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The Somerset Thread - Where non Poole fans meet to attack Poole, Poole fans meet to defend Poole and Somerset fans watch on.

There are quite a few riders who didn't exactly think it was a bundle of laughs riding on the same track as Fundin !

infantile behaviour, proved wrong and then 'it was just a joke' . Pathetic actually

Christmas Statement from the Save Coventry Speedway group. WE would like to extend our Season’s Greetings to all supporters of Speedway and Stock Car Racing at Coventry. Our thanks to all who have supported the Campaign Group efforts over the course of the year, and also to everyone who helped organise and supported the Challenge matches run in 2017 with Coventry Bees not running as part of the official league structure. It has been the worst year imaginable for everyone with a love for the sports at Brandon; from the shattering news that ‘agreements’ for future racing were not to be fulfilled, to the eventual omission of Coventry from the 2017 Premiership, to the deterioration in condition of the stadium throughout the year arising from the lack of security on-site by the owners. Brandon Estates bought the stadium for their own purposes, but in doing so they have shown zero regard for the 89-year history and heritage of the iconic venue, nor the fact that regular visits to Brandon to watch these family sports remained a way of life for many thousands of people throughout the season, right up until the end of 2016. In addition, the intransigence of the owners to engage in reasonable communication is a further indication of their motives, along with the material included within their official representations and public exhibition material – much of which is open to serious question. At the Exhibition in October, comments from the public were invited by planning consultants Framptons. We have seen a number of these responses, and the local reaction is clear - but as with the 2014 Exhibition arising from the initial plans, they appear to be a closely-guarded secret at this time. The display boards also indicated that an outline planning application would be submitted in Autumn 2017. At the time of writing, this has not taken place. We do not know the reason for that, but we can assure Brandon Estates – and their front-man, Monaco-based businessman John Downer – that as soon as their planning application is submitted, we will be ready with strong opposition. They must understand that they cannot simply take two major sports away from the region – sports which were both perfectly viable running in tandem at the stadium – merely on an outrageous speculative bid for development on land which had not been earmarked for that purpose, and expect everyone to sit back and let it happen. Our Campaign Group came together in its present form in the immediate aftermath of Coventry’s exclusion from the 2017 SGB Premiership, and our primary aim was to bring about a return to racing at the stadium for 2018 as well as establishing plans for the long-term continuation of both sports in the area. In those respects, we have regrettably been unsuccessful. The sheer depth of issues to be considered and resolved arising from the activities of recent years has been eye-opening in the extreme, and we have to respect the fact that the timescales of official business are sometimes longer than we would wish for. We believe there is tremendous momentum behind our campaign and overwhelming opposition to Brandon Estates' proposals. So our work will go on into 2018, and there are various events and hearings in the early part of the New Year which will play a vital part in matters going forward. Finally, we must emphasise to all who pass comment on the situation, often on social media, that the status of Brandon Stadium remains absolutely fundamental to the entire argument, and an acceptance that it has been lost to sport permanently is simply not an option. We wish every supporter of Speedway and Stock Car Racing a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and we hope 2018 provides some encouragement to everyone who wishes to see our two famous sports restored to their rightful place.

Thankfully!

Maybe you are right norbold even today winning is everything for me it is all about being entertained the winning aspect means nothing to me.In yesteryear you often had riders who were at clubs for a number of years and the fans could relate to those riders.As examples Eric Boocock,Arnie Haley,Reg Wilson, Mike Broadbanks, Pete Smith, Nigel Boocock Terry Betts ,wouldn't it be great if that was happening in British speedway today instead of riders changing clubs every year.

Re C.Holder, Although there is no issue over finance maybe Matt wants it linked to performance rather than a 'guaranteed' amount per meeting?! Not unreasonable after his 2017 season all over Europe I reckon?!

Nothing anti from me on this one Cant blame Ged at all for a 'stick it' stance Will save my 'snidey banter' for something else

Knowing the desperate state our sport is in, and that it would have been far cheaper to compete in the 2nd division, for Buster to plumb to stay in the top league, tells me he has got the finances covered. Buster may be a lot if things but stupid he is not. To run a club with an inevitable loss would be senseless, so to me he has deals in place to cover any defective costs that may occur . To operate in the top division without a competitive team would be foolish, so one has to assume the team being assembled will be built along those lines. So we therefore have no worries about the financing of these top riders. How that will be achieved will be known in the coming weeks Whether it be Added Sponsorships, New partners, Added admission costs or even Cheaper rider deals, Buster no doubt believes he has it covered.. Probably Father Christmas has come early, and answered all Buster wishes .............................The mind boggles...... .. I will wait with anticipation....

No doubt you thought that when Matt Marson was totally illegally graded on a 5.00 average. Along with the Roynon and Hurry reduction decision, I'd say by the end of the season (if not long before that) he was thoroughly discredited and the NL is well rid of him.

Think some on here have a very short memory!! December 2011!!!!! Um sounds similar to Adrian M but at that point he had not signed for Poole at that point!!! http://www.peterboroughpanthers.co/news.php?extend.1470 So just to confirm 5th Dec Swindon announced Batch 2011 - Adrian was announced 19th January 2012 - so who set the ball rolling then????? Robins?? Funny how some people forget this little chestnut!

Looking at what I wrote in 2007, it does feel as if 2000 was one of the better seasons (unless you were a Reading fan - racers got their second wooden spoon in a row!). Here's the opening to the 2000 season chapter in 'Tears & Glory': For the first time in many seasons the mood in British speedway seemed overwhelmingly positive. Hull returned to the Premier League, but otherwise the Elite and Premier League make-ups were unchanged. The Conference League expanded with a new track in Somerset and speedway returned to Rye House thanks to Len Silver. The Rockets had competed without a home track in 1999, tracking three Reading juniors: Simon Moon, Peter Collyer and Ian Clarke. The star of the homecoming meeting in May (apart from 'uncle Len') was a young rider called Chris Schramm. Honours were shared around and both Elite and Premier Leagues produced close finishes. Eastbourne won the Elite League, aided by a solid contribution from Petri Kokko. They went into their final fixture needing to beat King’s Lynn to stop the Norfolk team picking up their first league title. King’s Lynn did have the consolation of winning the Knock-Out Cup. Beaten finalists Coventry picked up the Craven Shield. The Norfolk team regularly featured five Australians, and when Adam Shields guested for them in July they tracked six! One of them was Travis McGowan. He started the year by winning the Australian Under-21 title (with Scott Smith third and Brendon Mackay ninth) and ended it with the biggest improvement in average of any rider in the Elite League. The destination of the Premier League title depended on bonus points. For the first time since their introduction, the team with most match points did not win the title. Thanks to their massive home advantage Exeter picked up all 13 bonus points available, but only two away wins. It was enough to clinch the title on race points two days after Swindon lost a bonus point run-off against Newcastle (September 28). Although Swindon remained without a league championship since 1967 they did win the Knock-Out Cup and the Young Shield, their first trophies for 33 years. Hull won the Premier Trophy. To add to the sense of euphoria Britain had a speedway World Champion. Despite not winning a single round Mark Loram relieved Tony Rickardsson of his crown. And the British GP did have a British winner with wild card Martin Dugard storming to victory. On a personal level it was the year I only attended 21 meetings, fewer than in any other of my 47 seasons.

Hmmm,a lot of the time it is more like "Four guys turn left two times and come back to where they started in about 5 minutes",which is sadly a big problem.

Am I cynical for thinking that the promoter is only doing the cheapest speedway option available so he can get his promoters licence back, his assets unfrozen and then sell everything off and cash his chips in?

Will get some of THE CURE tomorrow night

My point is Poole were accused of causing this issue following the Adrian M issue, clearly Swindon got the ball rolling long before and illegally approached a rider with out permission from the club that owns him, similar to the current Holder situation! But a lot on here say we set the example with Adrian which is clearly incorrect! Im stating clear facts, Poole are constantly blamed for everything going wrong when at the time other clubs do the same and never get mentioned! Everyclub does it including Poole so for people to say otherwise are incorrect. Swindon fans harp on about they wanted to use Adrian like Peterbrough planned to use Batch.

Even you said Jorgenson was only riding in the higher division?

What! The squeaky clean Robins made an illegal approach!

Mauger and Olsen for me technically were the best riders i have ever seen Leigh Adams also comes into that category to.Mauger had everything really a great gater could come from the back and his temperment was superb.He also was a great team man just so pleased that i see him at his peak he would of loved the GP series format from 68/79 he would of took some beating.Over that period i think only Olsen, Michanek 73/74. Collins 76 Lee 79 would of got near him a true superstar in my eyes.

Great post , i thought it was great that Barry,Ivan,Ronnie got on very well you dont often get that when you are all going for the same goal.Briggs was a great racer not the greatest of styles i just wish i had seen him in the 65/70 period of his BLRC dominance at the great Hyde Rd.

In my opinion speedway is a perfect sport to use statistics to generate extra interest/something to talk about/ listen to on tv. Team make up is decided by statistics so why not include more? Programmes/club websites could include much more in match previews. E.g Lindgren vs Doyle head to head results this season home and away, heat 15 performances overall and head to head. It’s something else for supporters to talk about in the time between each race, can be highlighted by centre green presenters to build tension and atmosphere - much better that than crap music from the 70s and 80s. It’s not about carrying around a log book to record every little thing at a meeting that your traditional statto may have done, it’s about trying to give supporters more - if they’re talking about something to do with the match, they won’t be moaning about the length of time between heats etc.

The reality is quite the opposite. Speedway fans might fill out programmes but in terms of knowledge of statistics for the most part they haven't a clue. You're way, way out of date if you think it's somehow uncool to be interested in statistics. Stats are everywhere now and the masses are into them. It is an area that speedway fails to capitalise on.

I doubt Leicester would agree to any share unless it was NL. Plus if this gets rid of everyone involved in this shambles and the Save Cov Speedway group can move forward without other influences then it's a win win.

What a mess. A stadium that could host speedway and stox just rusting away. A heritage compatible with any club in the World. A fan base comparable (in numbers) with many currently successful clubs. A fan base with few equals in terms of loyalty. A club in the hands of Mick Horton, Avtar Sandhu (?) and Brandon Estates. A club destined to run in the 3rd division in a different city. But..... We have a bunch of people with heart, faith and dedication who might yet wrench this club from the jaws of oblivion and give us back something we recognise as a force to be reckoned with in British Speedway. Say a prayer, write to Rugby Borough Council, let the committee know you haven't given up, despite all the crap (sorry). Do everything you can to keep the dream alive. You never know.

Wording wrong and mixing up the promoter with the 'Save Coventry Speedway' Group which he has nothing to do with. Riding at Leicester is not saving Coventry Bees.