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I HAVE been a vocal and vociferous critic of many things in speedway for over 50 years and could come up with a long list of things that are wrong with the sport today. Nigel just screams, sounds like a monkey, doesn't use any words. Do you actually read what you write? Of course, he is not everyone's cup of tea, no one is, but your comments are so ludicrous that no one will take them seriously.

Just think you could be listening to ermolenko then you have something to moan about !!!

But typical of his professionalism it seems.

hence being a new dad

I believe that his visa has run out, he can ride in Poland without one but if he leaves the UK will not allowed back in, he would have to fly home to Australia & apply for a brand new visa. Doesn’t leave the UK he can apply whilst still in the country. It’s an oversight from him not to have this sorted.

It is only a Workington fan with an enormous chip on his shoulder that is more interested that James flops then gives it the Karma s*it. He should be careful what he wishes for. He can't even get his surname right tells you everything you need to know right there.

Nothing wrong with Pearson and Tatum on TV. Much prefer there exuberance.

THINK you are on a different planet to most of us ... planet of the apes by the sound of it.

Newman bang out of order.

The PR side over the winter has been terrible truth be told. This promotion have been getting away with it far too long because they are 'new.' They're not new anymore though but people are still cutting them slack. I actually think the club has regressed on the communication side since Len Silver left and I never thought that was possible. Press and practice is a good way to get fans excited for the season. Not much happens granted but as it is free you get floating fans in attendance. The sound and smell, the new riders etc. can convince someone who may not be thinking of attending many/any meetings otherwise. Have been falling out of love with the sport for some time now, it's a real shame as I'm a stone's throw from the track. Don't feel like I'm being offered anything from the club to make me even consider attending at the moment. And for anyone who wants to wheel out the 'if you don't use it you'll lose it' argument then save your breath.

And so it starts.

I dont know the set up at Berwick mate but Supporters Clubs should be there to Support the clubs before anything else. I assume that happens ? No clubs No Speedway. Dont think Edinburgh Monarchs would be there if their Supporters Trust hadnt come in to back them correct me if wrong?

What is the reasoning for no press and practice? Don’t the promotion want to advertise their new season to the press? Why ban the Rye fans from coming along? Seems an absolute shambolic way to start the season.

Why so aggresive over it? Harris pulled out of the Scottish derby just before tapes up because his wife went into labour and Holder has already announced that he’s sitting the start of the season out due to ongoing issues and Poole have signed Kildemand in his place short term... Steady still has an amazing line up and I’m sure it will be a great meeting.

both pritty valed reasons in my book id never expect bomber to pull out of anything without a good reason

If anyone had the misfortune of watching the boat race yesterday will know what crap commentary is. Nigel Pearson certainly a lot better.

I have no doubt about Kyles commitment or effort. What I meant was I am not sure how far he will go this season. My guess is he will be a solid dependable second string rather than a potential heatleader, but if he gets an injury free season who knows how far he might go. I am certainly glad to have him in the team.

You don't read posts from Jenga you laugh at them. ha ha ha

Completely agree i never understand why all the hate for them and Pearson in particular who does a lot to try and promote the sport.

Maybe folk are waiting longer than one challenge match to pass opinion? People would look a bit silly if he bangs in a good score in his next meeting having ripped into him after Friday night

Hmmm. You’re one classy character.

I know that in your eyes EVERYTHING connected to speedway is always perfect, but put your tongue away please just for ONCE and actually LISTEN to his commentary next time two riders pass each other on the final lap of a GP race for example.....it will be screams and noises, NO WORDS. Now go and compare that to how a proper professional commentator i.e. Lanning, used to do it. Then come back with your stupid comments if you still think Pearson doesnt sound like a monkey in comparison!

He'll say he's in But then pull out In out in out mucking teams about He does as mummy says and let's you down and fans they get a clout Oh Robert Lambert Oh Robert Lambert Oh Robert Lambert Knees bent, arms stretched loading a van van van

The full 2017/18 speedway season's NZ championship results are . . . . . Solo Championships NZ National - 6 January 2018 - Moore Park: 1st Bradley Wilson-Dean, 2nd Andrew Aldridge, 3rd Ryan Terry-Daley. NZ Grand Prix - 17 February 2018 - Oreti Park: 1st Bradely Wilson-Dean, 2nd Andrew Aldridge, 3rd Ryan Terry-Daley. North Island - 21 January 2018 – Rosebank: 1st Bradley Wilson-Dean, 2nd Ryan Terry-Daley, 3rd Dylan Hancock. South Island - 27 January 2018 - Oreti Park: 1st Andrew Aldridge, 2nd Daniel Shuttleworth, 3rd Adam Shuttleworth. NZ Under 21's - 21 January 2018 – Rosebank: 1st Jake Turner, 2nd Jake Gillespie, 3rd George Congreve. Sidecar Championships NZ National - 5/6 January 2018 – Meeanee: 1st Russell Stuart & Andrew Parker, 2nd Wayne Lett & Chris Chatfield, 3rd John Hannan & Bryce Rose. NZ Grand Prix - 13 January 2018 – Gisborne: 1st Peter Adams & Jason Hira, 2nd Aaron Rose & Bailee Ross, 3rd Justin Lincoln & Adrian Orchard. North Island - 17 March 2018 – Whanganui: 1st Russell Stuart and Andrew Parker, 2nd Mark Whye and Jacob Cooper, 3rd Dylan Moohan and Tyler Berger. South Island -24 March 2018 - Oreti Park: 1st - Aiden Thwaites & Shane Twiss, 2nd - Paul Humphrey & Ricky Pubben, 3rd - James Douglas & Harley Biddle. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/

I'd still stick Nichols in heat 15

Indeed he has ridden at the OTA for Rye House. Sczezpaniak has also ridden there back in 2007 in a challenge match, so admittedly quite some time ago. For what it's worth he scored a shed load that night from memory. Shovlar is classic. Been telling us for months how good this Poole side is and now all of a sudden because each Somerset rider will get 4 minutes of track time tomorrow night it's going to make the scores closer - even though Kurtz, Kildemand and Grajczonek have all been riding this weekend! Not to mention we are now stronger because Lawson who scored about 12 last time is missing.... classic Shovlar.

The Berwick supporters club used to support the club and the riders, but changed a few years ago to only supporting the riders and theirselves by way of subsidising buses for away meetings. Which I’ve been told is the reason they have to change their name as they don’t Support The Speedway Club anymore.

Think you couldve named your own odds on that one!

I think lakeside will top the league this season with young Zach and Ben Morley be the surprise A lot of people in his league maybe not you guys who have seen plenty of them both but I think both will put more than 2points on there average..

While it is true Thorssell was poor today you could say the same about a number of riders in today's meeting in Torun, was he testing new equipment, was it a confidence thing, if its the latter the more time on the bike racing the better IMO and he should find it easier to win races in our Premiership.

You go on about how good your team is,if it's that good it shouldn't matter to the riders whether they are riding the track for the first time or the 21st time.Somerset isn't a tricky track like Wolves.Good riders will ride whatever track is there to ride. It seems you have got the excuses in early again just in case Somerset do beat you.

Simon Steads Last Lap at Sheffield Sunday. Brady looking really good, 2nd in Final.PK fourth.Encouraging. Very much gate n go. As track dried out, gating was essential. Vaculik showed his class when it mattered. Impressed with Brady, good use of elbows in one race! PK started slowly, but his last 3 rides he was certainly on it. Josh also did ok, with 7pts and 2 retirements.

Not writing him off Stevebrum, first meeting or not he bottled it every time someone came close, not a good sign for Wolverhampton. We've seen it many many times with rider's coming back from serious injury, they're slow to get back any confidence and form and probably best not to sign for at least 12 months

Let's hope the first of many wins this season...

To choose Thorsell over Lindgren was a ludicrous decision. CVS lost his marbles.

Looking at the line ups can see the top 5 of Somerset giving Poole a lot to think about. Depends on how quick the Poles settle in and which Kildemand turns up

Welcome back speedway, been a long winter..

Here we go again. New 'name'. same old tired, obsessive argument.... The late Dave Lanning once commented on his lively style that he would get messages in his earpiece from his director "Rave Dave, RAVE!". There seems to be an attitude amongst motor sport producers and directors that the commentators have to snarl like the engines and be extremely over the top, in the style of Murray Walker. If people think that commentators have a free choice then they are deluded. Nigel Pearson has worked extensively for both Sky and Talksport which are associated and both look for the controversial and sensational in the same way a 'red top' tabloid newspaper would. There's a market for it and while it may irritate those who know something about the subject the commentary team is normally focussing on the casual viewer who in a TV broadcast are probably in the majority. Nigel often says "It's all about opinions". Well, I wouldn't agree but then I favour a different form of journalism. It doesn't make him wrong and me right. It's just that different people have different needs. I was rightly criticised for my commentaries that they weren't lively enough, but then I made the mistake of pitching what I said to those who loved and understood the sport instead of simply trying to sensationalise, which to be honest is what most sports commentary tends to be these days outside the BBC. It didn't help in my case that I never got to see or hear my own work. I couldn't receive the channel and everyone was far too busy to let me have copies. Now I realise how I could and should have changed. Returning to the present, the stupid trend to make everything totally black or totally white shows up in the backward majesty's inane claim that Pearson and Tatum just gibber and shout incoherently and is disturbingly familiar and echos the same endless repetition by contributors who seemed to disappear just before another new name took up the 'divine cause'. It's ironic that they all claim that the commentators blabber on incoherently. I'd suggest they look in the mirror. I suspect also it will be one face and one mirror. Endless repetition of attempts to bludgeon their twisted views into others do little for their argument and cause you to be concerned about their mental health. Pearson and Tatum get it wrong sometimes, as did Dave Lanning, as did anyone who dared to try to commentate on speedway. Humans make mistakes. The trick is not to make it your life's cause to keep on repeating it in the stupid hope that others will be browbeaten into joining the divine cause and the loony's tantrum eventually gets his childish way. It's not going to happen.

I'm going to Leicester tomorrow so I can see them tomorrow.

Always worth taking a look at a future opposition rider to see what you are going to be up against next season.

Not at all buddy i dream of a 46-44 either way good racing whatever the outcome is what I want if that was the case we would attract more newbies As well which is the most important thing the sport needs . I don't get this brummies win at all costs i would be bottom of the league if it meant competitive racing that's all I want entertainment sod the league position.

Crikey Oldtimer, just for a second I thought you were about to say something positive about Somerset speedway!! Alas, I was wrong!

Wrighty and Doyle had a terrific race. You wouldn’t think they were team mates. Great stuff.

Nicolai Klindt, Rasmus 2 and Dan 4.

Everyone is entitled to a social life or personal life. When you are a professional sportsperson or in the public eye it's likely that others will comment on what you do. It's part and parcel of being judged as a professional.

There’s a very good reason why we are 2 points below. There are NO top riders available and that is obvious to everyone. We would all like a Rolls Royce, but ocassionally you have to make do with a Mini, till a Rolls you can afford comes along. As I have said earlier, we need to remember all that had to happen during the winter, and understand the reason why we were left at the back of the queue for the top riders. We are on catch up, and I am sure if another returnee from Poland, or a another good rider becomes available, the promotion will try to get them. Apart from a rocky period in the middle 00’s, the promotion has had decent success with some brilliant riders, and it is not in anybodies interest to be understrength, so let’s be a bit more patient before anybody stamps off in a huff.

Whenever there is controversy, you will invariably find Poole at the heart of it - whether they have done anything wrong or not. The standard response is that it is within the rules - which, of course, is true so they haven't technically done anything wrong. The issue is that they are perceived to continually "bend the rules" or use poorly worded rules to their advantage - there are lots of examples and PK being the latest. Technically, he didn't start as a GP rider last season but he rode in 9 GP meeting (out of 12) - so he was actually a GP rider. Whether its right or wrong I don't really care any more because having got at least 3 riders on incorrect starting averages (all within the rules) you just know they will always look at ways to manipulate situations to their advantage - that isn't a criticism its an observation! What irks me is the usual Poole fans on here trying to justify that behaviour as normal - it's not! So it isn't envy other fans have for Poole it is total disdain that they are "whiter than white" when everyone knows they are not. Are people that manipulate the rules to their advantages cheats? Well look at other sports and see what they think - F1 burning oil to gain an advantage, Bradley Wiggins taking "legal" drugs to enhance performance etc. The issue for me is that Poole continually court controversy and its not a team I would ever dream of supporting for the above reasons!

Bacon & Grondal @ 1&2 is a bit weak.

The point here is that the new rule is unnecessary. It was introduced as a remedy to try to reduce delays at the starring gate but as many have said, you can achieve the same end result by using a time clock, the best option, or by the referee simply enforcing the 2 minutes allowed. So why discriminate against the shorter riders when there are options that show you don't need to do so. We had a rule which was generally in common with other Speedway nations and now we have changed it and are unnecessarily out of line with everybody else.

FANTASTIC character, real salt oil the earth, under-estimated rider, skipper of a multi-talented Belle Vue side and as important to the team as his more illustrious colleagues Peter Collins and Chris Morton. Fortunate to have a long chat with him at the NSS last year. As forthright as ever. What a tragedy his accident was, not just for Wilkie but also his long-suffering wife whose own life was turned upside down after that fateful evening. Talk about heroes ... Wilkie is one.