GREDON

The bickering has to stop and stadium owners and speedway need to kiss and make up and get speedway back. Problems is no one on either side has a clue about track preparation, might have been different if Colin Pratt was still involved. It therefore is down to the track curator to do the job. Unfortunately however good the new man might be his lack of English is a big problem. The translation does not always mean the same thing. The damage was done in the winter repairs. The hole dug on the first bend had to fill with water, and no doubt still is. On top of that was put very wet shale, which probably still is very wet. With some warm sunshine, a racing surface might eventually begin to emerge. Probably needs a stock car meeting to rip it up. Yesterdays call off was unfortunate, but with someone on board who knew about racing surfaces, it perhaps could have been called off earlier, and would have saved me setting out. Fortunately I had a tip off, when I pulled into the M42 services, if only a portion of the rain that was then coming down had reached Brandon, the meeting could not possible have started.

Wonder if track problem is not similar to that that occurred at Gelsenkirchen and Cardiff, the shale mix is too wet. FTM has already stated track was in after last Stock car meeting. Major work has been carried out in winter, so no doubt a lot of water fell in the foundation which have been refilled with very wet shale. Any more rain such as Friday has nowhere to drain away as still wet underneath. The only thing to be done that I can see is to dig it up again when the sun shines and is warm and either replace with a drier mix, or dry out the existing which will take weeks.. One other point has Mr Sandhu sold stadium or not, if he has he is not going to pour money into the place while deal goes through. Think Speedway and Stocks people need to get together and see what needs to be done. Next Stock meeting must be in doubt

Who is responsible for the track preparation? Do not think it is right from Winter refurbishment. For once do not think we can blame Mick Horton. Mr Sandhu was previously responsible, but he has gone has he not, the new owner is only wanting to build houses. The previous track curator has left and the new one does not speak English. Coventry will finish season at Peterborough is my guess, Mick will not put up with this fiasco

Problem is now who owns the stadium, will he or she change the light bulbs and still be responsible for upkeep of stadium. Also ensure the track is got ready for speedway and stocks as Mr Sandhu had been doing.

Have put a comment on the Elite League Coventry Bees 2014 forum page. Absolute shambles, promotion could not care less about the fans. Not their fault but the Midlands Motorway and trunk road network is in chaos, mostly around 10pm onwards, hope everyone got home ok

Track has had a lot of work done to it this year. Would have thought this would include drainage overhaul. Weather cannot be helped, but track staff have not got a clue what to do except for putting down a couple of bags of sawdust. Surely with the time available some effort could have been made to get rid of some of the surface water. Track curator, must have had to come from Poland the length of time it took him to arrive on the track, after grading was announced, then he did not seem to have a clue. FTM please come back. Staff probably did not want to touch surface in view of Sundays meeting, which if on hope is over before midnight. Presentation even worse than usual, but then Mick Horton has Peterborough now Coventry Bees are closing, before the end of the season on last nights showing. A good crowd for a National League match, how may will come back for the Elite. Promoters could not care less about the fans and it is not just at Coventry

Whatever the weather Sat or Sunday, unless Coventry find some people who know how to prepare a track, there will be problems for this meeting. Sky want it finished by 8.30pm. The way Coventry operate normally it will be nearer midnight.

My understanding is that Brandon Stadium is a buffer between two local authorities and comes under Rugby Council. They have always been adamant that houses will not be built, otherwise they would be there already. The problem is that government offices overrule at times, and much will depend on the outcome of the next election.

Depends where you live, I had mine yesterday in the Midlands

Should have been on Sunday afternoon, might be warmer. Also much better for school children, as it is now Sunday evening, people will stay at home and watch on TV., especialy anyone who has any distance to travel

Hope it is early afternoon start

Believe there was also a dog meeting in between Stocks and the Cracker which would have given little time to prepare the track. It makes sense to utilise the Stadium as much as possible, but Stocks, Speedway and dogs are run by separate people. Probably would have been different in the Charles Ochiltree days. Shame really as although chilly has been a lovely day from 12pm onwards

Hope apart from reserves, no double uppers. Always chance Chris will end up in GPs and Hans could be missing on some Fridays, trust fixture list is planned around these possibilities. Would be nice except for injuries to see the same team every week! In fact it is I think essential.

Bees site says off, maybe next year for rerun.

Meeting conducted at cracking pace, due to forthcoming rain, which proved correct. Track held up very well. Some good races. No music pa system useless, obviously missing Chris. Have to say first meeting I heard not mone word that Peter Yorke said, no bad thing. Nice to see that Mick and Blayne have 'kissed and made' up, literally on the centre 'green'

Glorious day today, pity they did not have Brandonopolis this afternoon, line up may not have been great, but it is not anyway. Problem is they may not have been able to cope with the crowd that could have turned up. Would certainly have been larger than the one they are going to get on a cold October evening. Do hope if we get rid of Sky for 2014, whatever format the league takes, we can play the other teams home and away twice and if we must have the play offs that they take place towards the end of the season ie mid to end October

Complete rebuild

The double point tacticalsubstitute for starters

The country that wins this years Final stages next years, whilst this may mean Poland and Denmark every year so be it. No need then to have wild card country. Four riders per team plus one reserve, who can have up to 5 rides. Tactical sub if necessary, but not double points and definitely no Joker, this should have gone with Its a Knockout on TV

Definitely best GP for a long time, lots of passing and repassing. Would have finished very early if not for tapes malfunction. Eurosport prentation heaps better than Sky. We stay at the track all the way through except for Adverts, which do not seem so intrusive. Much better without Studio team, keep up the format Eurosport. Looked cold at track, is it ever going to get warm in Europe?

Speedway was not good., However have to say Eurosport presented it very well, almost felt I was there except for the adverts. Much better presentation than Sky, showing plenty of action from the track, including presentations at begining and end. No visits to Studio thank goodness. Anchor man who ever he was, kept things going but was not seen. Please note Eurosport more of the same please and do not copy SKY. Exclusions were a pity, but unfortunately someone has to be excluded if race is stopped as declared in the rules. Not easy decision for ref, but if a rider on the ground it is always likely to be him selected. Liked Jason Bunyans inflatable suit, might safe a lot of nasty injuries.

To early in season for prestige meeting like this. At least promoters thought about supporters and called off early. They could have said it was on, got people in the stadium and then called it off. Seems damned if they do and damned if they do not. Hope they reschedule for warm summer night if we have any, or how about a Sunday afternoon at 3pm like the old British Final. Super stars may not be available, but surely a good line up can be found

Although Chris Harris has spent a lot of money on GP, or so he says, its is not enough,. These days I am afraid, with a few exceptions, it is the riders with big sponsors eg Red Bull, Munster, who do well. The GP is expensive to compete in with not much reward I feel, unless you are winner each time. One reason I feel Crumpie is giving up, he is not getting any younger, and wants to put some money away for when he finally hangs up his leatthers. One other thing Harris needs a good tuner and mechanics he can trust and not any other hangers on.

I think bottom seven riders in Grand Prix should ride in another meeting against top nine in Challenge the top seven from this meeting go through to next years GPs. No wild cards, except for one selected for each GP, or is this too simple.

Believe reason Vojens not doing more GPs for time being is Stadium being developed, roof on?