle and the reserves look very solid - particularly impressed with James Sarjeant. Your weak link at the moment appears to be Kenneth Hansen - who appeared last night to have this uncanny knack of finding, and riding, the worst racing lines around Brandon. So overall, I would have loved to have grabbed a point - and Richard Lawson nearly did that right on the line in Heat 15. A good night of speedway whereby the score was not decided until the last second of the last lap. Can it get better than that? The track looked good enough to me - but people, who have never ridden a speedway bike in their lives, will always moan. But there clearly were passing lines both inside and outside - as proven by Mikkel. Faults - 2 instant coffees and 1 tea (in a SMALL polystyrene cup) costing £4.70 is an utter pee take - snack bar 2nd bend. Cov - who on this earth is your announcer? Gawd blimey he is absolutely dire. Appears to be pretty clueless about Speedway - just coming out with the same mundane, boring rhetoric over and over. There were long pauses when the records stopped playing, and subsequent gaps of long, utter silences. I wondered if he'd nodded off; or was busily going through his record collection to try and find something a little more modern than 1975. Then, when you don't need to hear him, he starts chiming in during the last lap of a race! The crowd last night may not have been your biggest - and atmosphere was pretty subdued. But he did hardly anything to get the crowd going or spark any enthusiasm. He sounds like a DJ that you'd hear on some obscure local radio station - who'd been put out to grass on the 2-6am shift. I'm not being picky for the sake of it - but this guy must be the worst I've heard for many, many years. Well done Cov on your win - fully deserved. Looking forward to visiting you again in August (or maybe June to see you beat Poole - by which time they will probably have carried out more sackings and introduced more controversial additions to their ever-changing pack)!

It's Conservative. I'll learn to read properly, when you learn to spell.

How can anyone be jealous of deceit and lies - not to mention playground insults?

Have to agree mdmc82. I just wonder what hold Mr. Fraud has over his counterparts. If I was in a wealthy enough position to be a Speedway Club Promoter, I'd find great satisfaction in taking on this clown; and hopefully embarrassing the SCB numpties at the same time to genuinely do 'what is good for the sport'. I truly can't understand why the other members of the BSPA are so spineless.

Shirl - I wouldn't vote UKIP even if I had a gun at my head love!

Just seen on the website that there's a collection for Ryan Fisher; to pay for his air tickets to reunite him with his family for a short while. Suffice to say, if anyone can point me in the right direction of who's organising the collection, I'll willingly donate some dosh tonight to get the ball rolling. The situation his family are in is nothing short of a farce.

From 9pm guys according to the BBC Forecast........but who knows these days. Despite technology and the thousands of satellites in the sky, you'd probably still get a more accurate forecast from a farmer. Not sure how Liam Carr is going to fare at this level if I'm honest, and with Adam Ellis still carrying a shoulder injury we could potentially have a weak rear end - not good when you are potentially in the sh*t! Richard Lawson scored a max at Glasgow tonight, and Lewis seems to have more confidence. Mikkel Bech should like the Brandon circuit - so they are some potentially interesting races. Looking forward to seeing Jason race though. Could be the key man in restricting meaningful points from our reserve berths. Ryan Fisher is always VFM. And I can't see Bomber having two mares in one weekend. Got to be honest, if we can nick a point I think most of us would be happy. And if I'm back in my local by 10pm having seen all 15 heats of Speedway, I'll be even happier!

And if the incompetent pen-pushers at the SCB in Rugby ever get around to abiding by their own set of rules (INCLUDING the timeframe for the Appeals Process) then make that 7 points.

We are talking about the reserve system Steve. But like a politician, you are muddying the waters, and answering questions with questions. Okay, let me answer yours. If Birmingham want to replace Eddie Kennett, then fine. As long as his replacement does NOT take the team over the designated average for that team. The same applies to Nicolai Klindt and Swindon. And the reason I haven't mentioned either of these instances is simply because, until reading your post, I wasn't even aware of them. Unlike some, I don't spend my entire time time on the Internet nor reading every little brain-fart that's being discussed. And for reasons known to me and maybe a couple of others on this forum, in the case of Eddie, I'm possibly the last person he'd ask for support. So there you go. Yes, a team should be able to replace a seasoned, experienced rider if they have been given every chance to perform. But Steve, we aren't talking about this scenario, are we. As well you know. We are talking about the draft system - and the two riders within each team being given sufficient time to develop their skills. THAT is the purpose of the new system. A system that you told me yesterday, that you fully agreed with. A system that you are apparently an advocate of. Reading into your responses on this matter, clearly it's more a case of you being an advocate of this system, as long as the number 6 & 7 riders at Poole perform to your standards in little over a month. So, now answer my questions please Steve. 1. Do you think that Lee Smart was given sufficient time to prove himself? 2. WHY should a team be given special dispensation to select a replacement draft rider so quickly, particularly when the replacement is a higher average? 3. And do you still condone the veil of silence, and lack of any communication whatsoever by your promotion, in advance of Lee's non-appearance at Belle Vue?

Steve - you didn't answer my previous point. Whilst I agree that if certain riders do not make the grade it's probably best for all parties concerned to make a change, can you honestly tell me that Lee Smart has been given a sufficient opportunity to prove his worth? He's been replaced before your team have turned a wheel in May. We are all still at the start of the season in many respects. I agree that there are possibly occasions when changes have to be made BUT there should be (and hopefully there will be when the situation is reviewed) a specific period BEFORE a change can be made. That period needs to be an agreed duration in time, such as three months or alternatively, after xx amount of meetings undertaken by that particular rider. And it makes no sense whatsoever for that dropped rider to be replaced by someone with a higher average - no matter how minimal. Otherwise, the system is simply flawed from the outset and open to manipulation and/or foul play. And I can only reiterate my previous point. Lee Smart, in my honest opinion, has clearly NOT been given sufficient time to develop his skills and improve. And bear in mind, that Lee apparently has one of the sport's top team managers in Middlo. A guy that has, for a number of years, held the highest honour of any manager of the sport in this country - Manager of Team GB. If we are saying that Middlo couldn't integrate Lee into the team, nor develop and improve his performances, then I think this speaks volumes about Neil Middleditch. Now, you may come back with the usual "he was overweight and would never improve" rhetoric. Well sorry but I wasn't aware that all Speedway Riders needed to possess the physique of an Olympic Athlete. And to say the guy would have never improved is something that you have no way whatsoever of substantiating. It is therefore flawed reasoning. It doesn't even come into the equation mate. Lee WAS NOT given sufficient time - period. And NO, neither Poole, NOR any other team, should be given special dispensation in these circumstances. It was YOUR Promotions choice to select Lee Smart. Maybe they made a wrong choice. SHAME. DEAL WITH IT. In the same way that everyone else will have to.

I think if Cov can nick an away point tomorrow, and we can return the favour on Monday at Brandon, then that's about the most that each of us can realistically hope for. Both teams are more or less equally balanced; so home track experience will be key. Let's just hope for two good meetings of hard (but fair) Speedway.....with this poxy weather beating neither of us over the Bank Holiday Weekend! POINT TO NOTE: Just read on the Cov & Lakeside websites that on Saturday, it's tapes up at 7.45.......NOT the usual 8PM!!!!!!

Steve, As mentioned above, you can hardly blame his lack of enthusiasm having been sacked, can you? I'd hardly be motivated to perform on my last shift if I'd just been handed my P45. My point was that I think he's been thrown out prematurely; and if this is going to become the norm for all clubs, then what hopes will this current system (that you told me you are an advocate of) aspire to - unless these guys are given sufficient time? Such actions are surely just counter-productive. Just my view and honestly, it's not a cheap dig at Poole. I'd feel the same if Lakeside, or any other club for that matter, pulled the same stroke.

I can't disagree with the rationale of replacing a rider that clearly isn't cutting the mustard at a particular level. It doesn't do the individual any good with confidence levels; and potentially costs them more than they are earning to keep their machinery up to EL standards. However, if I'm honest and this ISN'T (for once!) being anti-Poole, I believe that the lad has been replaced just a tad prematurely. A wheel hasn't been turned in May, yet Lee has already been dropped. He clearly has talent, having won the NLRC in 2010. To this end, can we honestly say that he has been given every support and encouragement - given such a limited time frame? I very much doubt it if I'm honest. But some riders are clearly are treated as commodities rather than human-beings. Watch closely, and see how Lakeside handle Lewis given his current problems.

Just looking in the 2014 SCB Regulations. For some reason, I can't seem to find "can't be arsed turning up for speedway tonight, as I was doing my real job in a call centre" as being an admissible reason for absence? Then again, admittedly I wasn't reading the alternative SCB version produced solely for 'Fraud & Poodle'. And parents can be fined a grand these days for their kids going AWOL, and not turning up for school. I dunno - whatever is this world coming to.

To be fair Steve, I think that ALL of our clubs suffer with that one! Albeit, Poole are probably more hellbent upon winning, than seeing a good speedway meeting.

Well there you go folks - straight from the donkey's mouth. A 'supporter' that, by his own admission, doesn't care about one of his team's young, British draft riders. What's the matter Mr. Shovlar.............not enough C's, W's or Z's in his name?

Not even the end of April, and Fraud is already playing to his own set of rules - with (seemingly) nobody caring less. Can we start a petition to get the word 'Control' removed from the SCB's title? What an absolute farce this sport has truly become.

I assume that maths isn't one of your better subjects at school?

The fact that neither Poole, nor any of it's supporters, appear to want to discuss the absence of Lee Smart is absolutely typical of their 'holier than thou' approach to this sport. Personally, if I was a Poole Supporter, then I'd consider the lack of communication from my club's promotion an utter insult. However, all I'm witnessing here is that 'The Shovlarosi' are remaining tight-lipped - their veil of silence truly deafening. Actually, I was quite surprised that Mr. Fraud and his poodle didn't try to get the meeting abandoned after Heat 10 - after all, they were leading the meeting at that stage AND it was at Belle Vue (memories of 2013 come flooding back - excuse the pun). At the end of the day, Poole supporters are once again demonstrating to the majority of opposing fans, just why they are so disliked; and why their team's promotion remains at the forefront of speculation and under-hand tactics. I was going to say it's truly incredulous. But on hindsight, I think the term 'typical' is more apt.

Can't wait for this encounter. We will need to be on top form or potentially suffer the backlash of a Wolves revival. I can imagine that Pete Adams has read them the bloody riot act! Anyway, let's just hope that the apparent early evening rain doesn't cause the meeting to be abandoned. I always look forward to my visits to Monmore Green. Undoubtedly, the best racing track in the Elite League (very similar to my beloved Hackney in so many ways); and the finest grub to be found anywhere in the sport.

To be perfectly honest, I'd be more worried about my team's performance than what tunes were being played. And I truly don't think that playing gangsta rap, drum n' base, etc. is going to get a load of younger people tearing through the turnstiles.......innit. Anyway, back to what's important - the racing. Congratulations to Ben Morley for an excellent performance - and for being the first of the 'fast track' reserve guys to score a Paid Max.

What you say about hearing one side of the story is very true. That said, I have never known Neil Vatcher to lie. Moreover, surely he would have not made such a statement publicly unless he was certain of his facts; in the same way I really can't imagine why we'd fork out a monkey for an appeal if the correct procedures had been followed. Neil's points about what happened on track are as I stated earlier. Firstly, the ref unquestionably excluded the wrong rider. Secondly, Adam was clearly ready to race - flying out of the pits and hitting the 3rd/4th bends at speed as he made his way to the tapes. And as for the comment about the MO making an assessment without any examination - that truly beggars belief in many ways. Maybe he'd like to give me 6 numbers for next Saturday.