rabbit

So why not get the other side of events to be made public...and I'm not talking about rumour and heresay, or snippets in the Speedway Star. A statement made in public on the BSPA site from the promotion who were supposed to be running this event instead, or commets that they've been gazumped. That way we'll all know...

And to quote you, that is 'utter rubbish' also. All I see here at Poole fans defending the decision by the BSPA for Poole to run against the comments that Newport had a sole right to the January meeting, whether or not it ran. No-one is gloating as far as I can make out. Right of reply I call it, to some pretty damning comments aimed at the club, and now it appears the supporters. The licence allocated to Matt is for one year, that is all; I am sure that if Newport return, then the chances are the meeting will return there in 2010, if the application is made. I can understand the upset eminating from Newport that some other party had made noises about wanting to run, but if the BSPA had a deadline for submission for any meetings, then they missed that if comments about the 30th Sept deadline for applications are correct (and knowing how the BSPA work with shared events and their allocation, I can well believe it). It's only 11 weeks or so away, how long before a yes decision could be made? November? December? Why did no-one make a declaration of intent (to the BSPA not the Speedway Star before anyone jumps in) before that deadline for a stay of execution on the decision? Any potential promoter of the event would have had to have BSPA membership, so would have been made aware of the deadline for winter events, surely? It's easy to blast Poole, but no-one, not even Shovvy, knows the full trail of events other than those involved or otherwise in the decision. I'm sure that in the coming weeks, more will become clear, either with silence from those supposed to have had things in hand, or strong accusations of underhand tactics, and perhaps some further comment from the BSPA to clarify things. I can only agree with another poster who asked why didn't we apply for the December meeting. Would've been less bloody controversial that's for sure!

Ok, so let me get this right. If hypothetically Newport didn't run the meeting, you'd rather the speedway world (for whom you say the NYC was put on anyway) didn't get to see a winter meeting in 2009, than it be run elsewhere on a one year deal. Yes, I see your logic there

Yer, what the Muckman said. So watch it Mr B...I know where you live.

Bugger, you beat me to it

And there was me thinking the two weeks until the cup final were going to be dull

The honest truth? I really don't care to be honest. If it had been at Newport, I wouldn't have gone. Now it's at Poole, I'll be working that day. It could have been at any other club and I'd have the same opinion. Just think people are getting carried away without knowing all full details about timings etc, and exactly who has done what. All I've read so far is that we've applied for the meeting and got it, and some hearsay and rumours based on when an application was supposedly made, and that some bods were supposed to want to put it on at Newport but no-one is really sure whether they'd contacted the BSPA to say so. It'll be interesting at some point to finally get some facts.

And so was my reply.

If you're referring to my post, which I believe you were, then no, I'm not interested in a slanging match either and that wasn't my intention. But sometimes when these things blow up people do let over-reactions get in the way of facts.

Now you're just being silly

I think the emotive angle is what is making this announcement worse. Personally, I'm not bothered we're having the meeting, and I'd not be bothered if Newport were. But...the question here, and forget my club loyalties for a second, I ask this purely out of curiosity based on the comments posted; but why is it Newport's divine right to hold the winter meeting? I understand that Tim took the risk and the plunge and fair play to him for that, but does that mean that no other club should ever get a look in to hold a meeting over the winter? What if Coventry decided they wanted to; or Ipswich? Why should they be prevented from doing so because another team has the tradition. Times change and perhaps going forward other clubs might want a try for a winter event. I'd be interested in the objective replies without any emotion to do with Tim's untimely death.

Really? Must've missed all of these over the last couple of years.

In response to your opening paragraph - fair enough; your opinion. I'm only repeating what I was told. In respect of your closing comment, I assume it was not directed at me as I have no opinion on line-ups whatsover. Improved or otherwise.

All I can add, is that when I was told of this on Monday, it was said at the time that no objections to the plan to hold the meeting had been received. I've no reason to doubt the integrity of the person who told me this so this might indicate that no other promotion or concern were planning to go ahead at Newport or anywhere else. At the moment a lot of the anger appears to be based on rumour and heresay over timings and possibilities.

Wouldn't it be better to hold fire and see what this announcement from Poole is first? Seem to be a lot of people jumping off the deep end here and making accusations and assumptions, that as yet are neither confirmed or denied as far as I can see.

I'm so hoping the translation of that is what it looks like. Quality headline if so

Good point Trees! I was basing my comment on the premis that the riders will kidnap Olsen, tie him to a chair and lock him in a store cupboard so he can't ruin the track.

Now hang on a minute - not sure two people really constitutes a majority. FWIW, Smoli is the rightful choice - not his fault yesterday was a royal cock-up by the organisers and I fully expect to see him riding there next week; but speaking as a neutal who watches these GPs in the sole hope of being entertained, I'd have rather seen Emil come in as a wild card there next week. World U21 Champ getting a chance and as a home track boy and would have the set up for the track and would definitely get stuck in there. With no disrespect intended, I'm not sure Smoli will have the same impact.

You two will blinkin' need it! Shocking revelations now coming out about this track. Agree with previous posters that heads need to roll over this - the lack of professionalism to the outside world damages speedway's credibility yet again, not to mention the amount of money wasted by fans and riders getting there this weekend. How on earth has this been allowed to happen?

And Weymouth for their play-off meeting.

Oh dear - was Watty spreading his germs around at Lakeside on Monday?

Has to be one of the most insular comments I've read on here in a long time. Having seen many a potentially season-ending crash prevented by the air fences, the last thing I would call them is a 'problem'. But hey, sod rider safety eh? Long as you can keep your view on the corners. Sure that'll rest easy with any rider that happens to come to grief there.

Disappointed that Bjarne has pulled out - he's usually not one to muck about with being a diva. Couldn't find any comment to say why he's not riding...unless he caught Davey's flu on Monday. Shame as I would've said he had a good chance of winning. As i said on an earlier post...when the replacements start pulling out you've got problems. When it's the replacements of the replacement of the original rider, you begin to wonder if the whole thing should just be put down humanely and put out of it's suffering.

He's always been an oddity but we love him for it Makes a change though don't you think? Besides, I think his resolve may yet waver about the GPs should he manage to claw that 8th place back on Saturday. Looking at the line-up, it's not the best in terms of names and isn't really in the spirit of the top riders out there, but... there's some exciting riders in there so it could be a cracking meeting. As long as no-one else pulls out that is - it's when the replacements start dipping out, you know you've got problems.

Helluva long break between the penultimate and last GPs if this is the case - just hope the championship hasn't been decided by then or it could be a big damp squib.