TheReturn

Not sure if this was the late 80s or 90s, but Frenchman Thierry Hilaire for Long Eaton. Came in with bit of a fanfare, and at times we were not even sure if he knew how to turn the bike. Don't think he lasted long. I think he rode for another British club after us, with similar results.

Picked my first copy up in a long time from my local supermarket in Derbyshire today and good season preview. Was slightly surprised at how small the font is, although I admit I am getting on a bit now (51).

I am not sure getting in The Sun is something to be proud about..

So by that logic, all the F1 drivers are fake? They don't swear when being interviewed on TV. I am willing to bet they swear behind the scenes though, so that's not being fake, that's being professional I would suggest.

Stay real? Have a word with yourself. If that was the case then every Sky Sports interview post match would be full of expletives, especially this season with the state of VAR. There isn't, those professional footballers check themselves in front of the cameras, anybody with any level of common sense would. Swearing is not 'staying real' it's embarrassing in a professional media press day. As others have said, in the heat of the moment after crashing you forgive them to a degree if emotion gets the better of them when a camera is stuck in their face. But, in that setting yesterday no, and with Woffinden I actually get the impression at times he does it deliberately, which is also not 'staying real' it's pathetic. Now don't get me wrong, I swear all the time. especially at the City Ground, but I check myself when appropriate, i.e. kids around or I am doing media interviews (done a few).... it's not rocket science.

This. I listened to Darren Fletcher (who I remember used to watch Long Eaton) and Phil Morris and then they handed to the gobsh1te, and I had to turn off after a couple of minutes of his arrogance. I knew then he was going to get worse, and reading your comments, that is what happened. Credit where it is due, the event/day is a brilliant step forward and well done Phil for making it a reality. I am sure next seasons will be even better and even more professional. I have hosted events, and I feel ours got better every year because we always tried to learn from what didn't quite work.

.. and a Monster sponsor perhaps?

So as a speedway fan without a club to support, last night did become interesting, and despite the rain and what Tatum kept saying, I thought there were some good racing moments. I didn't see Sheffield pulling it back, and fair play to them. But.... I have always said speedway is ridiculous having play-off's to decide the league title winners. Makes no sense, it makes the entire league season somewhat pointless. With so few teams in the league over half the league qualify, and as it was last night the 3rd/4th place league finishes contested the final. To give speedway some credibility the league season winners should be automatically seeded to the final and get choice of 1st/2nd leg. The 2nd/3rd place teams content a semi-final. And for a slightly improved weather situation the final should be the middle of September.

As a neutral onlooker I don't think it was. It was embarrassing and unprofessional.

From a sporting spectacle a GP at Belle Vue would offer amazing racing, and I would welcome Belle Vue over Cardiff every day of the week. But it's become clear that the GPs are only minimally about the sport these days.

When it becomes more about commercial considerations and less about sporting achievement (in qualifying) then we the fans, have lost.

I hope he does repeat history, but let’s be honest based on his recent form I don’t see him finishing top 6.

Not a surprise, but not sure Woffinden deserved another wildcard. It makes a mockery of the sporting contest where you can be selected because your face fits or because of being a world champion five years ago, rather than because you earned the right to be there based off form over the last 12 months. Wildcards should only ever be reserved for riders who were on target for qualification but injury prevented.

Possibly, but the race off was an empty stadium, so arguably could make it more commercially viable if home fans do go to both events. Especially if they offer tickets for the final at a hugely discounted price when purchased with the race-off (not sure if they do that already), could mean more income than fans just attending the final.

Last night was a good event, good close racing. My only gripe is that the hosts (Poland) should never be seeded straight to the final. They should be made to earn their place in the final, and that means if seeding to the race off (if the hosts have to be seeded somewhere). Poland are too good and would have perhaps won anyway, but feels wrong the hosts go straight to the final, it gives them an unfair advantage.