woofers

Having seen both Worrall and Barker recently, it's a no brainer - Worrall out rode Barker all night. And surely you'll get more than 100% effort from Barker, he tells you in every interview "he gives 110% and his job is to provide entertainment".....you'll also get get someone who appears out of control most of the time and a danger to himself and other riders. I like Super Ted, but the fact is his best meetings are on the smaller tracks (Wolverhampton, Eastbourne, Lakeside ) so probably not the best choice for the Norfolk Arena, but I hope he proves me wrong and has a good meeting.

Anyone know if they have amended the "joker" rules to prevent the farcical situations we witnessed last year happening again ?

So are there any Sky e-mail addresses or contacts to write to expressing disappointment if GPs aren't going to be televised by Sky ? Although there is a bit of noise on this forum, couldn't something a bit more vociferous be organised via the Speedway Star for instance? A few supporters ringing up and cancelling their subscriptions isn't going to amount to much. A couple of hundred e- mails showing concern and asking a few pertinent questions regarding GP speedway coverage versus other minority sports including viewing figures, costs etc might gain more notice at Sky HQ. (Advice on critical factors to question would be welcomed!).

Can't comment on the rewards financially, but your assertion that big tracks take more skill to learn is highly dubious and most likely complete rubbish. Having spoken to some very good ex riders at Eastbourne they have all told me that the smaller tracks are technically much more difficult as you have to turn the bike, control the slide and use throttle control, whereas at the large tracks you can more or less keep it on the gas all the way round, with much less turning involved. I think Kelvin Tatum has also alluded to this in his commentaries, and I certainly notice the difference in engine noise and revs when attending tracks such as Swindon where it's full on most of the time, compared to Eastbourne and Lakeside where you can hear the throttle coming on and off.

But surely the whole point of introducing the new silencers was to reduce noise levels ? The issue raised by Impartial One is still vaild and worthy of discussion or reasoning. Logically there should be nothing wrong with achieving superior performance and still being withing the decibel limit. However, as we know, logic and speedway do not always appear to go hand in hand ! I will say though, when I went to the opening meeting at Eastbourne earlier in the year I was struck by how different the bikes sounded, it was like a drone, similiar to those noises made by fleets of bombers in those B&W WW2 films. But now either I have become accustomed to this new sound and treat it as the norm, or, and I favour this, the bikes are no longer "quite as quiet" as then..... something has changed, maybe one or two tweaks ? With regard to the case in point, I think we should await the official outcome and statement from Edward Kennett which hopefully will provide all the facts.

Possibly true, but a bit rich josie..... remind you of someone in the Eastbourne line up ?

Not sure if was on purpose or not, but if it was then justice was done because as others have pointed out it is "legal cheating". The rule in it's current definition is daft and last night showed it. With 3 teams so close on points, a rule that would allow the third placed team the opportunity to draw level with the first placed team is ludicrous. I understand the logic of having a double points "joker" to keep a meeting close but in this instance changes should be made ; either the points gap must be greater than 6 before the joker can be played, or the joker shouldn't be allowed after say heat 22. At one stage I thought Boycey might be doing the honourable thing, i.e. winning the meeting without using the stupid double points rule and beating the opposition fair and square, but I guess I was dreaming. Oh, and didn't Nigel Pearson go on and on about it !!!

Not at all, I was gutted ! I was merely making the point that it was a good meeting and that an experienced and wily duo managed to get the better of an overrated youngster.

Indeed, it was on Sky and held at Eastbourne, a pretty good meeting as well. The "superstar" Bridger was beautifully duped by Hans Andersen in the final.....

No chance of Cardiff outdoing that, no matter how hard the Sky presenters try ! Have to agree that the racing was top class, overtaking throughout the meeting and a handful of photo finishes, everyone seemed to be giving it their all. Surely this venue is now the jewel in the crown. By comparison, I have to agree that Cardiff is overpriced, and the racing no where near as good. I will watch it on TV, my last two visits have been overshadowed by people suffering from the British disease, "can't be having a good time unless I'm drunk"......

Was looking forward to the Pairs at Arlington but last night it was announced that the date (8th August) would now be taken by the fixture against Coventry, as the current scheduling of this is past the cut off date in September - have the "rules" changed again or was the fixture always at the "wrong" time ? Anyway, what now of the Elite League pairs, anyone herad where this could go to ? Shame, as I was looking forward to Adams / Zagar, Karlson / Lindgren and Andersen / Holder. Would have been a cracker at Arlo. Presumably the Coventry match is financially beneficial, I wouldn't have thought Bob D would be turning away good money from the Pairs event if he didn't have to.

Ha, I don't think so. They are in with a shout, but PK and Freddie have seen them off around Arlington this year. I still think the Poole pairing will be up for it and Poole will be wanting something to come away with this season, and I think this is the last chance of a title of sorts ? Arlington hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Simon Stead so I think Swindons chances are massively reduced without Zagar, fair to say that Adams and Zagar have been the quickest away pair round Eastbourne this year.

50% correct !, announced at Arlington last night as : Belle Vue - Kasperzak, Risager Coventry - Harris, Kennett Eastbourne - Watt, Bridger Ipswich - Nicholls, King Lakeside - Richardson, Davidsson Peterborough - Bjerre, Iversen Poole - Anderson, Holder Swindon - Adams, Zagar Wolves - Karlsson, Lindgren £20 admission, ( Eastie season ticket holders pay £5 ) £15 concessions. Programmes £3. Should be some excellent racing, more than 20 heats, and from what I've seen this year should be between Poole, Swindon and Wolves. I'm not writing off Watt and Bridger, they should make the semi's, but Lewis has a habit of over riding the big occasions and there will be pressure on him following the events of the last week or so.

Excellent news !! Now I can look forward to this one again, and hopefully the pairs will be the top riders from each team. Good news for all Eastbourne season ticket holders.

Would like to see Bridger. Kennett and Woffy account well for themselves and appear in the final. I'm apathetic to Harris, he seems a nice enough guy, but says the same thing over and over again in interview, but appears to be in over his head at GP level. Richardson has had his chances on the GP front, and at Lakeside last night showed exactly why he won't make it in the GP world. Nicholls is massively over-rated, mainly by himself. The best message he could recieve is complete silence when he is introduced, and mentioned thereafter. I have always liked silence in preference to boo-ing. Boo-ing lets the rider know exactly what you think and instills a competitive streak, ( Nikki and Hans relish it ), but complete silence can be very effective and powerful as well. The time is right for the old guard, ( Nicholls, Harris and Rico ) to make way for the new generation.

Naff all to do with this thread, but that's not unusual on this forum, so just thought I'd enjoy the moment......

QUOTE (Rob B @ Mar 16 2009, 07:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So what happened to Kennett, did Dugard ban him from the stadium? Rumour has it that you wouldn't be too far off the mark ...........

Just wondering what kind of reception Eddie will get from the Arlington faithful........

Err, this thread is about the Elite League Pairs, can't quite see why you want to bring up the subject of the World Cup, unless it's just to have a cheap dig at Eastbourne speedway ?

According to the preliminary meeting schedule per the web site, yes.

Eastbourne website shows Dean Barker Farewell meeting, Sunday 15th March 3.30 p.m.

The 'con' is actually putting the tickets on sale now ! The organisers are getting almost a full years interest on the money paid for them, for no outlay at all. The purchaser of course loses the interest on that outlay. Of course advance sales and discounts are part of all events and promotions but this does seem a bit excessive - surely the tickets needn't be on sale until the New Year ? It's just a huge cashflow advantage to the Organisers.

Nice and constuctive ! Perhaps you could enlighten us with who you would include ?

Hmmm, whilst I applaud the fact that the Cardiff GP wildcard will be selected from this meeting, ( being the highest placed rider ex Nicholls and Harris ), would it not have been better for them if the event had been held at a track with somewhat more similiar size and shape characteristics to Cardiff ? The boring flat out, drone that I have seen on TV from Blunsden is, compared to Cardiff, like chalk and cheese. Not bothered that it's not on TV, can't see that many of the field would have experience of the big track to make it interesting.

Scott out, Cam or Eddie in.