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Each to his own, I think. I have usually considered Superbikes (along with other motor cycle and motor car racing) to be tedious. Cardiff costs twice as much as any other meeting and the quality of the speedway is no better than one of our average circuits. The racing at Belle Vue is twice as good for half the price. Do it. Make it a day on the Island if you can and go to the racing in the evening. You won't regret it. Most promoters regard the BSF as a haven for stupid, ignorant, abusive trolls and treat it with contempt and derision . This one spends 5 minutes engaging with us (costing him absolutely nothing) treats us as paying fans and could get £1,300 as a result.

I reckon they're putting off a decision on Kennett/Nichols until after they have both retired!

All these comparisons between 2 top riders is superficial. For years we have been thinking of ways to induce more quality riders to race here, and now we invent rules to stop them from doing the one thing we have always craved them to do. The fixed race nights would have opened the doors for some them top riders, but the short-sightedness of the BSPA introducing this '1over8' rule has in fact closed any doors that may have been ajar.... Crazy........ Without that '1over8' rule, we could have had more GP ridesr than we have had for years.....

That depends on what criteria you use. Granted his GREENSHEET average has never reached 8.00, but with bonus points last season it did. People say he doesn't team ride but he scored 29 bonus points last year, beaten only in diamonds colours by Ash (33). His away average was only 0.2 less than Robbo's, and his comparable with nearly all 7-8 pointers. He had a higher away average than anyone from Berwick (for example) except Morris. He is what he is. A solid no. 3/4. There are very few (if any) riders scoring 7-9 points regularly away from home who aren't genuine no. 1's (even if some are 2nd heat leaders. People say he shouldn't be captain yet I haven't heard any rider (team member or guest) say team spirit in the pits isn't great.

Four have already been announced, Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, NKI and Bjarne Pedersen.

Good read for the uneducated public. Need a strong vocal force to attend every open planning meeting to put pressure on rugby council. Brandon Estates can Eff off.

Yep is making a joke of it, yes will be a very young side but takes any point out of the competition as wont be a realistic side you could normally put together.

Great to see NKI back in British speedway , but such a shame riders like Freddie , K Bjerre , Zagar etc cant be accomodated

Superb this is getting national coverage. As it states there is someone willing to put money into the stadium! Planning must be rejected!

The SaveCovSpeedway group will be there and I suspect residents!

Both reserves to be named tomorrow Expected to be bewley and etheridge

Lindgren is the worst 7 point away rider in the league

I think they were called "monkey masks" i once bought one off taffy owen in 1976 for £4.95.wish i had kept it, strange u can look at pics from.then and know who the rider is buy the marks on the mask which covered some air holes these days with full face helmets they all look the same !

YES! Someone has posted about what I have been saying for this last5 or 6 weeks in that once you have achieved an average in 2017, everything else is irrelevant(racing in different leagues. I also pointed out that riders with older than a 2016 average ie Musielak should have NEVER used an old average but assessed on current form. I also agree with 2nd bendbeerhut in that those riders should have reassessed averages. There have been a few issues which were not thought out thoroughly at the AGM, but Rome was not built in a day, so we now have to go with what we have got & hope that Supplementary Rules, made by the SCB, that will come along in 2018, are for the benefit of British Speedway & not individual clubs.

I take it you don’t go to many away meetings then he’s I massive let down away from home end of

I was catching the 220 bus, door to door from south west London.

What a stadium, it still pulls at the heart strings!

You wouldn't recognise good advice if you tripped over it.

I was usually allowed to watch The Sweeney before going to bed, was on Monday nites at 9pm so school the next day. My eyes popped out of my head at the title sequence of that episode, pretty sure the 2 riders were Trevor Geer (blue & white leathers) & Paul Gachet, both White City riders of course. Think it was filmed on the day Ivan Mauger got his MBE at Buck House, he turned up at the track still in top hat and tails and got to meet one of his heroes John Shaw.....

Yeah cos he is going to use KK again

Great article - should be shared to as many sports media outlets as possible.

As all riders were given CL aves maybe those who are returning should also be reassessed accordingly e.g. Woryna Sundstrom Sczhzpaniak ...

Another excellent issue. Will definitely get the sister publication to read more about Jim Airey. However, was shocked to read in the article on Norwegians that my comments about Reidar Eide and Odd Fossengen were attributed to "Sidney the Robin" rather than myself. Can't say too much as the matter is in the hands of my legal team, but Sidney getting the credit!!!!!

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/15894764.Russell_hoping_Robins_are_on_home_stretch_for_new_stadium/ What kind of a "grandstand" is this ? Looks strange to me. Can't see any seats in front of that building ! Where from would the mentioned 700 people have to watch the racing? From within the building, behind glass windows, and from that small balcony up there? Come on, that may be acceptable for the Greyhound people, but that won't be good enough for watching the speedway ! All this somehow reminds me of the early 90s' ill-fated London Stadium project at Hackney which had a similarly "impressive" grandstand - and that was certainly not good for watching speedway ! I hope Swindon Speedway does not make the same mistake !

Looks like the council will now give approval to housing on Armadiddle Stadiu. Sad news ahead?

Ludvig Lindgren piece on the Diamonds Website. For those who didn't want him back, the last paragraph is just for you!! http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/news/article.asp?id=100824

I don't get the magazine so I've not seen the article, but I remember Jim " the trapper", and his pal Gordon Guasco from the days when they were riding in the UK. My overriding memory of Jim was the night he "slid off" on the first turn at monmore green, got up and recovered for a third place in a match between Wolves & Newport. It was the only race that didn't finish 5-1 to the home team, and I think the 64-14 scoreline is still some sort of a record.

Fantasy league speedway continues... Of course they’re going to pick the best team they can but it’s making the Northern section a bit pointless.

Although clearly written for a greyhound readership this has to be great news for the Robins and their fans. The new grandstand has similarities with the one at Poole, which although built 20 years ago, still provides an excellent facility.

Mixed feelings really, take away Poole's ringers and the league looks on paper at least to be as even as ever. But it doesn't do the sport any good to freeze out bigger names, particularly one or two who have been loyal to the UK and their particular clubs. And to then put the price up

Ah but we got the meet cos we talk proper like yerknowwarramean, even mor Kweens inglish than you Tykes

All riders started 2017 with a Championship average - converted for those with only a Premiership figure (meaning a few were actually over 12) The limits for both Premiership and Championship were recalibrated to accommodate revised league strengths Any fixtures from 2016 then became redundant with rolling averages being dropped. ALL riders were then awarded brand new averages upon completion of 4 home 4 away meetings A new conversion ratio of 1.2 was introduced for switches between the leagues during the season. At the AGM it was decided this was inaccurate and amended to 1.3 2016 averages (for those riding in Britain in 2017) were consigned to the dustbin when those decisions were made along with any rule relating to previous years team building arrangements I dont think Cook is to blame (was he even involved in the discussions at either conference?) Looks like he has been given misguided assurances based on an out dated scenario

Iversen holds the NSS track record though which would suggest they would be evenly matched there too!

This may be of interest... http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/last-new-swindon-ready-proceed/

He's still riding, but his results are well below the level he was at 5-10 years ago. See here http://www.aktuellspeedway.se/tyskland/forare/christian-hefenbrock/#

So happy that Redcar have got the meeting.. good on em... Reckon the meeting should move around and not be stuck at one track. Shame there's no fours qualification tournament though.

Leigh Adams was a huge favourite of mine too, what a pleasure it was to have him in Stars colours for two seasons. He should've stayed longer, the track suited him so much.

I am clinging on to the hope of a Brandon return. i do not believe there will ever be another stadium.

Ez had a very thorough knowledge of the Somerset track and what was required to prepare it. He certainly put the time and effort in and was passionate as to how it ‘rode’ each week. One could always see him peering anxiously over the 4th bend fence during meetings. Mind you, he rarely looked happy even if his surfaces were in top condition and communication was never his best trait. That said, he will be a huge loss if the rumours are true that he has left

Despite all the negativity about the Stars team I will be at the AFA when the season starts supporting the Stars. Let's all give the team a chance and see how it goes.

Well, we are just going to go and support the team whatever, we just want to see speedway. Cannot go bowling any more Star Lady as I have arthritis in my fingers. Use to bowl in winter when speedway finished.I think we had 6 teams consisting of 4 people back in the day when I lived in Newcastle. I have adopted the Stars as my team and if I had to choose on the night between 10 pin or speedway I know what I will choose. Speedway will always come out top. At 70 years I am not interested in the whys and wherefores and all the technicality. Been watching speedway since 1964 and would be very sad if I couldn't get to a meeting or if it closed down. Just want to see the lads racing and winning hopefully but it is not the end of the earth if they lose. We will still be there the following week/s.

The numpties are those that were wrong!

To be fair, based on last seasons meetings, most of the Poole fans had left by heat 10 or 11, so if Groundwell was made available it would ease congestion following the meeting.

The most telling document within the new planning permission is the 2017 Framework Master Plan. It shows houses where the "new" stadium was originally supposed to be. These plans are simply being submitted in order to unlock further house building. http://pa1.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/files/48810D4EB6A3C6FD126E1250D0E7D8C3/pdf/S_RES_18_0027-2017_FRAMEWORK_MASTERPLAN-646104.pdf

The now lack of smell and not so much noise has taken away what most people who used to go say they remember most. At world superbikes last year they relaxed the noise level and it now sounds better than ever and really enhances the enjoyment.

I have a terrific relationship with our 13 yr old grandson, who likes nothing more than to share time with his dotting granddad. He's a real dialled-in young man, obviously been spoilt, but he embraces many pastimes. His first love would be snowboarding, The point I'm trying to make here, he has been fortunate going to various events, MotoX Grass Track, MotoGP; Cardiff GP plus Lynn speedway , but speedway at Lynn would come bottom of his list. He says the racing is poor, the noise is too quite and the night goes on too long. Last year, he said Would I mind if he didn't go , cause not son...... so I reluctantly went alone.. . If the speedway is that poor, a 13yr loses interest , there has to be something drastically wrong with sport.

A very sad aspect of the BSF is the loudmouths who love to insult all and sundry in the sport who are actually trying to make it work, while very conveniently hiding behind stupid false names and claiming 'freedom of speech'. When someone working in the sport and prepared to talk openly under their own name here then tackles them they then hide behind accusations of 'unprofessionalism'. Yes, this is a forum. No it doesn't give you the right to behave like a poisonous anonymous coward and squeal when someone rightly stands up for themselves and bites back. Good luck to Laurence in his new job. I had no idea he had the divine power to shut tracks though ;-)

No! Part of the attraction of the CL is the arrival of young Aussies with potential to progress to greater things. Would the likes of Doyle, Fricke, Tungate, Masters, etc. have ever graced the CL if there was such a restriction in place when they arrived as promising raw youngsters? As usual with some "Brits First" posters on here, they claim that our Antipodean friends are taking the bread out of the mouths of mediocre locals. Fact is that in 2017 this "deluge" of young Aussie invaders totaled one, yes one!, namely Josh Pickering whose performances home & away were appreciated by Monarchs fans. As the visa entrance criteria has already been reduced from top 4 to 3 in State Titles, which as things stand , will prevent new Oz U-21 Champ, Jaimon Lidsey from appearing here in 2018, I would prefer that the previous quota was reinstated, which I believe, would allow Lidsey to be considered.

You don't pay a pound a minute do you .Most meetings are around two hours. Unless using your stupid theory you would only see around 6 minutes horse racing in 3 hours around 14 minutes in 3 hours at greyhound racing. Then about 4 minutes action in around 4 hours around 18 holes of golf There is only about 12 minutes played in one hour of tennis. Even football in around 62 minutes per match.Even in darts only about a fifth of the match are darts being thrown. Nobody makes comparisms about time in other sports so why do some speedway pundits keep doing so

"The law locks up the man or woman who steals the goose from off the common, but leaves the greater villain lose who steals the common from the goose"