ezekiel

I have decided to get rid of all of my old Speedway Star magazines. With the exception of November 22 2003, I have every issue from March 17 2001 to January 7 2006. If you would like to be the lucky recipient of almost 5 years worth of speedway, then I would suggest you get in contact ASAP! PS Posting all of the magazines would be very costly, so they will need to be collected. I live in Ipswich - up the Witches!!!

Unfortunately a change of owner is no guarantee of success, even if one could be found. And the last thing I want to see happen is what happened to Oxford, which for me would be devastating. Even if there was a potential buyer, would the Louis' sell-up? Unless a massive offer is made I can't see that happening.

It is true that there is no guarantee that Ipswich would be more competitive in the PL, but IMO Ipswich would have a better chance of building a competitive team. At least it would give us the chance to build up our asset base again, which needs to be improved massively. As for the visiting number ones, at least Ipswich might be able to get a heat advantage for a change!!! Ipswich have been struggling for years (the last time we had a good team was when we had Andersen and Nicholls and narrowly missed out in the play-offs) and to be honest enough is enough. If we perform better in a lower division then I would be more than happy - I just want to see a winning team again.

A watered down EL wouldn't be so bad if the teams were more balanced - I don't mean comparing each team but comparing the 1-7 in a team. So many heats end up being strung out because the top riders are so much better than the rest. If the racing is closer and leads to more possibilities for passing then I am happy to drop down to the PL.

I was a season ticket holder until the 2009 season, and over the last 2 seasons I have been to Foxhall maybe a dozen times at best. The main reasons for this have been the lack of a competitive team and a lack of variety. If Ipswich were to drop down to the PL then we should have a more competitive team and would see different teams every week. Plus the local derby with Kings Lynn would return, ensuring a big crowd. A drop down would definitely mean more visits to Foxhall next season for me, and I would even consider a season ticket again. I really like the idea of seeing Kings Lynn, Newcastle, Sheffield and Workington at Foxhall, to name but a few (assuming they all run in the PL next season that is).

Have you got any wiring or plumbing you want doing? Talk about easy money!

Personally I would say they were excuses, but I'm happy to agree to disagree on that subject. I would however agree that we are struggling for riders who are proven on the big stage, although on recent form we might struggle for one top rider let alone three!!!

I would say that most people go to watch their team win, preferably in the most entertaining manner possible. From what I saw of the meeting tonight neither of these were evident from Team GB. As for being negative, far from it - I am just facing up to the fact that Team GB aren't good enough. Fact. (PS Feel free to prove me wrong Team GB - go on, I dare you!)

Some valid points, or a list of excuses...?

Maybe, maybe not. But no amount of team spirit would make up for the fact that Team GB simply aren't good enough. We had our best chance of winning a few years ago but Middlo couldn't win it for us then, why would it be any different now with a weaker team?

There is no way Lynch should have said this, it was not the best way of motivating Allen and Stead was it? And what would have happened if either of them had scored big points tonight (unlikely given current form and the strength of the opposition but possible). I don't think we should consign him to the scrap heap just yet though, he's only had one meeting in charge of Team GB after all...

Would Middlo really have done any better tonight? Assuming he had picked Kennett and Woffinden instead of Stead and Allen, would GB have won? Not a chance. Team GB had their chance to win the World Cup under Middlo, and missed out. They aren't going to get another chance any time soon, not with Denmark, Australia and Poland around, whether Middlo was still manager or not. People need to face reality - no matter who rides for GB and who manages them we aren't going to win, the best we can hope for is to get to the final and make up the numbers and rebuild for the future - sadly a very distant future based on the current pool of GB riders.

The final has only just finished?! Must've been a VERY slow time....!!!

Nicholls should get a load then!!!

Some people seem determined to take the shine off David Howe's achievement tonight. This is a guy who struggled so badly last season that people were really getting on his back; even at the start of this season he had his fair share of critics. David Howe is one of the better riders to have raced at Foxhall this season, and when you take in to account how he has turned his career around and his performances this season if anyone deserves to be the Wildcard at Cardiff it is him. Congratulations David, have a stormer at Cardiff! P.S. Congratulations to Harris for being the new British Champion, and to Kennett, King and Allen who all impressed me.