MattB

Ironically if Entain were able to have betting at speedway, CVS would probably be having a lucrative contract waved under his nose.....

A tough night to get through and one I'd dreaded since the shattering news in April. Some decent racing on view, but that was of secondary importance on a night where corporate greed finally and selfishly ousted friendships that have been built, memories made and dreams came true (with the odd nightmare along the way!) 33 years on from first walking into Monmore Green as a 7 year old kid, I'm finding it hard to come to terms that just over an hour ago, I walked out through the gates for the very last time. Seeing my first speedway hero Ronnie Correy back on a bike again (and still looking handy btw) took me back to those halcyon 90s days, where life seemed so much better. The end of an era. Let's hope can do it all again some place. Monmore Green. 1928 to 2023

I fear the weather might have a big say for Monday. Damage may have been done already during yesterday's storms

What's gone on with the Russians almost adds to the mystique with Laguta. He was phenomenal in 2021, but only just edged Zmarzlik out. Would he have been able to raise his game to another level in 2022? I can remember when Chris Holder won in 2012 that many were claiming he'd go on and win multiple titles - he never got remotely close again.

Would have been fascinating to hear the great man's opinion on Bartek. I always felt he was quite dismissive of TR.

He's certainly matured quicker. I notice he's broken the record for the youngest rider to win 4 titles. Just by comparison. Greg Hancock 44 Hans Nielsen 35 Ivan Mauger 33 Barry Briggs 31 Tony Rickardsson 31 Ove Fundin 30 Bartosz Zmarzlik 28

Barring injury/someone stepping up/Zmarzlik's standards dropping you can certainly see him roaring past Mauger and Rickardsson, though they had tougher opposition.

We effectively did that after heat 9 on Monday! Asides that, this is yet another night where speedway blasts its own feet to smithereens. Clear to see the intention is to get to heat 10, with scant regard for the paying punters. It's a Semi-Final of a major competition, yet its got the atmosphere of a wake.

Rain will likely save us from a real shoeing tonight

Emil has been a breath of fresh air this year. Some exceptional performances on the track and a class act off it as well.

Not so sure "naming and shaming" the Express and Star is a clever move given how much coverage they've given us over the years and certainly since the eviction notice was served on us.

I've said for the last seven years that stopping BE building on Brandon will be the "easy" bit. Getting it back of their hands is going to be the toughest task, given they appear to have no intention whatsoever of selling it.

After last year they simply had to deliver this time and they certainly did. Vast improvement. One big disappointment for me was Dan Bewley not bothering to do a lap of honour after either of his two heat wins. Poor show

Sadly, though petitions are all well and good and I've happily signed it, it's the equivalent of shouting against thunder. Its money that's needed to fight off the developers, not signatures. Unless speedway in the UK starts standing up fir itself a little bit more, more clubs will follow Peterborough and Wolves into having to watch from the sidelines

Any club that does not own its own stadium has the same noose hanging over their head that we have and also Peterborough. If the owner of the site sells it for redevelopment or just decides they don't want you there anymore, you don't have a leg to stand on even if your a viable operation. Coventry and Cradley were viable, but that didn't stop the stadiums being taken from underneath them. Us, Peterborough, Poole, Birmingham and Edinburgh are all facing that problem and these are just the known clubs. I know of at least two others that face a real threat of having no home in the next 18 months.

I think the two complement each other and offer a different challenge. While the SWC is a team event in name, when the tapes go up every rider is an individual. The SON encourages team racing as you say.

Crikey the streets you spend time on must be policed strictly if you see people getting arrested for that

Tai will probably get a rocket from the authorities and get told not to do it again. Doubt he'll get anything more than that.

Must be a figment of my imagination that Workington and Oxford have reopened in last 18 months......

Just back from Manchester. Incredible meeting and a fantastic effort by all of our riders thought Zack Cook rode really well for just 3 points), but gutted we didn't hold on for the win. Missed opportunity

That's the spirit!

Wolves Speedway owners are in talks over a potential new home after the team was given notice to leave Monmore Green. Under-threat Wolves has been told its tenancy agreement will not be extended beyond the end of this year, leaving the riders homeless after nearly a century of racing at its historic home, in Sutherland Avenue, Wolverhampton, which it shares with greyhound racing. The club is remaining tight-lipped over the unnamed location, but team promoter Chris Van Straaten told the Express & Star: "There is a site which we are investigating, but it is the very early stages of consideration and we're unable to say any more at the moment. "We have had a lot of interest and have received a lot of help from MP Pat McFadden, councillors and others. We are working towards a site and we're quite confident about and hopefully it will come to fruition within the next few months."

Interesting comments from Liam Boylan, who is stadium director at Wembley about 38 minutes in. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6S3z3fS5i48Yh7FkluzsMH?si=7PuBUTlpTTK32qR3vBCGRg

Cradley had no trouble finding potential sites. They just had no support whatsoever from the very anti-sport Dudley Council. That's going to be key for us to keep on track after this year.

Nicki is never going to be the sort of rider who will just tootle round at the back and keep out of trouble. Only knows one way and that's all out and give it everything. No doubt he can still score well enough, but it seems he gets crocked everything he comes off now.