Coventry V Lakeside 5th May

[TonyE]

I guess they couldn't use Bech (he's No 1 in our averages), had to use One up from Davey and any below!

Bech, certainly not as Davey is second in the Hammers averages and the 'new' rules allow only riders below him average wise, to take his remaining rides.

[SCB]

Helps if I read the rule. Only riders below can take the rider - I just assumed it was R/R but it's not quite. Makes more sense now.

[The Voice Of Reason]

Nice little topsy-turvy battle last night.

 

Not sure what happened to Watty to cause his withdrawal. PK looking jaded in most rides. Sorry, but two last places and a third from 5 rides isn't his usual return, and we need to see better. Adam Ellis looked desperately slow - shutting off into the bends like someone on a practice day. Then, partnering Lewis in Heat 14, he rode like a man possessed for a 5-1. Meanwhile, Liam Carr looked out of his depth at this level if I'm brutally frank - although he may have been riding injured after his fall during his first ride. Bridger - improved but what on earth was he thinking in a heat 11 - went into the 1/2 bends with far too much power and shut off; then gave up! Why does Lewis do this? His bike was still under power as he rode it back to the pits after the heat. At least keep going Lewis - someone else could always pack up or slide off, etc!

 

Onto our two stars - take a bow Richard Lawson and Mikkel Bech. Richard was our only rider who, in his 6 rides, didn't get a last place. I really don't think that there's enough Lakeside Supporters giving this guy due recognition. He is Mr. Consistency - and just goes about his work in the Number 2 berth doing what's expected + more. Nothing flashy. Nothing controversial. I've said this on the Lakeside Forum - give me a team of 7 Richard Lawson's, and I'll show you how to win the league.

 

And Mikkel Bech - this boy is a revelation. An extremely fast rider - not necessarily a gater either. But for a 19 year-old, what a speedway head on young shoulders. Willing to try every racing line and never gives up. Heat 13 last night, and Bech's race with Hans and Bomber was worth the admission in my opinion.

 

Also, WELL DONE MIKKEL BECH for your sportsmanship and professionalism in Heat 15. I'm not saying this because I am a Lakeside Supporter, but I can think of quite a few riders who in a last heat decider, may not have got their bike off the track so quickly having fallen - if at all. A great gesture particularly because it must have been clear we were on a reverse 5-1.

 

I would rather lose a point through honesty and go home empty-handed, then gain a point through cheating. I can think of some supporters from a different club that couldn't ever get their head around that ideology.

 

Moving onto our hosts. Hans had an up and down night - wondering if he's still carrying sickness from Saturday? Bomber looked on much better form after a dire opening ride - great to see him returning to something like his former self - still a very exciting rider to watch. Ryan has improved so much since the early days - again, a rider who just gives total effort and chips away hitting numbers, akin to Richard Lawson. I happily donated to his fund - because irrespective of some anti-feelings expressed above:

1. He needs his family here

2. He always entertains me

3. When he's guested for Lakeside, he has always given us everything for the cause

 

Kyle and the reserves look very solid - particularly impressed with James Sarjeant. Your weak link at the moment appears to be Kenneth Hansen - who appeared last night to have this uncanny knack of finding, and riding, the worst racing lines around Brandon.

 

So overall, I would have loved to have grabbed a point - and Richard Lawson nearly did that right on the line in Heat 15. A good night of speedway whereby the score was not decided until the last second of the last lap. Can it get better than that?

 

The track looked good enough to me - but people, who have never ridden a speedway bike in their lives, will always moan. But there clearly were passing lines both inside and outside - as proven by Mikkel.

 

Faults - 2 instant coffees and 1 tea (in a SMALL polystyrene cup) costing £4.70 is an utter pee take - snack bar 2nd bend.

 

Cov - who on this earth is your announcer? Gawd blimey he is absolutely dire. Appears to be pretty clueless about Speedway - just coming out with the same mundane, boring rhetoric over and over. There were long pauses when the records stopped playing, and subsequent gaps of long, utter silences. I wondered if he'd nodded off; or was busily going through his record collection to try and find something a little more modern than 1975. Then, when you don't need to hear him, he starts chiming in during the last lap of a race! The crowd last night may not have been your biggest - and atmosphere was pretty subdued. But he did hardly anything to get the crowd going or spark any enthusiasm. He sounds like a DJ that you'd hear on some obscure local radio station - who'd been put out to grass on the 2-6am shift. I'm not being picky for the sake of it - but this guy must be the worst I've heard for many, many years.

 

Well done Cov on your win - fully deserved. Looking forward to visiting you again in August (or maybe June to see you beat Poole - by which time they will probably have carried out more sackings and introduced more controversial additions to their ever-changing pack)!

Edited May 6, 2014 by The Voice Of Reason

[The Voice Of Reason]

Just to add that Davey Watt's sister has advised that he had to withdraw from the meeting after his hand got hit by a rock.

 

Knowing Davey, he isn't the sort of guy to pull out of a meeting unless he is genuinely injured. And unlike Leicester's doctor, I assume that Cov's actually examined him before deeming him unfit to ride.

[Shale Searcher]

"speedway programme" its an android app.

 

very good it is to, free as well, from Poland.

 

only minor ting is the away team score comes first but apart from that very good

Where can I find it? Doesn't come up on play store?

Cheers

Shale Searcher

 

*******UPDATE********

 

Found it....... Spelt programme wrong, well predictive did!!

SS

Edited May 6, 2014 by Shale Searcher

[Dave Jones]

Nice little topsy-turvy battle last night.

 

Not sure what happened to Watty to cause his withdrawal. PK looking jaded in most rides. Sorry, but two last places and a third from 5 rides isn't his usual return, and we need to see better. Adam Ellis looked desperately slow - shutting off into the bends like someone on a practice day. Then, partnering Lewis in Heat 14, he rode like a man possessed for a 5-1. Meanwhile, Liam Carr looked out of his depth at this level if I'm brutally frank - although he may have been riding injured after his fall during his first ride. Bridger - improved but what on earth was he thinking in a heat 11 - went into the 1/2 bends with far too much power and shut off; then gave up! Why does Lewis do this? His bike was still under power as he rode it back to the pits after the heat. At least keep going Lewis - someone else could always pack up or slide off, etc!

 

Onto our two stars - take a bow Richard Lawson and Mikkel Bech. Richard was our only rider who, in his 6 rides, didn't get a last place. I really don't think that there's enough Lakeside Supporters giving this guy due recognition. He is Mr. Consistency - and just goes about his work in the Number 2 berth doing what's expected + more. Nothing flashy. Nothing controversial. I've said this on the Lakeside Forum - give me a team of 7 Richard Lawson's, and I'll show you how to win the league.

 

And Mikkel Bech - this boy is a revelation. An extremely fast rider - not necessarily a gater either. But for a 19 year-old, what a speedway head on young shoulders. Willing to try every racing line and never gives up. Heat 13 last night, and Bech's race with Hans and Bomber was worth the admission in my opinion.

 

Also, WELL DONE MIKKEL BECH for your sportsmanship and professionalism in Heat 15. I'm not saying this because I am a Lakeside Supporter, but I can think of quite a few riders who in a last heat decider, may not have got their bike off the track so quickly having fallen - if at all. A great gesture particularly because it must have been clear we were on a reverse 5-1.

 

I would rather lose a point through honesty and go home empty-handed, then gain a point through cheating. I can think of some supporters from a different club that couldn't ever get their head around that ideology.

 

Moving onto our hosts. Hans had an up and down night - wondering if he's still carrying sickness from Saturday? Bomber looked on much better form after a dire opening ride - great to see him returning to something like his former self - still a very exciting rider to watch. Ryan has improved so much since the early days - again, a rider who just gives total effort and chips away hitting numbers, akin to Richard Lawson. I happily donated to his fund - because irrespective of some anti-feelings expressed above:

1. He needs his family here

2. He always entertains me

3. When he's guested for Lakeside, he has always given us everything for the cause

 

Kyle and the reserves look very solid - particularly impressed with James Sarjeant. Your weak link at the moment appears to be Kenneth Hansen - who appeared last night to have this uncanny knack of finding, and riding, the worst racing lines around Brandon.

 

So overall, I would have loved to have grabbed a point - and Richard Lawson nearly did that right on the line in Heat 15. A good night of speedway whereby the score was not decided until the last second of the last lap. Can it get better than that?

 

The track looked good enough to me - but people, who have never ridden a speedway bike in their lives, will always moan. But there clearly were passing lines both inside and outside - as proven by Mikkel.

 

Faults - 2 instant coffees and 1 tea (in a SMALL polystyrene cup) costing £4.70 is an utter pee take - snack bar 2nd bend.

 

Cov - who on this earth is your announcer? Gawd blimey he is absolutely dire. Appears to be pretty clueless about Speedway - just coming out with the same mundane, boring rhetoric over and over. There were long pauses when the records stopped playing, and subsequent gaps of long, utter silences. I wondered if he'd nodded off; or was busily going through his record collection to try and find something a little more modern than 1975. Then, when you don't need to hear him, he starts chiming in during the last lap of a race! The crowd last night may not have been your biggest - and atmosphere was pretty subdued. But he did hardly anything to get the crowd going or spark any enthusiasm. He sounds like a DJ that you'd hear on some obscure local radio station - who'd been put out to grass on the 2-6am shift. I'm not being picky for the sake of it - but this guy must be the worst I've heard for many, many years.

 

Well done Cov on your win - fully deserved. Looking forward to visiting you again in August (or maybe June to see you beat Poole - by which time they will probably have carried out more sackings and introduced more controversial additions to their ever-changing pack)!

That will be the "infamous" Peter York. Never around when you need him but always manages to make comments when they are not required. You are right he is an old DJ , he worked with BBC Radio Birmingham back in the early 1970's and he hasn't changed his act since then.

In fairness he works with a roving microphone, not in the announcers box so it's unlikely that he had anything to do with the music being played.However if there is anyone who so obviously past his sell by date, then he is the man.

[The Voice Of Reason]

Ahhhhh, just checked the programme. Yes indeed, Peter York - a name from the past. The very long, distant past.

 

Fair play he may not have been the DJ - albeit I bet it was his record collection. I bet he's also got a Ronco record cleaner and stores them in a K-Tel record rack!

 

Truly embarrassing.

[speedwaysliders]

This DRAFT LIST reserves lark is really annoying me,Joe jacobs could have rode at Sittingbourne but turned out for wolves,BUT Ben Morley turned out for the Kings in the same match!!!. leaving Lakeside an elite!! league team searching for a guest!!!Try telling that to a new speedway fan,and see the look you get on their face.someone somewhere has lost the plot.

Edited May 6, 2014 by speedwaysliders

[mdmc82]

Agree about Bech in heat 15, brilliant sportsmanship and did get an applause from crowd when got up. Shame we don't see that more often.

 

The downside for me was the music which was older than most of the riders and crowd. With it being a family sport would be nice to have a mix of money rather than just 70s.

[SCB]

This DRAFT LIST reserves lark is really annoying me,Joe jacobs could have rode at Sittingbourne but turned out for wolves,BUT Ben Morley turned out for the Kings in the same match!!!. leaving Lakeside an elite!! league team searching for a guest!!!Try telling that to a new speedway fan,and see the look you get on their face.someone somewhere has lost the plot.

Totally agree. Why is the senior league playing 3rd fiddle to the PL and the NL?! Especially when EL clubs are forced to sign these riders unlike the PL and NL who have a choice.

[Fundinfan]

Perhaps Trevor Randle could comment on the dire presentation that we are forced to endure this season. If i remember correctly, he was the guy who instigated the replacement DJ and announcer for this season who lasted for precisely one meeting. However, we are still left with a Centre Green Announcer who buggers off every meeting after 5 or so races, never to reappear! Last night he even stopped announcing the riders for the latter heats, so no one knew what the lineups were or if replacements had been made. The whole atmosphere this season has been dire in the stadium, the top bar closes immediately after the last Elite/Storm heat pushing punters to the lower bar area where for the last umpteen years, music has been provided, and up to date music at that, to enjoy with a drink and conversation between supporters and a few riders alike.I notice that the National Anthem record has been re-commisioned after the Sandhu years, but this is the only stadium to my knowledge that plays this tune. Are we delving for some reason into the past at Coventry, replacing knowledgeable speedway people who were known to provide Coventry with one of the best presentation packages in speedway for the sake of saving a few bob off the wage bill? As the saying goes, you get what you pay for in this life, and it would seem that this promotion prefer to pay nowt and give nowt to the paying public. Wake up Coventry, you were known to be the best speedway in the land yet suddenly cost cutting has made you one of the worst.

[Gemini]

The Voice of Reason......I won't quote it again but your post was a very good and unbiased summing up of the meeting and you live up to your forum name. I must say Mikkel Bech is very impressive!

I don't buy anything to drink there but £4.70p for 2 small Coffees and a Tea seems rather an extortionate price. Perhaps the understand bar would be cheaper next time you visit?

Just to add that Davey Watt's sister has advised that he had to withdraw from the meeting after his hand got hit by a rock.

Knowing Davey, he isn't the sort of guy to pull out of a meeting unless he is genuinely injured. And unlike Leicester's doctor, I assume that Cov's actually examined him before deeming him unfit to ride.

Not sure what to make of this because someone else, usually a very reliable source of what goes on at Brandon, said on Facebook that it was part of a Banger Car. (There was a meeting last Saturday.) Either way - rock or bit off a car it shouldn't have been anywhere on the track. Strange too after all the preparation beforehand getting the track ready and the riders practising, plus the Thompson twins doing a few laps, that it wasn't noticed. Are you sure someone didn't lob it his way during the race?

[Dave Jones]

Perhaps Trevor Randle could comment on the dire presentation that we are forced to endure this season. If i remember correctly, he was the guy who instigated the replacement DJ and announcer for this season who lasted for precisely one meeting. However, we are still left with a Centre Green Announcer who buggers off every meeting after 5 or so races, never to reappear! Last night he even stopped announcing the riders for the latter heats, so no one knew what the lineups were or if replacements had been made. The whole atmosphere this season has been dire in the stadium, the top bar closes immediately after the last Elite/Storm heat pushing punters to the lower bar area where for the last umpteen years, music has been provided, and up to date music at that, to enjoy with a drink and conversation between supporters and a few riders alike.I notice that the National Anthem record has been re-commisioned after the Sandhu years, but this is the only stadium to my knowledge that plays this tune. Are we delving for some reason into the past at Coventry, replacing knowledgeable speedway people who were known to provide Coventry with one of the best presentation packages in speedway for the sake of saving a few bob off the wage bill? As the saying goes, you get what you pay for in this life, and it would seem that this promotion prefer to pay nowt and give nowt to the paying public. Wake up Coventry, you were known to be the best speedway in the land yet suddenly cost cutting has made you one of the worst.

Predictable I'm afraid, after so many years of being such a well run club it is so sad to see the state we are in now.

[philfromcov]

im glad someone else has mentioned the music

never heard such rubbish, the DJ must have stopped buying ,music around the time cylinders became obsolete!

i give up on York, twined with Alan partridge, but not as funny!

and the national anthem, either play it or don't, 15 second blast is pointless

what is the point of the "start tarts" as well? not very glamorous either. it belongs to 70's sun newspaper

[mdmc82]

im glad someone else has mentioned the music

never heard such rubbish, the DJ must have stopped buying ,music around the time cylinders became obsolete!

i give up on York, twined with Alan partridge, but not as funny!

and the national anthem, either play it or don't, 15 second blast is pointless

what is the point of the "start tarts" as well? not very glamorous either. it belongs to 70's sun newspaper

I had never heard most of the songs played but noticed some of them were repeated several times. Lots of people laughing at naff songs in the stands.

Can the DJ please find some up to date music. Kills the atmosphere if really dated esp when family support

[Woz01]

It wouldve been better if the promotion didnt have to let Chris Simpson go, I dont think that was entirely their choice. Having said that surely they could link up with one of the radio stations for presentation and music.

Edited May 6, 2014 by woz01

[Jacques]

When we came up for the Easter meeting against Leicester, we said much the same as everyone here.

 

I don't know the real reason why the Simpson's were binned from doing the presentation, but it was a huge own goal. The presentation over the last few years has been slick, up to date and definitely made the atmosphere at Brandon.

 

They bang on about promoting the product, but then take a backwards step with the presentation. It's absolutely awful. Surely someone else could have been brought in to do it?

 

The pathetic attempt at the national anthem, that sounded like some old gramaphone record, wasn't even cued in correctly, excruciatingly embarrassing

 

If it hadn't have been for the vocal Leicester fans, the place would have been dead! We tried to buy a air horn from the track shop. They didn't have any and we we're told they are considering banning them altogether!

 

We went in to the understand bar after the meeting. That place used to be rammed with people, riders and management..The were a handful of the old faces, but that was it..

 

There is so much more to the experience of a meeting than just the racing and having been desperate to go up to see a meeting and looking forward to it for weeks, I left feeling disappointed.

 

 

Oh, how things have changed at Brandon

[SpeedwayTShirts]

The Simpson's are ready and waiting Jacques, we just need a call and we'll be there x

[Yikes]

The Simpson's are ready and waiting Jacques, we just need a call and we'll be there x

For god same Coventry. Pick up the phone before people nod off during the meetings!

[speedybee]

I'm pretty much at the end of my ether with Coventry Speedway. If it isn't the choice of team management, it's the track. If it isn't the track, it's the godawful presentation. There really is no atmosphere now. Perhaps best to knock it on the head before it gets even worse?