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No we just phoned him for his opinion.

Chris gay asked both captains their opinions. If one side were prepared to ride he was going to get the meeting started however after initially being prepared to ride the Ipswich team seemed to be swayed to change their minds by their captain. I agree that rider safety is paramount but I was present last night unlike a few of the posters defending the riders. Danny king said he would have given it a go as did Richard Lawson. They should have at least tried. To not even try is inexcusable. Nobody would be complaining if they had a go and then said no. At this rate the riders won’t have a sport left in s couple of years.

After last night... more reason the sport in this country should be semi pro. Riders like Cook and Schlein influencing others shouldn't be allowed just because they don't want to. If they don't like it... there's no place for them in British speedway... not that there will be much left if they continue to act like they did last night.

Why has the reason for attending changed so much - it was always the situation that (enter night applicable) was Speedway night, irrespective of the team's league position, or the opposition, it was to get our weekly fill and see "our team" - yes, it was good to win (happiness is 40-38) but it didn't really matter, or affect next week's attendance - probably only the two weeks annual holidays caused missing a home meeting Here I've just read that fans wouldn't attend a meeting if it only involved 4th and 5th in a non-play off league - does no one go to watch and enjoy Speedway racing anymore? Probably that's been lost due to lack of continuity of fixtures, lack of consistency of team makeup, doubling up/down The "good old days" WERE good - there don't seem to be many good days in 2018 - that's why some of us do look back to seek how to improve things But there does seem to be a different attitude from spectators, only winning matters now

i have always said if the track looks a little tricky, every rider should go out on their own and do a couple of laps to get the surface turned over. Then a quick grade if required, If everyone then happy start the meeting.

I went to the IOW tonight. The track was a bit tricky early doors, but the riders just got on with it. After the first tractor grade it was fine. It does seem to be a different sport at NL level.

Of course it makes a difference. It's not about the points being scored, it's about the credibility of the situation.

I think you'll find it's more important to Belle Vue that Wolverhampton don't win both meetings. If they did both Wolverhampton and KL could finish above us and in the play offs.

I believe the bspa have hastily arranged a premier league select v a rest of the world select in the outer hebrides that particular weekend, and glad to announce several worky riders are selected,but because it's not an official fixture the comets will be using 5 nl guests

Rory was unavailable he was washing his Kevlars.

Sums it up for many Hopefully people will give a thought to the fact that this year isn't last year, we are in a great position in the league, the team have worked together to get us where we are, if we are to keep our position in the league and get into the playoffs we need these to go ahead, hindsight is a wonderful thing but useless to us now, I the riders will be taking a 50% pay cut for the second meeting, a few of the old moany ones always want more for their money and for this meeting they have it, oh no moan again, too many races now, unbelievable! The management think the first meeting will be over by 2015, half an hour after we used to start meetings so cue an interval and onto the second meeting, over by 10? That's 30 races in 3 hours.... I know there could be falls etc but equally there might not be!

Why are people banging on about riders not being paid? Here and on Facebook. There is absolutely no evidence or suggestion that is the case, fairly sure if it was that one of the riders or those associated with them would have said something by now. As for blaming Steady!! What has he done wrong??? Won the league last year and everybody thought he was the best manager ever - tactically aware, great in the pits with the riders etc. This year, we didn’t have as good a team arguably, especially with losing Josh B before a wheel was turned, but we’ve done ok at home for the most part until the last month (and there hasn’t been a word said against him prior to that) - can’t see that Stead has changed over night and turned him Into the worst manager ever as some seem to suggest.

Very good meeting on the island tonight, with some excellent overtaking by Ayres and Bailey. A big well done to Tony Steele for allowing the meeting to go ahead after the red lights had failed. Three refs overseeing one meeting, must be a first at NL level.

Beat Wells and Riss too.Good bit of experience for him so hopefully will help him and Lynn in the long run.

Why not try something different if the play offs are such a big attraction. All qualifying meetings are £7.50 adults and £1 for children. Top six teams in the play offs charge £20 per adult £2 per child. For the final charge £30 per adult and £5 per child. See how popular they are with the fans on cost versus importance of meeting. Make it something special in the final and possibly an event rather than just a meeting and see whether it is a good as those who believe it is.

Sam had a tour of the pits last night and collected autographs from the witches riders and a few Glasgow ones too. Many thanks to kevin long for making it possible. One very happy lad.

They say a person who doesn't make mistakes don't do anything. Its so easy to proportion blame to someone who gets off his arse and leads from the front, rather than those who do nothing. Probably, we should look deeper than the obvious choice. Speaking with Buster recently about his chairman role, , he said you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink. This so symbolises the situation at the BSPA. a self centred group, motivated by their own existence for far too long. There was no way this was, or will ever, change.. I don't always agree with Buster, but I respect him for the work he does. If there were more people like him, our sport would be far better, and on a more secure footing than it is at present..

It`s called a PSA- public service announcement

So, a fan of a 4th or 5th place team that has no chance of winning the league may give up following the team? Perhaps so, in this age where riders will turn out for anyone else at the drop of a hat. But in my world of team ethic speedway, you'd go to every match because the seven riders and you would build up some kind of bond. I used to turn up match upon match to Belle Vue, and much of that time they were near the bottom. Perhaps that's what's gone wrong with sport now, as Poole fans recently showed, either you're first in the glory system or you're on the couch at home. Someone has to finsih last, or would you make even bottom sides enter the Play-Offs? You know, it'd keep the season alive for them. I also recall one occasion a Play-Off-chasing team arrived at Belle Vue and seemed to purposely lose by a heavy margin to enable them a better draw in the semis. The whole Play-Off table matches can encourage both match and rider points massaging over the course of the league campaign. Not good. Speedway could do without such question marks being thrown its way if it wants to win or retain any credibility.

But are any of those sports using speedway's rules, where a team is built to a limit at the start a season, purposely weakens itself and allowed to capture better players to make it stronger, and then goes on to win the top prize when most fans realise it was just one big twist. Poole fans were up in arms a few months back, wanting Matt Ford to quit. Then, wham-bam thank you mam, Rye House closed, a quick rejiggle and... everything is bright and breezy again at Wimborne Road. It is one big farce. The Play-Off system is a sham- Woffinden returning for Wolves to help them defeat what had been the better team all year. But, eh, if you like it... try telling the returning fans Belle Vue's new stadium attracted back after umpteen years, yet who were quickly put off by Tai's late-season call for Wolves as he steered them to victory. The other sports you mention, I guess, aren't even similar to speedway, in which one or two team switches can drastically alter your outcome. Again, ask Poole fans

Few if any of today’s Aussie riders have either the class or the refinement or the skill of some of their former compatriots. Jason Crump, Shane Parker, Billy Sanders, Jason Lyons, Craig Boyce, Ryan Sullivan etc. would give it a go and get on with the job most of the time. The current crop believe they are better then they really are which is a shame but no one can stand a whinging Aussie rider. Many of the current riding fraternity cannot entertain the public let alone stand up and be counted when asked to talk to joe public to justify a decision. Who in their right mind would want to run a club where the tail is wagging the dog. At least at NL level few seem to have the fear factor that is all to evident by those with supposedly more experience.

I don't like the Play-offs. Find where I said I don't like the GPs and get back to me. I don't recall that and may need to see the doctor, my memory's definitely going. The Play-Offs are a big kick at the end of the season, a "bumper" attendance. The whole qualifying league programme is a waste of people paying money to watch. is this partly why crowds are dropping? Yet again Poole have benefitted from being allowed to weaken in the purpose of signing better riders. They'll win the Play-Offs now. A normal system without Play-Offs makes every match count. In the Play-Off qualifiers, you can piddle about. Ridiculous in my opinion. Why bother turning out and paying to watch the majority of those.. just turn up for the Final. But if you like it... Try selling it to all the new fans banging down the door, because it isn't the 70s, you know. What other changes can you think of? I just put forward the ones I think will work, and I didn't mention the Golden Helmet or second halves.

Shambles.

I have no issues with foreigners riding in Britain, just want to see Brits get a team place first, seems daft to fly someone over from USA / Australia etc to fill a reserve position though!

How very dare you even think of coming on here and making sensible comments like that. Covers would have paid for themselves many times over by lost fans revenue because of events like last night. Normally someone will now come on and say, but who will put the covers down and take them off? Another thing could be easily done is have more fixtures earlier in the season, so if there are rain offs..there are still plenty of weeks to get them re arranged

Just to add to my own post. If the outcomes of talks this week by the BSPA are embargoed, obviously George and Martin will not be discussing those. The fans meeting that has been called by Newcastle Speedway on Monday night at the South Gosforth Social Club(plug), is to talk mainly about the general running of the club in 2019, and also the celebration of the 90th anniversary of speedway at Brough Park. Everyone is invited, and questions will be taken from the floor to capture and ideas and feelings as to how we run next year. It's a consultation meeting and hopefully a lot of good and change will come out of it.

Most sports would be in trouble - they're all reliant on television and sponsorship these days. Not least because as revenue increases, the competitors not unreasonably expect a significant percentage of it, and as you always have to have winners and losers in sport, it becomes an arms race to sign them. Cricket would have to substantially scale back its expenses, but still gets significantly better crowds than speedway, especially at international level. But the point is surely that cricket is able to pull in decent television and sponsorship deals, it still get good media coverage, and it has high-level support that speedway can only dream of.

And the whole time some will be singing "Always look on the bright side of life" meanwhile in the the real world

Didn't the Diamonds ride well last night,, just thought I'd mention it seems to have got forgotten about in amongst, the tigers post mortem!!!!!

What a clown. You're making an absolute baseless and frivolous accusations that riders aren't getting paid. You're clearly either 1. A troll or 2. A moron. possibly both. I'm not blind to see that something's gone wrong this season and the promotion has to shoulder some of the blame. If I'm honest, one thing I am sick of is the promotion labelling fans who have gone genuie complaints as keyboard warriors and not having the back bone to take criticism. But I sort of get it when idiots are throwing stupid accusations like this around. It's like last season when people genuinely accused the promotion of throwing the Leicester meeting. It was completely baseless and didn't make any sense whatsoever. Much like if people are seriously suggesting the riders aren't being paid, you seriously think that would be kept quiet in this day and age?

Let's hope not. The current leadership of the BSPA have shown that they have neither the vision or the ability to take the sport forward. Indeed, many would say that speedway in the UK is in a much worse state now than when they took office.

He was kicking dirt around last night had to wash them on the off chance he had to kick more about tonight. Fortunately we saved him some Bold tabs and called the meeting off.

Hope you consulted Rory too.

I know this might sound bonkers but I was tempted to travel down for this until it became a double header at 27 pound. The chances are it will descend into a farce and go on till God knows when and still not get completed. If you go for a carvery and after your finished they say do you want the same again for half price chances are you will have had enough after the first one

Got to feel sorry for Chris Louis and all the track men tonight all that hard work for nothing. He did everything the riders asked and then they still refuse to ride. When they interviewed Tai at the Grand Prix Saturday he said we as riders can ride wet tracks but not when it's raining. So what happened today. Cook rode Saturday, but threw his dummy out again tonight. The Glasgow riders looked like they never had any intention to ride and if we had a different Captain than Rory it might have gone on. They should've sent one rider out from each team to try the track, to not even give it a go is a disgrace. The two Captains obviously don't give two s**** about the fans who pay their wages as I've never seen them move so fast running back into the pits when asked to explain themselves on the mic.

Well if they are, it wouldn't have been much, recently.

What is going to get through to these so called riders. The fans have had enough and if these riders cannot control a bike in various conditions thrown at them then give up and find another way of earning a living. No respect, for those who are bringing the sport to its knees. Riders, promoters (with few exceptions) deserve each other. Soon you will be racing in front of no one having pissed off the loyal fans who foolishly stuck with it for far too long. To the riders and promoters I say you all owe the fans big time.

The Cook situation tonight really highlights everything wrong with the way our sport is run. Never in a million years would the general public believe that a second division club can have priority over a top league club. Cook has only been riding in the second division for 5 mins, yet BV has to use a guest, and you wonder why the sport is looked upon so badly...

£27 seems reasonable to me, first meeting full price of £18 with the second at half price. Don’t suppose the riders are riding the second meeting for half price points money.......didn’t think so. Many people on this forum have often said that nearly all clubs are losing money and then when we charge half price it’s to much, sometimes I think the stars promotion must think “why do we bother”.

Sort of been confirmed to me that 1st race will happen shortly after 5.30pm UK time- so if Eurosport UK don`t come on air until 6pm UK time, several heats will be missed.Therefore here is a Eurosport Poland link for the early heats and others will follow before Saturday evening. http://internetowa.ws/channel/eurosport/ http://tele-wizja.ru/eurosport-1/#

Or maybe another way of looking at it.... If British Speedway had just stuck with its allocated (and agreed to), Monday and Thursday nights, you could have had as many Danes riding over here as you wished, and that could have been ANY or EVERY week you wanted a fixture planned in, without any clashes.... Only British Speedway could have done what they did with fixed nights...

nice to see Stefan Nielsen back for Scunthorpe tonight

Dorchester, Yeovil, Taunton, M5.

Anyone seen DC2?? I do hope he’s ok after the Robins were shot down.....yet again....oh dear those wheels have really fallen off DC2.....glug glug glug p.s. How does it feel holding the mighty Pirates up....hahahaha hahahaha

You can providing that rider has already made an appearance for you. Unfortunately, due to rain offs Paul hasn't made his debut yet for Kent.

6 teams riding in the Danish league. 6 Premiership teams also riding so guests will be impossible to find, no doubt Poole have already booked their guests too. If rider's have a choice whether to be at King's Lynn or Denmark what would you choose? A possibility of 12 rides in 1 night or just 6 in Denmark. It wouldn't surprise me if tight a$$ Buster charges £27 to get in and has Iversen missing. Cha Ching £££££££

That comment is not fair. Having never ridden a speedway bike I admit that I have no idea about what makes a track acceptable to race on. My comments and I am sure most others were based on Chris Louis immediate comments in his interview which to paraphrase were ‘the track is raceable and today’s riders are soft’. The inexcusable part of last nights debacle was to not make an effort to try the track out. I only travelled 6 miles but was damn annoyed. If I had travelled any distance and particularly from Glasgow, I would have been incandescent.

If there were only four teams in the league, they would still manage to cock it up. They would probably want to ride the other three on the same night!

People seem to forget these guys don’t get paid if they don’t ride. It’s very easy to sit here and say they should’ve done this that and the next thing. Im sure the decision wasn’t taken lightly.

You just can't beat a positive post - Upset. White flag. No-one arsed. No encouragement. I miss one meeting (a straightforward sounding victory over Sheffield) where we probably sensibly stopped 'racing' after the 3 points were in the bag and all of a sudden nobody is speaking to each other and it is all doom and gloom. As others have said we have the best 'team' many of us can remember and despite the well documented chaos caused by this seasons excuse for a fixture list we still have a great chance of winning silverware. Therefore can we all try and stay positive and not post negative comments which are usually unsubstantiated nonsense in any case. And next time one of us is faced with the 'I used to go, but don't bother any more' comment we ask them for their main reason for not going and then try to encourage them to go the next meeting. After all there are plenty of reasons to go. The 'team', the track (fair, smooth and set up for racing), the chance of silverware (an attractive proposition for the pot hunters), and last but not least the opportunity to see the next Cumbrian British champion in boy wonder Dan Bewley. NB I am not sure of the correlation between wee chats and moths but there must be one for Jenga to mention it. Erm....well maybe next week to see young Dan!