Kester

Well if speedway got itself a shred of integrity then it wouldn't happen. Integrity won't entice new speedway fans but it'll stop some of the existing ones walking away.

Well, Harkness seems quite happy to let all sorts of jiggery pokery go on under his nose without seeming to give much of a toss about whether the interests being served are British Speedway's or one club's.

Never, except for Workington when they used to have 3 big hitters and fill the rest of the team with Charles Wright, John Branney and the like.

So he did want to be involved then. Sorry, but double negatives are a bug-bear. Hope Plymouth get themselves sorted and shot of their joke of a promoter.

I mean it about the counselling and the dog by the way.

You said he was signed yesterday. Look, you are clearly short of attention. I suggest counselling or getting a dog.

But likewise plenty of people were deriding the prospects of Zetterstrom and Lindback (when he re-qualified a couple of years ago) in the series. Zetterstrom held his own and Lindback has been something of a revelation so just shows you never can tell. Even Woffinden may not be awful if they put him in

Worth noting though that Berwick are struggling even with a £10 entrance, something you advocate for every club on another thread.

Can't see the point having it at Cardiff. People budget for the British GP, attendance was already down this year, PR stated that there were 38000 there in August, can anyone imagine there being more than 25000-30000 for a 2nd GP. Holding another GP this year would lead to anti-climatic night in front of a (relative to the venue) small crowd.

That's Hancock done for the title, he gave it a great defence though.

Gate 2 looks a mare.

Some will, but others would say 'well if the standards not as high then I won't bother'. It's a double edged sword I think, typical of the problems which speedway is mired in.

You can and it is. But that can be done due to the calibre of rider and the amount of money they'll be taking from a meeting.

I'm not sure that argument, regarding 15 mins of racing, stacks up. When you you go to a sporting event you pay for the event, regardless of length. Otherwise speedway would cost £2.50 and one day cricket £150, it doesn't work like that. If I look at my local non league football club, Halesowen Town, who play in some lowly tier, it costs £8 to get in - and that's to watch plumbers and postmen play football. For £17 I could watch Moseley rugby club in the second tier of British rugby (I think- can't be bothered to check it up). I can watch the current world championship leader ride a speedway bike for the same cost. What's more If a PL club cuts admission costs to £10, with presumably similar discounts to concessions, then each promoter is going to need another 50% extra fans to turn up just to be in the same position. If Worky, or any other club, did so would another x hundred fans suddenly turn up and then keep on turning up, I'm really not sure they would

How about all of the times you've been proved wrong? I notice KKS is fishing on Ipswich threads, why don't you have a chat. What a meeting of (miniscule) minds that would be.

He must be cheap then.

He's awful. And still this Winter there will be a few on here saying 'sign him up, he'll do a job at reserve.'

I don't know why Lanham is still mentioned as a number 1, he's never averaged what you'd expect from a number one. At his best he's a 7.5-8.0 man. I think half of his problem at Ipswich is that he banged in a few big scores at the start of the season and some seemed to think it would last.

Pedersen and Kennett get to take part then

I'd pay good money for that dvd!

He's a bit like marmite though, people love him or hate him. I find him irritating beyond belief, worst of all he commentates over the last lap (forgetting that we've all got eyes and a brain - one up on him).

Did you prefer it before then? Because up to 3 years ago, when they got decent shale in, the track constantly broke up and most of the passing came from hitting ruts or holes. You talk as if because you paid a sum of money you have a right to excellent racing. You don't, it's sport. The outcome is variable. There are good, bad and indifferent sporting events always, it doesn't matter if it's on the largest or smallest stage. Of course speedway is unusual in that it can do something, produce a good quality track, to help good racing to take place. But it doesn't guarantee it, we've all seen poor meetings on a track that was fine. Last night the racing wasn't stellar, but it most certainly wasn't 'rubbish'.

If people are going to moan then fine, but at least try to cling to a bit of reality or your argument loses it's foundation. There were enough good heats, and a couple of excellent ones, to class the racing last night as at least 'reasonable'. So to blather away and pronounce the whole meeting 'rubbish' is a bit daft and clearly just moaning for the sake of it. In the same way, I get bored when most SKY meetings are slagged off as 'boring'. I don't know where some of you watch your speedway but you'll need to let me know as it must be amazing. On the cost front Cardiff offers a range of prices, so if you want to cut it down a bit then you can. Ultimately, it's an event that only happens once a year so is bound to be priced accordingly.

He hasn't seen me play the ukulele dressed as a deep sea fisherman while boiling potatoes.

He'll be easy to spot, crouched down behind the main stand with a box of swan vestas (allegedly).