Sidney the robin

I think in those days WK when the riders went to the tapes most of them were on the same sort of aquipment a level playing field the skill element track craft then came into the equation.That is why IVAN was so special aquipment immaculate he ploughed money into his aquipment and got his rewards later on.

I was thinking that myself Scotsman would you judge a rider on one performance? i actually first saw Brennan on the small track at Swindon and he impressed me.A couple of guys who who i know come on to the forum and both see loads of NL racing and I respect both there opinion's greatly actually felt he was not making that much progress and had to get away from Eastbourne to progress.Looking at the Championship Bacon, Mountain,Hume have the highest averages it just shows you how tough the jump is from NL racing for me out of the two pointers Hume barring injury will go on he has something.I would just give him time Brennan just think if he come in now and went to Berwick,Workington,Edinburgh,Scunny,Glasgow a totally different ball game a totally different level look at Bickley 0 again last night he can't buy a point,

WK i can remember going to Eastbourne one afternoon ( hated there dam claxon!!) and seeing the Italian rider Nano Righetto ride. His bike god it looked like he had just picked it up from Steptoes junk yard what a heep.!!!

Really enjoyed last night some proper racing Morris v Schlein was superb.Rory was majestic his track craft awesome a special mention for Zach a brilliant effort getting the better of Howarth shows he is getting there improving by the week.

Whatever you say to be honest means nothing , were you at the same meeting as me tonight ??? Schlein outstanding very quick mega quick great track craft his race with Morris was terrific.some decent racing tonight.!

Winning is not the be all and end all there is a lot more about speedway than just that.

After all the changes in the last two years Ford had to get something right Nielsen when he is in the top five he will often only be getting three rides he will find it very hard in the top five.

Does it matter?.... who would your pick ? for me i would give Bewley his head now in the pairs and the WTC funny thing is you have not even commented on the Sheffield semi .!!!

I really thought after last season Chapman really needed to try and win the respect back from the Lynn supporters.The Lynn supporters dont seem to want and expect much just a bit of respect and people willing to listen to there queries.You cannot keep taking the p... out of the paying customer once they stop coming it is very hard to ever entice them back.

It will be interesting to see what the crowd is for the Monday Swindon v Rye House fixture .How many people apart from the die hards can afford two meetings in 5 days? i cannot remember many meetings at the Abbey being held on a Monday unless it was a Bank Holiday or Tv meeting.

Thanks Norbold i have the Anniversary meeting 1968 with Leonard and Briggs on the front and the 1967 meeting you talk about i need to get for my collection.I am missing 8 West Ham home programmes between 1967/70. Can you remember Bradshaw/ Nygren beating Briggo??? thanks again Norbold.

His team riding with Jake Allen seems to be going well this year.!!

Really pleased for Danny a really nice guy i was surprised Kyle Newman did not qualify he has a poor record in the WC has only qualified once as a reserve for a British Final.As for the Final it will be very interesting how the bookies price the event up i think Lambert will be favourite with Bewley and Cook next best in the betting.

Spot on Norbold Stan beat Briggo in heat 5 on 15/07/69 ( Briggs scored 14)and i was mistaken about Brian Leonard beating Briggo it was in 1970 that i was thinking of that was when Peter Bradshaw and Olle Nygren got a 5.1 over Barry. Norbold any chance you could look up on your West Ham programme collection as i have a few with Leonard leading Briggo on the front cover it was a 1968 programmme but just wondered if the picture was definitely that year.

I was exactly the same Steve, three races that always stuck in my mind over the years was Bob Paulson beating Ivan in heat 1 at Hyde Rd Rolf Gramstad beating Ivan at the Abbey,and Carl Blackbird beating and having a good record against Hans at Cowley.

Did Stanley Stevens bring the house down once did he beat Ivan ? Can remember reading Brian Leonard beating Briggo once.

Fair comment Baldy everyone are entitled to there own opinion, my take on it is how can the fans ever get an affinity with a rider and team when there are numerous changes every year.

Total crap Cook was put in positions that he has never been put in before ok he come second best but he would of learned an awful lot.Mark can you remember Tai in his maiden GP season????? he was p.... poor but he learned and got stronger learning as he went along.

God get behind your team man lost by eight at Berwick that is without Danny for me the reserves both English keep with them.The top five should carry the reserves anyway they are not at the moment stick tight easy to make changes for change sake.

Believe me Jason Danyon will be a better rider than Greaves and saying that he is at Nathan's level now so why replace him madness.

How did Hume go Fromafar? just hope Ippo stick with him and Mountain both have something Hume is raw but coming back from a serious injury was always going to be hard.Just think Hume has a real bright future great win for Berwick nice to see the Swede do well as he is better rider than some of his scores suggest.

Why would Rossiter go there??? at Swindon he has a job there as long as he want's it and he has full authority on the everyear line up.At Poole Ford has two much input and for me Middlo takes the rap often because of the mistakes Ford has made.

Honestly this post is way off the mark both the Poles have been disappointing Woryna who i rate i believed he would average over 7 but has had a slow start.He will come good patience is needed MS i have always believed was overated god he is not even cutting the mustard at reserve and i would imagine he does not come cheap.He is a typical rider who gets a spot yet Brits like R.Worrall,Auty,Garrity miss out it is not right in my opinion.Nielsen is a strange change i have seen him at Swindon and i was never a fan and i don't see him as a improvement on Shanes.But Ford panicking already is not a good sign and in the last three years his panic signings have consisted of Kennett,Lahti,Zengota,Kerr,Starke (etc) and none of them were the answer.Also his decisions on Howarth,Ellis were poor and the Robins now have a great rider for the future worrying times ahead for the Pirates.I still believe they will make the play/offs and would never right them off but they must pray that Chris comes back and shows his 9 plus average form

The British Final this year must be one of the most open finals in years it should be a cracker.Looking at the World team cup squad i would pick Tai, Lambert,Cook,Ellis,Bewley and looking at it we have a very promising set of riders to back Tai up.I have seen quite a bit of Ellis over the last few years and what huge strides he has made what a mega mistake Poole made in letting him go they stuck with Newman yet let Ellis and Howarth go staggering really.Ellis last week at the Abbey fell twice when in commanding position's he was super quick and i predict he can be a solid 2nd heat leader within 3 years. Also with Adam as well he takes no prisoners tough as they come mixing it in the first bend great news for Swindon for the future we could base the side around Nick /Adam for years to come.

The British Final this year looks a very open event Lambert and Bewley both have a great chance of winning there first British title.