Stoke Potter

Why aren't the owners of the making more noise about the fact they may be without a track next season? Surely they are not just sleep-walking into it and allowing it to happen, or is there a chance there could be another season in the current stadium?

As far as is known the operation of the Hadron Collider hasn't (yet) changed the laws of Physics and, surprisingly enough, those laws of Physics also apply to speedway tracks. Thereby the fact remains that, if you put the correct amount of water down, over the correct timescale, then you will manage to keep the dust down during the 60 laps/ 15 minutes of racing during a speedway meeting.

Just to correct a potential misunderstanding, the stadium is not owned by Dave Tattum. It is owned by the Corbett family.

Sad to say but if you go on google earth now, the overhead view still shows the remains of the track with the roads outlined on the top.

I have heard that but I don't understand the logic of it, why would the Corbetts put such a restriction in place? I think it's a myth. There are also other revenue streams in addition to the stocks, i.e. ambulance storage and road building equipment storage, to name but two.

Unfortunately it's impossible to buy something that isn't for sale.

I agree, some good races. If they got some decent watering equipment it would be better still. Do you still have a copy of those plans Griffo?

Apart from the fact that it was too dry and slick! I don't know if it was true that Ole Olsen modelled Vojens on Loomer Rd. but if he did I would imagine that the Stoke track has changed, probably twice, since then.

Yes or course that would be decent, providing it was genuinely close. Very difficult to prove with stats though. The reality is most races are spread over the length of straight at least. I've only seen King's Lynn on the TV and it doesn't strike me as anything special. Poole & Swindon would be a better EL tracks I'd say. Cookster, yes I agree with the NL probably having the fewest passes and easily the most fallers and the most races where not all 4 finish.

If you're counting passes then it would have to be genuine passes, which to my mind would be after the back straight of lap1 and not counting those passing fallers or engine failures. The conclusion would be there are very few genuine passes during an average match.

If you want to make comparisons between leagues then looking at the times of the heat winners tells you nothing. What you would need to do is time how long it takes to finish a race, that's not when the first rider crosses the finish line, but when the last rider crosses the line. If you were able to do that then it would paint a very different picture between the leagues I think.

Tattum has stated that there wasn't a 2,3,4,5 or whatever year plan to return to the PL. I think you can forget it happening under the present promotion. PL racing is by far the best, EL can be ok with 2 strong teams, which rarely happens. The NL racing I've seen is pretty mediocre, races generally strung out with loads of fallers. The Rye match on Sunday was actually one of the better ones I've seen and even that had falls in 10 of the heats. The best racing was produced by Chessell and Perry who were willing to ride wide lines that not even the home riders would take on. The track could also be improved with better watering equipment. At one point immediately after the track had been watered dust was coming up as soon as the bikes hit the bends, that needs sorting out. It wasn't massive clouds of dust admittedly but if there was some moisture in the depth of the track it would improve the racing lines. Great to see some investment to spruce up the stadium but get some decent watering kit too.

I enjoyed my first visit to Swindon, looks to be a decent big track. Preparation seemed reasonable, grading is a necessity in between races, I don't understand why anybody would complain about that. I didn't notice any watering being done and that may have helped create a few lines. The racing was fairly processional to me with passing at a premium. It's a shame that Abbey Stadium is going to be lost, as with some investment it could be very good. I think I read that the new track (if it appears) will be based on Cardiff? I feel sorry for Swindon fans if that the case as you'll have a small track with no passing, sad. Why is the viewing under the grandstand so far below track level? Seems a bit odd. I'm tempted to come again before it disappears for good.

I'm thinking of making my first ever visit to Swindon for this match. We normally like to stand on the first bend and may have a pram. Any advice on the stadium, good places to watch, food etc. We'll be shopping round Swindon in the day and travelling from the town centre, is 6.30ish the best time to arrive? Thanks in advance.

It's all been said before of course. There is no chance of return to PL, under the present promotion. Stoke sustained 2nd Division speedway for many years and it could do so again.

The only "Important Press Release" that any true Stoke fan wants to see is the one announcing the return to the PL, anything else is just pish!

Tattum was talking of selling up after the recent damage. Is he selling up or not?

Great match for the neutral, some good close racing and plenty of action. Poole worthy winners but Coventry put up a good fight.

After last night's GP, Torun must surely be up there as one of the best. Torun or the OTA? No contest.

This may have been done before but I can't remember see it. What is the best track in the world for close racing and amount of passing?

When did you say this..? And what are you on about..?

Eeeerrm, No, it definitely isn't! I would say Bydgoszcz is a real contender.