Leaderboard

Actually, even that is only part of the story. We travelled to Wembley from Halifax and were ONLY interested in a KC win. It should have been the worst thing in the world for the despised Penhall to win and in THAT fashion. But he did. And yet even so ... that night remains in the top three Speedway meetings I have attended in my lifetime. And the other two up there are not GPs either. I do really love the SGPs ... but being honest probably only the odd one or two creeps into my Top Ten of best meetings ever. It isn't all about 'the racing'. Never has been The best EXPERIENCE is a combination of so much more that just 'counting up the passes' on the track. Perhaps you just had to be there. But Wembley 1981 really was THAT special. And trying to explain just how tangible that experience was to those who were not present is just utterly futile.

I don't detect much negativity from true Comets fans at all - on the contrary, I think we are generally pleased with the new line up and delighted we have speedway in Workington again in 2018.

Believe me when I say that at Somerset, all those things have and do happen every season.

If Kus and Jordy are 2 of the 3 remaining that would leave us with around 5.80, why go with Tobi on 4.66 and waste over a point when we could have someone like BWD, could of had Ellis back aswell, british lad, most improved rider in 2017, and now ditched, looks like we got what we needed from him last year and then tossed him aside 1 british lad in the team this season compared to last seasons 5, what happened to bringing the young brits through?

Who cares. Swindon didn’t give Ford permission to steal Miedzinski. About time his pathetic oneupmanship was exposed.

Didnt realise we had signed 2017 KO cup 3 point match winner Scott Campos;)

Do you realise: if you post that on social media now 50,000 people will have shared it by lunchtime, 8 billion by tea time, and by tomorrow the world leaders will have all seen that we’re all not working hard enough and we’ll all be subject to a totalitarian regime ...... run by the BSPA!

1981 was the year I attended my first meeting. Right from the get-go, I absolutely loved it. I really hope there are other 7 year olds who have that same feeling I had in 2018 about the sport and are blissfully unaware of all the silly politics around it. I remember we bumped into my hero Chris Morton in a motorway service on the way back from a meeting. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement...happily the sport still has that down-to-earth accessibility other sports have lost. My fear is that the parents of these 7 year olds are not buying into it any more. The overall product is not strong enough to justify an outing for the whole family. Now, I have kids of my own and live in Devon. Can I see myself taking my 5 year old twins to Plymouth Speedway in a couple of years? Or will I prefer to spend my money on an outing to a climbing centre, the cinema, the Exeter Chiefs, the theatre, swimming? All similarly priced, all patently better leisure experiences, all much more likely to be enjoyed by the whole family. It's a no-brainer really. ps. on the 81 final, I think the collective joy was around the champion himself. Penhall had the looks, style, charisma that no other rider before or since could match and he won the title in such a brilliant fashion too. That's why we remember it so fondly. Plus, he was on Tiswas too.

4 valves the beginning of the end, followed by laydowns this is when firm leadership was needed to avoid what is now effectively an arms race where no one wins but tuners and kit suppliers extra 2 mph while we on the terraces gain nothing

But so was Vaculik, who is now 8. Apparently.. If the BSPA were capable of publishing facts, this sport would not be in the mess it is in. The uncertainty certainly erks me allot.

WHY DO WE HAVE TWO LEAGUES ? We go into the 2018 season still with two leagues which is fine if both leagues were vastly different but now the only difference really is one rider and some Championship teams look almost just as strong as some Premiership teams. Yes having two leagues creates more meetings for riders doubling up which years ago was just the odd rider but now most riders operate in both. But to create more meetings means seeing the same teams twice and sometimes the same team visits just weeks after their first visit. However the real reason we have a Premiership League is to give places for the few top riders that still ride here for one reason or another. In 2018 the only riders that come into this category is Jason Doyle, Jacob Thorssell and Martin Vaculik as the other number ones that have been named already have Championship places and both Vaculik and Thorssell start with averages lower than Nick Morris who is signed up in both leagues so having one league should mean those two could get places in one big league. Morris, Masters, Harris, Cook and Schlein all have Premiership averages higher than that of Nicholls and Kennett yet these two Brits are having to fight for the right to ride in the second tier in their own country wile riders like Ellis Perks, Tom Perry and others are looking to sell their bikes as they can' get team places while riders from other countries can get places on averages they achieved that is short of the average they first came in on and fill up the lower berths in the second tier while National League riders await the chance to ride. If there was one big league featuring the 8 Premiership and 11 Championship tracks it would generate 18 home and 18 away (36 matches) which is just 12 less than running two leagues (28/20) and if the season started with the forgotten Craven Shield or Young Trophy meetings using regional groups then it would be about the same.number.of meetings overall. So basically the only real reason we are still operating a Premiership is to accommodate JASON DOYLE and to satisfy the few clubs that can afford such riders and keep the prices at £18 a meeting for a product that has got weaker and weaker each season and this season doesn't even have a rule in place to ensure tracks use British riders. SO SHOULD WE HAVE GONE ONE LEAGUE ? Well one league would have created a more varied fixture list bringing back the days when you.only had.once chance to see that visiting team and didn' want to miss it. It also creates local derbies such as Belle Vue v Sheffield or Lakeside v Rue House but most.importantly it creates spaces so plenty of places for.not only new riders but.reserve places for National League riders that need track time and revenue to make it pay. So in my opinion we have again missed the chance to rebuild British Speedway at an affordable level and getting teams to be your team once more just to accommodate the World Champion VIEWS

Does the video of the meeting really matter? What is far more important is the experience of those on the night. And Wembley '81 was a magical meeting. The atmospheric was electric, especially during the Penhall/Olsen and Penhall/Knudsen duels. I would suggest anyone who doesn't like this meeting wasn't actually there!

Sounds to me like it's just spin in the latest Echo article. Poole might be in a bit of a pickle for team building.

That's on youtube. Bruce trundling along on the little tricycle (he was still going faster than in that Overseas Final race though!) I wonder who won his racesuit? It was a massive blow to the sport when he retired, and it somehow took something away from Carter...Their rivalry was legendary.

As I have said before, I will continue to sponsor Leon, he has massive potential. I like his signing for Birmingham as I believe they can get the best out of him. Please remember he is just 15, so does not need pressure, just nurturing. Any pressure needed he will provide it himself, even if he started brilliantly, he would still demand improvement of himself. TAFFYS

After all the moaning on here I would expect it to be one of "those" particular members of this forum........... they can then set about delivering what they have claimed should be "easy"!!

Bet BV management are happy! announcing 2 members of the team.

Just run with 6-man teams if that is the case ...

Sincerely hope not! Jeez!

It's just the usual "cloak and dagger mentality"that rules speedway

I personally like the team for the fact we will always have a potential match winner at reserve (Newman or Bates) and second string (king or piesczcek). Plenty of strength in depth. Now just to hope we’re a bit luckier this season!

Is it me or is there a hint we may have Nicki Pedersen in the team since they are standing in front of his bike ?

Konopka and Dilger the last two

He’s not a bad lad for a Manc is he?

Plenty of the predictable annual defensiveness when people don't rate a team get a grip people, it's a discussion forum. Almost any of these riders could end up as number one, hopefully it'll be Bewley. Early on there looks like few race winners away from home but solid outfit nonetheless.

You'e a proper fan Win,Lose or draw cheer your team on. You had enough seasons without a team. Cherish it now they'e back

Thanks for the Info I knew changeover day was friday/Saturday. So in the past it would be a problem, but now maybe the promotions work in that area may bring some rewards. In reality with the World Champion and a great racetrack you would think people would be flocking in. IMO even though it is obviously for team building purposes Swindon are mad not to use him. A Town like Swindon with a World Champion in the team should be packing them in. At least they'e trying which is far more than some promotions do.

Why?? Jeppesen at Somerset is a 4.

Where do you think SS get their info from??? The quote says " it appears further talks have taken place behind the scenes and Vaculik will not be hit with the proposed figure (9), which is WHY LEICESTER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SNAP UP HANS ANDERSEN " I'm sure SS know what they are talking about???

Thank god we have 3 leagues, as it should be. The indications are that more top boys would have ridden here this season without the cost cutting 1 8 or over. It's more vital now than ever to try and get a stronger top flight for next season or possibly allow riders in once the season starts. The genuine excitement over 2 day racing that the top boys have been asking for quickly faded when it was done purely as a cost cutting exercise with the thought of no TV money coming in. Hopefully a way can be found for next season to get some more of the top boys over that will be essential to have a top flight league. The sport will be in a much worse place if they amalgamate the leagues, clubs will be down to the bare bones of fans as yet more drift away from the weakest option possible. Just my opinion of course.

Whilst I don't disagree with what you are saying it's not about doing "worse"............. its about doing better! My earlier somewhat tongue in cheek post was aimed at those who have shown so much negativity whilst spouting just how easy communication between club and fans could be. Well.................. here's their chance!!!!!

Seems like a hard shell but soon melts away at the first sign of a crack in the casing.....???

I see a degree in English is required, that will be difficult to find in Norfolk and is definitely an essential requirement for Speedway.

So you should when you are allowed to build to 44 points rather than 42.50 like every other team

HOPE to know more on Monday but don't think the format will be anything like the Somerset one. As I understand it, the plan is still to alternate yearly with the four-nation SWC and a seven team Nations Cup in which the riders from each country will race as a pair rather than as individuals which will encourage team riding.

Will be a good indication this year where GB is on the world stage with drodz wroyna and co in the premiership. If they set things alight its a further worry.

Yep - very poor isn’t it?? Perhaps they may now get off their behinds and start announcing some riders!! They should realize in this day and age that news gets leaked on social media if you mess about for too long!!!!

You can't beat the Brummie language, can you.

If lebedevs on his old kings Lynn average. And he should be then Cook Worrall Tungate Lebedevs Fricke Bewley Etheridge

Looks like an old bike. Rear mudguard is not a hugger and throttle is metal Magura , not one of the fancy see through ones they have used the last few years.

Brent Werner was in the team and was the newccy brown ale man lol

Let’s hope so - that would be a dream signing

And that team will pull a lot of Cov fans to Leicester

quite agree forget averages i know who i rather have over hans or holder any time if hans does go to leicester they look pretty strong to me

Not the best kept secret was it, but they always say a new brush sweeps clean. Lets hope so.... I've heard Brundle is taking over most of the Promoters duties leaving Buster concentrating on the BSPA Chairmanship. Be interesting to see the changes that will inevitably be made..... and where the emphasis will be concentrated on. My one hope is he can produce slick presentation with exciting racing. If he can get the crowd on side then who knows what he can achieve. Next announcement expected 12th January.

If that is the 2018 Lions I think it will take some beating, just because of mixture of riders. I have been trying to find riders where the 0.6 spare could be better utilised, but I'm struggling. In terms of experience you have enough knowledge in GB racing from King & Andersen to pass on. All Vaculik & Pieszczek have to do is go out there and be as fast as they can, winning as many heats as they can. Even if Pieszczek struggles early on, having him at reserve with Newman & Bates in the team is far from disastrous.

It’s a great idea to promote to the holiday makers, but there are still people living in Somerset who have no idea the track is there. Surely these are the people the promotion should be targeting.

They may be not world stars ,but they have shown there loyalty to the club instead of taking off for pastures anew as soon as soon as better terms are offered elsewhere , they have stuck by the club when others like B.Barker . C. Harris , P. Starke , J.Holder have all turned there backs and moved on. That's why they stick by them because they are reliable and dependable and put the club first , regardless if they are the best options or not loyalty must go a long way.

So it seems that the rumoured re-assessment of certain assessed riders has indeed been re-assessed. The original 'independent' assessment has been assessed as being wrongly assessed so has been re-assessed for the coming season. I expect to see an announcement about the re-assessed assessments fairly soon. In fact I would assess that it will happen sometime before March - although I may well have to re-assess my assessment.

Looks a team of second strings... whos winning races?? Think Bewley will end up as number 1 by the end of the year