Stoke Potter

Previously I used to get the Star semi-regularly from my local Sainsbury's. Now, apparently, they are no longer going to stock it. I don't go to my local track because, in my opinion, the racing and track prep are very poor. It seems the only way i could get the SS now is via subscription... I've only been to 2 live meetings this year, one Belle Vue, one Poole. As a fan since the early 80's, I've now become an armchair fan getting my fix mainly from the GPs, a sad state of affairs indeed.

For the sake of clarification, I was referring to the Wolves track on planet Earth. Not the one on a distant planet many light years away, that is the same shape as Torun and has Unicorns riding 'round it! Back to Rye House, it was said in commentary that there isn't room for 2 riders side by side going into the bends. if that's really the case then it needs more work, in addition to what's already been done, to widen the straights!

Wolves or Torun? Not even close!

Anybody who thinks Wolves is a decent track doesn't understand the concept of Speedway!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-41044810 Obviously not directly related but not good news for the likes of Swindon. A planning application from a cricket club that has been in place since 1866, has people in a new housing estate complaining about the noise of leather on willow and grunting players! What is the world coming to?!!

Another crap track, 10 heats before there was a pass. Only 5 passes all night and that's being generous. 11 Heats without a pass and they wonder why nobody goes! Supposedly a big turn out tonight, there won't be many going back after that poor meeting.

The same place you did for Somerset, Scunthorpe, Belle Vue, Leicester, etc. Putting tracks in places where they essentially don't fit is just stupid. Another benefit of not sharing with Greyhounds running 2/3 times a weeks is that you would have the possibility of running on your day of choice and not just when the Greyhounds could fit you in. Opens up the possibility of having a fixed race night, should you think that's a good idea. Also gives you more access and time to prepare a decent track surface as well. If there's going to be a future for British Speedway that's where it lies.

UK tracks are generally too narrow and poorly prepared. The one notable exception being Belle Vue. You won't stop technology on the bikes so you have to fix the tracks. The added bonus if you do so is you get tracks where the riders can actually race and you improve the product.

To be fair that's something you could probably say about 90% of the tracks in the country. Lynn need to put a proper kerb in though, it's dangerous when riders lose their front wheels going on to the concrete inside. Seems like another example of a stock car track being used by Speedway rather than the other way around.

I made it 6 passes in 5 heats, no passing in 10 heats. That would be the lowest of all the BT meetings I've seen this season. As ever, open to interpretation.

Whether the 2 clubs have come to an agreement or not should be irrelevant. If a rider is contracted to ride for a UK club and rides elsewhere then they should be fined and banned by the authorities.

Surely this is something that should be fixed by the FIM and stop Poland dictating to the other nations.

Very good meeting last night, really enjoyed it. The track was much improved to the meeting I saw on BT the other week when it was rough. Massive credit to the promotion and track staff for fixing it. I had my doubts when I turned up and they were scraping off the top layer of slop bit in all fairness it was fine. Not loads of passing but some good close racing. Starke, Kennett, Holder all getting stuck in. Andersen, though, was the complete opposite, as he lost confidence in the track or just lost it altogether? As a neutral, the result didn't particularly matter to me, but I would of expected Poole to have the beating of Somerset.

Side on until the bikes have moved 6 feet, then viewed from the first bend.

Bin the crane view for live action, it's not a great view for the racing. And starts viewed only from the first bend, not side on and never from behind! Golden rule, always have at least 2 riders in shot during a race. Lots to learn for the directors of speedway meetings!

Has it been stated before it'll be something along the lines of Cardiff, i.e. sub-optimal. If it were to ever appear of course!

I don't mind Pearson, a reasonable job under difficult circumstances. A better meeting on TV tonight, if that was standard fare, the Sport would be in better shape. So far, by my count: Poole: 3 Passes in 3 Heats. (to clarify, 1 pass each heat) Wolves: 14 Passes in 8 Heats. Leicester: 14 Passes in 8 heats. Oddly the same as Wolves above but a far better spectacle tonight in my view. As ever, my opinion of a pass, others may differ.

Should be an interesting one tonight; how much passing at the reshaped Leicester?

A quick sniff on Google maps illustrates quite well that the track doesn't fill the available space. One of the few inside greyhound stadia that don't I'd guess..?

So, I had a total up of the passes in the Poole match on tv the other week: Poole: 3 Passes in 3 Heats. (to clarify, 1 pass each heat) Wolves: 14 Passes in 8 Heats. Obviously this is my opinion of a "pass" and others will differ I'm sure. Be an interesting exercise to try and do it for every televised meeting this season. I think it will be quite enlightening. Also I may have missed something from Heat 14 last night as I missed most of it due to my crap Virgin box.

All that illustrates is how bad the rest of the tracks in the country are. Got to agree with those who say Wolves tracks is bad, awful shape, not SPEEDway. Just down to whoever manages to peg it round the kerb. Way too tight, modern day bikes do not respond well to being folded in half, hence the locking up. The surface, while looking reasonable, must have issues as it caught Harris out as soon as he hit the bend in heat 1. If it's catching world class riders out is it really good? Granted there was passing, I was sad enough to count and got 14. I'm sure people will disagree with the number but that's my opinion based on my definition of a pass. In conclusion, Wolves, another track that needs a re-shape along with 'Lynn. There will be more added to the list I'm sure as we progress with the coverage on BT.

Some excellent racing again on a proper speedway track. Don't think GB can be too disappointed, not an unexpected result and something to build on for the likes of Worral. Having said that I do think GB need to develop more of a ruthless streak, plenty of time going into the 3rd turn I was thinking "shut the door" but they were letting riders sail by on the outside. By comparison, Dudek roughed up Harris a few times on the outside run in Heat 19 even though Poland had it in the bag by then.

Perhaps, instead of keeping repeating yourself, you should take a step back and attempt to understand what is being said. You may then realise that it's you who is missing the point. Yes, times have moved on and people want better facilities, agreed. BUT there is no point having "nicer" facilities if the key part of any speedway facility, i.e. THE TRACK, is not conducive to good racing and too many in this country are not. There would be no point in spending x thousands on, for example, King's Lynn's facilities and not spending anything on improving the track. You would've improved the surroundings, you would not have improved the key thing on offer, the Speedway Racing! So first of all, you invest in improving the tracks. If you actually start offering decent racing on a regular basis, you will get more people going, i.e. those people that used to go but don't anymore because the racing's no good. Then, with improved crowds, you might be in a position to start in investing in improved facilities which then, following your theory, will bring in more of the general public and you actually stand a chance of keeping them because they are now watching something exciting!

The truth is the rules on track sizes/shapes need changing to prevent flawed tracks being built. It won't happen though.

It's about the bigger picture, i.e. fixing the sport. Tracks in nice stadia, as in Cardiff, are occasions and people go for the atmosphere. How many would turn up if it were every week or even every month? Improving the sport at club level requires decent tracks as in Torun, Vastervik, Belle Vue. Nice facilities are great but no point if the track is flawed.