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Matt's searched down the back of the sofa. He reckons he's found enough money to pay for some budget racesuits for the Poundland Pirates after all.

Considering how skint Poole are, and how they can't afford Giles Hartwell and any racesuits, I think Matt has done well with the new racejacket design for the Poundland Pirates.

Shows your total lack of respect and certainly any knowledge of speedway, was Joe useless at Mildenall ? was he useless at Workington ? was he useless at Glasgow ? was he useless at Ipswich ? the answer is NO.Your club knows the numbers game better than anyone Newman bombed out Howarth bombed out Starke bombed out all Brits best you stick to selling your Steptoe/Son junk and comment on another sport.!!!!

Well guys thought I would drop a cheeky message in to say hi etc . Been following from a distance as always . Like everyone else I'm looking forward to finding out who the last 2 names on the team sheet are ! . I' sure the promotion are looking at every option and configuration. Who ever the last 2 guys are I'm sure it will finish the team off a treat . I'e been looking along all other teams and I think we have a good shout there is a lot of untapped strength in our guys so far . I' sure we will bring the best out in each other 100% . Team building across the the championship is kind of the same far as I can see . Most teams have a plus and I can also see a weakness . Our team so far is quite solid our guys all have the capabiliy to excel at various times through the year and we have the strength throughout to help a team member that might be struggling once in a while . If we all click at the same time there is going to be a thrashing handed out once in a while lol . As for myself I can tell you I'm in a better place mentally and with fitness . With the help of some valued sponcers and new ones I've acuired since coming Newcastle again I'm super happy with how the bikes are coming on ! . Im Looking forward to a Stella year this season riding for Newcastle in hoping the club will be able to rely on me when needed on the track and in the pits . Helping out and supprt with the other guys when needed . Im sure George and everyone else are going to finish the team the best way possible for the club . Looking forward to seeing you all soon !

Needs some tin foil for the steel shoe

I think you might mean Kyle Bickley?

No, I just know about general human nature. TV may have given them an excuse to stop going, but the reasons they stopped going lie elsewhere. Those reasons would have stopped them going altogether at some point.. tv is simply keeping their interest alive.

Dave, (and others) re your comments on this year's Celebration of Speedway. Yes, the admission previously was £5 for the Speedway exhibition but fans could still wander round the excellent Wildlife Park too. There was a problem when non-Speedway people were visiting the Park and paying the full price of £15-£17 and when they found out that Speedway folk were getting in for £5 they were most upset as you can imagine and caused the staff a lot of grief. This year, the WSRA and the Wildlife Park agreed that we set a £10 entry fee across the board so that the regular Park visitors were not upset and that the entry money would be split between the WSRA and the Park. Despite what a few folk may think, the Speedway Museum is NOT a money-maker for Paradise Wildlife Park. On the contrary, the Museum costs the Park a lot of money subsidizing it throughout the year and without Peter Sampson and his family, there would be no Speedway Museum. The Museum, the Events Marque and the outdoor displays were packed all day but we don't get those numbers for Speedway every week! Yes, it would have been good to have something at High Beech but the Celebration is such a lot of hard work for the WSRA volunteers and the Park staff that it was physically impossible although I believe that Terry Stone had something at High Beech on the 19th February.

I believe Dave Jones is making statements of truths not assumptions. He understands the larger picture that is being played out between BE and slippery Mick . Good luck to the riders ,but this just doesn’t sit right with me ,equally I do understand BE will spin the situation as they seem fit . i prefer to defer support to the Save Coventry Speedway campaign and their diligent efforts to restore the Bees back to Brandon, this NL dalliance will only exist for one season i am sure the campaign group can keep the Bees name prominent for the same period of time. As for bomber slagging off Mick Horton maybe he is a mardy sod ,but he does have first hand knowledge of him. Flip this around where have you seen anyone praise Mick Horton in the recent past. up the Bees

So, a slow day at work....: Belle Vue I think the side has a much better look to it than last year, even if not quite so strong in the big heats. Whilst I would prefer a Brit to be named @ 7, I think Etheridge is a decent capture and I expect he will surprise a fair few people, and should take some of the pressure away from Bewley. Bewley is the key man; if he can kick on, they are strong. If not, it does look like they have a long tail away from home on some tracks. Bewley struggled on some away tracks, Etheridge going to many places for the first time, Tungate not always being a great traveller, Drozdz will likely find some tracks a challenge, etc. Will also be interesting to see how Cook deals with being in the GPs too. The side should be terrific at home, but question marks over the away form. Prediction: Play-Offs + a change mid-season to increase away potency. Key Man: Dan Bewley King's Lynn Despite the Whingeathon on the KL thread, I think the side looks okay. I don't think Iversen will be quite the force as he has been, but if Lambert gets his head down and stops whinging they have a top 2 as strong as any - on their day, at least! Kerr/Rose/Proctor will also ensure there's plenty of strength at reserve allowing Andersen time to settle. It'll be most interesting to see how Andersen settles in, reports I have heard from Denmark suggest he is even more forceful than Nicki used to be - can't wait to see what Trees will make of him! For me, it's Jørgensen who will make or break their play-off aspirations. They need him to make the next step up to make the third heat leader position his, and if he can do that, they may sneak into the Top 4, if not, I reckon about 6th is likely. Prediction: 6th Key Man: Thomas Jørgensen Leicester It's great to see Leicester put together an attractive side, but they do often appear to be one of those clubs who struggle to convert good sides into points. Not entirely sure what to expect. They have the sort of side that I think could go to Poole and nearly pull off a shock win, but at the same time go to Somerset a few nights later and struggle to get over 30. May well be part of their charm. Vaculik is a great addition to the league, but @ 1, there's a fair bit of pressure on him to hit the ground running. If he performs well, and if KP takes to British Speedway, they look very strong and will probably be Poole's biggest challenges. If they struggle for whatever reason, they could struggle to make the play-offs. Prediction: Scrape into the play-offs. Key Man: Martin Vaculik Poole Ford has put together bit of a surprising side, but a very, very strong side nonetheless. The 2 new Poles may not replicate their contentional form, but have no doubt they will still make a mockery over their dubious starting averages. A well-balanced side with no major weak links. Will probably become stronger as the season goes on; think Holder being @ 1 would give the side a more natural look. As things stand, can only see injuries standing in the way, unless another side has a major improver in their ranks. Prediction: Top by about 18 points! Key Man: Chris Holder Rye House I liked the Rye side of '17, they didn't really shine as I expected, but am going to back them again! KK will make or break their season. If he can get anywhere close to his best, KK @ 1 with Harris and Nicholls the other heat-leaders look a bloody potent spearhead. They're also guaranteed pretty much to have an awesome option at reserve all year too. But they're a bit like Leicester. If everything goes well for them, I expect they will be right up there, but can also see them struggling if things don't quite work out. Prediction: Sneaking the final play-off spot Key Man: KK Somerset Top #1 and solid at reserve all year long. Will be very tough to beat at home, although far from less impossible as most riders tend to take to the track quite well. Away form could be a struggle though. They are very similar to KL in many ways, and like KL they will require someone to make the next step up (to support Doyle). My gut feeling is that Holder is the best bet, but any of the "Others" could potentially do it. Think they'll be in the mix with KL and Rye House for the final play-off spot, but ultimately finishing just short. Prediction: 5th Key Man: Jack Holder Swindon I like Mitchell, but there is no way in hell he is a Premiership rider. Waj should be, and would be a decent #7, but will find it tough @ 6. They are going to struggle in the reserve heats. Nor do I think they are anywhere near as strong at the top end. Batchelor can be hit and miss (last I heard he was without a mechanic for the year, as last year's is helping Hans Andersen), Bellego struggled badly towards the end of last season so quite what to expect of him is anyone's guess, Musielak was excellent last year but see limited improvement from him, and think Morris overperformed for Swindon last year. If, and it's a big if, they change the track mid-season, any HTA will be gone too, although like many I am not convinced it will ever happen. That being said, you just know that 7 won't last the season. When Morris' average takes a dive, and they can get a better reserve in for Davey, they will be a completly different side. One change can completly turn a side's fortunes - like last year. Prediction: 8th Key Man: David Bellego - he needs to bring the Frenchman that started the season, not the one at the end of the season. Wolverhampton Wolves are in much the same boat as Swindon, but are a bit stronger. I can't see that side lasting too long. Wolves have made changes in recent seasons to change their fortunes around, and am expecting much the same this year. Good to see Morris back in the Premiership, where he needs to be but think either himself or Heeps could be in a vulnerable position if they don't score well early on. Prediction: 7th Key Man: Jacob Thorsell - he's excellent round Monmore but returning from a big injury & @ #1 is a tough ask. Poole, aside, I think this year could be one of the closest yet for the play-off places. Heck, if Swindon and Wolves make the odd change here and there, I can imagine a scenario where there's not a lot between 2nd and 8th place. Should be a good year. Hopefully.

Fascinating interview with Australia's Jim Airey in the latest 'Backtrack' edition. A ride at his peak who appeared to give it all away but at least I had the opportunity of seeing him ride during a rare appearance at Cowley in 1973.

Just to advise any riders looking for a pre-season skid, we have 2 full days available at MILDENHALL..Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th March...1000am to 1600hrs. Open to both professional and amateur riders...Track time structured for all standards....limited to just 30 per day...cost £40 per day incl insurance. Fuel and catering available..Please contact Kevin on 07767.460907...or email at kevin.jolly1958@gmail.com......p.s....the chippy will be open both days..

I think that's because he club's don't take the fa cup serious any more so why should the supporters ?

FA Cup crowds have been way down for a long time, regardless of TV.

Win at all costs? Who in their right mind enters a competition and doesn't want to win. Whoever brum sign will just have to be right for brum, nothing to do with anybody else, be it complete new comer or polish junior with a shiny new passport.

That's true.We know all the clubs are struggling, and despite what some on here say that Poole are better off this year than in the 5 previous seasons.. I think they are feeling it now,the same as every club.No shame in that at all..Lets hope the crowds at least stabilise, if not increase in 2018.

Ahh, there it is: will the real Steve Shovlar please stand up! No wonder everyone hates Poole.

Anyone think that the majority of races put on there are rubbish

Poland won the SWC with what could have been an Under 23 team last year. Apart from the "Poland Legacy" team. (KK, PP1, Kołodziej, Hampel etc) you have that SWC winning generation of Bartosz, Dudek, PP2, PP3, and Magic who could form the backbone of a dominant team for many years to come. Behind them you have the likes of Szymon Woźniak and PP4, not to mention the 4 musketeers mentioned in the original post. Bright days ahead for Poland on the international front, and plenty enough riders there who can mount a serious challenge for world championship honours. But as history shows, it only takes one "freak" rider from an unexpected country, indeed the only rider from a country of the required quality (e.g. Tai, Hancock etc) and the whole equation is altered. Indeed Poland with Jerzy Szczakiel did exactly that when British and New Zealand riders were back then, just as dominant as Polish riders are today.

Pleased to see that Kyle Bickley, who is 16 today, has signed as an asset following signing a letter of intent 2 years ago. Bewley and Bickley are two of the best British prospects and we are fortunate to have been able to sign them both.

ch958 makes a very good point. If the Championship were of a slightly lower standard it would do three good things. Probably lower their rider costs....make it easier for National League riders to move up and also make what I see as a beneficial bigger differential to the Premier League which would then look much more Premier !

It’s so basic, All Speedway riders are Self Employed they agree to ride for a club until the end of a season, Due to the fact they are Self Employed they can ride for any other club in the world excluding the UK, His UK club do not deduct Income Tax or NI Contributions,but yet they are assets of a Company, Any Accountancy would tell you the system is completely illegal never mind a Legal Expert.

No - you fool

Another excellent issue. Will definitely get the sister publication to read more about Jim Airey. However, was shocked to read in the article on Norwegians that my comments about Reidar Eide and Odd Fossengen were attributed to "Sidney the Robin" rather than myself. Can't say too much as the matter is in the hands of my legal team, but Sidney getting the credit!!!!!