RBThirdbend

But surely if you are picking a venue for the one British Grand Prix it's a consideration? Effectively shutting out 20k people who want to go?

I think 30% is generous from where we were sat. They would have all been under cover if someone had taken a fishing umbrella!

The cost for the SoN was around £400k wasn't it? If that's right 6000 at £50 a head doesn't break even. You'd need to sell some stack of pies and pints to fill in that shortfall. I paid £190 for me and my teenage daughter to go to the SoN. 3 of us went to Cardiff for about £60. 6000 is also only 25% of the supposedly terrible crowd at Cardiff. I think a GP at the NSS would be great but I can't see how it flies without tickets well over £75 each and a guaranteed sell out. I'd be thinking twice about putting my money in based on the SoN experience.

I decided a while ago that the track staff at Sheffield are the speedway equivalent of Schrödinger's cat. If I go to Owlerton every meeting and see people dragging the dirt back after every heat but the British Speedway Forum says they don't exist, are they really there, or are they both there, and not there simultaneously?

That's good news. I couldn't decide whether Lemon was just trying to justify the prices and get people through the gate or if he was serious. I know that area has had massive regeneration and think it's a great facility. The point is that there's not many opportunities for this to be replicated.

Exactly! You don't have to look far on the internet to find questions being asked of Manchester City Council's funding decision. Mark Lemon hinted on the British Speedway Podcast that they might not be able to stay there if they can't bring in international events. I'd be interested to know the financials of the SoN.

Phil Morris really needs to sort this out. It can't be that hard to find another 7 or 8 councils prepared to throw £10m or £15m down the drain can it?

From where we were stood on the home straight it looked like he was closing quickly on Howarth and then lost control possibly slowing to avoid hitting him. Looked like the back wheel came around and then the bike lifted and flipped/high sided. Can't be certain but I'm sure it looked awful! Jack Holder looked to be in bits walking back across the centre green as he was the first rider to him. Hope the news from Middlo is right

Funnily enough Brady went to him as they dismounted at the gate and they had a hand shake. From where we were stood you couldn't see how much room there was but it didn't look like much!

I wanted to go anyway but if Sweet are there too... Good to see those ethical Manchester hotels aren't the same as those in Cardiff https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/aug/28/oasis-reunion-tour-profits-money-business The hotel we use for work tripled their rates when there's a big concert at the Arena.

Stood trackside ... it's pi551ng it down!

Doubt it really. Fancy Wolves in this one

Any chance you can be persuaded to pop over the Pennines to watch Belle Vue in the playoffs? We could arrange a whip round at Owlerton towards the petrol money

Spot on! It's not about a flaw though and they won't know what amount. That's what the lab test is for. The "onsite test" uses a litmus paper type of dipper. It changes colour if something's detected. The lab test will show the amounts and whether it's consistent with declared pain killer use for example or was a "false positive." The unfortunate thing is their names are out there now and everyone can jump to their own conclusions before really knowing the outcome

Try checking on Mike Tyson's approach. Get a mate to provide a clean sample, attach a bag and a tube and away you go...

Except it wasn't positive. It was non-negative. The first test is a "dip" giving almost instant results. If this is non negative the "B" sample is sent for confirmatory lab analysis as this is more accurate. They're all "private" tests as they use the same labs. The person paying for the test chooses the panel of substances they want to test for

I agree. To be clear, I'm not saying they're definitely negative. Just that they need to be confirmed. It's similar to when NFL players kept citing "tainted supplements", they need to take responsibility. There's lots of things that could cause it. As I understand it the lab test shows whether the readings are consistent with any declared medication. I don't know what the rules are around what they can and can't take. You almost hope it's positive as the riders names are out there now.

It's not dodgy kits. They might pick up painkillers for example as opiates. It does happen but not often. There have been cases where riders don't get a ban because of meds. Didn't that happen to Kyle Howarth with co codamol?

No, the B sample is lab analysed as it's more accurate. Not 100% sure what the speedway process is but there may also be a review of the lab results by a specialist to see if they are consistent with medications the subject declared

Probably important to note that a non-negative isn't a positive. It needs to be confirmed by the lab.

Been plenty of times for rugby league and speedway. City is great. It's got its rough bits. Nothing like the bright lights of Gorton or Ancoats near the NSS of course (although Ancoats has now been "gentrified")

Gave us a giggle! Questions from my youngest tonight included, "Why does he always look so mad?" and "Why does he do that run where he doesn't actually go any quicker?"

He was! Entry to turn 3 then angrily directing tractors

I have heard that. However, I tend to assume they're talking &£&£. After the Peterborough rain off early in the meeting their were folk talking about how the riders were "puzzled" at the cancellation as we were coming away. We'd been stood near the pits and you could see and hear them telling people how dangerous it was. I also can't imagine a rider deliberately giving up points money on a regular basis. As for the machinery there were certainly two nights when we've watched home doing laps after the meeting. I get it's frustrating. I just think Adam's probably frustrated too.

Could it be that the rewards in Poland are higher?