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The stage was set at the OTA last night with a spectacular sunset. It was pitch black by 7pm, there was a chill in the air and the grass was heavy with due. Autumn was upon us and the end of the speedway season was nigh. Always a feeling of sadness for me, even going back to when I was a10 year old, I had those sad feelings that winter would bring long nights and no speedway. A big crowd witnessed some terrific racing once again on a superbly prepared track. The shale looked a distinctly darker red and Garry May indicated that he had employed further assistance to ensure the track was in tip top shape The introduction of former Rebel Charles Wright as a guest, brought a huge cheer from the crowd, and an even bigger cheer as he crossed the finish line in front in heat 3. The crowd were literally buzzing as Nico Covatti and Chris Harris inflicted the first defeat around the OTA for Niels Kristian Iversen for a long time. 3 consecutive maximums he had reeled off over the years, which in this day and age is a remarkable record. His defeat in this particular race was Slightly fortuitous in my opinion as NKI was gathering speed and momentum and gaining fast on the Rebels duo, before getting out of shape and losing ground again His victory over Jason Doyle from the back in heat 6, showed he definitely hadn’t forgotten the quickest route! He literally hunted Doyle down for two laps before pouncing with a superlative pass on the back straight Kings Lynn put up an excellent fight after going 10 points down mid meeting, reducing the deficit by just 4 points. S When Charles Wright hit the deck after attempting a swooping outside pass on Erik Riss, taking a horrible looking tumble, it looked like the Stars were right back in the match Wright lay stricken on the track for a number of minutes His helmet peak led snapped on the track nearby, and his groans of pain could be heard as the crowd fell silent . Incredibly, he was up on his feet and walking back to the pits, claiming his shoulder had popped out, but had gone straight back in again! Chris Harris rolled back the years with a fine pass on NKI in heat 13, and Jason Doyle seemed to persuade every inch of power from his slightly under performing machine in his final 2 races The Rebels had two heavy hitters at reserve in Covatti and Jake Allen and this made all the difference with the boththe Stars reserves, Lambert and Arnero looking decidedly weak. Robert Lambert unusually at Somerset had a poor meeting, and a mis firing Ty Proctor gave the Kings Lynn side little chance in the final few heats, as the Rebels turned up the gas An excellent meeting and a fine season by the Rebels, ended with the usual firework display and a promise from Garry May that he would do everything he could to bring back Charles Wright for the 2019 season. Heres hoping we will all be back here in 2019 EnglishRoundabout

Grading would mean far more uneven teams Instead of all teams around 42.5 you would end up with a few effectively nearer 50 and some not far above 35 Would be a disaster IMO

Lambert already agreed to sign for Swindon as a full asset with Doyle signing for Stars. Will be announced next week.

And it wasn’t within the rules to use Morris, irrespective of whether Chapman, Godfrey and Vatcher agreed to do so.

Think the criticism of Danny is over the top, & needs to stop. He deserves credit for continuing to ride after being dropped, & for showing the courage he has for getting back on a bike, after a terrible injury.

No, and whose fault is that? Allit! Poole had Ellis booked for Kings Lynn. There’s a word for what happened. KARMA.

The way it felt from 84 until the end of the 80's was, effectively, is Hans Nielsen going to win or is he going to mess it up? And, if he messed it up you pretty well knew that Erik Gundersen would win instead, even though Nielsen was obviously the better rider. There were no other serious contenders a few years there.

One of the reasons we finished top of the league this year was that in MPT, we had a quality rider, able to have extra rides when it mattered. losing him was always going to be a massive lost. But when it come to chosen bad guests the Stars must be up there with the best of them. There can be no excuse this time, everybody knew MPT would be missing following last Monday, after being taken out by Jakobsen. Surely, in 9 days, we could have chosen a better replacement than a 2nd division rider.. Not riding for a premier league shows what a bad selection it was. We should have been looking for someone who is efficient and be able to take those extra rides, not someone just to fill a space.. Booking him for both legs obviously show how the management thinks. Buy one and get one free... Congratulations to Somerset who done all that was expected of them. I cant see them losing a 16pt lead now. Yet again we have shot ourselves in the foot....

Chapman didn't agree, it was their idea! Poole agreed.

You are preaching to the converted Trees This Witches fan totally understands the concept of being so close and not managing to get over the line!! When you are so disappointed with the final result it can be difficult to see the positives even though there may be many

Robert obviously had a big off night and that didn’t help the cause, we all expect so much from him because of his fantastic form this year, he had an off night, he’s had plenty of great nights during the season to help get us where we are .......... there were others who we expect more from but you do when you have a strong team, but some ya win, some ya lose, we’re only human after all ...... they’ll be hurting more than any of us, they are the ones doing the business, have done the business all year to great effect, it’s wonderful to win, it’s harder to lose when you are so close ......

So true! As a big Chris Morton fan, I remember the 1984 BLRC well. He, Nielsen and Gundersen were set up for the three rider run off. Before the race, my folks said; “right, we just need to pray for Gundersen to touch the tapes and Nielsen to pack up”. And so it came to pass...and there was great joy from the Belle Vuenians all across the Hyde Road lands :-)

IT WAS IN THE RULES TO BOOK ELLIS Ive put it nice and big and in bold for you so you can maybe understand it.

OK, Einstein, we've already sussed that. But I must also add that although I don't sit and watch the speedway on whichever channel it's on, it is usually on in the background, so I am more in tune with someone who doesn't care. I also have the Speedway Star every week so at least I still care somewhat So, here's a question for all you would-be promoters looking to attract extra fans. Why do you tell people who don't have the same opinion as you to just go away? Isn't that why the terraces are so sparse and tracks will fold at an alarming rate over the next 10 years. Telling people who have 40-odd years' watching the sport to go away, their views don't count, we know best, is why, in part, we are where we are... I'm an idiot, I still have one toe of interest in there. Thousands took your advice, and there's a thread elsewhere asking why speedway is in such a state and its approaching yet another winter of crisis talks.

Why didn't KL use, for example, Harris to replace MPT? Ignoring the rules seems to be all the rage these days.

Ouch, they are a tough breed these guys.

He he lives in Germany with his girlfriend on spare days so Germany is where he started also plus a few bigger names are now riding there and he has German sponsors. Denmark is only a few meetings but Britain on various race nights and thirty odd fixtures are not really going to fit in with all his other leagues and competitions and like Woffinden, Lindgren, Dudek etc will find British way of life and money on offer detracts from the contracts they have elsewhere. Poland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, SWC or SoN, SEC, U21, GP qualifiers and potential GPs on his calendar would he fit in or benefit from racing 30+ meetings here especially as most of his major sponsors are Polish or German. He he has reached a level at just the age of 20 and good luck to him trying to complete at the highest level possible and Britain isn't going to test him too much now. Go for it Robert

Tai Woffinden is an exceptional rider who is certainly a worthy multiple world champion in the current era. Good luck to him and he has achieved more than he (probably) thought he would. I don't personally think that he is a genuine all time great, but that's not his problem - he's proved that he can be consistently good at the top level in current times. Would he be as dominant if he had six to ten genuine world title contenders (as opposed to a couple) like the Nielsens / Gundersens / Collins / Penhall had, I'm not so sure, but it's all a matter of opinion.

Just wondered if Robert Lambert received a warning for NOT moving at the start in heat 15?? He jumped got it wrong and cost himself a chance of preventing the Rebels 5-1. Considering he was on gate one too he can't blame anyone else as he was looking left at the magnets. Jorgensen got away with a massive roller in heat 10 somehow and NKI was pushing his luck with delaying the start even before he actually got warned. Mind you so did Simon Lambert in heat two and only got warned in heat 4 when he tried it again and failed as he finished last. Fair play to Charles to the performance he put in tonight especially after his trip over the handlebars on the second bend of heat 8. Quite an acrobatic tumble i think if anyone has any pictures of it! All of the Rebels did well and battled hard. My feeling in heat 14 was that I may have just seen Richard win his last race at home in a Rebels jacket, until that ride he wasn't at the races considering he was a heatleader on home shale. Jake and Nico were great value as always and Bomber's ride in heat was typical of him as is probably the '3210 scorecard' against his name at the end of the night. Doyley seemed to lack speed after heat one which was very quick, in the 56's until heat 15. Hopefully 16 points is enough and the KO Cup will be heading back to Somerset at this time tomorrow!

If that is what is agreed, then it needs to adhered to by our top tier clubs. Any clubs wishing to hold meetings on a Thursday (I am thinking Ipswich & Sheffield) either ride in the top tier or change their race night.

Theirs a diversion on side roads from just past Appleby for locals to use, if jct 40 closed use jct 41 and travel via greystoke to A66, easy peasy if you know wagon drivers

looks like he is going to have to race then.

You were near to me.

Is this an official thread tho ?

Poole have finished top before and lost in play off, e.g. against Coventry who had also been bottom of league but by careful manipulation had Pawlicki at reserve.