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It's unfortunate also, when you talk to a lot of the senior polish riders who came over here to learn their craft and become better riders because of the variety of track etc, they are now telling me that because polish tracks have got slicker over the years and much more rider friendly, the skillset of how to turn a bike, throttle control etc is not seen as important any more. So the young Polish riders no longer look to come over to the uk to learn for a couple of seasons. Combine that with the high revving, light flywheel engines we have now, and all you get is a load of throttle jockies who are super fast on the continent and then end up in row Z when track conditions are anything other than perfect. It's just the direction the sport is going in. Plenty of people on here love flat out racing at Belle Vue, but when the track conditions are consistent the only real skillset is getting the absolute perfect set up for you engine, and being as light as can be. The rider has less and less influence on the modern speedway bike and tracks.

How often are there delays because the riders cant turn the bikes because there happens to be a bit of dirt on the track ,all down to track craft something which is missing with riders these days!

I recently had to clean out my carport and in all the accumulated junk, I found a book that I had completely forgotten I possessed. It was written by the great American rider, Sprouts Elder and is called The Romance of The Speedway and it gives a wonderful insight to the pioneer days of speedway. The following paragraph reveals a little of the evolution that was going on in speedway machines before a standard was reached, not to mention revealing a few famous names as well! "Gus Kuhn, I believe, used to ride a Calthorpe when he first started. Jack Parker, of Coventry, preferred a B.S.A., while Billy Lamont at one time found in the A.J.S all that he wanted in the way of speed and acceleration. Then again Art Pechar was partial to the Indian 500c.c., while Ron Johnson and Sig Schlam, the Australians, used to ride Peashooter Harleys before they took to Douglas bikes." I've never heard of a Calthorpe, but I wonder if Jack Parker's B.S.A was a Sloper, which was popular as a speedway bike for a while in the 1930's. With it's forward inclined engine, the Sloper sort of proves that there is nothing new under the sun, especially when you look at todays "lay-down" style of bike. I suppose the former was good for speedway by accident, the latter by design. Ron Johnson and Sig Schlam were Western Australians and I think Schlam was killed racing at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground, (the famous WACA). Speedway was run there for one or two years in the early 1930's, but couldn't compete with Claremont and closed down.

The top two in the NDL table go head-to-head at Shielfield on Saturday! Bullets: 1 Kyle Bickley, 2 Mason Watson, 3 Ace Pijper, 4 Greg Blair, 5 Luke Crang, 6 Kieran Douglas, 7 Ben Rathbone Royals: 1 Alfie Bowtell, 2 Jamie Halder, 3 Danno Verge, 4 Joe Alcock, 5 Ben Morley, 6 Chris Watts, 7 Sam Wooley. As well as the NDL racing, there will be an NJL mini-match, festuring Berwick's Academy youngsters and Redcar Cubs. All for a tenner! Which means you get 21 heats for your money at less than 50p per race! Bring it on!

I once to spoke to a former World No3 and he said before signing a rider he suggested they should be asked to go out on an old upright and that would should exactly what set of skills they possessed. When he holds training schools he makes each rider spend time on an upright as he reckons that tells him more than seeing some young bloke going flat-out on a lay down.

I go to cheer on the away teams

I think speedway is much easier in general if you work on the assumption that everything any promotion says is a lie. Then you can feel happy when you find the odd truth in there. It's all about managing your expectations. Like many it's too easy to give promoters credit, when really none is due

Imagine 10-15 years ago being in a last heat decider. Your guest would always go out for you and try and get the win. Spineless management , youd offer Howarth extra to go out and try and get a result.

That's why the Leicester track was such a good education for him... put some fear into him... and now he's in the GP's lol FWIW, I think you were right in your initial posts about Ellisgate 2, the promotion were dishonest with the fans, they may want to be dishonest in dealings between themselves and riders but when you start being dishonest with the fans you're on a slippery slope to ruin

My main point Panther is it is only weeks since Nigel passed yet people still snipe.Look i was never a fan of the modern day presentation yet all of those named i have total respect for all of them.With Sam we can see what a decent man he is and he is respected by everyone who is important in speedway.

At least they aren't slagging L Rogers off because it was raining.

Before jumping to conclusions did Howarth want to ride in heat 15 or anyone else. The weather was horrible, track wet and was Shane's the only willing volunteer?

And obviously you know what is happening in pits slumping over your computer, dope, proper fans are absolutely sick of your comments, totally negative and quite frankly unwelcome and if you want to make yourself known to me personally about your reference to my son in post on earlier page I will welcome your pathetic response

Maybe the offer for the land was too good an opportunity to turn down regardless of the loss of income through covid etc..Big shame as Somerset was a great track and produced some very good racing.

BIRMINGHAM: Claus Vissing, Stefan Nielsen, Justin Sedgmen, Ashley Morris, Kyle Howarth, James Shanes, James Pearson. OXFORD: Scott Nicholls, Kyle Newman, Jack Thomas, Cameron Heeps, Nick Morris, Dillon Ruml, Nathan Stoneman.

See mr godfrey solution 2018

One for all other team managers to make a note of, when booking a guest. He's just shrunk his market value immensely.

Not too offended reading that from u as u have made many "ridiculous" statements as well

That could open up a real can of worms.. I think when you have consumate professionals, as opposed to tokens; like as an example Hazel Irvine, Suzie Perry, Vicky Gommersall then absolutely 100% they add something. Then you may find experts in their field like Karen Carney, Claire Balding who add something. The biggest issue with any Commentataor, male ; female or not sure (to be politically correct) is the voice. There is nothing worse than an annoying voice for any Commentator. I hear some of the women Rugby Commentators and it's like scratching your fingers down polystyrene. I found Perry and Sophie Blake knowlegable and listenable, some since on Speedway less so.

Sport is passion though (or should be) and that's what some so called promoters should realise!

That's unfortunate, aren't they both in the same team??? Really gutted to hear about Rene Still one of my favourite Diamonds I've watched

I was trying to be diplomatic however if howarth did refuse to ride in heat 15, for me that would be him to the bottom of the guest list !!

Those line ups will make a more exciting meeting than most championship ones I imagine. Anyone who hasn't tried it needs to give it a go. Unfortunately I live near the south coast and too far, but brings back memories of some great competitive meetings when Eastbourne were in the NL.

That’s the problem,I remember when Berwick wanted Marcin Rempala to do the next season in GB he turned it down because he was getting more to sit in the pits in Poland than race over here.He hardly rode meeting over there that season.He just drifted away from the sport it seems.Pity because he was very talented and still would have been a decent Heat Leader over here.

Having earlier not been too impressed with Tatum as the lead commentator, think he has settled down and relaxed into and is doing a much better job. With Chris Louis they are turning into a decent partnership.