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“ I don’t let BSF run my life” says the man who spends half his life trolling in it. Were you there last night ? ( I was). Did you speak to any of the riders or managers before or after the meeting ( I did) have you read Rosco’s statement? No ? You made up your mind because of something you read on the internet. Riders and managers had the chance to test or protest before heat 1 and no one chose to. They decided to get on with it for the fans who actually get off their ârses and go to meetings rather than the numpties who sit at home criticising. It didn’t work out and unfortunately some riders got injured. Still, some bloke who’s never been on a bike saw something on the internet and is more informed than anyone who was there. Thsts ok then. Sorry. You’re completely right.

I might be biased but please don’t tar me with the same brush as mff.

SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter has hit back at the critics who have slammed the club for the events of the abandoned clash with Leicester. Social media went into overdrive with various characters voicing their opinions, many of whom weren’t in attendance and aware of the full facts. Rossiter said: “Before I go any further I just want to repeat this – everyone at Swindon Speedway would like to offer our sincere best wishes to Martin Vaculik for a quick recovery from his injury. Nobody wants to see that. Similarly Michael Palm Toft. “There are certain issues which need addressing here and I’m keen to point out the facts. Not just opinion gleaned from reading a timeline, facts. “I was stood with two top Leicester riders just minutes before the first race and at no time did either rider express any concerns about the track to me. “At no time did any rider express any concerns about the track to the referee, Chris Durno. “On the contrary, we were complimented for the way the track appeared after all the rain it had taken. “The biggest concern was the mist and the risk to visibility – not the track. “Our clerk of the course told riders we weren’t doing a normal parade but they were free to go out and try a lap on the track – nobody took him up on this offer. “Nobody was forced out there, nobody was told they must go out and ride, nobody said they wouldn’t, the consensus was simply get on with it. “I’ve read a broad spectrum of opinions and the truth is hindsight is a wonderful thing. Some riders involved have been on social media saying certain things, well why didn’t they say it to the referee, clerk of the course or myself? Anybody who knows me knows I’ll always listen, I’m a former rider remember, I want safety for the boys. “I feel for the injured boys and feel for our fans and sponsors, it was a bad night and the weather has made this the worst possible start for the sport across the country. Speedway in the UK is in desperate need of a break in the weather, more than ever before.”

I do love a bit of irony!!

Conditions last night were very deceiving. Everyone was talking about the possibility of fog worsening during the evening but there was a lot of moisture in the air, my jacket was soaked as if it had been pouring with rain, and obviously the track surface was effected accordingly. Leicester had experienced similar conditions at Rye House the previous evening, where visibility was a huge issue. As for the first race carnage, it looked like two separate incidents to me, more a case of everyone hitting the same piece of track a little too fast for the unexpected conditions. A brief practice 15 minutes before start time in such situations gets a big YES from me...

Living in Sheffield over the past three or four days has been like living in permanent low lying cloud. The air is saturated with moisture. The ground is saturated. And yet the promoters are to blame for this? Words fail me.

Yes. AFTER the event. Willa grown up please explain the concept of hindsight to MFF and put him to bed for his afternoon nap ?

I'm right end of story. Not even debateable. You lot can make as many excuses as you like it doesn't bother me.

I think it's time to stop apportioning blame, riders got injured, no one wants to see that. Alan Rossiter has put out a statement on the Swindon website and apparently riders were offered the chance to try out the track by the Clerk of the Course but no one took up the offer. What we should be doing is wishing the injured riders a speedy recovery and hope this awful weather that is causing havoc to the sport we love improves so that riders, promoters and referees don't get put in the no win situation they were in last night.

Or as in Poland, in discussion with riders the manager selects 2 riders to have 2x 1 minute practice laps. Pit gate opens, 2 riders from away team take to track. One minute practice then red flag out, riders return to the pits and home team 2 riders go out. This is then repeated with same 4 riders. Not rocket science

Looking forward to this one. Always had a soft spot for Workington as my 'second team' since my early speedway days watching Schott/Carr vs Stonehewer/Stead at Armadale and Derwent Park. Fancy Edinburgh to win this but it will be closer than most expect I think. Max looked impressive last week, hopefully he can carry that on tonight but it will be a real test against a solid Comets side. Erik has had a scorching start to the season and we will need him and Ricky to be on form against potentially weaker Workington heat leaders. A lot also depends on the return from BWD at #7, hopefully Josh can keep him subdued. I'll go Edinburgh 49-41 Workington

The track "looked good" last night at Swindon too, look what happened. Buster will be in his ivory tower with a bit of smugness on his face. I personally hope that this way of thinking continues, a bit of trust is being regained just by correctly calling these meetings off. Everybody is fed up with the "track conditions are perfect, look forward to a great night of Speedway" only to watch Buster blading the track for a couple of hours.

Rain due to go off by noon latest then receeding chance of rain with cloud all day. Lets avoid another late call off ....please. Think we should sign Noah and his crew at this stage...I`m getting webbed feet. Makes you wonder why water is not our No1 export.......

Regarding the suggestion that riders should be allowed to "test ride" the track before the meeting - on many occasions in televised meetings one hears the comment "the track will come to the riders later in the meeting" Therefore, wouldn't everyone - riders, mechanics and spectators - benefit from there being a practice session immediately prior to every meeting? The bikes would be correctly set up, track conditions and (to the visiting riders) size and shape would be experienced, and the track itself would "come to the riders" earlier in the meeting - all this would improve the spectators' experience

Hes the biggest joke on here. Changed teams once and never attends a live meeting. As biased as Shovlar and Starman are at least they go and support the team.

MFF ... what a plank.

Or some fans have got it wrong, and forgot to look outside on speedway nights and blaming the wrong people for the rain.

Both teams agreed to give it a try. If the riders wanted to give it a go who’s in the better position to judge, the guys putting their neck on the line of some bloke on the internet who’s probably never swung his leg over a bike?

Let's Just wish all the fallen riders good health or speedy recovery, all this constant bickering needs to be toned down, too many keyboard warriors on here spoiling for an argument........pathetic.

Bart was very promising and was still riding not so long ago Gene Woods and Keith Chrisco were two others that given time would of improved in the U.K.

Read Danny King's comments. Nobody, including Hans Andersen, complained about the track beforehand. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I thought the blank dates in the summer were to avoid clashing with world cup football dates which would reduce crowds

I think if you think that, it's you that has been sniffing some dodgy stuff. Do you really think promotions can afford to continue to have these costly calloffs. Your way would seem to either blame the weather on the promotions or expect the Promoters to go ahead with a meeting on a dodgy surface, which could be dangerous to riders and would probably put many fans off because of the low standard of racing. Time for you to get a reality check.

Absolutely agree! I find the coverage of the overseas scene first class. Thanks to the Star I can hold a half decent conversation about Finnish speedway! And for those few people who don't want the grasstrack news (I am not among them) you should be grateful that you aren't buying it back in the 50's when it included pages of ice hockey (!) news.

The daft thing is, not many promotion post on forums, I don't think they like the feedback much, but Barry does from Isle of Wight, and he takes it all on board and improves the fans experience and is always being praised, so maybe some promoters do need to start listening before too many fans start doing other things.