SPEEDY69

This is exactly what I said in an earlier post - the steward is pointless and I agree that the growing power of riders/officials to influence the ref is not doing the sport any good.

The rather obvious response to this is though, would Havelock had shown this integrity had the meeting scores been reversed?? I agree about the promised track inspection - the meeting steward is wholly to blame there. Holder losing control is a red herring, was just a grippy patch that Andersen hit earlier, it's the heat 10 cut off that needs removing and the scenes didn't show the sport as particulalry well run.

Completely agree. The track was not "dangerous" - blimey, speedway itself is actually really dangerous. It was just wet and 66 seconds for 4 laps is not bad - they didn't look in too much difficulty. Those conditions do make racing a little more tricky due to visibility but I believe it was a red herring for getting it cancelled before Ht 10 - do away with the "result stands" bit and let the refs decide as they have always done in the past. By the way, there was information yesterday from Sky to say they have no involvement in the decisions to postpone meetings and that those decisions fall squarely to the BSPA.

Really? Batchelor last week Porsing this week - I can only think of one occasion in the last 20 years when anyone I've worked with or known has had real poisoning. He may just have an upset tummy, which usually only lasts a day maximum. Who is ever going to question it though?

I may be on my own here but I don't think the track was dangerous in Ht 10. Holder lifted on the same patch that Andersen hit earlier in the meeting, after that he and Watt actually raced much harder than they needed to given there was no opposition. A really dangerous track is one which is very patchy - this was the same nearly all over so you know what to exepct when going into the bend and I've seen plenty of meetings continue in those conditions. The issue is really the Ht 10 cut-off. As has been said, the actions of the meeting steward were diabolical - we could all hear him respond in the affirmative when asked if he'd inspect the track before Ht10, which he didn't do. Also what role did they ref have here - surely they're in charge? If Ht10 went ahead then an attempt to run 11 to 15 should have been made. It's happened before when Swindon got the meeting called at Ht 10 against Belle Vue when conditions were not worsening because they were concerned they'd lose if it went the whole way - and who remembers the Belle Vue - Poole swimming festival a few years ago. In the end, I think the score was right because Poole had done better up to that point but I don't think the result should count until it's impossible for one team to be overtaken.

Seem to recall he's used that excuse more than once before. If anyone has ever had real food poisoning they would know you are nearly always doubled up in pain and cannot undertake normal activities, it can last for several days as well. I struggle to like him to be honest as I think he is only really interested in himself - can't forget the Belle Vue match a while back where the GP superstars pootled around at the back (Troy and Zagar) while everyone else raced properly.

Don't agree with this. The riders you mention were talented motorcyclists and their development did not depend upon anything from the authorities in the UK. There are lots of talented British riders who get as far as the top of the amateur scene but no further due to a combination of a lack of guidance/training, opportunities and sometimes funding but I stress this is not always the main factor. It is not for BSI to fix the issues in the UK but the BSPA. They currently block British riders from competing abroad e.g. SEC & Best Pairs and do little to provide international experience or competition for those making it as far as becoming league riders. I am involved in the amateur scene and they are year on year making it harder for amateur clubs to provide practice opportunities for hopefuls and under 15s due to insurance and permit restrictions as well as track hire becoming too expensive - without the amateur scene just how does a new rider take their first steps into the sport? In Poland they have unlimited practising provided at tracks and actually support upcoming riders, Denmark have a racing infrastructure from small cc bikes upwards.

In pedantic corner, I think the whole name is a proper noun. It is correct that only the first letter is a capital letter.

what about kelvin tatum?

Loads of you seem to be being mighty disrespectful saying the Bees gifted BV a point. So you know for sure that BV weren't capable of getting a 5-1 against anyone else? Let's see, Andersen & Harris both on 7 from 4, King on 7+1 from 4 and Kylmakorpi 7+2 from 4. Surely they just used the highest scorers in the 1-5? Whatever, it was good to finish nice and promptly on a decent evening.

Yes, one of Kenny's finest achievements. It was mainly the wet on that occasion though and even though a lot of the riders didn't like the conditions, it wasn't called off. Alternatively I remember many of the World Finals in the 70s, some at Wembley where everyone was hitting ruts and two-wheeling all over the place but there was no question of a call off.

Completely agree with this. Part of the skill of a rider for me is their ability to pick which bits of the track they ride on and have the ability to turn the throttle both ways, as needed. The latest high-revving engines don't help admittedly but you could see on saturday who were racing and who were struggling. This fashion for right leg lifting also makes the bike much less stable and prone to lifting our of control. As Gavan says, top class ex-riders have commented on the track and it's comparison to tracks when they rode - it's simply speedway and ruts, deep surfaces etc. have always been part of it. Maybe some riders should think how dangerous it is when they fence, turn left, or ride into opponents - as Batchelor clearly did to Pedersen on Saturday but got away with it - should there be stronger penalties, it's dangerous after all

Cook missed several Belle Vue away meetings last year - given his results away from home that's not necessarily a bad thing!

Is that what happened? Did he expect to ride?

Neither did former riders via Twitter who alluded to riders wanting billiard tables to compare their bikes on at full gas, rather than control the throttle around the track.

Maybe for the same reason that he wasn't asked to appear in the GP challenge at Poole a couple of years ago and prevented from riding in the Euro Champs

Bees are the bogey team for the Aces. Again a disappointing score from the aces no.1. 10 points from him and it would've been a draw. Friday may be closer than this.

After going to the Riga fiasco last season, feel sorry for the fans in Warsaw. Why can't speedway take a lower risk approach and follow the lead of other sports - e.g. Athletics where no major event can take place in a stadium which has not held at least one previous event. This way things like starting gates, lighting and the track can be tested before the world's media descends and the important event is upon them. The track was not that bad, they have had much worse in the past but probably that along with the tapes and inept referee just took them over the edge.

It was not a statement of fact, merely to say who I think deserves to be in the team irrespective of politics. Anyway, how about a few bumps be inserted at Lynn, the Aussies don't seem to like them

At present, given all are available I'd pick: Woffinden Nicholls Lambert Harris Howarth

As expected, home win for Aces, Schlein not an improvement on Bjarne. Nicholls' bank balance will be healthy after 7 meetings in the last 7 days.

It seems to me that Pedersen missing is all about Leicester strengthening themselves rather than the rider pulling out - his scores for Leicester have been shocking so far and I wouldn't be surprised to see him depart these shores soon. This is only my opinion of course.

Anyone would make them stronger going by Cook's scores so far

cook and stead cost belle vue dearly it seems. they will need to improve away from home for aces to get anywhere this year. i expect stead will but not so sure abput cook.

As I said on another thread, faster does not mean better and I think the modern high-revving engines have a big impact, alongside electronic gadgetry around ignition settings etc. I don't really have an answer though - what's F2 speedway like, any better?