Bostonian

Really enjoyed my visit to owlerton last night. Having moved closer to Sheffield, think I will be visiting more regularly! The facilities and track is fantastic, certainly an entertaining meeting. Some good races with plenty of action and close racing. Ty Proctor has such an exciting style when he's in the dirt and screaming round the boards. Good to see Poole in the points, and stead looked a class act again. For the rockets, Kennett was poor, the young French man (can't remember his name) was their best rider. Enjoyed seeing Garrity ride, not the most gifted but can tell he loves riding a bike and nice to see his passion after a 5-1. I'd say the crowd was around 450-500.. Unsure if that's a healthy crowd or not. All In all an enjoyable night, look forward to the next visit!

Pleased for Simon Stead, really tough on him last season with his leg and ankle break. Done well this season seeing as though he missed 75% of last year. He's unbelievably good round Sheffield, a circuit which is big and fast, hence his inclusion I would say. Lynn and Poland both quick big tracks.

On the whole.. With the changes in the winter, I think the race format is relatively well thought out. Yes, heat 5 does need sorting, but seeing as though it's the first season with the FT riders I think they've done well. I'm sure next season will change. All I see is moan moan moan, a small hitch is all it is!

What superb, well run programme that was. Anyone who seems to have an 'issue' with Woffy I highly recommend you watch that programme. Can't work out if some posts are tongue in check, or they're just plain idiotic. Refusing to watch a speedway programme about the youngest world champion ever, who is also a Brit, whether your a fan of his or not, is ridiculous in my eyes. Watching the programme has only made me see even more how much Woffy has been through and what a top guy he is. Really appreciate all he is doing media wise etc for British speedway. Think it's obvious that Woffy has learnt the errors he made as a young lad and that's only helped him more. Superb stuff from sky sports, really hope guys watching who aren't into speedway, has given them someone to 'follow' and maybe entise more fans to speedway. Well done Tai and all the sky sports producers.. 10/10!!

How did the Brits do? Seen only Harris got a reserve spot but were cook etc close to qualifying?

As much as I dislike Perdesen's antics and his down right dirty, unfair and unsafe moves at times, the GP's will be worse off when he packs up. The guy is totally box office and you can guarantee entertainment when he's around. As a person I cannot stand him, as a speedway rider and entertainer he is fantastic! For what it's worth, Zagar is as much of a Pratt as Nicki but totally agree with why he kicked off, was a silly and un-necessary pass he tried to make which could of caused serious injury. Made for great entertainment too!

As a neutral fan, and my first ever visit to Owlerton, was very impressed by the facilities around the stadium. Good viewing areas, superb food and drink available, well presented inside, a large upstairs bar area to watch the racing from and up to date replays on the tele (presume would be re-run productions). Superb noise made at the start line too, seems the stand really amplifies the revving bikes, and sounds fantastic! Enjoyed my visit on the whole, will definitely go back again. Too many stoppages for track grading mind which dragged the meeting on. Thought Stead looked superb and a cut above the rest of his team mates. Think Sheffield will need to make a few changes, or riders like Poole, Compton, and the 2 reserve boys need to pick up their form, if they're to make anything out of the season. Scunthorpe on the other hand look a strong unit, helped out by a superb score from Jorgensen. Thought it looked a healthy crowd there too.

Can't believe what I'm reading about Woffy on this thread.. The guy has done so much for British speedway this past year, all he did in his off season was do radio and tv interviews, trying to push the sport out there to a new audience. He took so much on for us british supporters, it effectively caused his poor form at the start of the season. As for the young lad tonight, sure Woffy didn't mean to not give out his autograph, certainly doesn't sound like something he usually does. Perhaps just wait till next time for it. Yeah, maybe he should be scoring better for Wolves, but he's still obviously one of the best riders in the world.. To say its time to get rid is ridiculous. A British club sacking the British and world champion, sounds incredibly silly and would be the biggest mistake they would ever make. What's that old saying.. You don't know how good it is, until it's gone.

Enjoying the meeting on bet365, but deary me the music is terrible. Surely they can get some update stuff! I know the crowd are usually the older generation but it's about getting people through the gate and who keep going back, you need good entertainment between races and that's mainly music

I must say I quiet enjoy the build up to each race? Getting the line up read out as the riders are at the tapes, seeing who's off what gate, anticipating who's going to make the break first, who's the better gater, who looks comfortable on his bike, who looks raring to go, who can take the pressure better than his opponent.. All this in 2 minutes. I think it creates the excitement of the race, especially if it's a last heat decider etc. Maybe it's just me....

Going tomorrow, first visit to Leicester. Not a fan of either but just looking forward to taking in some speedway tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing Poole, Ward especially. Always good when Poole are in town!

Listened tonight on bbc norfolk. Excellent production with 2 good presenters and great to get lots of reaction from the pits during the meeting. Be great to get more of that through the season. Love the voice of Edwin, think he did a fine job tonight. Wouldn't be the same for me if he isn't announcing/commentating at Lynn!

Anyone know if the meeting is being shown on bet365?

Think you'll struggle there mate, can't imagine many pubs will show speedway over the more mainstream sports. Best thing to do is just try find any free streams over the internet

Sure he signed for Daugavils. Heard he's done a few 'friendlies' for them, but from what I've seen hasn't raced for Daugavils in any league meetings as of yet

Funny how all the draft haters are out in force. Clearly some of the draft riders aren't going to make the step up like others, but it's not meant for ever rider to become future EL riders I'm afraid. So far I'm seeing a lot of the FTD guys coming on a bundle and it's only been a month of the season. Worrall is obviously a big lose but Swindon chose the wrong guy to bring in tonight obviously when there's plenty of others who could of guested.

Superb meeting tonight! Them last 5 heats were brilliant, 13 and 14 were outstanding! Boy if young lambert can do that at only 16, with the right guidance and progression he will be something special! Though Bjerre was faultless and NKI is usually dynamic self. Wolves put up a good fight and the 2 young reserves looked good. Woffy was disappointing by high standards. Personally think it's time he starting to look after himself and get his head down. The amount of promotion and media the boy has done has been fantastic for British speedway but it's time he got himself back to his best, which i have no doubt he will do! Back with the reserves, I know it's early days but them 4 boys tonight certainly didn't look out of place. If you had been asleep for the past 8 months and didn't realise about the draft system you wouldn't of known any different. Really hope this continues to impress. Finally a word for buster and his boys, who put on an outstanding racing surface as always, you can tell the guys were all confident chucking it into the corners, knowing full well there was a perfect line to ride on. Made for a cracking meeting. Who said British speedway was dead ey?!?!

Smolinski is only racing in Germany and Denmark so he can concentrate on the GP's. Gone a different way to all the other GP boys but will see if it pays off or not

Just watched the meeting on sky+. Good points where without doubt seeing speedway back on the box! And see some of the top boys going at it. Personally thought some of the races were decent and i thought the Brits would of done ok. Maybe not like the Aussies or Danes but without doubt would of beaten the Latvians and Germans! Swedes looking better than lasts seasons GP's though. Negatives where the regular mistakes by the commentators. I quiet enjoyed jacks enthusiasm and knowledge but the amount of times he got riders wrong was crazy. Sure he'll get used to all the guys leathers etc for the next round. The other negative has surely got to be the points system! How can you gain more points coming 2nd and 3rd together than being the winner?! Really didn't understand it and thought it totally un-necessary.

I would agree Grand Prix, although I think we're getting to the stage where it's at the limit of how many gp's per season. The one off final is a great crowd puller and riders would go out on full gas no holds bar, but I would think 90% of the time the best rider in the world that year wouldn't win it. Whereas the Grand Prix, most the time the best rider of the year will earn it over the course of the season.

Also signed. Really REALLY grates me to see that people move to an area where there is a sports arena, and then complain about the noise. And worst still, councils then backing them up! The track was there before they moved, people can move houses, towns or even countries but stadiums are there and there to stay.. If they didn't like it why the hell did they decide to move there in the first place!

Anyone know if this meeting will be on the live stream on bet365 like wolves v birm was on Monday?

Thank you all for your replies, really appreciate it! Looked into the tickets and what rows I would be put on and think I'll go for the top tier, found a few areas with seats in first few rows so no flags/people in the way, but not too far out of sight. Thanks again

I went to this meeting on Wednesday and it's great to watch it back again, enjoyed watching it as much as I did on Wednesday night. Highlight without doubt was seeing Lewis Kerr win his race, what a feeling it must of been for the young lad. Exactly the reasons for the draft, for reserve rides to hopefully score points above 'better' riders in the main body of the team, thus giving them confidence and becoming better speedway riders. Certainly hope this draft system works out as I think it really can be a great idea for British speedway development.

Only just seen this news.. Fantastic idea, and even better that hagon shocks (a massive sponsor of speedway) is backing it. Really hope this will hit off and bring youngsters through!