Main Man

I suppose you can't please everyone all the time. Hiring a continental track and practicing would be even more money to find and will not give the riders competitive racing as they require. Also there are a fair number of speedway fans who enjoy watching the USA boys --and a very hard working UK committee of people who work damn hard to make sure the tours are a success. I have had an approach to bring a team of young Dutch riders to race in the UK on a short tour but wonder what response they would receive from the critics of touring sides ? For God's sake give all these boys a chance . It has cost them a small fortune to be here and they come with the ambitions of impressing and maybe getting a UK team berth one day as well as having bigger goals. Off my soapbox now !! See you at Coventry on Friday , Rye House Saturday and Buxton Sunday.

suggest you read the IOW website report which gives a fair and unbiased view of the meeting. I could also post what the ref Chris Gay sent me as a text last night if he was okay with me doing this. If you look back at the first ever tour match in 2005 at Stoke when the Dream Team had non stop bike troubles but went on to have a superb tour --- then perhaps you are being hasty in writing this team off? As you were clearly not at the IOW and have not read what has been said then you are being most unfair on the USA Future team.

Great line-up. Wish i could be there but at Rye House with the USA Future team ...but will try to make as many rounds as I can this year to help Phil + Neil in any way I can.

A BIG thank you to one and all at the IOW for their hospitality last night. I have posted on the Rye House v USA Future section about the problems we encountered in the pits with machinery last night. A long day --I got back at 3.20 am , the riders at 4am --but very much worth it. And another BIG thank you to the two gentlemen (yes Steve I called you a gent!!) who kindly allowed us to boost the tour funds by auctioning off two race bibs . Also thanks to everyone who bought any merchandise and generously gave to the bucket collection ...all much appreciated !!

May I stick up for the USA Future team --as you would expect me to !! As mentioned they are all on hired bikes which they had not sat on until last night at the IOW and we hit so many niggling mechanical problems it was unreal. Gino Manzares looked super fast in practice then missed his first two rides when the cut out falied when he had an over-revving bike at the start line for heat 4. Feverish work by mechanics and the IOW technical staff failed to rectify the problem amd an old cut out Chris Strong had in his toolbox went on and solved the problem and it was therefore heat 9 before he had his first ride. He then scored paid 5 from his last two outings including a brilliant 5-1 in heat 13 with Mikey Buman after a heavy rain storm had hit the track. Each and every one of the lads encountered problems throughout the night --and had we been able to arrange a practice somewhere on the Monday these gremlins would have been ironed out. I cannot believe people are coming on here saying this is a weak USA side --it is NOT!! There is mountains of potential and now we have dialled in on the hired bikes things can only get better. After heat 9 you might have thought that with a 40-14 scoreline BUT in the last six races once they were dialled in to the bikes and track we actually outscored the Islanders 19-17 !! I am not saying we would have won but had we ignored the first ten bedding in races which was like our practice and getting set ups right things would have been much closer. In 9 tours we have entertained the British public and will continue to do so. Losing the Kings Lynn fixture tonight is a big blow both financially and race fitness wise. I have tried , unsuccessfully, to get at least at second half on Thursday for the lads which they could have done with. The schedule with a shorter tour than normal is demanding on the riders and our UK back up staff but we will be giving 110% believe me !! Please give the boys a chance - please don't knock them until you've seen them !! On another note --was great working with USA team boss Richard Child last night ..with me on crutches getting up and down those long pits was difficult but having two of us working with the boys was great!!

I would not think so knowing both lads well. A bit of unfair criticism I think. Dan has only one bike at the moment and from reading the updates fell in heat 14 ? Darryl would ride every night of the week if he could --so I do not think it was that they were not bothered !!

But we have seven great lads all out to entertain you!!

Milton Keynes ride their MDL matches at Rye House. Blimey Garrity and Hawkins for Hazelden and Sarjeant .....might fly Greg in for a No. 8 spot !!

There is a MDL Challenge this Sat (April 14th) after the Rye House v USA Future clash . The Milton Keynes Knights will face Coventry Mercia Vikings Teams : MK Knights --1. Niall Strudwick , 2. Jamie Dixon, 3. Liam Rumsey. 4. Alex McLeod Vikings -- 1. Lee Geary. 2. Adam Portwood. 3. Martin Knuckey, 4. Cam Hoskins

There is a MDL Challenge this Sat (April 14th) after teh Rye House v USA Future clash . The Milton Keynes Knights will face Coventry Mercia Vikings Teams : MK Knights --1. Niall Strudwick , 2. Jamie Dixon, 3. Liam Rumsey. 4. Alex McLeod Vikings -- 1. Lee Geary. 2. Adam Portwood. 3. Martin Knuckey, 4. Cam Hoskins

We got the news tonight from Dale Allitt as we were having a team meal / bonding get together with all the riders and management team , mechanics etc. Have been trying to arrange something for Thursday for the lads who are ultra keen to get as much track time as possible. A great bunch of lads who are pumped up ready for action at the IOW for the tour opener tomorrow night (Tuesday)

will find out it's on : www.bikerfm.co.uk

Phil + Neil hopefully will see this ..but I will pass on to them for consideration.

Biker FM are planning on having some live interviews with the USA Future lads on Tuesday night before they race their first tour match at the IOW

bring your piggy bank Phil --hope to see you bidding on the signed body colour!!

I know Sandie has an extensive range of merchandise _-some of it was shown on Facebook yesterday --but no doubt she will post a list etc later ---she's out at a family do today so it may be later or tomorrow.

Would have liked to have paid a visit to my old stamping ground today for this one but as I am still on crutches and unable to drive will have to make do with the updates.

The USA Future touring team have arrived in the UK in readiness for their whistle stop tour with meetings at IOW Tues , KINGS LYNN Weds, 2nd half v Mercia Vikings at COVENTRY Fri, RYE HOUSE Sat and BUXTON on Sun. Touring are : Mikey Buman (capt), Dylan Black, Bryce Starks, Russell Green, Gino Manzares, Aaron Fox and Brad Pappalardo. At Kings Lynn where it is 8 man 18 heats Henning Loof becomes an honourary American. The following week the bikes head for the Ukraine for teh Under 21 WTC with the riders flying out on the Thursday

I am in Willenhall not far from track really and there have only been a few short showers which have now stopped. It is cloudy but with a light wind ....so hopefully all ok. Hope so as I have a sponsor coming to present Dan Greenwood with a cheque ...and Dan has some sponsorship sheets to hand out to show the various schemes available to back him from as little as 50p a point upwards ...

Bikes leave Tuesday 17th and riders fly out Thursday 19th

Can anyone furnish me with the scores and scorers from Saturday please. thanks Laurence

30th March 2012 MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SCUNTHORPE STAGS 13 MILTON KEYNES KNIGHTS 22 Scunthorpe Stags 13 – Danny Phillips 6 (3 rides), Michael Faulkner 1+1 (2), Adam Kirby 6 (3), Simon Allan 0(2). Milton Keynes Knights 22 – Oliver Greenwood 9 (3), David Holt 4+3 (3), Liam Rumsey 7 (3), Adam Sheppard 2 (3). 1: (re-run) Greenwood, Holt, Faulkner (fell, excluded), Phillips (fell, excluded), no time, race awarded. (0-5)(0-5) 2: Rumsey, Kirby, Sheppard, Allan, 62.97 (2-4)(2-9) 3: Phillips, Rumsey, Holt, Allan (fell, non-starter in re-run), 61.59 (3-3)(5-12) 4: Greenwood, Kirby, Faulkner, Sheppard (fell), 60.00 (3-3)(8-15) 5: Phillips, Rumsey, Holt (three riders only), 61.16 (3-3)(11-18) 6: Greenwood, Kirby, Sheppard, Allan, 60.12 (3-3) (18-16) (2-4)(13-22) MDL Challenge : VIKINGS A 25 1. Dan Greenwood 3,3,3 = 9 max 2. Paul Quarterman 2*,2,2* = 6+2 3. Freddie Owen 2*,1*,2 = 5+2 4. Martin Knuckey 3,2*,X = 5+1 VIKINGS B 10 1. Lee Geary 1,3,3 = 7 2. Andy Braithwaite - DNR 3. Adam Portwood 1,1,R = 2 4. Cam Hoskins 0,F,1 = 1 HT 1: Greenwood, Quarterman, Geary, Braithwaite (ns) 5-1. HT 2: Knuckey, Owen, Portwood, Hoskins 5-1 (10-2) HT 3: Greenwood, Knuckey, Portwood, Braithwaite (ns) 5-1 (15-3) HT 4: Geary, Quarterman, Owen, Hoskins (f) 3-3 (18-6) HT 5: Greenwood, Quarterman, Portwood ®, Braithwaite (ns) 5-0 (23-6) HT 6: Geary, Owen, Hoskins, Knuckey (x) awarded. 2-4 (25-10)

sorry Shadders !! Was just commenting on the good understanding they developed last year at Newport !!

great to see Anders getting his chance. His end of season form was superb and his partnership with Charlie Gjedde superb at 1+2 ..wonder if Rockets will pair them together ???

when I spoke to Bryn Williams who is the league co-ordinator this was still being sorted