jim3751

Was that slick? I'd love to see the action with more dirt. I now appreciate the sneaky comment about Lakeside

Me too. If it was closer I'd be there every week.

I'm considering a 1st visit to the showground to see 2 big track teams for a change. I don't follow the politics but can I assume that Craig Cook will not be racing?

PS If Natalie Quirk has to mention Mark Loram's name again I hope Scott will correct her pronunciation. (Off air of course!) It isn't LoRAM it's LORam. Or perhaps he'll just be as polite as Kelvin with Nigel P and plough on with the correct version hoping one day he notices. Or perhaps as TV dictates everything Mark will have to just give in and change it himself

To fill the Lakeside terraces how about a bit of publicity along the lines of : You've seen him on TV. This will be your opportunity to see the fantastic Craig Cooke in the flesh making his debut at the Arena Raceway.

Me too but I don't consider it to be anorakish, just interested in the sport. I don't do statistics so rely on others for averages that seem to stimulate so much interest but I do like to know who's using what engine and if it makes a difference. Also who prepares them - the rider's dad or a specialist tuner. UK or Poland? Lakeside have 2 riders using Jawas. Why? BTW it looked like Freddie Lingren was using a GTR engine. Last season Greg was using a Gold(en) tyre. Is that an option or is the Mitas the only one now? And what about frames or chassis? Tony Rickardson experimented with a Penske so who favours what? So much more than who wins and who's at the back

Seems like I'm in the minority of one for not appreciating Natalie Quirk so I'll definitely try harder next time. Didn't she used to do the stock car racing on Premier? I thought the guy on Eurosport started off not knowing much but grew into a real enthusiast and it showed. If I had a choice it would be Suzi Perry. Channel 4 are certainly missing her in GP F1 As for Scott he's a gem. Full of little snippets that Kelvin and Chris Louis could tell about but don't. But maybe that's the producer's fault.

That used to baffle me as well. Some diehards were calling for changes after winning one at home and losing one away. I just hope their pleasure would be even greater than mine after seeing a superb meeting like this one.

Of course it's a specialist track but the top riders don't find it a problem. Hans came prepared but Chris Holder obviously didn't and to see him trailing in last and off the pace was not the Holder I expected to see. Did he bring the wrong equipment?

Quite agree. At least after that tumble he gave it a go but Walesek has never ever made an attempt to race on this tack. When I was first introduced to Arena he rode for us (early 2000s) and remember asking my mate if he reckoned this rider would ever finish a race. He was like a fish out of water. For a 5.0 riders have to ride under race conditions. He reached the back straight in his first ride and just dropped the clutch in the remaining two. My dissappointment at Adam Ellis' transformation changed to admiration that a young Brit had made an effort to conquer a deficiency compared to an import rider who after all this time decided not to bother.

Any Lions fan care to comment on Walasek's performance?

Hypothetical case. I wonder what would have been the reaction had Tai not been restrained and allowed to go for Rico at Lakeside?

From TV screen he was using the GTR

Not necessarily a good move IMO. Of course it's naff but that's the hook. The Spedeworth Oval promotors use some pretty dreadful dated music for their racing classes but If you drift away and forget the sport you will always be reminded where you heard it and hopefully it will bring back good memories. Where are You Now My Love by Jackie Trent will always remind me of Hackney on a Friday night

I follow the BTCC and Warren Scott's team in particular because of his employment of the top drivers in the field Jason Plato and Colin Turkington. He is described as a farmer who used to race bikes and like many bike enthusiasts has taken a liking to speedway. He liked it so much he bought up a team. OK. Now it's said that he knows nothing about the sport yet says speedway will be the mainstay of the new Rye House development. Did he think he could sign up 7 top riders for his team? Is he a very very successful farmer who owns half of Hertfordshire or a secret lottery winner?

Of course the matter's dead but here goes anyway. Why is it the ref's fault? What does the start marshall do apart from wearing an ice hockey ref's shirt? He has enough time to scan all the riders from close quarters so should have seen the goggle less (!!!!) rider.

Hans Anderson looked as though he was complaining to a member of track staff. What was that about? It was on the screen for at least 10 seconds but unusually Nigel didn't comment on it. Normally he would jump on something like that to pad out the commentary.

A huge amount of development has been carried out on the kart track in recent years and I wondered where the money had come from. Who was responsible for that.

My loss of enthusiasm started when we sent a 3 guest team to Eastbourne on a Saturday some years back and got beaten when the match should have been postponed. And this should have been too or call it a challenge for the benefit of the Leicester promotion. We have no matches for 2 weeks then 4 in a week. How could this be a Lakeside win to be pleased about when we use a top of the league pairing to do it? IMO that's what makes this case look even more ridiculous than using 3 guests.

As a neutral observer I thought it was good entertainment and maybe others did too for applauding riders regardless of their team. Why this criticism of Len Silver? Tigers seemed to have the better all round team. eg Edward was getting the better of Lakeside team mate Richard early on (doors??) swooping round the outside line on the first turn. Is it any wonder that Richard wasn't going to take that throughout the whole match? As for Palovaara. Not bad for a reserve. But apart from the ridiculous problems the commentator had with his name (was it seeing 2 vowels together?) at least he was clear and intelligable. Craig Saul speaks so fast the lineups simply become an irrelevence. Presentation over information.

In the WTC his gating was better than usual so was that to do with the characteristics of the GTR or just a burst of enthusiasm for the new project?

Who was this brave person? Someone coming up to retirement who's fireproof

Blimey - didn't see that coming!

Some Poles at least have a go but Greg Walacek just seems to have a fear of this track and it's embarrassing to watch. I can hear the very words of the great Nigel " He used to ride for the Hammers so he knows his way around this track" Well he never did and still doesn't. He could easily have thrown a sickie and made room for a track specialist guest so I give the guy some credit for turning up. On the other hand it's really pleasing to see how far Doyle has progressed from the kid who couldn't stay on his bike in company to the dominant rider he is now.

I never criticise the refs. It's the way they see it at the time but it started controversially IMO. Ht 1 was stopped after a complete lap for a rolling start. Much as I greatly admire Robert Lambert did he have problems in Ht 10 or did he take the "percentage" route having missed the start? The occasional wheelies when toddling round reminded me of Lewis Bridger in his Eastbourne days.