False dawn

To think we once had both the World Pairs and the World Team Cup. That's a sad thought now I write it down.

Thanks R&R. Most of us pass judgement with half the facts (actually probably less than half). That prize money certainly puts the whole competition into a whole different light. I guess the only positive you can draw from those figures is that at least the teams have a bit more each now that its a pairs competition rather than the proper team competition it's supposed to be.

Would the FIM not have something to say about any nation not fielding it's best "team"? I realise Russia (or whatever we are supposed to call them while they are banned from competing under that name) can send (invite) whoever they want. But surely the governing body want the SON to be a showcase for speedway. Having the commentators on the day constantly referring to the absence of the reigning champions best riders, doesn't do the sport any good whatsoever.

Is there a published reason why Emil and Artem have withdrawn. I agree with the sentiment that this devalues the final and I can understand the anger from those who have bought tickets, booked hotels etc. I too am upset that we may not see the best from all of the competing nations. I have tickets and the prospect of seeing Tai, Bartosz, Emil, Artem etc. live, was something I was really looking forward to.

Funny how things happen sometimes, isn't it? Leicester had some new shale on track tonight. From Edinburgh (a quarry, I assume, not the speedway). Apparently it's larger stones and has less clay in it. Whatever it is, the racing was pretty good. Word is that 60 tons of it are heading down south. Hmmm.

There were a few people saying before the start of tonight's meeting that we'd picked the wrong guest. They weren't saying that at the end. 4 rides, 4 wins and the 4 fastest times of the night. Thank you Steve, you did us proud. And we'll have no more of that in the KO Cup semi final, thank you very much.

Not wishing to be argumentative, but the track looked quite wet when we arrived at 6:45. From a recent match report from the Scunthorpe website, we were told the home riders don't like it when it's too wet. Also, I don't think Connor Mountain would agree with your comment regarding the lack of an outside line. He pulled off a decent overtake around the outside as I recall. I do agree, though, that the chasing pack has suddenly looked a lot more menacing. Especially with the set of recent signings that have taken place. Keep plugging away though. We'd quite like you in the playoffs

After a very unhappy visit to Poole in August I've had an idea. You know those old black and white POW films where the inmates are trying to get rid of the soil taken from a tunnel? They put the soil in bags inside their trousers with a draw string attached. Then they wandered onto the exercise area, pulled the draw string and released the unwanted soil onto the ground. Perhaps visiting riders could adopt a similar technique with bags of shale when they are doing their track walk at Wimborne Road?

I laughed as well. When you say we'll meet in play-offs, do you mean we're signing Mr Nielsen then? Oh, you mean Scunthorpe. To be honest after three visits there last year and two, already, this season, visits to the EWR are starting to feel like a home meeting now.

I've watched speedway for a decade or five but along the way had eight years buried in the grasstrack world. During that time I did form the view that grasstracking might well be a very good and inexpensive route to a speedway career for young riders (even girls - just teasing, honest). Seriously, there are lads and lassies out there plying their trade on the lawns of England that could well make it into a shale career. And they wouldn't complain about a few bumps on track when they got there either.

Well I've been generally quiet on the forum for a while (apart from the "odd" thread) and was not up-to-speed with the discussion around the lack of speedway on Eurosport. I went to the schedules this morning to see which of tonight's two matches was being shown. Well you know what I found. I even went to the player thinking Eurosport had done the dirty on us again. Well they haven't done the dirty, they have taken the piss (pardon my language). When I found a complete absence of speedway on tonight I did think there would be match on Thursday. For those who haven't looked, I'll give you one guess. Surely Peterborough Wolverhampton is an attractive proposition? Or am I missing something? Link to discussion mentioned by R&R And in case anyone is thinking I'm armchair fan, I went to Glasgow on Friday to do some more missionary work () supporting my adopted team Leicester (rained off). I was heading back on Saturday to see the return match (rained off). And finally went to Mildenhall yesterday (rained off). I thought that was a well planned weekend. How ironic that the only completed meeting I saw was Edinburgh vs Kent! At least I was able to support Scotty as a Coventry/Leicester graduate .

WOW. You've solved a 20 year mystery. Well done

As long as you're really good and can walk on water eh? Seriously, even 12 matches is better than none. But a regular 2nd half regime might also develop some local talent. But I'll be called old fashioned if I keep talking this way.

NSS (boring choice but valid none-the-less) Gillman - Adelaide (I'm not showing off. This place has a very special place in my heart/memory as some will attest to). Bydgoszcz - Not too many arguments I suspect. Sheffield - Thank you Neil Collins Cradley Heath - RIP

You know, it occurs to me that when we finally get a world team competition as opposed to a pairs competition, we have half a chance of fielding a competitive side again. Wow, I've lived long enough to see us in the ascendancy again, like when Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs rode for Britain

I get what you're saying and I have some sympathy for that point of view. But isn't that the route to fortress Britain and us having no future presence on the world stage? Just now, I'm guessing, like me, if Tai (or Robert) won the world championship, you'd be up there shouting your head off and singing the National Anthem?

Sorry to say but that makes the condition of the track last Wednesday even more unacceptable. I've said elsewhere that I went to support my adopted team Leicester and that I was seriously considering going back this week to support the promotion in it's time of need. But what I've read here in the past few pages does not inspire me at all.

And here's what you could have won.......

Agreed 100%. But I think Kyle Howarth deserves a mention too. He also represented (quite well I thought) your good selves and my temporary team in Leicester

So it was an Aussie last year and worse this year with a Frenchman winning. Just kidding folks. Well done Adam you're the best of British tonight. If we hadn't been shown so clearly, you'd hardly know it had rained. What a track that is. Roll on the SON.

Can I say, I'm a neutral when it comes to this fixture. I am, however fairly local, living in Rugby and temporarily supporting Leicester until the Bees return. I would hate to see another speedway go to the wall (it is a subject on which I am familiar) and would consider attending this fixture simply to show my support. Not to mention watching a bit more speedway. But, and it's a big but, I was at Perry Barr last Wednesday. The track was poor to say the least and the dust from heat 1 was a disgrace. Such things can happen as a one off I know but there is evidence that the track was not much different the week before. Sorry, but if there is a real risk that the track is going to be the same this Wednesday I'll stay home. I've got 3 meetings planned for the weekend anyway.

In my experience it tends to be average bargains.

I'll get my coat

The National Development League is alive and well, thank you. There is a healthy, if modest sized, following that enjoys watching 14 committed youngsters giving their all in every race. And the NDL is just one piece in a bigger jigsaw that provides for a route into the sport and hopefully onto to bigger things. Oh, I know it's not all perfect. But lots of folks are working hard to build and evolve that career path for our home grown riders of tomorrow. And remember the D for development comes before the L for League. Track time, a formal team structure and some kind of identity that both riders and fans can align with, are much more important than "winning the league".

And there we have it. I like studying my programme (all tablet based now of course). P.S. I especially like getting to the truth well before the commentators!