Fourentee

A former (Scandinavian) Wolves rider who shall be nameless turned up at the local newspaper office for a pre-arranged video interview wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the legend "Storm the castle and screw the princess". He was loaned a jacket.

Traditionally, yes. However, courts are beginning to take a view that slander is a more appropriate section for internet use. http://www.seqlegal.com/blog/10-things-you-should-know-about-libel

That might have carried some weight had you been brave enough to post it before the match. Congratulations on your 20;20 hindsight.

So, assuming -- and of course we should never assume -- that Lakeside beat Lynn and Swindon go pointless at Belle Vue, as Bryce pointed out it would all come down to the Sep 16 Arena match against the Robins with the away side needing a point and the Hammers trying to deny them it. Are teams that finish level in the league table split on race points? That would automatically be Lakeside, given two home wins and Swindon missing out in Manchester. From the neutral's point of view, a Hammers/Robins heat 15 with the home side say six points up would be ideal!

I'm only a semi-wolf really, by work and residence (Workington are 'my' team), and that's post-Dudley Wood closure. Back in 77-78 I was at college in Harlow for a year and went to a few Rye House matches for the speedway fix. Good times. As to the planks, don't be hard on yourself...

You certainly had that blackboard in the late 70s; I can remember Len walking round the track with it to announce John Jackson's tactical sub outing in an Ellesmere Port match. He then put it under the nose of the two Rye riders on their bikes waiting to go out on the track so that they would know too; a pretty good sight gag on his part as they were sitting next to Jackson at the time... Perhaps Mr Y -- perhaps the Coventry senior character recollected the blackboard also and was upset by its absence???

Best not to ask!

I heard one at Wolves a few years back without the 'v'. It brought a determined cry of 'Woles' from a knot on the terrace. This was mentioned the following week in the programme; unfortunately the proof reader, looking at the words and not the context, helpfully inserted the missing 'v' and rendered the piece unintelligible.

Impossible to say definitively, of course, which is why sports fans get so animated when comparing the stars of different eras. But the two world titles, with the potential of more to come, and his performances in the Polish top flight clearly mark him out as among the very best of his contemporaries across the world. As to the point you make on riding ability (as opposed to machinery), I would think anyone who has watched him for any length of time will remember a string of superb rides. There's certainly a lot more to him than straddling a Peter Johns rocket.

Well, close enough! Have to dig out the MCS speedway when you're next over. Being hit by some of the modern board games could really hurt. Lifeboats is pretty chunky.

Or other board games.

I've no idea how many TV meetings Belle Vue had; the name has always carried a certain cachet so perhaps that was a factor. I do know that Leicester have won fewer than a third of their meetings this season and are a fair way behind the next team above them in the table. On the Belle Vue wooden spoons front, I think it's three in the last 11 years (had a quick look at the BSPA archives) but they were reasonably competitive in two of those seasons and only cut adrift the once.

I'm afraid it's a hard commercial world out there. TV stations need good viewing figures to present to advertisers. Racing at Beaumont Park has constantly attracted criticism, while away from home it's one win, one point for getting close and 10 heavier defeats. I don't take any pleasure from pointing this out, but if you take a step back you can see Sky's viewpoint. I don't know if they have any contractual obligation to show clubs a certain number of times.

Fair points well made and, as posted earlier, not having a pop at the rider but just thought the exalted praise a little OTT. KK competing in the Euros means Coventry have ridden EL away matches with Ashley Morris and Rob Branford and, much as I like both riders, at this stage of their careers they're not EL No.1s.

Yeah, that Lawson has only put over a point on his average this season. Tchah.

Hi Dave, good to hear from you on here again. I understand that you probably keep a watching brief, but your insight is always valuable. My point is not that KK can be physically in two places at once -- Schrodinger's cat might have been the nearest answer, but I don't think he has an assessed average -- but that lauding his dedication should be tempered by the fact that he has signed up to a series knowing that, in the event of a clash, his team won't get the benefit of a comparable replacement. As per earlier post, not having a go, just asking for the hymn of praise to come down a decibel or two in volume!

Full marks to KK for his commitment to the Bees' cause tonight. And ditto for turning out twice on the eve of other bookings. Good to see. However...'unavoidably missed recent away matches'? The SEC is not exactly -- well, not exactly the GP, is it? No guest/RR for it, which is why the Bees had to go with 'junior' replacements at Leicester and Lakeside. Not having a go here, but with respect to Neil perhaps just a little too much top spin on that one. Edit: Remiss of me not to congratulate the management on the double-header pricing.

Two different concepts, surely, the BSPA as a body and one as an individual club promoter?

Not to worry. Even four bonus from five rides for a No.1 riding away must be unusual.

On the contrary, on that one he'd be gating at Monmore and taking the third bend on the East Park cycle speedway track. Edit: In passing, a bonus point in each of five rides tonight for Lindgren. I'm sure there are other examples of a No.1 recording that performance away, but it strikes me as rare. Anyone come up with any?

Peter Karlsson. Injury from Monday's crash at Monmore.

First two R/R rides tonight taken by Howarth and Clegg. Not sure I've ever seen Beo and Peter Adams in the same room...

All well apparently, Dave.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jan/08/england-cricket-kevin-pietersen-peter-moores http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2554883/PATRICK-COLLINS-Kevin-Pietersen-just-does-whats-best-Kevin-hes-playing-for.html

My caveat there would be the double-header against Lynn and Swindon. These two-match nights always seem fraught with potential problems to me.