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If ever there was an example of the difference of skill level between the Championship riders and NDL then the first few heats and the farcical delay in this meeting showed it. A bit of dirt on the track and NDL riders couldn’t handle it whilst those few riders who ride in the championship, Ablitt, Ingram , Hodder and Ace just got on with it and rattled up quick race times. Making the often maligned ( and quite often deserved ) trackmen use up expensive diesel doing lap after lap without actually doing a lot on a damp cold night just annoyed the sparse crowd, some of whom left after heat two , because riders simply do not have enough experience of a deep track ( is an inch deep ? ). How do you gain experience? Get on and ride the condition’s! Once it restarted , after an hour , yes, the racing improved, ( all in the head in my opinion ) in fact there were a few classics amongst the top boys in the latter heats gaining the Tigers all 3 points on offer. Lions will say they were unlucky losing Spencer ( he fell twice whilst under no pressure ) but I think the Tigers just wanted it more, even inexperienced Green was giving it a good go. Would hope Redcar keep the NDL side for 2027 but can’t see it with that small a crowd.

Yes Grachan that 1975 British Final runoff with Wilson upset me as a young lad for a long, long time. I was on the first bend at Coventry and was willing him on with everything I had. Shed a tear after that race. Would love to see it again but not on YouTube. I haven’t yet heard there is footage of it on a dvd though.

Running in 2027. UTC!

Awwww. Martin Ashby. What a rider. I was totally obsessed with the guy as a teenager. I remember the first time I ever went to Swindon Speedway. Swindon v Wolves in 1974. I stood on the apex of the first and second bends. First race I saw - Martin Ashby of Swindon beating some foreign bloke called Ole Olsen and breaking the track record. Amazing. He had the best style of any rider. Take any picture of Martin Ashby riding, and you could put it into any other picture of him. He always looked exactly the same in every picture. So stylish, but possibly not aggressive or ruthless enough sometimes, which probably cost him a place in my first ever World Final in 1975. That race with Ray Wilson was over 50 years ago now, and I'm still traumatised by it! I even took my FS1-E to his garage once for a service - just so I could say my moped was serviced by Martin Ashby. After he retired, he was regular supporter at Blunsdon. Always in the same spot - near to the tea hatch going into the first bend - as though he were just another supporter. No heirs and graces at all. RIP Martin Ashby. What a guy!

Poole's reserves scored 30pts over the 2 legs Edinburgh reserves scored 5 that's where the Monarchs lost it and has been there chillies heel all season barring a couple of meetings

RHAG are pleased to announce that the Planning Inspector has agreed to our application for formal Appeal Party status (Rule 6 Party) and to change the nature of the Appeal to a Hybrid Appeal – a hearing on 21 October 2026 followed by two days as a Planning Inquiry on 22–23 October 2026. This is an important development, as the Planning Inquiry will provide a formal opportunity for RHAG to present evidence and make the case for the future of Speedway at Rye House. We are asking supporters and the wider community to sign the petition and submit their objections at https://www.ryehouse.racing/. All submissions will be passed on to the Planning Inspector and will help demonstrate the strength and depth of community interest in the future of Rye House Stadium.

Bob Dugard the same, yes he set up the track for his home riders but could change the track during the interval.

It is not mandatory to ride in the CLRC.

Len Silver was a former rider who knew how to promote and he also knew how to get the best surface for the racing which gave the crowd entertaining racing which lived up to his promoting. As you say a different era.

Yes, and no interval after heat 11, no messing about with kids running round the track, etc. They'll need to be finished the main meeting by 6:30pm, otherwise I hope the juniors have fitted headlights on their bikes.......

I wish Slater a speedy recovery.

A great rider and always seemed a decent guy. RIP

R.I.P. a true legend of the sport

What a way to end the competitive season. The last Friday of summer 2026 brought weather which was anything but summery and a track which resembled, perhaps aptly, a pool. Having done the hard work on Wednesday, the Pirates barely had to get out of second gear in this one, sweeping aside the home challenge before it had even contemplated beginning. Rider of the Night, by a country mile, was Kyle Newman. I mentioned on his previous visit that I could quite happily watch him every week. It’s fair to say that opinion was reaffirmed last night. In fantasy world where I buy the Monarchs for £1, Newman is my first signing, that much is certain. His reserve partner, Slater Lightcap, didn’t have quite so good an evening. Obviously super-excited to be returning to the plush sunny Armadale surroundings, he nervously twitched his way to a heat 2 warning, before crashing out in heat 6 (speedy recovery). I couldn’t help but notice he wasn’t wearing his team racesuit. Why doesn’t he have one? He’s been here 5 weeks. Are the Kevlar manufacturers on strike? With Monarchs 4 points down and 28 on aggregate after heat 9, I rallied the troops around me. “6 5-0s and we win. Or, even better, 4 5-0s and 2 5-1s and we get an extra heat free of charge. Let’s do this!” As Monarchs gated on a 5-1 in heat 10 I thought, “bang... bang... here we go”. And then Lewis Kerr pulled off a tremendous outside swoop on not-so-super Grahn. The resulting 4-2 meant the tie was mathematically won. I didn’t notice too much (anything?) in the way of on-track celebrations. Perhaps FJ Havvy doesn’t have a calculator in his back pocket? If there was any jubilation, it appeared very low key. Almost as low as the volume on the home straight tannoy, which left me not knowing whether the presenters in the Tower had actually congratulated Poole on their aggregate victory. I assume they did? They’re usually very professional. That said, a low-volume tannoy does have some benefit as it means I don’t have to listen to the ‘modern’ music in between races. Why no Avril Lavigne? It’s all so uncultured nowadays. For the Monarchs, it was something of an impossible task from the off. And by the time the Thom(p)son non-twins were skittled in heat 13, the relief upon hearing of the resulting abandonment almost seemed palpable. It was sad, albeit perhaps fitting, that Justin Sedgmen’s final competitive race of the year saw him go from first to third. That apart he was decent, unlike Mitchell Cluff. Let’s just say, if the play offs were his shop window for a return in 2027, he shouldn’t receive an offer. Finally, I can’t not mention Captain Pugwash himself, Michele Castagna. When he first signed, I always remember him saying, “when I get dialled in, I’ll be virtually unbeatable”. Still waiting son. Still waiting. Well done Poole. The People’s Champions 2026. Here’s hoping you finish the job in the daft final. Roll on next season...

It's not a rumour - Sportowefakty has the details here: https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/1274778/zuzel-raport-medyczny-stali-gorzow-klub-wydal-oficjalny-komunikat

Only a rumour but i hear Gorzow are trying to claim Bednar was not knocked out in the heat 14 crash. Hopefully the doctor won’t want to be implicated in these shenanigans !!!

Links for R3 Rzeszow: https://vksport.vkvideo.ru/live-53550004_456242874 https://vkvideo.ru/video-234681448_456239415 https://vkvideo.ru/live-81427162_456239822

That Valentine race is on Retro Speedway's 1974 production.

I think most Lions fans would agree with you!

Perhaps if Mario had shown an interest in practicing around Ashfield, he’d have found he had an home advantage. It’s total nonsense to say there’s no home advantage for Glasgow riders, it’s just an excuse when we lose. Most of the clubs that apparently have a home advantage get beaten at home more than Glasgow.

Martin Ashby was my absolute hero when I started going to speedway in the early 70’s. A brilliant rider with many seasons averaging over 10. I remember one race at the Abbey where he forgot to turn his fuel on in heat one, was miles at the back but came through and beat I think Valentine off the last bend to take the win. Also the 1975 British Final at Coventry when he was in a race off for the final spot at Wembley against Ray Wilson. Wilson gated, Ashby attacked up the inside for three laps and got through, but gave Wilson racing room for the Leicester rider to. Last around and win by half a bike. True gentleman. Swindon hero. RIP Martin.

Surely Spoons would allow a qr code linking to the BV website

Not sure about your specific question. But sometimes I want to kick Drew from here to next Wednesday. As a speedway fan, regardless of team allegance, his inconsistent performances just frustrate the hell out of me.

But will the reduction of some riders averages before the play offs mean, for example, that Drew Kemp will drop down to reserve for the play off matches in October?