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Hats off to the flag Marshall i say, had the numpty have got past him and to where kids and pensioners could have been it could have been tragic, i would do exactly the same tbf, a red flag is a red flag, its the same for everyone end of. Ask yourself this, would Cook have slowed if the public were on the track?? Of course he would!! So why didnt he in this instance?? Too many fans lick speedway riders ar5es to be able to see any wrong doing in my opinion. All this does is give the self certed doyens of this forum the chance to play their pathetic ‘my mothers bigger than your mother’ game. How anyone can defend Cookie and the course of actions he took is a joke, he could have caused serious injury to someone by his totally immature, irresponsible actions that night... to look for a scapegoat to pardon him at the same time makes you as bad as him!!. But lets blame the bloke trying to stop him eh.

Buster is not the messiah, he is the bloke chucking a ton of money down a dirty great big black hole for your entertainment. I would imagine that isn't much fun whilst being constantly criticised, having people constantly taking the piss, having people constantly giving negative opinions (never positive, I might add) and also enduring the worst possible luck with riders getting injured.

You know, we wonder why speedway is struggling (in the UK, anyway), and then, we see posts like this... There are quite a few on the BSF wobbling on about how sad it is to see the sport in such dire straits, but are themselves part of the reason. When people say that they have no desire to go ever again (even if it was free, in some cases), whether it is to do with the quality of entertainment, or simply because of rules that no longer apply, then you are contributing to the decline. I'm not saying those people are wrong, but I find it a little disturbing that they still consider themselves speedway "supporters", when the reality is that WHATEVER changes and improvements are made, they are not prepared to watch because of simple stubbornness. For me, speedway is not what it used to be. Football, cricket, and F1 are not what they used to be. Tizer, cough candy, and the dear old Curly-Wurly are not what they used to be. You know what? I still prefer to partake than going without... Steve

If he hadn't ripped up the team originally announced i doubt if there would have been any criticism. Harris to Ipswich and Cook to Lynn was a slap in the face, that's when he lost my respect. His excuses for that didn't fly with me, and i suspect many others as well...

Pretty routine win in the end - we got a bit lucky with the weather. Certainly interesting watching speedway with lightning going off pretty close by! Thankfully rain stayed away until last couple of races. Bears heatleaders and Stewart all looked excellent - all seem to be firing at the right time. Though Andersen rode better than his points suggested. Scary to think how good we could be if we had 7 riders! Jorgensen was good for the Diamonds, and though Worrall rode hard but was just not quick enough for the Bears top 3. Useful points again from Clegg.

Easy win for Bears but still some great races our 3 Heat leaders are flying as is Jordan Stewart , Andersen Riding better than his scores suggest

That was the start of the "bad luck"

Forecasts play a massive part in going to speedway these days, especially for those with long distances to travel.

Can I just point out that riders going through the card every week and ending up with a high average usually puts them out of a job the following season.

Start at the bottom, irrespective of age. NO rider should ride in all 3 divisions as it seems a big step up for 2 divisions never mind 3. If they are good enough for the top division then they are too good for the bottom division.

None of those lads were a reserve in the championship at the time ( too young ). Try to explain that situation to a new speedway fan, " he's good enough to ride in the league above but only good enough to be classed as a reserve in the Academy league ?" Simply not right. if a rider is in a championship side then surely he should be restricted to the top 5 in the NL? and while I'm having a rant, no rider should be riding in all 3 divisions, simply idiotic and impossible to explain. The NL is a good product but it needs to look at these things and not go the way of the other two divisions, with guests, R/R etc . items for El Supremo Mr. Pipe to sort out in the winter?

Meeting Update: Redcar V Newcastle We have had rain overnight and this morning but it’s currently dry and sunny here at the MPA so we are all systems go for tonight. We will keep you updated if anything changes.

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Birmingham , as did my dad - arrived nice and early and had a decent meal in the Weatherspoons , weather was decent - liked the rider introduction and loved the fact that the meeting was conducted at a brisk pace ( wish all tracks would take note ) no messing around from the riders , ref got on with it and to be finished by 9.15 was spot on , thought Shanes , Garrity , Castagna where excellent - Eastbourne frankly summed up by Kennett not winning a race all evening , nice friendly crowd , ice cream went down well - the only down side was the Highways agency deciding to make 4 lanes on the M6 into 1 at 11pm delaying the trip back by 45 mins but that was a small issue - decent nights entertainment and a ground I will visit again - solid 8/10 Chris

So, I’m sat really disappointed tonight, reflecting on another poor performance from the Diamonds at the Media Prima Arena, and contemplating what exactly is the problem. For a number of years now, against often poorer Redcar teams we have failed to get close to them in terms of points, despite for many years having better quality of riders - something this season can’t be said. despite this, we were built this season as almost a Redcar reject side. Aside from Matty and Max, all riders have wore the Redcar race jacket (albeit in their less successful days). Danny whilst never technically being a bear, let’s face it is so close to the set up can be considered an honouree bear...... so it’s puzzling how we connect a poor past for Redcar, and a poor current Diamonds septet and struggle to understand why we are not competitive. As called out above, and quite frankly what’s blatantly obvious is that max and Matty have carried us all season and are the only riders to “appear” to have fight in them. No shock they are both not ex bears... Redcar made changes for the better and it’s worked... so to disassemble our current team, 1) Steve - not the old Steve, and for some reason last couple of weeks off colour. So pleased he is a diamond, but realise he is a number of steps short of his genuine ability 2) Ulrich - bargain average and can’t be blamed - I remember an Ulrich that can beat anyone, but on a 5 point average he is defiantly delivering, but the real Ulrich could and should be a heat leader not a second string 3) Lasse - the expensive mans Ludvig. Lasse is garbage and being passed by I think 5 riders tonight on his “best” track proves it. All season we have carried his excuses and quite frankly he doesn’t wear the name in my eyes. 4) Matty - fantastic season, carried our weaknesses, but starting to find it tough 5) Tommy - great talent, even tonight he is chasing and riding hard. Puzzled how a gater can’t gate, but can at kings lynn. Disappointment for me, but only to the sense I know he can do more and seems to be trying. 6) max - phenomenal 7) Danny - proud that he has proven he can mix it in this league, and any question he doesn’t deserve his place can be put to bed - regularly scores points at home and is a 2.0 rider The blatant route of the problem appears form. None of the guys except reserves and Matty give off the impression they are trying. That’s not my saying they aren’t, but they aren’t..! Contentious point - as much as I hated the bloke when he rode, i would pay to watch ludvig over Lasse any day

I first went to speedway in 1963 aged 7 and have been a follower ever since. For the last 4 decades I tended to go to Wolves 3-4 times a year plus Cardiff, the less I went the less I wanted to go. I have an adult disabled Granddaughter who asked if i could take her to an away match, as she is a huge Scott Nicholls fan I decided to take her to Leicester, since then we Haven't missed a Wolves or Leicester home match and have traveled to Belle Vue, Stoke, Sheffield,Peterborough, King's Lynn, Somerset and Swindon. The ( long winded ) point I am trying to make is I was one of the people on here who wouldn't go because it isn't as good as it used to be, but now I have my enthusiasm back most of the racing is as good if not better than during the 60's and 70's the only downsides are the lack of atmosphere, a disjointed fixture list and seeing the same visiting teams 3 or 4 times a season. Perhaps if others got off there backsides and actually went to a meeting they might get the bug back and go regularly.

Of course they’re not going to give you the reason why, but even the thickest of Speedway fans could see why it was done. Do you honestly believe that any business wouldn’t have done exactly the same? It’s 2019 mate not 1819.

I think you’ll find that if Harris hadn’t gone to Ipswich there quite possibly wouldn’t have been a top league this season and in any case Tungate for Harris is looking a pretty good swap right now. As for Cook, Buster never actually had a signature on a contract did he, that’s hardly his fault, and Cook wouldn’t adhere to the rules that Buster set for all his clubs but in the end had to back down. I really think the crap that Buster gets is unjustified, I honestly believe that if he hadn’t done what he did you would have nothing to moan about right now. Honestly some people on here really need a Speedway financial reality check. Big time.

Saw Danny at Isle of Wight last night, a six ride 18 point maximum with his race times over two seconds faster than anyone else. Even when he was well ahead of the rest he was still very spectacular to watch and in the last race of the match his battle with Ben Morley was very entertaining for the first lap but Ben was unable to really challenge after that.

The pit gate where bikes exit is halfway down the back straight as others have confirmed. The mascots and hangers on were on the back straight. I get that they aren't in the video but its' getting on my ** people downright lying in this thread.

For me, 1976 was special too, and I thought the GP was brilliant. Unfortunately, it soon lost its way, and I'm not sure why. I don't think there was any need to change things the way they did (perhaps the riders complained a full series was too hard on them, I don't know), but I think it started deteriorating the following year when they moved from a summer series to later in the year... Steve

True. Last year a friend & I ventured over the A66 to Workington for the 2nd leg of the KO Cup Final knowing the forecasts were poor for travelling but should have been ok at Workington. This proved to be pretty accurate that day but getting closer to Penrith we could have easily said "sod this, it's not going to be on" & turn around but we stuck to our guns & the meeting went ahead( not to our level of excitement at the EWR & the result going against us) but it was still a good afternoon/evening out(a long & a late one at that). Sun is out again!

I must have missed all those kids and pensioners standing at the pit gate where he was riding to. Were they airbrushed out of the video?

I wouldn’t believe everything you read on a P’boro thread.

Indeed......."Ladies and gentlemen, let's meet the opponents.....In the Red corner....................."

I don't think anyone is asking you to kiss his arse, but not even Buster (as the messiah) can prevent riders crashing, getting injured and having loss of form. Essentially that is why it is not a wonderful season, not because of Buster's ownership. One club has to finish bottom (and I'm not convinced that will be Peterborough BTW) and the team that does finish bottom is usually the one that suffers the worst of luck with injuries and loss of form. IMO he most certainly does not hold the customers in contempt, he rarely speaks and you know what, I don't blame him because he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

I think you'll find they are the most praised Promotion not team. Which as you say says it all when a promotion are talked about more than promotions in the top 2 leagues. They must be doing something right so where are the rest going wrong?

So, because he's wasting money we should kiss his a$$ and tell him what a wonderful job he's doing?? Totally ignoring the total contempt in the way he treats his customers??

It was entertaining though

Sorry, I was the one who brought the 'blue sky' up. Was just an example on how ridiculous it is to defend Cook. Next time I'll use a speedway related one.

It's pretty grey, miserable and gloomy in South Bank...oh and the weather's improving too.

If you don't have Capricornia its worth sampling. For me its up there with bsm and e&s&m. Haven't thus far bothered with FT and OverflowT, unfortunately I don't have a spare three hundred quid, although I have all the regular issue stuff so loads of overlap anyway. Ahem, apologies to others, er back on topic yeah I do follow speedway

He’s not top of the averages, Batchelor has higher average than him! Doyle currently averaging 8.32 this season which is poor for a rider of his standard.

Ah! The days of 'World of Sport'...personally I feel that when ITV cancelled the programme it was one of many issues that started the decline of speedway in this country and was no longer regarded as a high profile sport that it once enjoyed during it's last "Golden Era' of the 1970's early 80's.

No one will ever replace Adams as my favourite Robin of all time. But Doyley led us to the title in 2017 with a top performance in the away leg at Wolves. This year he has won us numerous points. He's doing a top job in my eyes and long may it continue.

What a bummer, was looking forward to the witches to bring the Poole fans back to reality with a solid away win

Think Connor Bailey has a good future in the sport ,improving quickly.

Not a happy evening for the Warriors but we still saw some entertaining action. Given the weather all the riders put on a great show. I met a number of Mildenhall fans who enjoyed seeing their side claim four points but you could tell they would have been happier if Warriors had been at full strength. Thank you to Barry Bishop for encouraging me to get myself to the meeting, with his enthusiasm the Warriors deserve all the success possible and I am looking forward to seeing the Belle Vue Colts in twelve days time against a hopefully fitter Warriors side. Best wishes to Georgie, Danno and Scott, I hope they all recover soon from their injuries.

Good grief Erik Riss is a cracking signing! Bears coasted this to be honest.

As above, the Bears are really turning on the gas , a very strong team at the MPA, and non too shabby away either. Certainly, the best Bears team for some years. UTB !!

Ah so the start marshal was pointing for Cook to head back towards the kids and the pensioners. All makes sense now.

even one had hijacked a glasgow suit i think it was a number 4 . could be wrong tho .i will save the triplets time by adding a sad, confused unhappy faces on my post ! ...

Looking ok in scunny atm

What's the weather like at the minute down there? Forecast not great, but might get away with it?

Well I reckon that's got to be the best meeting I've seen at The Abbey , the new tracks a massive improvement. Well done to Swindon but Wolves threw it away. No out and out number 1 is the problem. Decent crowd as well. Thought it was great seeing the Robins fans going bonkers in the last heat. A bit of passion from speedway fans. Who would have thought it

Jason is capable of bursts of brilliance but is so prone to injury, because of the way he overrides, that he never reaches any kind of sustained level of consistency. He has already peaked as a rider in my opinion and has failed to learn from experience.

Doris i have to put Doyley above Leigh, world champion in 2017 and he worked his socks off to get there.Leigh was a SUPERB team rider a joy to watch me personally would put Crump senior a tad higher but the Robins have been blessed with greats over the years.

4 NL points for Josh Embleton at Belle Vue (guesting for Leicester) tonight. Hopefully he will pick up an NL place soon.

Will the centre green presenter make sure that the Glasgow riders wait until the introductions are over before they do their practice starts ?

What I said, responding to MikeBV on another thread, was: ‘Each Club pays its own riders home and away of course, so a home meeting needs to cover rider pay for one home and one away meeting. A good rule of thumb is 100 points home and away, in my opinion £20k would be right at the top of the range; for a Premiership Club paying more than average and scoring well home and away (hence successful, which should enhance the crowd). Around £12k would be nearer the mark.’ £20k was MikeBV’s figure, not mine

Unfortunately there are too many people on this thread and the Eastbourne one with an agenda and using their pre existing opinion of Cook to form their view without looking at the incident for what it was.