Ben91

Bearing in mind Somerset have a curfuw I believe and i'm not 100% sure if they have any restrictions on when they start a meeting, I'm sure Najjer could help me out here. I assume that if there is a curfuw in place that is a 10pm cut off time in place. It would be a big push but in future, why not start at 7pm, with the parade at say 6.45, fans go to speedway to watch speedway, not a pointless presentation beforehand imo. All 14 teams are involved with two groups of seven. The usual race each other once scenario is played out, however the team who tops group A will face the winners of group B in a single final race, no pointless semi-finals, if you don't win your group after your 6 heats thats it. This would mean 31 heats in 3 hours, 9 more than at present. This would mean heats would be run fast and furious, with just under 6 minutes to run each heat. All dependant on the Somerset curfuw of course. As Najjer says, there is no perfect way to run the meeting at present which is a shame.

Nobody is slagging him off, it's the circumstances in which has been brought in, I suspect you knew that and just wanted to stir though. As Dyer has not turned a wheel for the Heathens and is pretty much unknown in Britain, to state that he is the best option is ridiculous. I'm sure that there would have been a proven British rider on a 6 point average somewhere. Again, how can you make that assumption when Dyer has not raced in the British League yet. You can't tell someone that they are wrong based on an assumption of your own. Lucas was right too... The whole "Aussies make sacrifices" thing doesn't wash with me either. If they want to come half way across the world to further their careers that is their perogative, it doesn't mean we have to hand them everything on a platter because they have done so. When it was the Conference League there were no commonwealth riders in the league and the lowest point of entry for a commonwealth rider was as a 7 point Premier League rider. Why we have decided to make things easier baffles me. I agree with lowering the assesed PL figure to 5 perhaps, as 7 is hard to achieve but that should be the lowest entry point for any commonwealth rider to British speedway, that way the decent riders will still come over and there will be less of a "lets have him because he's Australian" attitude. If there are commonwealth riders with patriality then the lowest point of entry could be, say a 3 point PL average or a 6 point NL figure, however this would depend on the rider racing as a Brit. If riders want to use our system then we should get some benefit from it.

No doubt about it, British speedway is slowly slipping off the map, now we even have British riders being dropped in favour of Aussies in the National League, however Micky Dyer sounds more like a rejected Eastenders character imo...

I completely understand and respect your view Mariner, I do feel if these Aussies are going to use their parents/grandparents British heritage as a way to race here on a 3 point average, then they should commit to race as British riders, whether they will or not is of course another matter.

I agree with SCB's post, Buxton are a superbly run outfit, on a budget whilst generally being near the top of the table as well as developing riders. Mariner, Morris and Branford have taken advantage of their British heritage, who knows maybe they will, as Tai Woffinden before them, pledge to race as Brits in the future. I think it's a bit disrespectfulfor some to assume the Hitmen have been a 2 man team this season, all of their riders are very talented and contributing to their current good form.

You'd think the promotion would run the meeting so it finishes just before the footy kick off, then everyone would have to watch in the bar (if there is room/tvs there etc.) Would make a good pay day for the Wasps with lots of drinks etc being sold on top of the meeting

Regarding Jerran Hart, is he not obliged to be at this meeting as it is a shared event? I know in the past when the NLRC (formerly CLRC) was at Rye, we usually were away at Stoke and our NL/CL representative, generally being a Rockets reserve, had to be at Rye, whilst we took a guest to Loomer Road... Strange why Newport aren't represented tbh, quite funny too as the amount of posts from their fans here, they seem the most excited about it

Can only echo what everyone else has said, Tomcat in particular, I never met Jean although we often spoke here via private message about the tigers or thE national league in general it was always a pleasure to have these discussions with Jean and she was clearly Mildenhall through and through. My thoughts are with Ray and everyone close to Jean and the mascall family. R.I.P Jean

Just on the Mar Owen note, may be the same scenario as Mark Loram missing out on the British Final a few years ago because his application for the event wasn't submitted in time/got lost. Maybe Marc had the same issues or just didn't apply at all. Even more surprising is Adam Roynon's ommission, he is 21 currently, I'm sure others have raced in the Under 21's whilst 21 (Eddie Kennett springs to mind) can anyone shed any light on this? Again could just be he didn't apply for it.

Yeah I remember that day very well, was 2007, pouring with Rain, Emil on his first visit to Rye went out and walked it against a pretty impressive field including Tai Woffinden. Hope the Rebels fans get their meeting tonight, sounds like it will be a good 'un

"they" being you presumably? There's been many posts here pointing out what this meeting was really about so I won't go any further into that because the knockers don't care what you say they'll still moan because they don't have anything to do with their time than complain about our track, this is genrally from fans of less succesful teams recently than rye, maybe they are jealous? I do agree however, Craig apart the presentation of our meetings isn't up to scratch. Even a slight variety of music would be nice as opposed to the now cd that we get each week.

nah, one track pony is used for a rider who can only ride one track, hence the name Pedersen rode Rye exceptionally well yesterday despite never having ridden there before, nothing to do with being a track speciallist, everything to do with being a class act.

Topinka is no way a Rye speciallist. He is an all round class act, he rides all tracks well. A track speciallist IMO is someone who is poor/average at most tracks bar the one/few he is brilliant at. People stop moaning, it is really boring to see all this negativity and if someone such as Paul Ackroyd reads some of the comments he'll think twice before considering another ben fund meeting and if that was the case I wouldn't blame him, some people should take a step back and look at the bigger picture for once.

pedant if we are being picky it's themselves too, however this thread is about today's meeting if I'm not mistaken.

I know people say speedway riders have a few screws loose to do what they do but nobody would pick speedway as a profession for a certain income, the first time any rider puts his leg over the bike it's for love of the sport and that's exactly what the20 men riding today were doing.

nobody said it is the worst prepared or worst racing track, you shouldn't make things up as you go along. The point of the meeting wasn't about the racing or the riders who were riding today, it was about the sport and the men who have and do risk life and limb for our entertainment. Still some people aren't happy unless they are putting down others efforts and spouting s*** are they?

He looked more comfortable as the day went on, it was a tough field too, give him a few weeks and he'll be at least a 7 point pl man IMO

Heat 1 was the dustiest I have ever seen Rye I reckon. There were big gaps between heats, maybe that was due to grading etc bit most of the crowd were in the stadium by 12 so waiting wasn't going to be a plus for us. The races were not all processional, there wasn't passing on every bend of every heat but you rarely see that anywhere in speedway. Not a bad meeting for the cause it is raced for, I'd rather pay £15 to the Ben Fund for that than for a normal pl meeting. Well done to everyone involved. Happy speedway season!

At the other end of the road to the stadium the weather is lovely, sure it'll be the same by the track, gonna be a brilliant meeting.

Can't wait for this, all the talk of a late start because of riders being late has made me laugh though, most of these riders race in more than one country meaning lots of flights etc and they aren't late for their meetings around the world, so why would one road leading to rye house stump them

I'd like to point out the car park and rye road just outside the stadium are terrible surface wise at the moment. I had to drop someone off at the train station on Monday and there were potholes galore, there is a square manhole cover at the entrance to the carpark which is now pretty much exposed whilst the rest of the car park resembles a motorcross track. Be careful unless you want your suspension shot to bits!

Take it you won't be attending then...

Just a feeling, not a prediction, Tai's going up the speedway ladder, he'll be clashing with three of those riders next season and has replaced Adams in the GP series in effect. He's going to have a real will to win at Rye come Sunday and if he does it will be brilliant for the local fans

Crumpy also appeared at a Rye P+P day a few years back if I remember correctly, thin it was when Poole came to practise at Rye and our lads went there to have a spin too. All tracks hae their own individual traits and uniqueness and the top guys in the World are the best to get round them. Have a feeling Tai will be victorious, the real winner will be speedway though to use a cliche

sorry but he is local and had bad luck with injuries, exactly the kind of rider this meeting is about and is better than the likes of viktor bergstrom.