weatherwatcher

Seen Darcy ward do some great team riding, he worked really hard in the European Championships, trying to get Chris Holder to team ride with him, he was having a really hard time to get Chris sorted out, didn't work though it ended up being 4-2, would have been a 5-1 if Chris had an idea what he was supposed to do.

Yes it has been a bad year all round we only got to see to meetings this year due to a bone infection in my toe that went from last Novemeber until late July to heal. When we did come it was so paiful, and it was shear hell driving back the 21 miles home. The surgeon I saw wanted to amputate my toe and could not understand why I didn't want the op done, will wait and see if it comes back again, before I cross that bridge. So hears hoping for a better year health wise and a better year for the Lions, I think there will be some major changes over the closed season and I hope that the management get get a first class team together for us next season. Something has got to be done with the overseas riders coming over for the start of the season here and thyen just upping and going home, with no thanks when their own season starts. It is not good for team moral and must be even harder for the management to sort out who to get in their place at such short notice. Either they come over stating that they will only be here for a few weeks, so they know how they stand, or sign up for the full season and stay the course.

Yes team riding these days seems to be a dying art, that very few riders seem to be able to master, we get see it now and then and when done properly it can mean the difference of scoring a 5-1 compered to a 3-0

That is quite a regular thing from Swiderski, he pulled up twice on Thursday against Poole. It is something that he has been doing quite regular at home and away, 2 or 3 times some meetings, why they have stuck by him beets me. His machiney can't be that bad surely, to break down so many times in one season, the guy is a disgrace. Just hope he calls it a day over here as no team, needs a rider that just gives up and pulls of the track.

An enjoyable meeting last night even though the Lions lost, the team speach at the end of the meeting left everything very much in the air, Jason Doyle said he would head home when the season is over and sit back for a couple of weeks and give things a lot of thought, Simonz didn't give a definate yes or no to say if he would be back again, though all the fand that stayed behind gave him a very large hand clap and I am sure Norrie told him they want him back again and he just gave a big smile, it made my grandsons night to shake Jasons hand and to also get a picture handed to him from Simonz and then he even had the time to sign it for him, I really like that young guy and hope he does come back again for us. David Hemsley, had quite a bit to say about how things have got to go at the up coming AGM, but wouldn't really give away any plans for next year until the outcome of the AGM.

The storm the other night was around 5.15pm. It lasted for around half an hour, but the rain slowed down a little after it's heaviest fall which was over 114mm per hour. Would not want that to have come down for the whole half hour, even we would have sen some rather large puddles. Just shows you how different the weather can be and we are only 21 miles away from BP. Just hope it stays fine, we have had a few light showers this morning but it has now turnrd dry again. Still rather dull and overcast though. Keep me posted how things are that way as I don't want to bother setting out tonight only to find I have arrived at the start of a major storm as we had here the other day.

It should be a good meeting if the rain just stays away. We have had a lot of showers today, with a rather heavy thunder storm last night, just hope this meeting goes ahead, as I wanted my grandson to get along to see this last home meeting, if it is delayed until next week, then he goes back to school, so any really late nights have been thrown out of the window. Would have thought unless this meeting actually comes off tomorrow then the chances of getting Poole here again befor the end of season, is going to very hard to fit in for them.

If they do stay in the EL, which for one moment I can't see DH doing anything other than that, it would be a huge smack in the teeth for him to drop back down, but if they do stay up, then they will need to take things much more seriously next year and they will have to put some more funds up to bring in better riders, so as not to finish bottom again for a third year, it is not good for the team or the fans to see a side that stuggles at home and away, put in some good home meetings but could have done better. As you said both the W's did really well at home just failed a bit at home, a big loss was when they lost Auty, the reserves that came in had some good rides but a lot of them may just as well have stayed at home, never been impressed with Lambert, he is far to inconsistant. I is now wait and see time if they can keep Jason Doyle for a third year. They started the season off with what looked like a decent side but as soon as the season in Sweden and Denmark started, the two riders brought in from did the same as the 2 from the first season and left the team, saying they where no longer riding in the UK after a week or so after being injured. Not good enough. When you pick a team you would hope that they stay the year out.

From the way the Poles performed at BV I think they have already given up this season. Just been looking at Swiderski's scores since he arrived in Lions colours and they are abismal. He has scored less that most riders score in a coupkle of meeting, why do we always see, a list of retired, retired against his name surely his equipement can't be that bad. To say the least it will probally be his first and last season in the EL unless he gets some better form. I think that what is needed is some new blood in the managemt, Norrie has had 2 years at it now and I for one think he should go back to the spanners. I know what I would like to see but that will never happen.

Still dry here but dull, just been looking at the rain radar, the showers are still coming across our region, but just tah showers, following behind the showers is a very clear area, of fine a dry weather, so unless the track is now in such a state as to unridable, it should be fine by later this afternoon. Hope the tracks brilliant drainage does its job again.

The rain stopped here about an hour ago still dull overcast, but starting to look a little bit brighter. It is quite warm but very humid. How are things at BP now.

It is looking slightly better, as things are slowly starting to change, it is still hard to say what way this will develope though. The pressure is rising and then falling again, so no real change for the time being. It has rained constantly since 3.00am, nothing very heavy but we have had around 6mm so far today. My weather stations forcast strip says that it should brighten up later. But if they have had this contant rain on the track and there is no sunshine to dry things out. Then I can well see there being a rain off. That said though, it has rained hard here in South Derbyshire and there has ben only light showers at BP, so can live in hope. Can any tell me what the weather is doing in that area.

The Lions have a reserved day on the 12th of September, so I think it would be run then, that is if it doesn't clash with anything the Pirates are doing on that date.

The weather patterns for today and Monday are very un prdictable. There is a ridge of High pressure out in the atlantic and a low forming over the wash, it will be a battle to see which one wins out, The forcast I read today on Net Weather TV have also given up on what is really going to happen, they are looking at rain moving up the country from the South, not sure from the pattens wether, the rain will stay to the South coast or slowly move up the country, we have had some light showers here in South Derbyshire and the pressure is still falling slowly. I feel that we may get away with a fairly warm day with a few light showers, we will have to wait and see. Hope it does stay fine this being the final home meeting on Monday.

If they ran a meeting like this, I would think the riders, would only ask for the club to cover for the cost of transport and fuel etc, and this should be covered by the SCB out of funds. Really hope that the Lions come on strong next season, with no disapearing majic acts and no injuries. This year their luck just ran out. Only after a month and a half and then the rot started to set in. Can't get any worse next year can it. I think the management have now got to understand that you can't run an EL team on a shoestring budget

Think the Lions may just as well say now they have managed to yet again be bottom of the pile. Just hope that DH and co. can get a team together next year that will be worth watching.

Deos British Speedway need the top GP riders, without them the clubs would be more viable finacially as they are being held over a barrel by a feww riders who are asking far above the odds to ride over here. Most of what we get over here now are riders that are coming into the twilight of they racing careers. There are maybe 4 that are in the GP's now the rest a what they call in boxing journeymen. But they are still asking forbig over infalted wages, money that most of the clubs can only just manage to find, do they bring in the fans no. British speedway needs to go back to basics to survive, because in less than 4 years the EL will be dead. It is a patient with a terminal illness, it started a few years ago, it has now got to the stage that the doctors are struggling to find a cure. The only way forward, that I see is to make it a 2 league sytem North and South. For all those who like the plays off, which I hate, to me the team who are at the top of the league at the end of the season are the outright winners, we don't need the play off's, it was just one of Sky Sports stupid dreams. So we have a winner in the North and one in the South. Full stop they win the Leaguge. Lets end the season with a competition between the top 2 clubs from each region and race for a trophy, call it what you like, for a laugh you could even name it the Kelvin Tatem trophy, for all the hard work he puts in for the sport. Yes he does do quite a bit behind the scenes, with his trials of the new engine etc. The EL is dead and whatever they do to it ,it is only prolonging its death sentance.

Lucky you.

Not sure what it is doing in or around Leicester but here in South Derbyshire, it has been raining on and off since 4 p.m and very heavy at times with thunder heard. Looking at the lightening maps it seems to following a line up the Pennies. There is still quite a bit of lighting around the Leicester area though. If they get the storms we have had with rain falling at 118mm per hour the track would soon flood. As good as the track drains it will need pumps to clear the amount we just had around half an hour ago.

Other than that one heat, it was a good nights racing, I think it should have been all 4 back in heat 12, what is done is done and no way can it be changed. A close meeting right up until the end.

I never said once about putting the new engines in an upright, that what be an absolute disaster and it would only make matters worse. Why do we need these super over tuned engines. The old long strokes served the purpose an where far easier to manage around Britains smaller tracks. The speed has to come down, and I can see no way of doing this with the modern speedway engine. Can't personally see anything ever being done about this issue, as the top riders wouldn't want it and neither would the few top tuners who are making an load of silly money. Not just from the big boys out there but at the expense of other riders who can hardly pay for the work to be done. It is all so you can be the top dog, I personaly think that most of the fun has been lost in speedway, it used to be a sport where the rider, ran for the love of the sport, it was cheap to do and, he spent many sleepless nights down his shed getting ready for the next meeting, can you see the like of Tai or Iverson etc. sitting working on their engines, when they make so much money that they now don't need to get their hands mucky. Lets bring the sport back to its grass roots and lets enjoy the sport for what it is, not some big buck earner for the guys with the money to sling around to gain the points. Then again, most of the speedway fans these days would rather stop at home if the top names didn't compete over here in the so called EL, it is far from Elite. I for one would rather go to watch a team made up of 7 riders, that are there week in week out, and you know who your team are and be able to watch 7 lads are all well matched, than the dick follow the leader racing we see now.

The bikes are now far to fast and far to uncontrollable, even in the hands of the top riders they can spell disaster, shut the trottle down and for a while the bike goes faster, hit a rut and you go up in the air, in the hands of the youngsters it can be drastic to say the least. This has been a year with so many injuries and a lot of them bad ones to. Rory is at a stage now where he could possibly never ride again. The old uprights where well suited to the smaller tracks over here, why do they need to go so much faster now, trying to shave off a few seconds on lap times. Ok there has always been accidents. I remember the 60's where the track fences would have made the prisoners of Cell Block H think twice about escaping, so when you hit those, you more than likely came off on a stretcher. Lets get rid of these billiard table top slick tracks and put some dirt on them again, but the only way to do that is go back to the upright, because the new bikes just don't go around a track in the dirt. Lets slow it down before we see someone killed. It is not just our smaller tracks that cause problems with the bikes speeds either, look at the amounts of crashes this year in Poland, you would think that the bikes would go well around the longer tracks, but no the problem is still there. Can't see the new batch of riders turning out on a rainy night, in a boiler suit and a leather face mask, because of all the muck being thrown up though, can you. They only like to ride when the sun shines and they don't get mucky, when that happens, they call it a night.

If the rain is anything like we have had today in South Derbyshire, then the meeting should be no problem. It has rained on and off most of the afternoon, but my weather station has only recorded 1.2mm. We get more than that after a full days light drizzle. Should not cause any problems with the meeting. I think these days they call meetings off when they don't need to, half the problems are caused by the tracks being so slick and very poor drainage. The tracks are like the top of a billiard tabble, so even a few mm of rain will give major problems to most tracks. I have been amazed at how well the track at Leicester drains, one thing they managed to get right. Hope they have a good sort out at the end of the seson, because these last 2 have been abismal to say the least.

His mum & dad. He needs to start out on his own he is old enough now.

He is 17 years of age, and must rate among some of the best of the Brits around at the moment bar Tai. Let him mature and in 2 or 3 years time he will be far higher on the world stage than any of the other will be at his age. All he needs though is to get a proper manager, get his mum to stand back now and let him stand on his own 2 feet. They have done a lot for him, surely though now is the time for his mum to call it a day and someone with a lot more speedway knowladge, take care of the road he now has to follow. It will be a long uphill battle with lots of mishaps and problems at times. But he will be there with the best of the world maybe in around 3 or 4 years time. Will he ever be as good as Emil and Darcy, only time will tell. Any truth in that staement. Can't say I have seen anything about it yet. Wouldn't be at all suprised though. IF MF can cancel Sky from going because he wanted more fans to go and watch them against Swindon. They he can manage to do anything. Only problem being, it has been raining heavily and they have had to cancel the meeting, so in the end noone wins do they. Sky should not bother to stage any meeting against Poole again. By the way what the weather like in your part of the country. Is tonights meeting still going ahead, or is it also a wash-out