LesR

For those that can't open link. 25 th July, 2023 OXFORD STADIUM STATEMENT To whom it may concern, The support we have received for speedway since reopening Oxford Stadium has been truly overwhelming. Promotional work within our local community coupled with persistent media relations and heavy fan engagement has successfully connected the ‘lost generation’ and former supporters with the sport. In our regeneration season (2022), crowds were well above the levels we budgeted for and demonstrated to us a clear demand for speedway locally. It prompted our team to expand our initial audience capacity from 2,000 to 3,500 following the completion of works to restore Oxford Stadium to its previous glory following almost a decade of neglect under lock and key. Remarkably, Oxford Speedway attendances this season have been even stronger. We are consistently attracting over two-and-a-half times the number of people through our doors compared to when the club initially closed in 2007 with many supporters taking advantage of our U16s go free offer which has inspired a new generation of speedway fans locally. It is bewildering to us that this space of extraordinary potential was earmarked for housing when its existing provisions served a key purpose to the local community. Not only that, the return of greyhound racing and speedway plus the installation of a new mental health and wellbeing centre managed by the Frank Bruno Foundation has been a much-needed source of employment locally. The reopening of Oxford Stadium is a living example of what’s possible when key decision makers see sense in the potential of reinstalling much-needed community assets to existing derelict sites. I would urge Rugby Borough Council to follow in the footsteps of colleagues at Oxford City Council - whose actions were critical in the reopening of Oxford Stadium – by exploring every avenue possible to return Coventry Stadium into the hands of its local and wider communities. Many thanks, Kevin Boothby, Oxford Stadium Managing Director

I'm ok with Microsoft Edge and Opera browsers, but Like doesn't work with Chrome browser on my pc

Have to agree with SS, the whole package has been excellent value for money. The only thing I would like is for the full scores from each team at the end of the meeting, maybe as opposed to the scores half way through the meeting.

I would imagine that all regular GP riders will have at least one spare suit with them, not least because of tearing them in the event of an accident. Riders will often change suits before the presentation after a wet meeting. Strange situation yesterday, but would of made no difference if they disqualified him from the meeting.

Sad news for someone still relatively young, great rider and a pleasure to watch. RIP Gordon, and condolences to all the family and friends.

So the red light came on after they lapped Douglas?

Once the red light comes on the race is stopped, it doesn't matter that two riders hadn't seen it, or continued to race against each other. It depends on the situation of Douglas at the time the red light went on, was he under power?

No doubt, very heroic, very courageous man with that injury.

Two clear number plates boned together with graphics in between, not even 1st, 2nd and 3rd on them!

I see no expense spared on the throphies for the meeting, the supposed premier GP! Had better trophies at the national kids BMX meetings in the late 80's.

Then why no adopt the FIM regulation, 2 minutes and up to the tapes ready to race. Not 2 minutes to get onto the track and then however long preparing your starting place.

Apologies for the error, must be getting old.....

As far as I can remember, not in my time up to '78, but with the mist's of time I may be wrong....lol

At Canterbury, back in the 70's and 80's, there was a 2 hour curfew as part of the planning permission and most meetings were completed in that time. This included. 7.00pm - Introduction of riders and one lap parade. 13 Heat match, including 4 track grades often. Interval. Junior race. Reserves race - 2 home reserves and 2 best juniors. Heats 1 - 4 of second half final qualification, heat winners to final. Junior race. Second Half Final - One the hardest races of the night - even though the points were normally split ( race points 6 /4 = one and a half points each in your pay), nobody wanted to be beaten by a team mate or opposition rider, and wanted that all important trophy...lol. The home promoter often hated them for fear of losing one of his top riders through some over zealous riding to win the race. Total 21 races and the 2 minutes didn't get used all the time, because bikes were brought out onto the track as soon as the riders were returning to the pits. No returning to the pits after a restart by the ref. Happy days and fans not complaining of drawn out meetings.

R.I.P. Mervyn, condolences to all Mervyns family and friends.

Iain, that's ok putting it on twitter but not everyone wants to join there, that's why I thought that the offical website would have it. At least they have a report on SpeedwayGB now and those not going on twitter may have liked the scores as well, maybe they are waiting to post the GP score when they do the Euro pairs scores...

Great result by Dan Bewley and Rob Lambert with two Brits in the top three of the GP. Not such a good result from the British Speedway site, who couldn't even be bothered to put the result on the site last night, let alone a short report. It shows how disinterested the BSPL are in the World Championship and British Riders riding in it. I bet Eurosport and Discovery are really pleased with the BSPL attitude to spreading the word in their quest to take speedway wider horizons. Good luck to all the Brits racing in Poland, you are on your own, until of course it suits BSPL!!

Is Cardiff contracted for another nine years with Discovery+?

I've never rated him. All the initial hype and he seems to think he's a star, too important to push his bike till his mechanic arrived on the scene.

Good point from Greg Hancock in the interview with Scott Nichols " I always used a bike that I had set aside for temporary tracks like this" It meybe had a slightly longer rear end and heavier flywheels for better control of the rough patchy track, unlike the light ones used that rev harder and take off if they hit a patch of dirt. At the end of the day good throttle control helps in conditions like Cardiff yesterday, but not all riders have it.

Yes it is Chris Mackett. Below is a photo from the VETS meeting at Lydd in 2018, Chris Mackett in Blue, Graham Knowler ( aother ex Canterbury) in Yellow.

Yes steve roberts it's the same Tim Curnock. He races sometimes at Lydd speedway track in Kent and goes very. One of the the very good veterans that get to ride down there. Photo of Tim leading Gary Ohare

Lets hope the UK playoffs are as exciting!"

If there was someone with a pot of gold, and they have had to build up a successful buisness empire to achieve it, could you imagine them investing and being told by BSPL that they can only open on a Monday or Thursday, because the Poles only want the most productive days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I wonder how that would have worked with true Promoters of the 60's 70's and 80's?

Huckenbeck £50 more.