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As a speedway fan really feel for the Bears at the minute nothing is going there wsy at the minute , hoping Ben and JPB are back on a bike soon we as supporters don’t realise the sacrifices the riders put in for our entertainment , get well soon you two

The agreement with the FIM is that we have priority on Monday and Thursday and Denmark has priority on Wednesday. The fact that the BSPA decide to run on Wednesday, Swindon excepted, doesn't change that agreement. Denmark still has priority on a Wednesday and we have it on Thursday.

After the criticism yesterday it's good to see that Rob Painter from GB Speedway Team took the time and trouble to travel up to Cumbria today to see Craig Cook. That's the proper and professional way to deal with things.

Although teams can name a U21 rider, who can be used at anytime it is not mandatory to have one. With this in place many heats in both race off`s will end up with only 3 riders. USA, Ukraine, Finland and Italy have only 2 named riders. With no back up they will undoubtedly all at some stage be reduced to 1 rider heat representation. Not value for money and an ill conceived format and ridiculous rules. No need to drop the World Cup for this farcical event.

Probably something to do when the football left the stadium ?

i see concretors covering an area of around 1200m2 with plastic on a regular basis in australia to stop any potential rain ruining their surface.... the next day they come in after a huge downpour and their concrete has a perfect finish on it. I am sure someone could come up with a proper system to cover tracks. Maybe covering the actual track in it first then use Najjers idea of clipping another layer from the fence down to the centre green? all it would take someone with a “well sort it attitude” rather than someone who gives up at the first hurdle.

Not forgetting Justin Elkins who was a great for Swindon and went off the boil when he went to Poole

Ridiculous! We have started the season in BL2/NL/PL/Championship in April since 1969 (1968 was a late start due to the lack of teams in the initial year). I don't remember the second tier having gaps like this. Perhaps the problem lies in having the shortest league schedule since 1968? 10 home league matches is a disgraceful offer to the public, even allowing for the limited additional Championship Shield meetings that in the south add a paltry two extra fixtures making a grand total of 12! So, just what ARE we supposed to do? Start the season in June then move on to the play-offs in September? Trying to defend this year's schedule is ridiculous. The second tier has foolishly followed the top tier into a fragmented season and will pay the same price if it's not careful. Perhaps the promoters can only afford top stage a dozen meetings? If so the least they could do is be honest and inform their remaining fans.

I think after your win last night your post was proved correct looking at it how many away wins have there been away not many.Also Swindon are a very strong side at home a terrific top five with great backing from Zach.I do think Somerset are in the mix for fourth spot with Lynn,Poole, all to play for.

By the time Workington go to Lakeside tomorrow they'll have had 8 away and only 3 matches at home. Bearing in mind the home ties are supposed to generate the revenue to pay the riders (home and away) the promotion are to be lauded for being able to fund these eight away fixtures in the hope that revenue from home matches will in the end balance the books. Heaven forbid the weather's bad on Saturday then we could be looking at 10/3 away-home nigh on unsustainable. Fingers crossed for Saturdays weather and a good crowd to go with it.

I think Rebel supporters had "Rose Tinted Glasses" at Kings Lynn last night Note to all Rebels supporters "Get Some Rose Tinted Glasses"

The contentious track cover debate. Trouble at Poole like other multi use stadium is the centre green needs content access nearly every day so can't see these being any use. Also if fixed to top of fence these will obstruct the views of the dog racing which definitely won't be allowed.

Actually, yes some do. From memory, James Tredwell was playing one day cricket for Kent and was allowed to play championship cricket for Sussex at the same time. The ECB are about to launch a new competition that will take place during the county season and will include the top 25% of county pros playing for another arbitrary team in addition to their counties.

I would imagine, surviving till the end of the season will be more important to the promoters than tweaking the team at this present time.

Hope springs eternal - I hope he comes back soon.

People gave him a break after his unfortunate surgery in the winter but unfortunately hes quickly gone back to being the biggest mump on here. Ignore him Hyabb.

In my day bloody hell i am old i loved to see riders show there own personalities the leathers often showed that.The biggest five for me over the years were Ivan, Booey boy Blue, Red devil Broady, Alan Cowland and as always John Davis now John Davis would be great in this era a real showman great with the younger fan and was always professionally turned out.People think the 70s/80s were backward times but the monkey mask went black leathers went and new helmets come in which at the time was massive.I think this myth about the sport being miles behind the times is nonsense the main thing is get the PRODUCT right (i.e. the entertainment factor and the racing.

Comets are a good side and could well provide the Hammers stiffest test so far this season. Klindts a strange one. Very up and down, bu t he has had some good meetings at L:akeside . From memory I think the last time he came was few years ago when he guested for Lakeside against Swindon in the Elite League and if I recall correctly scored about 9 or 10 points . I don't think Rene Bach has been there since he was about 19, so its difficult to assess. Weather permitting , it should be a good match

"Fully professional speedway" That's been the downfall here in the UK Remember the amalgamation between the National League and the Provincial League in 1965, how successful that was in forming the British League That wonderful first meeting, ex-NL Coventry v ex-PL Cradley Heath, bumper crowd, the forerunner of many such meetings all around the UK Just how many of those 14 riders in that first meeting were "fully professional"? Answer = none So the pay-rates were affordable from the relatively low admission prices, the amalgamated league provided sufficient meetings for all riders to earn some decent money to cover their costs and supplement their "proper jobs", whilst the regular programme and the admission prices kept attendances at good levels - yes, it was semi-pro, and it worked - the big league meant a varied list of visiting teams, unlike today's mini Premiership Guests were few and far between, rider replacement unheard of, doubling up only came along when BL2 arrived and some juniors in that league made it into BL1 teams

It's not about losing, it's not about the management being nice etc etc. Andersen has had 6 matches and only averaging 2.60. That's shouldn't be acceptable. His scoring has been to the standard of a rider from the NL, that can't be denied. IMO Josh Bailey should be given a crack. If we can afford to carry a 2.5 point rider 100% Josh Bailey should be in.

I pay £17 at Swindon, didn't realise Poole was £18. I'm unsure why you've decided to be an arse to me, haven't done so to you or been rude, I'll put it down to a bad day.

I would say it gives Najjer plenty of knowledge. 2000 is nearly 20 years ago, and the points he makes are very valid. Yes, speedway was more succesful in the 1970s, but it was a different time. Were speedway the same now as it was in the 1970s it would look so dated that it would attract even lower crowds than it does now. Team suits are one of the positives of this faltering modern era. The 70s hsve long gone, as have the trends of that time. Life moves on and speedway needs to move with it.

Time to stand up to the Poles who seem to want to rule the speedway world. This should be the final straw but cannot see the U.K. authorities doing anything other than roll over and let the Polish clubs treat the U.K. with contempt. Unlikely to happen but someone ought take the ‘fight’ to them. Change the format in the U.K. to one main league and the NL. Meetings to be run Thursday,Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (for TV). Overseas riders permitted except Poles who cannot commit to league racing over here because their association will not allow them to ride on these days. Look towards internationals with the likes of Germany, Latvia, Czech etc. Have two parts to a meeting. The reserves in any team must be NL riders who double up. Squad system if necessary for all clubs. Something needs to be done to defend British Speedway.

THINK you are right and probably won't be alone

I think that's a question of swings and roundabouts. Some can make Fridays, some Saturdays. You can see the logic in moving to Friday with Cook riding in the GP's - there's every chance people will stay at home to watch a truly local boy race at the sports highest level. The problem to me is less about the day and more about the irregularity of fixtures but that affects almost very club, not just Workington. I'd say run every fortnight until June and then pack the fixtures in every week until the end of August. At least people might be able to get into a regular habit.