Big Al

Was it in a "fixture filler" 4TT at back end of the 2011 season? Also I vaguely recall he was riding under a different name, or the programme had his name incorrect.

Might be wrong on this but I think he rode at Leicester towards the end of 2011 season for an Edinburgh team, which would have been among his first public appearances on UK tracks - unless I'm getting him mixed up with a different Max?

So a bit like Poole supporters taking over doing press releases for Leicester recently then

And I've just been informed that Buster has had a local Shaman in to put a curse on Poole's side of the pits. I just wouldn't bother even turning up if I was a Poole rider. Much, much too scary.

Just wait a bit......the next claim will be that Buster is putting in a few ruts and holes and is only letting the Leicester manager and riders know where they are. And that there's a plan for the showers in the Poole changing rooms to be running cold water only......

Possibly because Buster is doing it at "preferential rates" and there's more than 50/50 chance it will go ahead?

Sadly this news is no surprise, especially judging by the change in condition of the ground (I've been digging only a mile from Beaumont Park) since last week and actually since Monday, and with a shedload of rain forecast in the next 24 hours. Friday would probably have been much too dangerous to attempt a match - riders either unable to turn the bike or on a skating rink with no grip. Can't recall exact circumstances but I remember the second leg of an NL final Cradley v Mildenhall was staged at KL several years ago after one of those clubs was unable to run it. I think the focus needs to be on why this final wasn't staged on 12 & 15 October.

Nothing wrong with what you've done, as long as it was accurate (and it looks like it was!). The annoyance is that it came from someone in Dorset (and no, I've nothing against Dorset, the people, towns, villages, countryside, beer,....)

I apologise to track staff who were upset by a post I made on Friday. It sounds like they've been struggling "against the odds" and that the equipment they've got to work with, whilst usually sufficient, has only provided limited assistance in combatting the "enemy" since 15th October. In mitigation, my posts to this forum about Leicester since the new owners took over have been overall positive and I probably on this occasion got swept along with the general level of feelings about this ridiculous situation which is surely down to lack of foresight and planning by those who run the sport. It's also been annoying that a Poole supporter seems to have had "inside knowledge", which he has broadcast on here including about the state of the Leicester circuit (as is his right, I suppose, providing that it is true) before such information has been provided locally. But it's just annoying, nothing more.

Makes you wonder if there was some blunder/s committed since the last meeting on the 15th? Can imagine SD arriving in Leicester on Monday or Tuesday this week and finding things in a right old state. Enough perhaps to stress him out to the extent of having to go into hospital.

Any more photos from this afternoon you can describe to us?

Depends how much rain we had. With the sun now out and temperature rising, hopefully today they can get machinery onto track and remove the sludge. The problem will then be more rain forecast for overnight again and hope the drains aren't clagged up. Hopefully in the absence of SD somebody suitably experienced is directing things.

Rain predicted Friday during the night and early part of Saturday morning. If it can't go ahead Saturday, could they go for Sunday instead which is looking ok?

Ah, so that's the reason Howarth has been feeling unwell lately.

At this time of year maybe it's worth trying to use farmyard manure to help prepare tracks? A good few tons spread evenly on top should dry quite quickly especially in a week like this one, with the semi-digested straw content absorbing moisture from the saturated clay beneath. Then it would be a case of grading it all together.

Been a good day, dug and raked 5 veg beds so far and 3 more still to go. The ground's improved massively since when I started. Air temperature's up near 15 and should stay that way for rest of the week. There'll be more rain for sure, just needs to avoid heavy stuff and it'll be ok for Sat I think.

Also should include allowance for time needed for presentation of the trophy, celebrations, open-top tractor tour around the track, etc

Tell you what if David Hemsley was still in charge at Leicester there wouldn't be any problems with rainoffs he'd have commanded the weather to stay dry, but this new useless lot in charge don't have a clue about controlling weather. Never mind his transgressions, it's strong, charismatic leadership that's needed.

Boris Johnson flying back in from the Caribbean I understand

It's been raining most of the day so far in LE4. Forecast tomorrow looks ok

Chris Harris said in the SS last year that he does ok at Leicester, despite it not being ideal for him. Anyway, I'd be surprised if he joins Leicester, despite it only being about 20 minutes from his home.

No he hasn't. I don't think he fitted in too well. Seemed a bit detached and possibly didn't speak much English which couldn't have helped. Whereas Wozniak had more of an outgoing personality and was able to get the fans on his side.

Can't help thinking there's changes afoot for CL which Leicester don't like the look of. Maybe some stringent new rules on team-building aimed at "levelling down" the league, and they've decided this will have an adverse effect on attendances and income and if a major sponsor doesn't like it, that's maybe a large factor. There's also the danger of "same again" becoming the norm and boredom setting in. The last time Leicester went up a level it was too soon and was basically part of a vanity project and those rarely have good outcomes. In the end riders didn't want to come to Leicester. Dropping back down saved the club's bacon and it was the only way forward. I'm sure the Bateses and Stewart D. will be doing this for very sound reasons and financial considerations at the top of the priorities. As for a team, Sam Masters is king of Beaumont Park, maybe Klindt will be able to do UK, and how's the chances of Szymon Wozniak coming back?

Ok well in that case Plymouth management needed to have given sufficient information about his injury situation as to make matters clear to the doubters - and I don't know if they have or not.

Leicester won the Championship and Shield in 2019 using a guest for the injured Richie Worrall for a large part of the season. I don't recall there being a huge amount of "flak" being fired towards us for that (there was some, inevitably) but I don't think anywhere near the amount Plymouth are getting over Kennett. Clubs cannot control the timings of their riders' injuries, can they.