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Yet he starts on a higher average than both Poole's Poles.Makes you realise that there is something not quite right about our beloved sport does it not.

Surely that's the visa process, working out correctly isn't it?? i) he doesn't qualify ii) there are several British riders who could fill his position so unlikely to be issued for that reason.

There are many clubs who can't host the 4's, or don't want to, sometimes due to lack of parking and pits not big enough. Whether people like it or not, but Peterborough is the real home for the 4's due to a great track, the racing, facilities, parking, viewing, as long as the venue is available for the right period. In it's absence, I applaud Redcar for taking up the challenge and will be there to support them and the event.

Criteria not met - simple as.

Well that made very interesting reading on the Rugby Borough Council Website re the application for Planning at Brandon, Previously I thought that Mr Horton had taken a “Bung” Now I’m 100% sure he has, In the application the owners have made great play in the Speedway Team have moved to a more suitable venue just down the road at Leicester, Disgraceful act

How about Josh or Archie then.

His loss of form, albeit through carrying an injury, meant you benefitted quite nicely with r/r

Nothing to do with what clubs can and cannot afford.Its the fact that you yourself and most other fans think that Poole's 2 Poles are better than Drozdz yet the powers that be have given Drozdz a higher average than Poole's 2 Poles.If both Poole riders are better riders then in all fairness Drozdz should have been assessed lower that's what is wrong with the sport no matter what clubs the riders sign for.

My involvement started really in 1994 when the consortium of George, Havvy, Bunter didn't have enough to buy out Richard Bailey, and I was asked to join them so the deal could be completed. This I did, but Kevin Wilde the owner didn't want us back in 1995 so at the end of the season all the assets were sold, and I got more back than I put in . So I made the pledge to supporters that I would put that money to one side, and promised to bring the Diamonds back at some stage. Brough's new owner, who was Wildes accountant, heard we were looking for a new track and invited us back in, and my capital was put back into the new business NEWSPEED LTD in time for the 1997 season.

My only (sad) experience of this sort of problem was in the early 2000's. I was in my late 40's and decided, before it was too late, I'd better start training to be the next speedway world champion. Don't laugh, this is serious. As a result, I used to go up to Owlerton, Sheffield, most Saturdays and practice on their training track. I even had a half share in a bike for a while. I'd been to Owlerton many times over the years to regular speedway matches and never knew they even had a training track, which was situated behind the main track, out of sight. Well I never made WC (despite what my profile picture seems to indicate!). I did go on to have an 8 year "career" as a sidecar passenger and raced on grass as well as half the speedways in England and Wales (nowt against Scotland, but the nearest I got was Berwick). Anyway the point of the story was that a few years after I stopped going to the Sheffield training track, the SCB closed it down on safety grounds. And this was before bouncy castles were the thing. So what was a great facility, for new riders (Ben Wilson was starting out when I was there) and professionals who needed a place to shake down equipment etc. (Simon Stead used to ride there) was lost forever. A great shame and not in the spirit of getting new amateurs on track for not a lot of money. We have to consider carefully where our sport is heading. The strength of the amateur scene is set to become even more important in the future. There is a move in the lower end of the sport towards semi professionalism and as we move away from the heady days of a few years ago, training tracks will start to emerge. Think on SCB, embrace this side of the sport or risk killing the whole concept of a new breed of riders for whatever future the sport has to look forward to.

Instead of wanting special treatment and a bend of the set rules...how about signing someone that fits within the rules. Do promoters think they are special.

More good work to look to improve racing and entertainment

Can’t you all predict Swindon for the wooden spoon ? It worked last year.

The rules and quality changes too much to recycle averages. If a rider rode in the league in the previous season they should retain their average. If they rode in the league below in the previous season they should have that average converted (1.3 currently seems ok). If they didn't ride in the UK in the previous season they should be re-assessed based on a clearly defined criteria to a round number (3.00,4.00,5.00,6.00,7.00,8.00 (Min for GP riders). It really shouldn't be that difficult.

A necessary course of action I would think . West Lothian council have always come across as very happy to have a successful sporting team in their midst , now is their chance to not just bask in the glory of the team's exploits since basing themselves at Armadale , but to use their power to block any advances which would bring all that to an end .

It has been suggested that any Speedway Supporters resident in West Lothian should try and lobby their local councilors now, before the planning application is voted on. It is unlikely that the Planning Officials, who are recommending approval, will have made the councilors fully aware of the opposition viewpoint.

No - they usually do them over

'Document Unavailable'!! I really can't understand how people can complain about the 'image' whether created by a computer geek or not?! Its being commissioned and paid for by the Stadium 'owners' who are primarily Greyhound operators and who will build a facility primarily for the Greyhound fraternity. Speedway rents the stadium and will have to accept whatever facilities - new or old - that are going to be there. The only way a covered grandstand with seating and possibly some terracing is gonna happen is if Speedway cough up some dosh or have sufficient negotiating skills to 'force' the Council to put pressure on the Stadium owners to build something suitable!! That applies to any stadium - not just Swindon - where Speedway merely rents the facilities. To be fair the creation of any additional structures can only help 'deaden' any potential noise issues from outside.

I think this is called making a story for the sake of it.

They should do there's two of them!

Dave, no one can dispute your fine efforts regarding Tne Diamonds but the paying customers still expect to receive some indication of what is going on. we are fully aware that finance is vital to enable the club to continue and I'm not asking for any state secrets, but I cannot see how we can survive financially without a sponsor so is it beyond the clubs wherewithall to actually announce that we do in fact have one? Not too much to ask surely?

One clear confirmation of the continued BT deal is clubs have the BT sport logo on race suits and team wear. For example when Poole posted picture of Sundstrum wearing a 2018 Pirates replica race shirt which is big BT Logo on it and having seen the Leicester ones again featuring BT sport. its just a case of they go public with the deal I have a feeling it will be around start of February

You really do need to take a little water with it.....and perhaps seek some anger management therapy!!! For those who REALLY DO ENJOY THE SPORT, I repeat you can watch the movie whenever you choose on Terrarium TV. No egos required for that!!!!

Damn,that's my irony meter overloaded!!!!

Can Brandon Estates go on record and confirm no money has been sent to Mick Horton to help fund Coventry Bees’ National League speedway venture at Leicester this season? Responding to our question, Brandon Estates said: “Brandon Estates will not be commenting on any historic speculation regarding the site. “Our focus now is on moving forward with the future of the site and the proposed development, on which the public can continue to provide feedback.” .. No suprises here then. not lining slippery micks pockets ,of course not . and the moons a balloon then.

Top man Ian “Statto” Belcher, my first friend down at the OTA .

Don't find it odd at all .Surely a thawing of the relationship would be beneficial to both clubs . A lot of mistakes have been made and a lot of silly nonsense spoken , it would be nice for both clubs to have a cordial relationship without losing that competitive edge when we clash on the track .

Just wanted to send my best to Somerset press officer Ian Belcher who has decided to hang up his clipboard after 15 years service to the club. Best of British in your retirement mate. Hope to still see you stood on the second bend........”so wide he nearly ended up in Wiltshire”.

Does the visa application rules say..if you are outside criteria you can appeal?? If that's the case why bother having certain criteria..

You heard wrong. Not picking Freddie over Jacob was purely financial. With no number one limit both would have been back. Piotr and CVS were gutted about the reassessed rule that affected him. Otherwise he would have been in the team too. Hopefully come spring he will be back on his 7.32 average.

Usually these threads are full of Berwick fans arguing wi eachover... this winter we just have this gadgey slavvering twaddle

There's only one biased opinion here and it isn't mine

Exactly this. They've done this from the beginning.

In 2006 when we opened there was nearly 5000 fans according to a senior speedway official, and facilities have improved since then, so if all teams send 500 supporters it maybe a full house, BUT I cant see that many coming from the 5 southern based teams, so should be a well organised, supported, and fair competition, on a fair racing circuit that will suit all riders/

So easy to criticise the make up of the Heathens' team....The fact is that this is a minor competition that gives fixtures to the clubs that join....more rides for their riders, more meetings for the fans. Does it really matter that the Cradley team is at a slight advantage ? I do not think so and, like others on here, I am very pleased to see Cradley still operating.

Well yes i agree but there are plenty of things wrong with the assessment system and average system, it needs a complete re think in my opinion. Musielak is another example and promoters will continue to exploit the loopholes if they are allowed to do so.

You might be wrong there, PJR recommends Castrol R in his engines.

For the same reason they assessed Martin Vaculik below Nick Morris and Jacob Thorsell. Whatever that reason is.

There were more midweek than weekend meetings last season. For me midweek is better, these things will even out I'd imagine.

In which case the smell given out has been reduced as I do not smell it at all now and have not done for many years.

Averages will actually tend to a little under 42 due to the impact of heat 15. But agree, a points limit of 42.5 should make this years league a little stronger. Esoecially when poole have a couple of poles on bargain averages.

It makes you a cradley fan

If BE has answered no it would put a end to any conspiracy and all the groups would be against them but they just want to have all the groups to continue at each other’s throats while they sit in the background quietly waiting for planning permission

You may be riight about Brady but IF & its. A big If CH hits form there could be a 5 rider challenge for the No 1 spot, yes Woyrina may be one of them although the least least likey I admit!

Hmm. Foz or Wayne Bavin for presenter? It's like being asked if you would like to be poked in the left eye or the right... I'd like to see James Hazell from Radio Suffolk give it a go. Witty, funny and not at all dreary.

No I think it was just a case of the speedway family sticking together . Sorry if whatever reason some get upset by Glasgow giving public support for another club , there's nowt queer as folk .

That computer generated image looks all to like an updated version of Crayford! I used to go to the old stadium for Speedway, Stock Car and Banger racing. The viewing was good from all around the stadium. Then they knocked the old stadium down and built the new Greyhound racing only stadium which only has viewing on the finishing straight. The stand at the new Crayford, like the one shown above, is flat fronted but does have viewing on two levels. Sadly on the lower level people can stand in front of you outside so you cannot see the racing and on the top level you have a reasonable view if you are on the front row but anywhere else you can only see the back straight as crowd in front block your view completely. Crayford and many other dog tracks has seating around tables for four which means the track is not in front of you but at your side! Much of Wimbledon and Walthamstow had the side on seating which means you have a job seeing one end of the track. From my memory (my last visit was in the mid 80s) the current Swindon stand allows you to see the track easily with seats that face the track rather than being a restaurant with a track on the side! I pity those who watch at any track that is built like that. The 700 people may well be able to be housed in the stand but I fear only about 100 of them will have anything like a good view of the track and while that may be acceptable at dog racing it certainly is not acceptable at speedway.

The BSPA

Without question it's weakened AGAIN.