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I wanted to come down for this one. Saved some holiday so that I would be able to. Except work wont let me have them days.BUM!!!! Oh well sky it is then. I will try and make it a celebration and have the whole family over to watch it and make some noise. Hoping that we can keep it tight.

And that is the very definition of Slander (As well as being untrue!) I dare you to come on sports-radio on Thursday and say to Alan Phillips face. Fancy speaking to Brummies owner Alan Phillips this Thursday? Alan will be our guest this Thursday on www.sports-radio.co.uk (we may have another also to confirm soon) We will be having a phone in from 7.45pm to 8.45pm, if you would like to participate please PM me your number, we will then call you at an allotted time during the show (we will be paying for the calls) but get in quick! Any Wolves or Pirates fans that want to join in are more than welcome. (As is ANY speedway fan.) Webby

Fancy speaking to Brummies owner Alan Phillips this Thursday? Alan will be our guest this Thursday on www.sports-radio.co.uk (we may have another also to confirm soon) We will be having a phone in from 7.45pm to 8.45pm, if you would like to participate please PM me your number, we will then call you at an allotted time during the show (we will be paying for the calls) but get in quick! Any Wolves or Pirates fans that want to join in are more than welcome. (As is ANY speedway fan.) Webby

As a Brummie fan I am going to make sure that I do one thing. Enjoy the occasion no matter what the result. A final between two teams that have done things very different. A team full of GB riders that got team building right from day one Versus a team that have used their checkbook to make up for team building deficiencies (And it must be honestly said injury problems.) A team of Heroes verses a team of Superstars. A young club verses the establishment. And, I note, A team that almost everyone is writing off. Much like they have for the whole season, and yet here we are in the final. I don't think I can argue against Poole being the favourites for this one. But that is just how we like it. Whatever happens in the final I have to say a big thank you to the management and the riders for a season to remember. Now BRING IT ON!

If we go into this match thinking we have one hand on the trophy then it could come back and bite us. Make no bones this will be tough but my gut feeling is that we have enough to finish the job. My biggest worry is how long it took to finish the match. We will have to get a wriggle on as we have a curfew of 10pm.

On the Speedway Tavern tonight (Friday) we have interviews from the recent home match V kings Lynn. And we will be discussing both teams chances for the forthcoming semi-finals. Matt Buck will be talking up the Wolverhampton side of things and my good self will be taking the position that Brummies are best. We would love to see as many Brummie and Wolves fans as possible taking part in the debate via the shoutbox. Lets get the banter going early. sports-radio.co.uk From 8pm Correction. Due to a glitch the speedway tavern will now be broadcast at 7:30

BIRMINGHAM.

Iwish someone had told me.

Tonight on the 'original' Speedway Tavern: - On tonights show: - Has the Brummies Bubble burst? Last nights crowd. Interviews with Bomber, Martin and Phil. Matt Buck returns Review of Wolves V Swindon Peto V Brummies Brummies V Eastbourne A look at forthcoming matches for Brummies and Wolves A look at our next home match. Against Wolves. Whatever you want to talk about. Starts 7:45. Sports-radio.co.uk

The following sourced from scotsman.co.uk CRAIG COOK today said Team GB can “kiss my backside” after the Edinburgh Monarchs speedway star was swiftly axed from their World Cup team after flopping in last night’s encounter against Denmark, Sweden, and the United States at the Norfolk Arena in King’s Lynn. Cook scored four points in what was his World Cup debut and while this wasn’t enough to help Team GB stop a strong Danish squad from winning the meeting outright and qualifying for the final, they did finish second and go through to Thursday’s race-off in Prague against Australia, Latvia and the US, who clinched third place on the night. Cook was hugely disappointed with his performance and told the Evening News: “ I just couldn’t get my bike to work, nor was it fast enough, I tried hard but there was nothing I could do. I had felt good during practice in the morning and was really quick, but the track conditions changed quite dramatically come the evening. You win some, you lose some, and I didn’t ride the way I know I can ride.” Team GB boss Neil Middleditch also gave the chop to Edward Kennett who only scored one point and in an effort to clinch the one place up for grabs in Prague to reach the final, he has drafted in Lewis Bridger and Ben Barker to give them the best possible chance of success. Cook angrily responded: “To be replaced by Barker and Bridger, who have been there and done it, and were useless, is a bit of a joke. Team GB is supposed to help riders develop for the future. I just feel like saying kiss my backside Great Britian, it’s a farce really.” Cook added: “This blow has in no way knocked my confidence, it will in fact make me stronger as a rider. I’m up at the top now and if I want something I go out and get it, I will take some good from all of this.” Monarchs director Mike Hunter commented: “Craig will be so disappointed at the way he rode and so will all Monarchs fans who know just how well he can ride, he just did not look comfortable at all, it was such a pity.” Eurosport pundit Kelvin Tatum said Cook should have been retained for the Prague showdown, observing: “Team GB are not going to win the World Cup and guys like Craig need to be given the experience for the future.”

I guess the simple answer is that a time frame for payment should be agreed in the rider's contract.

B'ham have proven that it is possible to build a team that can be the same week in week out. I believe that so far we have only had to field one guest. Its not a secret. Field riders that are based in this country (Smolinski is the only one not based here and he hasn't missed a meeting.) Work hard with the fixture compiler to avoid as many du clashes as you can. Make sure your DU's are available on your home race nights. (Helps that no PL club runs on a wednesday) And be lucky with injuries (Touching wood as I type that one!) Still hasn't equated to bigger crowds unfortunately.

There is a thread dedicated to testimonials. Surely this should be in that thread. That's where you will find the Danny King testimonial information. I know which one I would prefer to go to.

Just recieved confirmation that Jan O Pedersen will be joining us tonight on the 'Speedway tavern'. Programme starts at 7:45. You can ask questions live via our shoutbox and listen to the answers at: - sports-radio.co.uk

I don't buy this "unfair on Coventry" crap that Nigel P and Kelvin T was spouting. The simple truth is when you set up a team you take a gamble. If you have two hard hitters and one of them gets injured you are going to find it difficult to cover for them, particularly if its your second in the averages. That's the gamble you take. Something that Wolves also are going to find difficult. On the other hand you can build a team such as Birmingham with strength all the way through, this way you may find it easier to cover injuries but run the risk of opposing teams big hitters running riot and taking the match of you. As in all things getting the balance right is key. That is speedway. As for squad systems. On the face of it, it sounds good. But would, in my opinion play into the hands of the richer clubs and leave clubs such as Birmingham unable to compete. The devil would be in the detail.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/speedway-world-hopeful-tai-woffinden-on-an-upward-slide-8640383.html http://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/404109/Speedway-Tai-Woffinden-gets-on-his-bike-to-try-to-ink-his-place-in-history?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-other-sport-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Other+Sport+Feed%29

I am so rarely able to find a speedway star it is difficult to give an opinion. However I do enjoy the online speedway extra every week and really wish that they would do an online version. I would gladly pay out for access to an online version and i would think that such a publication would increas circulation greatly.

The truth is that in the majority of cases the PL side will get precedent. That IS a farce IMO (But if we were still in the PL I must admit my opinion would probably change lol.) However the fact that Birmingham had this booked well before Somerset means that Brum get precedent. That's as it should be. Somerset CHOSE to use this date, they would have known the implications of choosing this date, so how is it a farce? The truth is that in the majority of cases the PL side will get precedent. That IS a farce IMO (But if we were still in the PL I must admit my opinion would probably change lol.) However the fact that Birmingham had this booked well before Somerset means that Brum get precedent. That's as it should be. Somerset CHOSE to use this date, they would have known the implications of choosing this date, so how is it a farce?

Wasn't a British speedway ruling. You lay the blame at the doors of BSI.

Quite simply because they have more money than we currently do. So they are able to operate squad systems. That of course is the only answer to the problem but cant and wont happen over here until if is financially viable. The truth is that without the guest system speedway would not survive in this country and that is why the evil is currently necessary. Its all well and good taking a stance of principal, and I understand the frustrations I really do, but principals don't pay the bills. For those that suggest teams just cover with a number 8. firstly where does the number 8 come from? Would have to come from PL presumably unless you mean we have a rider that is not riding anywhere else and therefore not earning money? And would you pay to see a number 8 riding in your team without your number 1 and therefore having no chance of winning? The real answer is that many would not. In fact a lot would not. That is the bottom line for any promoter. That is my last comment on what is a fairly pointless subject without any alternative VIABLE suggestion.

That's fine and dandy. But. Give me a viable alternative.

Instead of asking why, I am pretty sure we all know why, why don't you give us a viable alternative. And while we are on the subject of why. Why oh why do we insist (and I am as guilty as the next man) on comparing ourselves to a sport that seems to operate in its own financial heaven? You cant compare the two sports and thank god for that.

Just thought I would post on here a post i put on the Brummies forum a few weeks ago as an alternative view to the original post on this thread: - Just thought I would share something that happened to me today. We have all shared thoughts about how difficult it is to get people interested in speedway. I imagine we can all tell stories along the same lines. I know that whenever I have mentioned speedway I have usually got one of two replies. 1) Whats speedway? 2) I used to go its a shame it closed down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes it feels as if your banging your head up against a breeze block double wall. Well Today I was at work talking to an assessor that was looking at one of our students. She noticed my coat and said "Birmingham speedway, my son goes to that, he loves it." I asked "how long has he been going?" (I was expecting something along the lines of he used to watch it in the seventies or some variation off) she replied "He started going about 2 years ago and now he cant get enough of it" She continued "He hasn't stopped talking about the new season starting and he has been trying to tell me about the riders" I asked "Have you ever been?" She said "Yes I love it, I love the noise and I love the smell" Well knock me over with a feather. I think that sometimes we forget that we have a fantastic and unique product in speedway. And if we can just get people to come a fair percentage will enjoy it. So come on everybody lets shout to everyone that will listen (and to those that won't) about the most successful team in Birmingham (I'm sure someone will come up with a Birmingham team of some flavour that is more successful at the moment but I'm not listening because it isn't the point of this post.) Some won't listen. Some that do won't come. some of those that come won't get it. But you know what? Some will.

Or Birmingham. Wednesday's match V Coventry altho an easy enough win (in the end) was close for a while but even when Birmingham pulled away the racing was good. The thing about this is too many of us try to sell speedway on the racing front. This is I believe a mistake. Speedway is unique in the fact it is both a motor sport and a team sport. In fact the only true team sport in the whole of motor racing. You will never be hooked to speedway if you don't first become attached to the team. The other great thing (IMO) about speedway is you can get three bites of the cherry. What do I mean by that? Well imagine you are at a football match and watching a boring match (and its worth pointing out to any newbies that this does happen.) Generally its 2 hours of boredom. (Unless your team manages to score and that brings us back to my point of getting a connection to the sport.) With speedway if you get a boring race its only five minutes before another race comes along with the potential for a thriller. That's one bite of the cherry (actually 15 bites but you know what I mean.) If you have a boring match in as much as the result is a forgone conclusion you can still get good racing and rivalries such as preventing a rider getting a maximum and so on. That's another bite of the cherry. Sometimes even a very boring processional race can be exciting in the context of the match. For instance if you need a 5 - 1 in the last heat to win the match and both your riders gate and go. As I say its counter productive to sell speedway to newbies on the racing. Sell it on the team. Whenever I talk about speedway I always talk about it in terms of Birmingham are racing against (for instance) Coventry and I really want to put one over them and talk about the rivalry between the two clubs. If anyone asks me to explain it I am always vary vague and again talk about the team rather than the racing. That way you don't give expectations that cant be lived up to. To be honest the way my dad got me into the sport is probably the best way of doing it. He just came up to me and said "put your coat on I'm taking you out" He wouldn't tell me where. We got to the track and still he wouldn't say anything. I worked out we were watching motorbikes by the noise coming from the pits and the parade. But still no info came from my dad. Then the first race started and my jaw hit the ground! Then as the riders left the pits he just whispered in my ear "They've got no brakes you know." My jaw buried itself even further. Well I was hooked and still am.

Sports-radio.co.uk will be bringing in live updates for this one