Simonh

If you get there early or even have the excellent pre match meal park on the street outside. Lit and busy so rarely issues. Having moved my loyalty with the demise of Stoke, its really worth the effort for great racing and good facilities.

This doesn't include key sponsors, if you can find any?

Matt FordE is on tonight, sadly knows little about speedway but is a comedian. Perhaps thinking about it a BSPA rep?

He rode NSS briefly last year as Australian U21 reserve in SON Semi Final. Riding in Poland & Sweden

Having visited a number of Swedish and Danish tracks this summer... 1. Both countries are struggling to get people through the gate, apart from GP and key matches 2. Speedway structured in a different way with Community teams and real investment from local people (volunteers), and companies, sponsorship. Eg Vetlanda programme was 86 reading pages, mainly of adverts, but also good quality features. This makes finding stuff hard as it is assumed you know the team names for each club. (eg fixtures would be Lions v Pirates) 3. Entrance fees were cheaper than uk in both countries. 4. Fans of both countries have similar concerns, speaking to a promotion (in Sweden's equivalent of our championship), they believed their costs were about a quarter of the higher league in Sweden. (previously relegated, talking from experience) 5. Meetings well ran, lots of track work, started on time, in the main good racing. Range of track shapes, surfaces, etc 6. Significantly less meetings than uk, amateur and practice leagues below pro/semi pro structures. Lots of doubling up! So where may this all go? Speedway dies? Just GP Speedway? Poland? if so where do the GP riders of the future get unto speed? I could envisage a European super league, with major city teams to suppliment the Gp, Semi pro domestic league/s. Cost reduction...Sealed engines? standard equipment? Limit of bikes per meeting per team? (rather like the tyres rules of old). Impact of Brexit? removal of EU permits/standardisation of rules? I'd suggest we need some sort of commission with an overarching review. If we don't cap vested interests we are likely to end with the first option.

Bumped into Leon in Vetlanda, he was guesting in mid August, with my son with autism. He was really professional. Polite, patient and understanding. Really impressed. He also rode really well and scored paid 14 from 5 against good quality riders. Be great to see him in the UK.

Surprised not off yet, reports of light cloud in Stoke.

Why would you go there as a spectator?....that's with 25 years regular attendance as a Potters fan. It used too be abuse from the promotion, now it's not even excuses. I think Dave Tatum does the track still? The 10 heat match appears a regular at Loomer Road....There have been chances to sell but to no avail...I'm just really sad that what was my club ends up like this.

Is Stoke off with localised rain yet?, can't be much longer..... Always a reason to postpone until the lovely weather of October....

Does anyone know when the hospitality information may be available? I'm taking my Dad to the Monday meeting against Swindon and want to give him a really good experience. Thanks Simon

1970 had 13 races and a full second half, normally 18 - 20 races total...interval after the match so if the kids needed to fog home main event was done.....

Wallinger signs....for Buxton

I've seen Gappmaier ride larger continental tracks and he's certainly add strength at home...

Rohan Tungate Confirmed on BV Website....

He could also ride Swindon really well when I was there...so probably a two trick pony......

Wallinger put on Facebook no team place hasn’t had anyone contact him so I am guessing Stoke are replying to that? Thanks

I see the Stoke website has DT trying to contact David Wallinger about twitter comments?. Could someone connected with the world of twitter expand on the issues please? Thanks

With serious injuries that could have been prevented HSE would be looking at a broad and detailed investigation. I think shutting would be a lesser worry for those involved.

Should the worst happen (and we hope it doesn't) liability is clear. They have known about the issue for several years, it's happened on a number of occasions and it's not been sorted out. I'd suggest the Promotion who created the problem and the BSPA as governing body who are clearly aware (referees reports) would both have liability.

Loomer Road is one of only a few purpose built speedway stadia in the UK. The architects plans were the blueprint for Vojens, which opened in Sept 1975. (After Ole Olsen borrowed the plans). The original design incorporated long track bends outside the speedway ones to allow long track speedway in the UK. The current track was remodelled in 1979 by Pete Jarman with multiple changes since. When run well can generate a great business. The only way forward for a successful meaningful team is by new owners. Sadly it's a microcosm of how UK speedway is run. Lots of vested interests, infighting and too little business acumen.

I'd suggest the last point is the cause of Points 2 and 3. Not sure that many of our Stadia would pass a beauty contest?

We could write a book on this one...... It seems this happens every year with Stoke trying to cram October fixtures and not completing the fixtures. Why anyone would think of a season ticket at Stoke (as an ex season ticket holder at Stoke) is beyond me. Seems to me that one of the essential criteria for a promoter to have is the trust of the local supporters. This is hard won and easily lost.

Bickley would seem a sensible move to 7 and has the potential to grow quickly. I'd be tempted with Dudek at 1, even for a season. You may get some interest as regular access to smaller uk tracks will help him with the GP temporary tracks, the main block in my opinion to his progress to World Champion.

Would be useful if they could add up, consistently using the match score rather than the aggregate score in the Swindon v Poole meeting.

How was the track JJ? Looked a good result for the Potters....