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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.

Do please post the whole 260+ list then please if you have access to it....

I wasn't there but enjoyed the racing on ITV and later, on video. Proper speedway racing, when it could pull crowds.

I don’t think it’s a case of being wrong or right. I think it’s a concern that people like me, who have great affection for the sport with a young family see other leisure activities as much better value and a better family experience. All the activities I list have upped their game and evolved since the 80s. British Speedway has not. I doubt I am alone in that opinion. Based on my last live experience of speedway, young families were massively outnumbered by 60 and overs. That’s a worrying trend. I’m sure some clubs - and a few on here make a good case for the Isle of Wight - deliver a better family experience than others. But broadly speaking, the sport isn’t providing a good enough package to entice young families through the turnstiles. I am sure when the time comes, I will take my children. But it will be more out of my own nostalgic fondness than any great optimism they will enjoy it.

Somerset are really lucky, they have many volunteers doing a great job.

So either speedway star are wrong (Hans to Leicester) or the Echo are. My money is on a proper speedway magazine being right.

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!!!!!

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

Got it now. Must have listened to a different interview before.

Not the finest hour for the Gorton branch of the Masonic Lodge. All very well and good wanting to announce the team in one go, but has backfired on them this time. Personally, I would like the club to announce signings as and when they happen, as it helps to maintain an interest level during the bleak winter months.

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!!!!

Expect Drodz will be in the 4 point band on the mystical mystery list.....

I might be in the minority,and as exciting as Nicki is to watch,coming back from a bad injury on a 9 point average? I wouldn't have him.Would be ok on a 7 though

Given the riders signed so far all fit into Mason's well maintained / well presented machinery ethos Layne would definitely be the exception however i think the numbers stack up too nicely for him not to be included. Whilst its a risk with Layne & Callum at 2&4 to start with it does ensure a good reserve all season even when Leon moves into the 1-5.

Just hope we didn't jump the gun in signing the riders have a nagging doubt.

Very good looking and strong team. Best so far by a mile.

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

That is good, and as has been mentioned a change of night from fri may help.

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.

There is of course the possibility that all the talk about CH is hot air, and it has been decided one way or the other quite a while ago, none of us really know.

As previously recommended subscription works perfect. For the weekly reader it’s a no brainier - delivered every Thursday and a good value subscription discount. Understand local postal services can differ.

That’s crazy about Ellis Perks. Just like Stefan Nielsen this year. I can’t believe Championship promoters don’t prioritise British talent. Why isn’t there a rule requiring all British riders under 25 who have achieved a 4 point average to be signed? Ellis might not be the big improver that wins you the Championship title this year - compared to the new 5.2 point Scandinavians - but he will be a solid, cost effective investment for years to come. It’s also crazy that Premiership teams have dropped the two British riders rule.

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

Not really. Hampshire looked like he had lost interest in the last few months of the year. He and Cupitt need to learn a lesson before they sit on a speedway bike again, that application and dedication are for life not just the first few weeks of a season.