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It is possible that Denis Gizatullin still holds a valid visa.

Stars and Stripes mean a lot to Americans. Its a pity we cannot display the same commitment.

I say I say I say. A funny thing happened on the way to Berwick. Rye House were 8 points up by heat 7.

Clearly it must have been our bobbies from the north limbering up for the Highland Games.

Better promoted, yes. I had noticed already, at the last Rye House meeting I attended, that not a single Hawks away match appears in the programme and none at all on their website which, in case some of you had thought it had disappeared altogether, can now be found here: http://www.ryehouserockets.co/

Actually, it was 1996. The British GP was run there the previous year and subsequently Terry Russell and Ivor Henry, existing promoters at Arena Essex, applied successfully to stage racing there whereupon the existing Arena team transferred. Russell maintained that they would continue to keep Arena going but subsequently claimed to have been unable to agree favourable terms with the stock car owners. Eventually Peter Thorogood took over as promoter. It wasn't that Hackney as a team were that disastrous, more average, it was the stadium owners who went into liquidation as far as I recall.

I agree about gate one. It realised just 12 points from 20 outings during the heats, one of which came as a result of another rider being excluded, then a third in the second semi and second in the final both with only three riders in each. I have to say that, if I was in charge of this series, I would want to take the track curators to task as to why the circuit was so poorly prepared. Also, not a single rider who had more than one outing from this gate made it to the semi-final stage and, if I were Janus Kolodziej, I would be a very unhappy man just now. It certainly did for his evening to finish with back to back last places. An absolute disgrace.

It is not quite as clear cut as that. OAPs get in for £10 but, more importantly, existing Lakeside season ticket holders are admitted for £6 (OAPs £5) plus free programme. Also, 17-18 year olds are charged £10, 6 - 16 £2 and under 6 free.

I agree entirely. Jerran's one of our's but he shouldn't be handed the place instead of Simon. Dreadful decision but what else would you expect from the BSPA, the 'w...kers of the first water.' Anyone in close proximity to him better bring round a a towel and ice bucket because he must be fuming right now. I know I would!

Certainly is and I, for one, am relieved that he will miss both KO cup fixtures next week

Also strange that Ben Barker has been selected for Friday when Plymouth are riding against Glasgow the same evening.

You can add Leigh Lanham to the list as well. Newport are riding at Edinburgh on Friday which, in turn, prevents Lakeside's other DU reserve, Kyle Legault from turning out for them as well. You can't even switch riders around as Lakeside are at Peterborough on Thursday, the same day as the first semi at Sheffield.

It would. I have downloaded the SR for 2011 to find that the relevant chapter 17 to be missing.

I was going to mention Marc's gating. He got away with it during the match at the Arena Raceway as he was able to cut back off the second bend but his gating there was worse than anything I can remember during 40 years watching the sport. Maybe Lee Richardson can offer some guidance or Luke, who is pretty sharp at this himself, or is that girlfriend of Marc's a bit of a distraction?

I agree. The Hawks do have their own website: http://www.hackneyhawks.co.uk/ I think fans would be happy to purchase a programme if it had its separate identity. It just needs some liaison between the website owner and the Rye and Hammers' promotions. Content should include profiles of visiting riders, match reports and features on previous riders who have ridden for the Hawks along with reports on meetings of long ago. A good start might be the KO cup semi-final against the Stars. Hackney, having achieved an unlikely draw away at Kings Lynn, won the replay 39-38 at Waterden Road thanks to a classic cut back by Benga coming out of the final turn to take Terry Betts in lap 4 of the final heat.

You can't do any worse than we did tonight. In fact, no one can.

Looks very good value to me. Not only did we pay £12 tonight but on arrival found the 'free' scoresheet had developed into a £2 programme. To top it all this was, probably, the most dreadful meeting I have ever witnessed. In fact the couple I was with left before heat 11 as they were cold and bored. The US team were, in the main, out of their depth with only Shaun McConnell and Eddie Castro looking anywhere near competitve. Then there were some unusual refereeing decisions. In two of the latter heats he brought all four back when riders from the US team fell on their own - one on the third turn of heat one. So why didn't he bring all four back when Eddie Castro touched the tapes when on a tactical ride unless he later was trying to make up for this earlier lack of judgment.

Let's see now. Yesterday evening I went to Ipswich and paid £12 for a PL match. At other NL venues only Stoke charge £12 but they offer concessions at £10. Other concessions range from as low as £6 (Dudley). But, there again, this is the most expensive stadium in the land

The 2011 pricing for Rye House is:- Admission Prices 2011 Adults £16 Seniors £14 Children (over 11, under 16) £5 Children under 11 FREE Programme £2 National League Admission Prices (Hackney Hawks): Adults and Seniors £12 Children (over 11, under 16) £5 Children under 11 FREE Single sheet programme included in admission price Not only is this the highest priced admission overall in the PL it is more than most in the EL.

Look forward to seeing you but wrap up warm and bring chairs. The Arena-Essex Raceway is the most spectator-unfriendly stadium in the country (Jon Cook's words not mine) with a nice cold wind blowing off the Thames but good value at £17.50 for a full-priced ticket to see both meetings.

Come to the Arena Raceway on Good Friday and watch the Hawks for £4 or both meetings for £13. Action starts at 1pm with the Hawks' following the EL match against Eastbourne.

What Lakeside are charging is less than Rye House in nearly every category. The programmes are more but even they are free if you are a season ticket holder and it is half-price admission for Hawks' matches as well in those circumstances. Other than that full paying adults are charged £16 at each and concessions for Lakeside are actually less. Lakeside have introduced a comprehensive pricing structure which can be found on their website under 'details.' http://www.lakesidehammers.com/ Details of charges for the Good Friday double-header are here:- 'Admission prices for the season have been announced and will stay at the 2010 levels, although the Club will review them mid season should the economic situation require. The Good Friday Bank Holiday (22nd April) double header will see a minimal rise of £1.50 on Adults prices and £1 on Concessions with Kids admission remaining the same at £3. In addition those fans of the Hawks and their NL opposition on the night will be able to pay for that meeting only with admission after Heat 15 of the Elite League meeting set at £5 for adults, £4 for concessions and Kids for free.' I have said in the past that I feel Len has made a mistake by never introducing a season ticket scheme.

Team is 0.81 under limit. Who would you have brought in to make that much of a difference?

The Hawks' first meeting will take place at the Arena Raceway on Good Friday afternoon, 22nd April against opposition yet to be named.

I have been to Mildenhall Stadium only a few times in recent years and these have been with my family, mostly on Sunday afternoons, a most pleasant experience. The spectator facilities are good with plenty of food outlets and a decent bar. However, a picnic on the grass bank along the back straight has been our preferred option. As for noise, the Stadium is well away from residential housing as far as I have been able to see. The Motor-Cross is noisier I suspect but, all pales into insignificance when matched up against the B52's which seem to include it in their flight path!