Steve Shovlar

Shock decision by the ref. Nicholls obviously at fault. But he needs a second bite of the cherry as he cocked that heat right up.

I am financially solid enough to take several weeks holiday in the summer. Off next weekend in fact. All this talk about TRick not doing well this year. Where was Crump last year? Nowhere. When Crump becomes a 7 times world champion, I will class him a great rider. At the moment he is not even in the same ballpark as the legend.

Crump is so lucky Andersen is not in this years GP series.

Yep Millard is already missing some passing.

Oh dear Toniniho Nerves rear their head again for him.

So does the meeting start at 8 pm UK or is it a delayed broadcast with the meeting starting at the usual time?

NO I am not a speedway memoribilia collector. Didn't stay to watch.

TRick has pulled out of the meeting.

If all the money goes to TRick, then lets work it out. 4,000 x£17 =£68,000. Plus programs 1500 x £6 = £9000. So gross figures are £77,000 from yesterday, plus the sales of merchandising. Less hire of the stadium, payment to riders for expenses, printing of programs, advertising etc. A nice healthy lump sum. But my figures could be inaccurate

The meeting was well supported Salty. But of course it could have been better. Some say it would have been better as an individual meeting, and I would agree. But TRick has decided he wants the last three clubs he has ridden for to be up against a ROTW select. Its his choice. Also the major factor is that TRick doesn't have a British club he is currently riding for. If he was a Pirate in 2006, and in the team now, the place would have been packed to the rafters. but he hasn't ridden for the Pirates for over 2 years so that would have had an effect on th size of turnout. Perhaps in hindsight this meeting would have been better to have been placed at the end of the season, away from the SWC final, where many fans spent their money the night before. Would have been a very expensive weekend if fans did both (though many did!) The field was not as good as it could have been. Riders pulling out, breaking down en route, to be replaced by CL reserves will not get the fans who are neutral streaming through the gates. The £17 entrance fee was a bit high when you consider the lineup, though we did get an extra heat. The usual entrance fee should have applied. Still, regardless of all this, the turnout was very good, and possibly better than I was expecting.

Well said Halo. Just a Panthers fan gutted to miss out on a real talent. Nevs, people view meetings differently. I often read on here some fans saying what a good meeting that they realy enjoyed, while others come on and say they thought it was alright but nothing more. Yesterday we sat in the grandstand enjoying every minute of it. Great racing from Klindt, watching KK start out tentitively then get better with every race, TRick saying goodbye, the match race between "TRick" and Rosco, in lovely warm sunshine surrounded by a big crowd. I have never been to a testimonial that gives the same buzz as a league meeting. There is no pressure and tension, because there's nothing to stress over. As for the Exeter farewell, well it was a good night but even you must admit the racing that night was dire and the actual meeting itself pretty flat with the crowd hushed most of the time. As I said I ythought the crowd around the 4-4500 size. A big crowd and more than I expected to turn up after reading the abuse TRick had received on this thread before the meeting took place. Just goes to show how popular he really is and that the venom gushing from certain people on here is not reflected in the bigger speedway community.

True enough Shazzy. But it would take a massive about turn from all sides for him to sign for another club.

Flying Ryans post saved and to be used later when Klindts signing is annonced. Interesting that Matt Ford said today on the centre green that Klindt wasn't going anywhjere but Poole, and the lad was standing close by! The fact that Klindt and his father have been staying with Matt for the past week also adds flames to the fire of where he is going to end up.

Crump has the fasest bikes. Period. his advantage is to get them tuned to the nth degree. Doesn't matter if they blow up as they are given to him anyway. Other riders don't have this luxury and have to have their engines tuned to what they can afford. Whether a rider is on Jawas or GMs doesn't matter either. Lindback smashed the track record at Poole a couple of weeks ago. On a Jawa. Interestingly he has the same engine tuner and also gets free engines.

Well for that you have only one person to blame. Clive Fisher. It's his job to talk and interview riders, and if doesn't do it no one else will. Can't blame TRick for that. Remember, there is never any tension at testimonials. No pressure about getting the points or whether our unbeaten run will end. I estimated the crowd at around the 4000-4500 mark. Grandstand packed, 4 deep in places along the front of the grandstand. Both bends busy and the usual load behind the glass. Equivelent to a big league meeting I guess. By the way nice to see Zetters and Anders Nilsson enjoying the speedway. They are off to Wolverhampton tomorrow before heading back to sweden on Tuesday morning.

Coventry have never had a crowd that big in all the times I have been to Brandon for league meetings. Bull sh*t in the extreme. Don't believe you were there.

And we continue to get venemous posts from you on anything to do with TRick. Shame you coudn't be bothered to come along and witness the event yourself so that you would have a first hand account. As you have no interest in Trick it's quite remarkable that you are in this thread all the time slagging him off. I suggest if you have nothing better to say just don't post in this thread. You so obviously wanted the event to fail miserably. Shame for you it was a success! Rabbit no offense but you sit behind glass doing the scorechart and that's not the best place to watch and feel the action. Come and sit in the grandstand and enjoy the buzz! It was really good this afternoon. Honest! As for no reminiscing, well what were they talking about on the centre green? Poole fabulous win at Brandon in the KO Cup in 2003 when all was won at the death!

Thing is Rabbit, Testimonials never get the blood rushing or adrenelin flowing. They are a celebration of a rider and because of that it doesn't matter if your fav gets beaten. There is nothing at stake. I thought the crowd was very good. Much better than a standard league meeting. Perhaps 500 more than usual? As for Klindt, he was pretty sensational. but we have to temper that with it being a testimonial and perhaps some riders were not at full throttle all of the time, if you get my meaning. The TRick/Crump/Rosco "trick", was well done and fooled everyone. Well done to Crump for being part of it. Even gave him a clap myself. One thing with Crump is that if he says he will be there at a testimonial, he is, as is Adams. Top plaudits for that. By the way the program was £6, and well worth owning. Its very similar to the British GP program, except it's cover to cover Trick. Certainly a collectors item.

Just got in from a good afternoons entertainment at Wimborne Road. A very big crowd turned out to see the greatest speedway rider in the history of the sport give his final bow to the British public, and his rapturous reception just goes to show that the few TRick haters on here are really in the minority. He got two long standing ovations from the fans who had turned out in force to say goodbye to a glittering career. Some good racing in hot conditions, and not a blue groove in sight all afternoon. Goes to show a well prepared track can be made no matter what the weather is like. yes conditions started to get a bit dusty towards the end but it didn't matter as the racing continued to be top notch. Step forward Pooles new rider for the future, Klindt, who showed that passing is easy if you have the skill to do it and are not scared of the fence!!!! As for TRicks pulling out, well it didn't matter and the public were not robbed at all, regardless of what some on hear think. He said he didn't feel great but was determined to ride, and ride he did, scoring 5 from 2. He said everyone should come and say hello in the bar afterwards, and many did as he was mobbed with fans wanting to have their picture taken with him and chat. Sp a great afternoon for those that made the effort to go along, and not listen to all the moaners and groaners on this forum, who are in a tiny minority. Bye TRick. Your legions of fans will certainly miss you. Au revoir to the greatest speedway rider the sport has ever known.

He is known for it. Rolls just enough to get away with it. But in one heat last night he got a massive roller and the ref did nothing. Cheat as far as I am concerned.

Well I might be in the minority but I am looking forward to this afternoons entertainment and the last chance to see the worlds best ever speedway rider on a bike for the last time. The lineup might be crap, but I am sure everyone that attends will have some great fun. The weather is set fair.

Well said DoncasterDragon. Compare the riders Middlo has to chose from compared to the Polish Team Manager. Middlo has done a remarkable job this year on extremely limited resources. He has the total respect of the riders and always tries to get the absolute best out of them. Ask Loram, Nicholls, Harris, Loram and Louis who they wan to ride under, and they will only give one answer. Middlo. Well done Middlo on a great effort to get the bronze medal.

Well done to Middlo and the boys. Started terribly but battled back to prove most people wrong with a rostrum place. If they had started they could have won it. The gating was terrible from them for the first 10 heats. As for Louis, well the fans wanted him in and he disappointed. Perhaps Stead could have gated better? We will never know. But we need a load of Brits to come through and challenge the old guard. And soon. Still, got to be happy with third!

Bad ref decision. But so what? The Brits benefitted and put us on the rostrum, and thats good enough for me!

Have you thought that he might think his form not good enough to risk representing his country?