HGould

I think youre100% correct if you were referring to the testing procedures used by elite sports. Those sports testing for steroids and anabolic drugs and masking drugs. Soccer, Cycling. Rugby, Athletics, Weight Lifting, etc. I don't believe that Speedway is testing to that level or type of substance. I believe its more of a recreational drug and alcohol urine test. There have been examples of complete innocence like Kyle Howarth due to prescription drugs Plymouth PR was very specific about prescription drugs Barker was taking for known and documented injuries. They must have evidence of those prescriptions and GP or Hospital evidence. The B Test in this case should be able to distinguish the amount and type of substances genuinely in prescribed medicines and genuinely in illegal recreational drugs. Got little to do with WADA type steroid tests although it is under the same umbrella of Sport. Like others have said innocent until proven guilty. The fact he took the test rather than scarper like Steve Boxhall says something too.

My guess Nicol, Edwards and Complin (after his performance last time)

may be not assume their Team has beaten the Printers deadline LOL https://plymouth-speedway.com/gladiators-v-the-brummies/

I wonder who is left for us? Plymouth certainly going for a win with this Team https://plymouth-speedway.com/gladiators-v-the-brummies/ Brennan / Edwards and Paco may be for us??..

Each Club with a sponsors licence has I think 5 licences. If a Club doesn't have one, I think Company has to have min 3 years of accounts so in real terms more than 4 years old, they can ask a Club with unused licences to ask if they can use one. Thats my understanding anyway

Alan. Thats professional sport doing it as it should be. Speedway is light years away from that.

Two key words there. Professional Serious It's a sport that has historically turned a blind eye to recreational drugs and alcohol excesses. How many random drug tests have been taken this season? I spoke to a doubling up rider yesterday who hasn't been at a meeting where drug tests have taken place since 2017. Thats scandalous.

Fair play mate I hope its on as I'm in Salcombe for a few days to catch tne meeting.

What is the point of this tripe. You've no idea who we may pick as Guests. You've no idea if Plymouth will have 1 rider fit or 5 or 6 What is Poole fans obsession with belittling other Clubs? Pathetic.

The idea of running a "Summer Cup" that was then renamed a "Jubilee Cup" in the middle of the League programme because the League programme started too soon and ended too soon now looks to be the joke it is! In 2019 the season started with "The Shield" (the Summer Cup in another name). The benefit starting with "The Shield" was that it actually attracted good early season Crowds, actually had full strength Teams and delivered some competitive semi-finals later in the summer. If I remember correctly the infamous Eastbourne v Glasgow match was a Shield semi final - certainly full strength Teams and no lack on intensity in that one was there! Had they started 2022with The Shield (aka Summer / Jubilee Cup) it would have been taken seriously and led to a more sensible spread of League Fixtures, especially in August! Not rocket science is it?

Exactly. Any simple Google search though will give you evidence and detailed analysis of the fact that high dose amounts of these drugs can stay in the system for up to 3 days and lead to false drugs tests based on how quickly the liver dilutes the various trace elements and morphine levels. I'm not saying Barker is innocent nor guilty in the same way that Kyle Howarth failed a test and was able to persuade powers that be that it was due to Night Nurse (allegedly) although he had shoulder problems. Clearly the more detailed analysis of his p-test will show a far more accurate picture. Plymouth have been transparent and to a degree set out their defence strategy. Only one person really knows what he has or hasn't taken and hopefully the test will be conclusive one way or another.

Didn't the NDL do that last year, reduce Guest Bookings to a couple of meetings and then have a list of unattached riders. I'd go a stage further and a form of Rider Control. (A) List all riders above 8 points (B) List all riders 6 to 7.99 (C) List all riders 4 to 5.99 (D) List all under 4 Work out a sensible Points Limit once you have built the Groups and you can have 1 rider from List A , max 2 from List B , max 3 from List C etc The availability of UK based Riders and of ability zones A B C D would dictate limit Unattached Riders would go on Guest Pool - ideally you'd not have any in LIST A but may have some overseas / overseas based riders who could take occasional Bookings to build some margin of availability.... Got to stop this ridiculous situation of 2-3 Clubs having 3 Heat Leaders over 8 points and 3-4 Clubs having none!

If you Google it, it's Zapain... No e.. Plimouth wos rite

I remember being given Codeine and Morphine as a kid when I broke my collarbone. If it produces morphine doesn't that mean the body has morphine in it so will show on a test?

Let's not forget this is Speedway. It's probably the most basic of tests and the thought that there would be any provision to take a blood test at the Track if a result on the basic test warranted it is frankly hilarious. The sample will be sent for further testing but once again, this is Speedway so I doubt its anything like the depth / quality of the investigation of say professional football, Rugby , Cycling , Athletics etc. Would Speedway even have a list of permissible counter drugs etc. Whatever the outcome Speedway needs to really improve drug testing massively. There are historically many cases of recreational drug abuse over a long period where a blind eye has been turned on too many occasions, some offenders indeed have been eulogised as "charachters" and given some form of legitimacy. You either have a zero tolerance policy or you dont and until you do the Sport as a whole is living in cuckoo land. If he has taken a recreational drug he deserves a severe ban, if he hasn't then I doubt the testing will be strong enough to completely exonerate him. If he is found guilty then I would suggest mandatory random testing at every track at least once a month to if you'll excuse the pun, weed out the problem. Finding one guilty every 4 or 5 years is not a proper drug testing policy it's paying lip service to a known problem.

I guess it depends which team it is... If Worrall and King got injured, Lawson got locked up, the Cooks got deported for visa irregularities, Kemp lost his strength when he had his hair cut and only Ablitt was left old Matt would be on the phone from the chateau and get dispensation for 6 for a few months.

It's hardly a massacre after 12 heats. But of an over reaction from some. Whatever the reason for Barker not riding will have to come out in the wash as they say. Shame about Bowtell. He'd been riding very well.

Indeed

We did that years ago. We have NEC, NIA and ICC they were staging World and European Championships of sports like Badminton, lndoor Athletics, Table Tennis, Gymnastics etc plus G7 World Leaders when other major cities outside of London called a converted train shed a Conference Centre.

Think that's mischief from one unreliable mischief maker at your Club. Kennetts first love is Grass Track and pretty sure when he is anywhere near fit to return he'd be entered in a Grass Meeting somewhere. Until he is I'd say safe to assume he is not fit.

Gary May is very clever, knows the tricks of the trade, may be he'll pull a replacement for Kennett out of the hat once he knows that Andersen / MPT and Gilkes are fit. That would well and truly upset the applecart! Bowtell has developed in to an excellent second string since going there, they could still end up with 4 heat leaders and Bowtell in the top 5 and Gilkes at reserve with a 2 pointer at 7.

It's certainly an interesting and enjoyable watch. Plenty of passing and incidents and incredibly 30 30 after 10 heats.

I've referred to this on another topic. How long before a rider has ridden for every Club in the CL in this season or even on CL and PL. It must be the case that Heat Leaders on 7-8 point averages are probably by now so fatigued by the miles travelled and laps done that they and their bikes are in no fit state to take every booking offered. Unlike past years most have probably not set foot outside the UK either. PL Monday and Thursday, CL team probabaly oe home and one away per week and guest bookings on nights/days off, 6 days a week for sure (now no Newcastle) but 7 days a week when any other team picks a Sunday. The more extreme places geographically are going to be the first to suffer in terms of getting Guests and same for Away Teams travelling there.

Agree with every word. It pains me to agree with every word but you're spot on in your analysis. We have a generation of over 30's riding who started when money and interest were greater but who now effectively hold the sport to ransom for their guarantees or over-inflated pay rates. That feeds down to a younger generation, few of whom are making real progress but who want more money that Promoters can afford and the trappings of vans and engine tuners - the latter of which are bleeding the sport dry. The few innovative thinkers who have emerged have been broken by the system or their owm nievity of the system or have in the case of someone like Adrian Smith just walked away. God Bless those who try to buck the trend at places like Glasgow, Redcar, Oxford, Plymouth. The Management of the BSPL sit in a parallel universe apparently happy to brag about how much they have lost and had to make good each year; rather than try to plug the drain and to work towards a model that goes back to basics and starts from the bottom based on realistic pay rates, realistic break even figures, realistic level of riders it can attract etc. Riders are worn out in late July not from riding in a 6 team PL and 10 Team CL for a Club in each but for rising for just about every other Club in both leagues at some point. How far are we away from the Rider who steps up and says "I've ridden for every CL and PL Club this season"??.. I used to look forward to going to Brum every week and around 10 away matches around the Country.This year I've done 4 Fixtures at Brum, 2 at Oxford, 1 at Plymouth and 2 at Leicester. Have I come away from any having been actually entertained and actually enjoyed the experience, probably twice if i'm being honest and both at Oxford where at east you get a sense of the buzz and excitement I used to. I bet that will be drained out though before too long. As you have suggested, if we aren't gripped and excitied any more and have become bored and dis-interested, what hope is there. Each year another one or two will drop out, some with good ideas unfulfilled and no doubt having lost a small fortune, having lost the Masons who did some good work, I now fear for our new Promotion who simply can't be making ends meet nor enjoying the stress and hassle of a sport in decline, with no leadership nor direction, largely mercanaries racing the bikes and not enough excitement. THANK GOD for the likes of Josh Pickering who has given me some enjoyment this season, we need more of him and a new wave , but I fear its too late.