cityrebel

Doesn't seem to bother Matt Ford.

I'd gamble, if i was local.

Could be a great leveller, if it's on.

It's the promoters fault that the sport is on its knees. They failed to invest when times were good and have failed to promote when times are bad. They are not capable of selling their product to the british public. Tinkering with the rules every year isn't going to bring the fans back. There is no solution that isn't going to cost money. A top PR man or a national advertising campaign would cost a fortune, with no guarantees of success. Preparing a decent track and putting on a slicker show would be a start, but most seem incapable of acheiving this essential task. With the Poles now bullying the FIM into submission, speedway in this country will fall further behind the pecking order, if that's possible.

I'm not always negative Steve, just realistic. I've been to sixteen meetings already this season, at nine different tracks. I'm far too old to change my ways!

League racing has been the backbone of this sport since 1929. It would have struggled to survive without it. Most fans like to nail their masts to a colour, and wouldn't go if they had no teams to support. Individual meetings started to die off in the 1980's, Cardiff is only well attended because it's a prestigious one off event. Speedway, like dog racing is a sport from a bygone era, that is not fashionable anymore. People want a lot more than fifteen races and poor facilities for their money. You only have to look at the shenanigans at Poole and Swindon yesterday to realise the sport is knackered. It needs massive investment and professional people to revamp it, both of which are never going to happen.

Which is the reason I'm going to IOW v Kent instead.

Saturdays at 3pm will become a rare occourance. As an Arsenal fan it's someting I've got used to. It's the clashes with speedway that gives me the hump.

Decent meeting yesterday with some good racing. A very healthy crowd as well.

I had a lucky escape yesterday Sid. I was planning to attend both meetings, but the weather put me off. So i stayed local and went to Kent instead.

I was at kent yesterday, but it seemed perfect last thursday.

Same as last thursday. Seems like the penny has dropped at the showground.

I've banged that drum for years, but the promoters don't listen.

Brighton are the team in their neck of the woods.

Eastie said they were going to run meetings regardless of TV distractions this season. It hasn't taken long for the old habits to return.

I've been told the plug has been pulled because of the football.

That's where the wonga is.

I didn't see or hear any.

Kerr is having a few days off according to the Eastie website. After last nights sickening crash, i don't blame him. It happened right in front of me, a real scary incident.

Why not use Lawson in both meetings.

It was. Last thursdays meeting was brilliant, with multiple passes in most races. Interestingly there was only 1 tractor grade after heat 10, and only the ouside line was graded. This worked a treat with plenty of oustside manoeuvres by the riders.

Awful looking crash with Kevin Doolan. He was taken to hospital by county ambulance. Both riders went through the air fence and ended up on the stock car track.

Did have the last time i went. It looked awful.

He certainly used the same ploy at Romford. I can still remember the pain i felt getting filled in by his back wheel at Brooklands. That low concrete wall offered very little protection for those of us silly enough to stand near it.

They say that about every meeting, good or bad!