Main Man

anything would be appreciated ..he is a great lad and one with bags of potential. Have already had a few e-mails back that hopefully might lead to some help ...so thanks ..and keep them coming !!

I have never texted results !! Dan rode his first away match at Buxton and was beset by bike troubles (will check what he scored later) and at Belle Vue where he had an exclusion and a fall whilst challenging for the lead with his throttle cable was jamming and a lot of hard work in the pits kept him on track and I will look at his score there when I get home but I do remember , as I was team manager that night, he was unlucky not to get 9 or 10 points. He was due to come out in ht 15 against Scunthorpe but the air fence was damaged beyond a quick repair and the race was not staged other wise he would have scored more but his paid 11 included a fall and remount to get a point from behind .

Yes. It is the rights and the speedway licence and assets. There are not many clubs actually where they own the venue, most are rented.

Dan worked three jobs to raise enough to get a bike last year and get back on track and is totally self-financed. I have been talking to some potential sponsors for him but as yet nothing concrete. Anyone interested in sponsoring him can e-mail me : laurenceogers@blueyonder.co.uk

"Welcome on board to Dan. I can't really comment on whether he's a good, bad or indifferent signing. " ................ I can tell you --GOOD!!

They were and of varying colours ...courtesy of Jessica Lamb who spent ages finding them in Adelaide

Congrats to Brady !!

well at Parks testimonial at Glasgow we had almost all the riders doing that at the end ...Anji said they wouldn't do it ...but full marks to all the lads (but two) I talked them into it and the crowd loved it. Parks knew I was up to something as I tried to get him out of the pits and on to the cenre green ---and his face was a picture as they all roared by. Then in Gillman for his meeting there I got all the lads wearing stick on goatees for the parade and again Parks loved that !!]

Sun Jan 15th 11-3 .. book with Del Rowe on 07796815392

Thanks for that Nige ..will see if I can tweak it a bit to get less two on trots .....and Semion you are a wit (or something like that!!)

Many thanks for this . The michrophone in the box packed up just as we were ready to start so I had to rush the roving mich back to the box so was unable to do interviews etc and the parade was , at the last moment , changed to a quick one with riders going from pits rather than traditional centre green one with a few black clouds still around. But what a great final --and full marks to David Howe on bouncing back from two ducks and almost out of the meeting after his first ride fall to take it after a brilliant pass on Ricky Ashworth . Thanks for the constructive points made and we will take these on board. I know that the formula for the event is not to everyone's liking and I have spent hours trying to see if a different one could be achieved and will continue to work on this. As expressed by many the riders know what the meeting entails , how the weather will always affect things ...but all just get on with it for the enjoyment of the fans starved of their methanol fix since October. My thanks to all the riders for their efforts and for not giving me last minute panics trying to find replacements as has happened in past years. Hopefully I am still on their christmas card lists and when I call them next year if we do the classic again will get the same response to riding in the meeting. Laurence Rogers

I will keep the hotline on 09066 555 915 updated but all should be ok and dogs are allowed ....may get some barking off Delta the Mallett's dog 11 But he is very friendly

Metcheck has rain clearing and sunshine. Met office has similar with the possibility of a shower whilst BBC Weather --which is invariably wrong!! --showers. Track is in a good conditionand as said before the starts are covered. As for Shawn's comments --Ricky withdrew from that meeting after a crash not any other reason. And as you rightly say the league meetings you have been to have been efficiently run --that is the norm. At the end of the day this is an outdoor speedway meeting run in the close season and most people are just pleased to be able to have their methanol fix !! with the line-up we have this should prove to be a good battle to the finish.

Really ?? when was the last one you came to Shawn ??

Weather forecast is for sunshine on Monday, track in good condition with the starts covered, should be a cracker, see you there

NEWPORT SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE : New Year Classic Special Draw to benefit Speedway Rider’s Benevolent Fund One lucky fan at the New Year Classic at Newport on Monday (Jan 2nd 2012) will become a celebrity for the day for just a pound!! Instead of the traditional 50-50 draw the raffle winner at the meeting will win the opportunity to present the new Tim Stone Trophy to the meeting winner and the trophies to the other finalists and have their picture taken with the riders. Tickets will cost £1 and all proceeds will go to the Speedway Rider’s Benevolent Fund which helps injured riders. In addition Ben Fund Secretary Paul Ackroyd is donating two tickets for the Ben Fund meeting at Birmingham on Sunday March 11th to the draw winner . The tickets will be on sale just inside the turnstiles –which open at 11.30 with the meeting starting at 1pm.

NEWPORT SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE: Fans from far and Near to descend upon Newport for New Year Classic With the New Year Classic at Newport being the only outdoor speedway meeting during the close season fans from all over the UK will be heading for South Wales on Monday January 2nd. Some will be supporting their own team riders –in some cases newcomers to their side in 2012 –whilst many neutrals will be there just because they are speedway fans and love the sport. From the South-West it is expected that a strong following from Plymouth will be making the trip up the M5 to support new heat leaders Ricky Ashworth and Steve Boxall whilst Somerset fans will make the short journey over the Severn Bridge to cheer on James Wright. As an ex-Swindon rider Mancunian Wright will no doubt entice a fair few down the M4 from Wiltshire and Birmingham fans will no doubt travel down from the Midlands to also back the former Workington number one who doubled –up with the Brummies in 2011. Home fans will be pinning their hopes on a Wasp on the rostrum backing teenage Swede Anders Mellgren to achieve that whilst no doubt showing an interest in the fortunes of two former Newport riders in Chris Schramm and Carl Wilkinson. Gates open at 11.30 with full catering and bar facilities open as fans claim their favourite spot to watch whether that be in the bar, sat in the stand or around the circuit –so the message is to get there early to ensure you get where you want to be !! LINE-UP (not in riding order) : Ricky Ashworth (Plymouth); Steve Boxall (Plymouth); Kevin Doolan (Ipswich); Andre Hertzberg (unattached); David Howe (Scunthorpe and Kings Lynn); Mark Lemon (Newcastle) ;Anders Mellgren (Newport); Chris Schramm (unattached); Lee Smart (unattached); Andrew Tully (Edinburgh); Carl Wilkinson (unattached); James Wright (Somerset) Monday January 2nd 2012 with a 1pm start. Admission : £15 Adults ; £13 Concessions (with proof required); £5 Children 5-15 ; Under 5’s free ; £ 32 Family (2A + 2C)

It will be sunny Halifax Tiger my old friend!!! The starts have been prepared and covered and track all but ready with just last minute work to complete. I think this Classic will be just that --a classic !! Wonder what people's predictions are for the finalists and winner ??? Difficult one for sure. Remember gates open 11.30 with parade at 1pm ......see you there!!!

weather forecast is for sunshine on Monday!!!

Be great to see you !!

Meeting reserves are : Dan Greenwood and James White-Williams (Dudley new signing)

NEWPORT SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE : New Year Classic Champion issues plea : Defending New Year Classic Champion Lee Smart has issued a plea to fans as he defends his title on Monday January 2nd. The former Stoke, Birmingham, Plymouth and Dudley rider , who has no team place for the 2012 season yet wants his fans at his former tracks to get behind him as he aims to retain the Classic and become the first winner of the new Tim Stone Trophy. Smart says , “ Last year I had magnificent support especially from the Dudley Heathens fans and I want to have the same level of backing as I attempt to keep the Classic title. The noise they made last year made me so determined to repay them and I managed that winning despite being the least favourite in the Final.” “I need a good performance again to make promoters sit up and realise I am available and could do a good job for them. With most teams now full this is a big ask but with the fans behind me I am determined to show them again what I can do. So I hope to see supporters from all my old tracks shouting for me as this will give me the boost I need to provide a shock again in a very strong field of riders.” LINE-UP (not in riding order) : Ricky Ashworth (Plymouth); Steve Boxall (Plymouth); Kevin Doolan (Ipswich); Andre Hertzberg (unattached); David Howe (Scunthorpe and Kings Lynn); Mark Lemon (Newcastle) ;Anders Mellgren (Newport); Chris Schramm (unattached); Lee Smart (unattached); Andrew Tully (Edinburgh); Carl Wilkinson (unattached); James Wright (Somerset) Monday January 2nd 2012 with a 1pm start. Admission : £15 Adults ; £13 Concessions (with proof required); £5 Children 5-15 ; Under 5’s free ; £ 32 Family (2A + 2C)

NEWPORT SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE : Countdown to the 2012 New Year Classic begins: With just days left now until the only outdoor winter speedway meeting the Newport promotion is hard at work getting the venue ready for the event which usually attracts speedway fans from all over the UK. The 2012 staging is being held for the first time on a Monday with January 2nd being a public bank holiday and with a lunch time 1pm start time this should prove to be popular with travelling fans, Co-promoter Nick Mallett is counting down the days till the meeting , “ I personally can’t wait as I think this is going to live up to its meeting title and be a real cracker. Looking at the line-up we have assembled I would not like to predict which four riders will reach the final never mind who might win it!” “ We have former classic champions , winners of the Welsh Open and Prince of Wales Trophy , a whole host of club number one riders, an exciting newcomer and home favourite Anders Mellgren. All very mouth watering for speedway fans starved of their favourite sport since October.” “The track staff have worked so hard relaying the track with tons and tons of new dirt down and packed in and it should produce some great racing. Roll on Monday January 2nd !!” LINE-UP (not in riding order) : Ricky Ashworth (Plymouth); Steve Boxall (Plymouth); Kevin Doolan (Ipswich); Andre Hertzberg (unattached); David Howe (Scunthorpe and Kings Lynn); Mark Lemon (Newcastle) ;Anders Mellgren (Newport); Chris Schramm (unattached); Lee Smart (unattached); Andrew Tully (Edinburgh); Carl Wilkinson (unattached); James Wright (Somerset) Monday January 2nd 2012 with a 1pm start. Admission : £15 Adults ; £13 Concessions (with proof required); £5 Children 5-15 ; Under 5’s free ; £ 32 Family (2A + 2C)

NEWPORT SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE : NEW YEAR CLASSIC TO BE IN MEMORY OF TIM STONE The Newport staged New Year Classic, which will be on Bank Holiday Monday January 2nd 2012with a 1pm start , will be dedicated to the man who started it all in 1999 --Tim Stone. The late Newport promoter introduced the only outdoor UK meeting which has been held at the track every year except 2009 when the club was closed down after Tim Stone’s death and Poole ran the event that year. Now in its thirteenth staging and the twelfth at Newport this is the first one not to be held on a Sunday from the first one on January 2nd 1999. Co-promoter Steve Mallett commented, “ We have been considering this for some while but only just got round to doing it. Previously we had dedicated the Prince of Wales Trophy to Tim but the New Year Classic is really more suited as it was his brainchild. The riders will be competing for the new Tim Stone Trophy.” “ We will now dedicate the Prince of Wales Trophy in March to Neil Street who was a Newport legend .This seems much more appropriate.” “ The 2012 Classic has I think an interesting line-up and it is difficult to predict who might win it . Nick and Laurence have done a good job with the field and also both gone out and got race and advertising sponsors to back the meeting. Hopefully the weather will be with us and give speedway fans throughout the country a day out enjoying their favourite sport.”

Steve Malllett has asked me to post this regarding this topic : With regard to Mr .Manning and the Newport speedway website he runs. This website was started at the clubs request when the previous administrator closed the old website down. Mike kindly offered to put a site in place at no cost to the club. This website has been maintained in case of a similar occurence. Newport Speedway has a good relationship with the Manning family as a whole and hope to continue working with them for many years to come. It is our choice for Mike to continue taking photos as it is something he enjoys as a hobby and if the club ever needs photos he is always happy to supply them free of charge. As well as welcoming the family as sponsors, we also welcome them as friends and they are NEWPORT FANS. Steve Mallett