Steve55

So it's £17 even if you don't stay and watch the NL meeting after? There's not somebody at the gate to give you £2 back if you leave prior to the NL meeting is there?

They did better than most expected, but a poor track, Comptons' exclusions/mechanical issues and Bates reckless riding all helped to even things up!

Both teams were hampered by different issues last night. Compton & Kus having mechanical problems probably evened out that issue. However with Robbo riding and at his best Redcar might have taken the win. Josh Bates could have cost Sheffield last night, does he never learn from previous experience? Konopka made a good pass on him coming into the third bend, last lap, so Josh 'powers on' collects him and takes them both into the fence. Crazy! He injured himself last year exactly the same. Luckily Konopka was able to walk away, but it knackered his bike for the rest of the meeting and in my view cost him points in the remainder of his rides. Josh really needs to mature and accept that from time to time he'll have to give a little and earn a little less. The fact that he and Arthur had total control of heat two until they came onto the last lap, when their track positioning allowed Konopka to make his move, may have pi**ed him off, but he needs to think more about the consequences of his actions. He was down to ride in two meetings today and an apparent bout of petulance might have cost him more than just a sore shoulder & leg!

Hope Ash Birks can up his game this week, beaten by Wilkinson and Auty (x2) last week. Looked out of sorts on Tuesday at Kings Lynn, thought he'd do better on that track! Joking aside can't see anything other than a comfortable win for the Tigers tonight, but would like to see some resistance from the Bears for the sake of entertainment.

Add dogs to that equation and keep laughing.

Once went to a bonfire night party when a couple (unknown to us) turned up with their labrador and sat inside with it all night as it was terrified of the fire works. When somebody asked them why they'd brought it they said they didn't want to leave it at home on its own in case it got scared. Work that one out! Seen quite a few dogs at speedway meetings, none seemed at all concerned with the noise of the bikes and all were kept under strict control. But there's always going to be a first time if the possibility exists. The ultimate control measure under risk assessment rules is - remove the risk! Unfortunate but there you have it.

Interesting - who'll be Top Tigers? Strong looking Glasgow Team. Hope we can give them a run for their 'money'! See it being competitive particularly between the reserves.

Believe it's £9.95, which appears a bit steep, but when you consider you're a 'captive audience' and you can actually sit and watch the entertainment, it's not that bad when you compare it to other sporting events and venues. Owlerton is quite a good venue when you look at the amenities and the stadium/track, when compared to other places you can visit in the sport. Not that I'm knocking any where else in any of the leagues, if they've got a team and they race, they're good enough for me!

Carvery will be open as usual, same price as last year I understand. As for taking a point tonight if everyone of the Tigers can emulate Steady's performance last Sunday there's no chance of that. I understand that Ashly Holloway is sorting out the entire teams engines this year so the Tigers should be flying tonight!

Have to agree arnieg, even the youngsters on the 125's put on a good show and I hope young Harry McGurk is fully recovered after his fall on the third bend in the last of the heats. Plenty of effort by most of the riders tonight made it a good meeting and from the crowd around where I was everyone seemed to enjoy it. Glad to say though that Ricky is still the track record holder and I can't see that being bettered in the foreseeable future! Ricky Ashworth, Owlerton Track record holder, Sheffield Legend!

You are forgiven NBT - I was only having a laugh!

Supposedly is the word that caused the issue. Some people adding two and two together and coming up with five!

Dilger is an EU rider (German I believe). The point Simmo1958 was trying to make was that some non EU riders (i.e. some Aussies/Yanks) that can't get a visa are better than the EU ones who don't need a visa to ride here. Forgive me if I'm wrong.

Know what you mean, but it's a bit late now what with Scunthorpe's answer to Bertie Smalls (aka Neckbrace Tony) blabbing! Bet Proctors name isn't on that form that has to go to the SCB!

Like the rest of us on here your opinion doesn't count for much in the great scheme of things and with the number of posts you've authored I can see why someone putting their own money into the sport might have taken umbrage with you when you'd caused them a few 'tears'. I think the UKVI have been concerned with the quality of the non-EU riders being employed here over the last few years (at least) and the fact that quite a few haven't met the set criteria. Don't think they'll have their spies out at all the practice sessions making sure that no one without a current work visa is having a 'baz round' round on a mates bike! However if they kick him out of the country for it I'll bow to your superior knowledge. As for any legal action against Somerset I know nothing about. Bet you'd have been peeved if someone offered you a job with a decent wage and then changed their mind a few weeks before you started. I would have.

This wasn't an after meeting ride - it was a PRIVATE practice session paid for by the riders or whoever for them. Proctor (on somebody else's equipment) wasn't earning anything or performing for anyone. Think there's a big difference there.

How can you liken this situation with what Darcy Ward did? Any way if you're going to get all legal about it where's the hard evidence? Just sounds like hearsay to me!

Thought professional speedway riders were paid appearance money and for points scored. If so who'd be paying him during that private practice session, where there was no paying public to watch that appearance and how many points did he score that he was paid for? See this for what it was, a spin on a mates bike, for goodness sake talk about pedantic!

Who's arguing? It's something positive his sponsor could put on his visa application. Like I said I like the kid and think he's exiting to watch. I also think his inclusion in the premier league gives something for our riders of a similar age to measure themselves against.

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Gino Manzares represent Team USA in the Speedway World Cup in 2014. If so doesn't that make him one of the best four riders in the USA? I liked watching him ride last year so perhaps that makes me biased!

Bates says on the official site that there is no news at present regarding the replacement for Poole, but that they are considering riders for the team place and that they are taking their time as they want to get the right man. No mention of Proctor so could be that his visa is sorted, hopefully!!!!

But would/could they keep going for 25 years + to get 'JUSTICE'!

Could be a connection as the meeting between the UKVI and BSPA was held in Sheffield! But the thing that really has me puzzled in all of this is Why is the United Kingdom Visa & Immigration processing centre located in Manilla, Philippines?????????

Announcement on the Club website stating that Proctor & Poole will both have to re-apply for their visa's after the promotion have sorted things with the UKVI. Bates says that although this is unfortunate as the start of the season approaches, they are hoping to have things sorted prior to the commencement of the fixtures. So no need for panic at this time!

Think one or two on here need to stop playing politics with this and looking to blame a certain Party (UKIP). Think their aim (UKIP) is to take us out of the EU to stop our borders being open to the EU migrants who come here claiming Unemployment, child & all the other benefits they can claim. Never mind the strain on the NHS & Education system. And lastly to stop all the billions paid into the EU every year. Speedway riders come here to entertain us & earn a decent living for doing so and it appears that the BSPA have taken their eye off the ball, but are being educated in how to correct what they have allowed to creep in. Hopefully once this has been done all will be ok. Lets not look to BLAME somebody because it makes us feel better, but look to the solution that'll put things back on track, as it were. :]