TheWellBehavedWorrall

You’re a kinder soul than me, Lisa. When I’ve forked-out £14.99 to watch the CLRC, no-ones safe. Not even Craig Cook.

Elaborate.

To put my answer into perspective, Exeter and Hull were still active when I last attended speedway regularly. Now, spill the beans. Craig Cook and a photographer. The photographer leaked Cook’s nudes, so Cook had Mike Hunter force the photographer to listen to an interview with Kenny McKinna?

You’ve opened up a can of worms there, Lisa, but I’ll tell you what, I’m up for this game. Charles Wright and Claus Vissing are joined on the naughty step by… Hans Andersen, Nicki Pedersen, Andre Compton, Tomasz Gollob (Craig Boyce likes this), Roman Matousek, Jan Pedersen (it must be the surname) and… Martin Goodwin. No, Dugard. No, both.

What happened with the photographer?

What’s actually happened to Craig Cook? I saw something about a photographer mentioned in the CLRC topic, but couldn’t find anything on it. It’s disappointing because on his day, he’s a tremendous speedway rider.

Thanks mate.

Interesting. I didn’t know that. It’s impressive how far HSE has come. When I first attended speedway meetings at Shawfield, you walked through/past the pits on the way in. Jesper Olsen almost knocked me over about fifty times. Now, correctly, you can’t get near them and the riders aren’t allowed on their bikes. I don’t remember who it was exactly, but I’m sure it was Paul Bentley and James Grieves; in 2004, one of them pulled the others cut-off on the back straight at Ashfield after they secured a 5-1. It was funny at the time.

Really? I didn’t know that. Why not? Is this a recent change? Craig Cook must not have heard the ”in the pits” part at the CLRC.

More guests than a Hilton for Edinburgh.

Ben Duffil, as in Jitendra Duffil, the ex-rider? Wow. I remember watching you ride for Glasgow during their first season at Ashfield in 1999. Thanks for clarifying though. Credit where it’s due; that makes sense and is understandable. I look forward to seeing the platform grow, hopefully with regular commentary from Adam Roynon who was outstanding. Also, while I’ve got an ex-rider here (strike while the irons hot, as they say) why do some riders jump off their bikes and hand them over to their mechanic before they’ve left the track, rather than riding into the pits? Also x2, itchy faces and body parts must be an absolute nightmare for a speedway rider. How do you survive four laps with a world class itch in your eyebrow?

Nothing, I’m in agreement with you. I’ve never heard anyone leave a speedway meeting, saying ”he was on drugs” either. Don’t get me wrong, every time I watch a live meeting from Wolverhampton, I wish I was on drugs, but I get what you’re saying. Safety’s overrated. Post-meeting drug testing at the mascots, sorry referee’s discretion would add to the excitement, anyway. Helmets would stop you seeing whose eyes are bloodshot and whose jaw is swinging, so the old Cluedo skills would have to be refined. ”Alan, is it just me, or is he riding erratically? He’s either excited or high”. Having said that, I’m not sure Charles Wright would appreciate being accused of taking drugs every week.

Right, that’s plenty, Andre Compton.

This is an incredible take. Wow. Where’s the laughing smiley?

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or have I just read that two riders in the one meeting failed drug tests? Jesus Christ.

The Premier League Pairs was on BSN, wasn’t it? Or “watchspeedway”, as is the social media handle. It’s been five days since the meeting and the platform hasn’t posted a single highlight from it. Forgive me if I’m missing something, but why?

It’s incredible. It’s difficult to avoid coming across negative, but at the same time, failing to do so is burying your head in the sand and that has gross consequences for speedway in the UK. There are so many things I’ve noticed, like the volume of heats involving a retirement or the fact that it’s difficult to distinguish between an Elite League line-up and a Premier League line-up (I refuse to acknowledge the Premiership and Championship name change, given the deeper issues), never mind a heat leader and a two or a four. Also, I’m about to start calling the sport “Premier Inn” because of the number of guests. It’s every single meeting.

I saw Dan Bewley at 16 years-old, riding for Edinburgh at Ashfield and if you told me he’d win the British GP six years later, I’d have spat my bovril all over my Rusty Harrison programme board. I’m not an expert, but this young man - Boughen - enters corners with pace, technique and confidence very rarely seen in a teenager, so that’s worth talking about alone.

This will be my first live speedway meeting since April, 2016. I’m excited for the following, in no particular order: the smell, the chips, Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls.

I think it’s safe to say the answer to this question is a resounding ”yes” and I take no pleasure in typing that. I attended religiously for over 10 years; travelling up and down the country, from Berwick to Poole and Belle Vue to Oxford, but a combination of work commitments and a notable decline in many aspects of the sport in the UK meant I was unable to commit. What I‘ve returned to (I’ve started watching on TV, BSN and will be in attendance at Ashfield on Friday) is wild. How on earth does the Elite League have only seven teams in it? That isn’t a league, that’s the group stage of a cup. It’s been renamed, though, I see. I watched the CLRC and Wolves versus Sheffield meeting on TNT, both of which involved referee’s failing to apply the rules. I want to stress that Charles Wright’s ride in the re-run of the final was what speedway is all about, but he should not have been there; he single-handedly caused the stoppage. Then, at Monmore Green, the referee’s failure to implement the rules around moving at the start line caused Sam Masters to raise the topic on live TV. These are basic rules. Regarding the CLRC, that line-up was a disgrace. The PLRC used to be a highlight of mine, going as far back as Bradford’s Odsal Stadium. I don’t even know where to start with with it. I’m a fan who’s trying to return, but is being left disillusioned. Craig Cook is a rider I admire greatly, but his conduct in the CLRC was unacceptable. He was a notable name in a depleted line-up, but gave-up in his first ride, then withdrew because he ”didn’t have a bike”. Who is holding him accountable to the fans who pay good money to watch him?

My only experience of BSN is the CLRC which I found expensive at £14.99, but I did enjoy the coverage. I’m not sure who the gentleman was who joined him on commentary, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear/see Adam Roynon. I’m certain I watched a young Adam be shepherded around Ashfield by Shane Parker in a fine display of team riding around 18 years ago.

Congratulations to Charles Wright for an excellent ride in the re-run, but how on earth he wasn’t excluded from the final is beyond me. Entirely and solely at fault for the stoppage. Apologies for the late input; I attempted to engage in discussion during the meeting which I purchased on BSN, but frustratingly, none of my posts were being approved.

He’s correct though, isn’t he? Regardless of whether it’s a Wolves or a Sheffield rider, the rules state that riders must remain stationary until the tapes rise; that didn’t happen. Between this and the decision to allow Charles Wright to remain in the final of last night’s CLRC, I’m noting a blatant unwillingness from referee’s to apply the rules which are set in black and white.

I’ll be watching this this tonight. I’m slowly trying to get back into speedway, so my predictions aren’t the most educated, but any side with Tai Woffinden in it is going to get my shout. I’m going for a 48-42 away win for Sheffield. I’d also like to add that I’m impressed by Eurosport’s coverage. The pre-meeting build-up has included coverage of other Premiership matches, plus I like Nicholls and Tatum’s presenting. The young lady too, of course.