Silver Bee

So less than 2 weeks, anyone else going? Just hope one of the Brit pack can step it up and stop the Checca/Melandri/Biaggi domination. Laverty took pole and won the race in supersport there last year so fingers crossed.

Appreciate there isn't a huge deal of interest in these meetings but even so! Before attending the meeting, could someone connected with Coventry confirm what readmission details are for double header meetings? Whilst I appreciate any money owing would be minimal, the previous double header did not give us a result in the second meeting and no details have been given regarding readmission for either this or any restaging. There are no details of readmission provided prior to entering the meeting other than on request and it would be nice to know where we stand before entering what would happen if the same thing happened again. Also, our last 3 evening double headers (1 this year and 2 last) in the national league have been called off due to curfew. Could someone please confirm what the Brandon curfew is? Thanks in advance. Full gas storm and best wishes to Dan!

Hi guys, My Bees season review is now available here. http://underthescoreboard.blogspot.co.uk/ It's quite long but if you take the time to read it I'd appreciate it. All feedback welcome. Cheers.

So as a member of the promotion team you either won't, or can't, say what re admission details are stated in the programme and at the stadium? In the EL programmes from last season (perhaps you could confirm whether or not it has changed) it does not state specific readmission details and instead says they are available on request or at the turnstiles, so unless it has changed the 'information' you have provided is incorrect. Maybe you could also tell me where the clear labelling of these details exactly is so I can read them thoroughly before entering the stadium in future. The query was prior to the meeting, hence the original post I made on this thread. At the end of the meeting I wanted to go home and not continue to get soaked.

Would you like to confirm the wording in the programme, for those of us who don't feel the need to purchase one just to find out our rights? I find it very strange the turnstile staff were unaware of what readmission details were. You'd think as it is so clearly labelled they would just refer us to such literature. It's hardly a natural assumption that 2 meetings class as 1 as far as readmission goes. 2 meetings take place, 2 results are declared (well, occasionally) and you pay extra for that privilege. Readmission in the whole of speedway is an utter con, when I order a pizza if I only get 66% of that pizza the company aren't entitled to consider that an appropriate product and refuse to give any money back for it. At no point have I claimed this years double headers have been called off to make the promotion money, especially given the pathetic crowds. Both meetings were genuine call offs. The suggestion that last years double header call offs were genuine is absurd though, both were called off for curfew, a curfew which I believe is non existent based on information which has come from save Brandon meetings. A token gesture for fans who have now not seen the completion of either double header at Brandon is hardly beyond the realms of possibility but that's your prerogative as promoters. Just don't be surprised when the crowd is even worse, if that's even possible, at future storm events.

Members of the club hierarchy do read and post on this forum so I'll ask again. What are the rules regarding readmission for double headers? That's now 2 incomplete meetings from the last 2 double headers. No rules are stated anywhere concerning your rights and when asked last night turnstile staff did not know. No wonder no one turns up for storm meetings with the way the fans are constantly treated.

Last nights was a belter. Cracking racing.

Rule book states they can't have a PL MA of more than 6.00 but nowhere does it states they must be in a PL declared line up at the time as far as I can see.

I thought I might make a one of return to post about my considerable displeasure concerning this meeting. If anyone wonders why speedway is on it's knees, they need look no further than this fixture. I'm a hardcore fan, I think you get that status when going to Buxton to watch a broken national league product and still stay for the midland development league meeting. I'd booked time off work, which at the moment is a massive struggle with the lack of staff we have got but I wanted to go after missing the A fixture so I made plans. As of 3pm this afternoon, there was absolutely no official word from Coventry about any missing riders despite the fact they had known about this clash for ages. It's now left me with 2 options, either travel all the way to Lynn to watch a shambles of a meeting and pay £16 quid for the privilege (cheers Jo, if you're reading, didn't put your prices up on this rant!) or waste half a days holiday. A situation completely avoidable if Coventry had just been honest from the outset and made clear a lot earlier what the actual situation for this meeting was going to be. The cardinal sin in this situation, in my opinion anyway, is the huge lack of information concerning the meeting. Announcing information like this in the afternoon the day before the meeting is not acceptable. Coventry have now put out a frankly pathetic statement essentially blaming everyone but themselves for this situation occurring. At what point exactly did they start to try and have the meeting changed given how long they have known about the clash? Why was it ever agreed to knowing our number 1 wouldn't be available and we would have to use a 3 pointer? Everyone elses fault but our own. Don't worry though, because it's not our own gate figures we will be ruining after all. Apparently we now have Cameron Heeps guesting for us. Why? The meeting is already a shambles, just send the storm boys to ride. They are there on Friday and would probably appreciate the track time. I'd just send Ryan Terry Daley and Martin Knucky as our guests and see how quickly the meeting got changed then. It's clear that Lynn have the ability to run on Thursday to avoid Danish clashes as they do for their own riders, however if Buster thinks he can run on the sort of crowd he will get tomorrow plus having to pay out 65+ in points money then good luck to him. It's pathetic that the meeting can't be changed but it's just the way all league speedway seems to be these days. All willing to get one over on someone and take the points when available but in reality it's the paying public that continually suffer because of it. I really have had enough of this shambles of a sport, and I will never be booking time off to go again. Promoters are crying out for bigger crowds and then continue to alienate the ones they already have and they have finally pushed me over the edge from die hard to floating fan who will go as and when I can be bothered. I've already been told but one half of the Horton brothers that my money wasn't wanted, based on this evidence it's clear that the other one doesn't care too much for it either.

Awful start Just how good was Biaggi, though. Can't stand the guy but he was absolutely on fire. Awful start for the Brits with injuries though. Had high hopes for Laverty for this season but this was not the best start! Fair play to Sykes though, some great work, especially to pass JR in race 2. I still do think JR will be challenging by the end of the season though if the Honda package is up to the job, surely the old guys have got to slow down eventually?!

Save bothering with some of the press releases: Lanham Howe Doolan Iversen Mads Fisher Smart Boxall Mellgren Gathercole *insert "highly rated" foreigner here*

This isn't the same thing as signing for a team a few weeks whatsoever. Saying that people don't like that (which I don't, either) does not back up any sort of argument that they shouldn't be involved in individual meetings which help speedway clubs make money because people want to see them !

It was looking great! We see them all the time, clubs are out to make money and fans will pay to see these riders. Seeing 'big meetings' with the same old riders isn't interesting. Watching the best riders is something that interests me and, based on the fact that crowds swell at line-ups such as this, most other fans too.

I'll probably end up going, wouldn't want you to end up without hearing your yearly moan

He was probably trying to sell him a mortgage so he didn't get snowed in again.

I don't think they are, I read that as them asking for both years money as once

I'm sure they'd have been in it but what with the lack of spaces and all....

Werner has probably retired again.

I've got one suggestion but no doubt I'd have a gagging order placed against me if it was posted.

And however useless they are, some Newport fan will rate them and want them signed because they beat David Mason.

Poole nailed this the year they had it. Great racing and line-up. Same 12-16 in this as every single year at Newport. Don't know why the line-up is even announced beforehand !

I've started the worlds thread so it's only fair that Moto GP gets some coverage too. Probably the most unpredictable season for a while being lined up. Rossi moves to Ducati to give the Italians a top gear 'crisis', Lorenzo was pretty much unbeatable last season and has the same package this season, Stoner goes to Honda to form part of a 3 way title assault. Spoilers? Don't discount the likes of Spies (who has been absolutely flying, and even outperforming Lorenzo on the same bike in Winter testing), Dovi, Pedrosa and Hayden. The big talking point was obviously Rossi to Ducati and kissing goodbye to his baby. Difficult to know how much impact he either will be allowed to have, or is capable of providing, on taming the Ducati that has had Stoner and Hayden on their arse more times than they would like. I imagine Rossi will want to teach Jorge a lesson next season but Lorenzo if Lorenzo carries on like last year he might have too much for the Doctor. The Yamaha was passing people for fun last season and unless the other big manafucturers have done some serious work over the winter, they will struggle to keep up. Gotta be the favourite for the title. Honda's 3 pronged attack is fairly interesting. However, I imagine it will result in Dovi being treated as a guineapig while the real emphasis goes into title charges for Stoner and Pedrosa. Showed real pace at times last season but not on a consistant enough basis to challenge Lorenzo. For Britain? Well, after Toseland's frankly pathetic efforts during his time in the GP's it's the turn of Crutchlow on the tech3 Yamaha. Having watched him for the last couple of the season, when he is on it he really is on it. When he was winning races in world superbikes he was doing it commandingly, who can forget just how superior he was at Silvo all weekend? He won't really be up there challenging I imagine, but there really is no pressure on him after just 1 year in world superbikes. He has been handed a golden opportunity (not sure who he had to sleep with at Yamaha to get the ride but he must have impressed in the bedroom)and I expect 'one lap' to stick in some stunning qualifying performances before fading in races. Hopefully he hasn't been in worlds long enough to be set in his ways before getting in with the big boys, however I hope if things start going wrong his confidence doesn't suffer too badly. My prediction? Lorenzo, Rossi, Pedrosa, Spies. Anyone else excited? Or are we expecting more rubbish hitting our screens on a Sunday afternoon?

It was, would have loved to hear the bikes revving for a minute, though. Agree about the bit where Marco says Ciao at the end though. Shivering.

Guy is an exceptional talent but there's just something about him I can;t stand. Certainly comes across as arrogance even if it isn't. Everyone has got their favourites, Stoner just seriously isn't one of mine. He certainly rags the ** off whatever he is riding though and have got to admire his bravery! I think Rossi on the same Ducati Stoner did the job on would have been perfectly capable of walking away with the title though. The model Rossi has had to try and work with has been a farce from start to finish. It's a bit of a joke from a British perspective that with all the talent we have in various superbike/sport classes that Cal's finish was the best by a Brit in the MotoGP era, and that was was with 4 riders ahead of him all going out on the first corner. I'm not knocking Cal's work, beating Pedrosa is no mean feat, however it is a symbol of the lack of talent we have going into GP's. I think when Rea and Laverty get their MotoGP chance they will do a fabulous job, hopefully it won't be too long. Also think 2013 is going to be way too soon for Smith to be on that Tech3 bike. He hasn't even won a Moto2 race yet. Clearly knows the right people in the Yamaha hierarchy! Most fitting tribute to Marco wasn't the fire crackers or the parade in my opinion, but the best race of the season being delivered by his heartbroken friends and colleagues in difficult conditions. Ironically, in those conditions and with the new cooler headed Marco we'd seen in the last few races, he would have been in with a stunning shout of winning his first ever GP race in those conditions, as he was in Jerez earlier in the year until it went Pete Tong. I still can't believe that one of my absolute heroes is no longer with us. This year he has been almost the sole reason I still watch the GP's. The memories of some of his 'highlights' from this year alone, let alone his 250 efforts and some of last years stunts, will stay with me forever. Rest in peace, Marco. The rest of the boys did you proud. 58.

Fabulous MCN this week. Really nicely done and has put into words what many of us couldn't. No pictures of crying girlfriends in pits, graphic pictures of the crash or sensationalist journalism, just a quality tribute to the future of Moto GP. Thanks for the memories. Ciao Marco.