Rob S.

Yes, thanks Tocha. Don't understand why no Rye meeting on either May Bank Holiday Monday?

According to the Mercury site (linked to the Rye O/S)...Gjedde is out and Doyle is guesting.

A must win for the Rockets, (if Plymouth beat Newcastle) to avoid the wooden spoon! Edinburgh have Doolan and DIlger guesting (according to their O/S), and they scored 27 points between them when Redcar visited Rye a few weeks back. Thankfully, Garrity is back, and new averages have Lykke down at reserve. With the continued absence of the Rye O/S, no news on Gjedde returning, or a named guest.

In a word "NO"....Shadders. Edinburgh have Wolbert as a guest, and as we are on 2nd (following Glasgow), Grieves will be suitably knackered, for our match. By the way, what's happened to the Rye O/S ? Don't seem to be able to access any news updates - except the Mercury site.

Must confess have missed recent RYE home defeats. Two guests, R/R, Lykke and Lambert struggling - has not tempted me to drive the one hour distance from home. From recent forum attendance comments, this sadly sounds like an increasing trend at Rye.

Sounds good value this one (especially with Robbo there), and normally enjoy an annual visit to Scunny, but sadly working.

2012 possible: bang on 42.00 without any GB reductions.... 1 Neath 8.66 2 Bowen 4.97 3 Hawkins 5.13 4 Boxall 6.04 (only if gets new machinery)! 5 Auty 7.70 6 Bunyan 4.74 7 Nelson 4.76

Some fair comments, there BossMan. What I was trying to get across in previous posts: very harsh to judge and criticise Rye on one/first meeting - given prior weather difficulties and mind-set of riders so early in season. I agree Len is stuck in his ways in-terms of presentation, and also frustrates the hell out of regulars with his policy of not watering the track an hour or so before heat one. That said, what he and his team have done in transforming the stadium into a very comfortable place to watch speedway - is nothing short of marvellous (Dont forget it is now FIM approved). Some of the speedway stadiums around the country are stuck in a time-warp and not plesent places to watch speedway at all. As for the track, we all have our own teams - so will defend the home racing to the point of tinted glasses. Everybody knows Rye is a tight packed-down track, which doesnt lend itself to loads of dirt. However, home supporters have still been treated to some excellent racing over recent years, including some outstanding riders capable of entertaining overtaking manoevres. That said, you will of course get some rubbish meetings at all tracks (even Somerset and Scunthorpe which many rightly include as good tracks for racing) and unfortunately we endured many last season at Rye. In conclusion, the setup at Rye has many things much better than most other PL teams - the stadium and facilities, good safety-fence record, and a consistent track surface - not prepared to just suite home riders. There are aspects of other clubs that are definately better than Rye....yes that does include length, shape and track surface. But we all support our own teams and enjoy seeing different types of racing around the country, so I dont think a track can be judged on one meeting alone. Rant over....now looking forward to the proper business of Premier matches !!

I dont resort to personal abuse, and Im certainly no "arse-licker". The point about the nice weather on Sunday, was supposed to illustrate how awful this winter's weather and build-up to the meeting was. Of course I've seen better racing at Rye and obviously elsewhere - but taken in the context of the first meeting of the season for the track staff and all riders in attendance - this meeting was never going to be fantastic, but was an acceptable opener none-the-less.

I read the usual RYE track knockers are out in force again. Last Sunday was luckily the best days weather of the year so far. So did you not here Len publicly thank the track staff for a superb effort over a number of days to even get the meeting on. Yes, heat one was an unacceptable dust cloud, but after that - regular watering and grading settled the track down. Im sorry, but many of the Elite field had never riden Rye, so first visit and so early in the season - they were never going to take unnecessary chances to over-take. Case in point was Wuffy - who knows Rye backwards, but seemed to settle into whatever position he found himself after the first turns. First meeting of the season, tremendous turnout by fans and riders, for a terrific cause - lets please focus on that.

S-Star, Will ignore the middle comment, as I know how you feel - after Robbo being injured in October last year! However, I am surprised this individual was not scheduled at the end of your season, and as you say - an injury was unfortunately bound to happen at some stage. Speedway can be cruel at times. Best wishes to TT - he's a class act.

Yes fair comments, but some fans have to pick and choose meetings due to financial constraints etc. (especially when trying to follow two Rye teams). Personally can not attend due to other commitments, but hope its a good evening's racing in memory of Vic, who gave us plenty of entertainment in his time at Hackney.

Yes hope Ed and Steve B can re-produce similar form should we get Sheffield in the PT semis. Not heard of Zabik before, but bet there will be a few PL or even EL suitors for his signature now.

Dont know if anyone agrees, but I get the impression that whenever our top English boys move up a level, their bikes just dont seem to be as quick as the Aussies or Scandinavians. EG. When Nicki P moved from PL to EL, to GP level he suddenly seemed to have super fast equipment. Similar story with Lindback, but then again didnt he get some of T-Rick's castoffs? I think many of our boys obviously have the talent, but dont quite seem to be able to keep on a par with the foreigners at the very top. Dont know if this is a sponsorship/money problem or what? But very fast equipment is essential, especially when you consider Olsen mainly prefers to prepare super slick tracks for the GPs. Oh well, we will just have to wait a few more years for Bridger - but even he admitted on Sky the other night that he "can't gate".

From British-speedway.co.uk: BRITS GET VALUABLE TRACK TIME GREAT Britain's youngsters will have extra practice at Sheffield ahead of the World Under-21 qualifier at Owlerton next Sunday, May 14 (6pm). Steve Boxall, who faces a race against time to be fit, Lewis Bridger and James Wright will all be invited for practice after Sheffield's Pirtek Cup clash with King's Lynn on Thursday. Co-promoter Neil Machin said: "We are doing everything we can to help our boys go through." LINE-UP: Rene Van Weele (Holland), Chris Holder (Australia), Steve Boxall (GB), Andrew Aldridge (New Zealand), Matt Tressarieu (France), Adrian Miedzinski (Poland), Troy Batchelor (Australia), Ruslan Gatiyatov (Russia), Lewis Bridger (GB), Hynek Stichauer (Czech Rep), Karol Zabik (Poland), James Wright (GB), Marat Gatiyatov (Russia), Skyler Greyson (USA), Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), Kyle Legault (Canada). Good luck to all the GB boys.