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Mike, we had loads of guests back in the heyday as the excellent Speedway Researcher will testify. The percentage was lower as we had way more fixtures back then. Teams did ride on their preferred racenight but they do now. Sheffield & Ipswich did/do run on a Thursday. Northampton are new, Kings Lynn changed from the weekend but Leicester moved from a Tuesday! Belle Vue needed to change as there is now such competition for a Saturday night in Manchester that speedway would always lose out. Most of the top league teams we have lost has been due to planners/developers and not the race nights or competition value. If I’m being honest I see little difference in the credibility and reward in winning stuff now and back then. One of the big “rewards” was when Dave Lanning took out an insurance policy on the Racers winning the league and when they did, it was duly paid out. This was more a publicity stunt which we do not get now as promoters are not in the same mould as Lanning, Mawdsley, Thomas & Berry, sadly. Back then there were meetings like the Golden Apple or Warburtons Trophy that had no consequences or rewards but were dam fine meetings as there was thousands there. Halifax always won the Warburtons trophy against us (usually on a last heat decider) as it was good for their business, no matter how contrived. Promoters realised back then that we were a sports entertainment business where’s now they just think we are a proper sport. Doubling up/down is a mess - no question. That is a result of a lack of investment in the next generation and the fact it is way more expensive to throw your leg over a bike than back then.

It was still very raw back in the 70’s with only Ivan getting scientific about things. Even top lads would stick a bike on the bike of a Citroen with bits on the back seat. You could chat away for ages with your hero’s and a big crowd made even the most mundane meeting an event. I do believe that with the difference in remuneration top riders will “coast” if they don’t make the gate on our notoriously gate’n’go circuits. Exception to this is Dan who just loves to ride his bike and goes for it all the time, showing it can be done with a little desire and application. Back in the 70’s the big bucks were here and you would get an almighty bollocking if you were to coast, much like Poland now. The fact there are no characters can make for a bland evening and of course nostalgia colours our recollection of events from 50+ years ago when (generally) we were all in a happier place. PC was my hero and I can still get tongue tied when chatting with him now whereas Dan is a mate but still provides the level of excitement in me that PC did all those years ago. The on track action can be as good if not better than back then but off track it’s lacking somewhat.

I’d have to say clueless as I assumed Ipswich twice dropped out of our league due to finances negatively impacted by poor attendance. I apologise for my error and would like to know what their motives were for the drops. Tom & Jaimon are exactly good enough to be number ones. This was arrived at by using their averages and the rulebook. You are, as always entitled to your opinion but the fact remains that they have to ride at number one for their respective teams. With regards Jaimon, which is his usual performance at Foxhall, 1 or 13?

History shows how fickle the Ipswich support can be and the last thing we need is them dropping out of our league again due to insufficient support. We really need Mayfield to come to the party and help us push on. What we have done with Northampton in this short space of time and our program of producing number ones for teams to use plus the whole Brits thing is not an easy burden to take on alone. I had high hopes for Mayfield at Ipswich and was looking forward to a GP or two there instead of us carrying the can. I’m still hopeful they will join the party.

Remarkable that we took the bonus to a last heat decider given the cards we’ve been dealt. Whilst the 3 & 5 positions were never going to match the 19 points we got there last time, only 6 points didn’t help the cause. Having a number 1 (world number 2) averaging 5 from his 8 rides is unacceptable. I didn’t see either meeting yesterday as whilst the need for top stars is berated on here, the loss of Dan, who is worth the admission alone in my eyes has dampened my desire to attend. I’m sure it will pass by the time The Aces next take to the track v Leicester.

This is why having a home track in rainy Manchester, we can count the number of Aussie team members over the last decade or so on eight hands.

Inherited. Things will get better, I truly believe that. With regard the attendance, as I have said before no club has the right to call another one out as we are all relatively poor. Despite the banter I honestly do not want to see Ipswich again drop out of our league due to poor support. Being the sole club with the support to stay “up top” and seeing clubs come and go is not good at all and the uncertainty of who we will be up against year on year is a major concern. Up the witches!

Great to hear and as a rider who can compare the old with the new it’s nice to see the changes aren’t going unnoticed. Keep it up. The screen is fabulous for replays and interviews filling the gaps in the action perfectly. The more clubs take this idea on board the better.

I’m still not buying the not trying due to GP line, it’s just lazy reporting on the part of BSF and another tedious attempt to have a go. If you are going to level that accusation then you MUST address the KO Cup earlier and the fact he ran five races in the league campaign without beating an opponent. During all four meetings at Foxhall last year our top two scored 27 each. They got paid 27 between them in the previous play off final away at Leicester so it’s safe to say their performance were poor last year but, it was against a once in a blue moon title winning team. Jason Edwards gated and beat Dan last season. I’m not expecting that now that Coleman is here as looking at updates the racing has improved. The cartels desire for gate’n’go speedway is gradually lessening and it only helps with people like Coleman jumping into our rocking boat. If things continue to improve I can see myself returning for the first time since early 2022.

I’m still not buying the not trying due to GP line, it’s just lazy reporting on the part of BSF and another tedious attempt to have a go. If you are going to level that accusation then you MUST address the KO Cup earlier and the fact he ran five races in the league campaign without beating an opponent. During all four meetings at Foxhall last year our top two scored 27 each. They got paid 27 between them in the previous play off final away at Leicester so it’s safe to say their performance were poor last year but, it was against a once in a blue moon title winning team. Jason Edwards gated and beat Dan last season. I’m not expecting that now that Coleman is here as looking at updates the racing has improved. The cartels desire for gate’n’go speedway is gradually lessening and it only helps with people like Coleman jumping into our rocking boat. If things continue to improve I can see myself returning for the first time since early 2022.

This was our fifth win (in addition to a couple of 44-46 losses) at Saddlebow Rd since Covid. It’s very similar to our record at Foxhall with both these circuits being happy hunting grounds when looking at the records. Since Covid, apart from our wins at these two tracks plus Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford, Peterborough & Sheffield we have been awful away. This is borne out by the fact we have yet to win at Northampton which is probably due to our poor away form. As for this meeting, great gating Aces, well done.

The other thing people aren’t mentioning is the fact it was inexperienced riders behind Cooper. I’ve seen riders with a few years under their belts almost stop down the straight when needed. I don’t know how they do it but that level of skill doesn’t manifest over night. Having said that, my problem with Coopers move yesterday was the looking beforehand. Riders have made moves being unaware of those behind but this was thought about. Negatives can be the best learning platform and I believe this will be for Cooper.

It was gate’n’go against Belle Vue but the difference was that we are worse out of the gate than you. There wasn’t race after race of you guys picking us off over the four laps. Leicester are the best gaters in the league followed by Ipswich, both due to the nature of their home circuits so unless you get your gating gloves on or god forbid prep a racetrack then you will be vulnerable.

BELLE Vue are delighted to confirm a bumper afternoon of racing at the National Speedway Stadium this Sunday, May 10 (1pm). The club will be staging the JR Ashworth & Sons Colts Academy Individual featuring several rising stars of the current National Development League, as well as 500cc and 250cc sections of the British Youth Championship. Whilst Belle Vue are not competing in the NDL this season their commitment to rider development remains strong, and several recent Colts riders will return for the event. 2025 team members Freddy Hodder, Harry Fletcher, Jack Shimelt and Billy Budd are all included in the line-up. Colts joint manager Graham Goodwin said: “We've always had a loyal following for the Belle Vue Colts, and we're looking forward to welcoming back those 2025 Colts team members for this NDL standard meeting, so we hope fans will respond and come along to welcome them back. “They're going to face tough competition from a number of Championship riders, with Ace Pijper (Redcar), Jordy Loftus (Edinburgh), Ryan Ingram (Scunthorpe), and Jamie Etherington (formerly Workington) all gaining second division experience along with Freddy who is progressing well at Glasgow. “Mickie Simpson, Senna Summers and Stene Pijper are all solid NDL performers, and at the bottom of the age range we have 15-year-old Ollie Binns, who is quite local to us in Cheshire, and is just starting out on his NDL career with King's Lynn.” The JR Ashworth & Sons Colts Academy Individual will be a 14-heat individual event, made up of 12 heats plus semi-final and Final. All of the riders are aged 21 and under, with an average age of 19. In addition, the meeting features the 500cc and 250cc sections of the British Youth Championship, run over a total of 19 heats and two Finals, meaning a packed schedule of 35 races in all. Turnstiles will open at midday with the parade at 12.55 ahead of the opening race. Admission prices will be set at regular Colts levels – Adults £15, Concessions £13, Junior (12-17) £6, Children (11 and under) Free, Family £36, Programme £2. JR ASHWORTH & SONS COLTS ACADEMY INDIVIDUAL: Billy Budd, Freddy Hodder, Harry Fletcher, Stene Pijper, Mickie Simpson, Ollie Binns, Ryan Ingram, Jack Shimelt, Ace Pijper, Jamie Etherington, Jordy Loftus, Senna Summers. BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (500cc): Charlie Luckman, Kayden Mundy, Rocco Webb, Jayden Bailey, Oli Bovingdon, Dylan Huthwaite, Casper Kluczniak, Liam Morris, Stene Pijper, Emerson Betty, Ollie Binns, Charlie Southwick, Seth Norman, Harry Fletcher. BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (250cc): Kane Newby, Finley Theobald, Archie Rolph, Demi Blu Harris, Charlie Fletcher.