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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

Considering the injuries that Newman has collected over the years it’s rather surprising he rides someone out like that, that could have been very nasty and very serious, the fact that Horley felt it didn’t cross the line doesn’t surprise me as referee wise she is dreadful. The meeting itself was excellent, lots of good racing but it was interesting that Lakeside came back into it when the track went slick. Personally I thought Lambert should have done 14 and I would have used Nicholls in 15 rather than Grondal, the score line somewhat flattered the Hammers but most thought before the match Lakeside would win including their management. Its too early to say whether Panthers are better than most of the supporters think, but we should have a better idea at the end of the 4 Shield group matches.

Sometimes you just have to think back about what's happened over the last couple of months, then looks at some scores, then just have a little grin on your face.

If you want to earn money you make sure yourself you are ready for the new season.Don't rely on others to do it all for you.

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.

Danny has just won heat 1 of Steads meeting at Sheffield beating Kenny Bjerre and Doyle

Looking forward to hopefully getting down to Poole Friday morning. Big shame there is no Lawson as he scored big when we won at Poole last season. Not sure what other options are about with other teams riding too on the same day. Regardless of who wins, I just hope it's not the weather as the forecast doesn't look amazing and it's going to be cold!

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.

Sarge will be fine , he scored paid 4 and yes he has a bad habit of tape breaking that needs to be curbed but i am sure he will up his average this season, he was happy at Glasgow last time and fans will support him this season too, no point on getting on his back after 1 meeting.

Have to say quite a blow if you cant use Holder as his average was ridiculous and while many fans like to "slag " him off at present they would all (except KL) have him on that average.

Most of the Ipswich side were at Scunthorpe practicing on Wednesday

I thought you had to ride for the club before coming a asset may be wrong .nice to see you back

Doyle has turned into a world beater and is great to watch, his race against Wright was superb with Iverson superbly winning the race. From a Belle Vue fans point heat 12 was a cracker, Dan Bewley made the gate and was off, J Doyle could not get near enough no matter how hard he tried. Still a worthy winner of the PCMT.

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

ok jenga your right. lets sell tickets for a match and don't give a toss if the riders or team managers are trying to win. they are just practising and larking about but we'll charge full prices. that approach will really bring the crowds in. remind me how are worky's crowds doing,

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

Well done Doyley at Belle Vue tonight. Looks like Wrighty had a goodun as well. Encouraging start.

I enjoyed last night...... great to be back trackside The new track impressed but is the first time I have ever seen a speedway track with the grass at 90 degrees on the 1st bend..... good job the new track is wide enough to cope. Some really good racing and some learning curves achieved with much to look forward to for both teams....... roll on Friday!!!

He could have a " quiet" social life

Go on there instagram you can see them with the bottle. Whatever gets put up on instagram we have the right to discuss. I haven’t made up a rumour I have seen a photo and discussed it that I guess he isn’t riding due to drinking. If your that bothered go and be Holders PR manager.

Over the Easter Holiday weekend tens of thousands of people will visit the Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre. I bet that only a tiny proportion knows that there is a speedway track virtually next door. If I was the promoter I would ask the Supporters Club to ask members if they could spend a few hours over next weekend giving out flyers giving brief details about speedway, the Lion’s fixture list, a map of where the track is and an offer of a couple of quid off the admission price on production of a flyer. If the Thompson Twins in their gear could help out that would be even better. No doubt the owners of the Centre would need to give permission but I would not think that would be a problem as Speedway fans must generate some extra income for their tenants even if it’s just visiting MacDonalds or the pub or filling up with cheap petrol like I do. If the owners do not give permission then I would arrange for cars plastered with speedway posters to be parked in the car park for the permitted four hours whilst the car drivers did their shopping or had something to eat and drink. Two four hour sessions a day over the four days of the holiday would only need eight different cars and drivers. What are the chances of something like this happening? Zilch!

Over the years if you collected the tapes he has broken you could probably bungee jump from the top of Mount Everest.

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!

Have you seen the rule?

Geographically Buxton always suffer difficulties attracting riders however the opportunities are there. Do riders want a team place and the chance to put themselves in the window for future seasons or sit on the sidelines getting rusty and hope for something closer to pop up mid season? Not directed at Shane btw just unemployed riders in general. Hope he does get fixed up somewhere though, be great to see him back.

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.