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I fully appreciate you are, as usual, just stirring the rubbish but, even by your standards, that’s pretty comical. It wasn’t a great meeting last night but nor was it an awful one. I enjoyed it more than the match at Poole the previous week so to say the racing was so much better at Wimborne Road is, in my opinion, is just plain wrong. There was a fair bit of passing, almost all by Rebels, and some good close racing, Klindt in particular got stuck in. And there was the bonus of the Brady Kurtz show, what a bizarre performance!

So Somerset have now freely admitted that they purposely took away the outside line to stop Poole. So basically sod all the fans who turned up hoping for an entertaining meeting in front of the cameras and the tens of thousands watching at home. And people on here say Poole have the win at all costs mentality. As I said last night, on my 15+ visits to Somerset, I never get to see a good meeting. Nothing to do with the result, just the racing. When Poole won to get into the playoffs last year the racing wasn’t great. Last weeks meeting at Poole was just so much better racing. All we got last night was the Somerset riders heading straight for the kerb, all the way around. Nothing out off the curb, unless you want to lose ground. The Somerset riders knew this, clearly told the track had been doctored and where to ride before the meeting started. A shame the fans who attended were conned out of good money but Somerset clearly desperate after losing to Belle Vue.

Lasse Bjerre

did he build it up ? it was an very interesting meeting with the promoters keen to hear the fans ideas, wishes and expectations as well as give some feed back feedback they gave was that they are 99% certain of riding next season which given last years winter's issues is great news and that crowds are up which is good but we all would like them higher various discussions and thoughts about raising more income for the team and making the meetings more enjoyable and more family friendly promoters discussed due to the winter issues, that team building was difficult (which I think we all appreciated back in March) but they believe they are in a good place to build a stronger team next year (within their budgetary limits) they like the supporters have been frustrated by the lack of meetings and lack of continuity. Whilst they refused to discuss likely size of the divisions, they believe that the minimum number of competitive meetings next season will be more like 18-20 rather than 14 this year - excellent news!! attendance of the meeting was very good although I expected more questions from the supporters only rather contradictory bit, was the pop at us keyboard warriors who predicted doom and gloom at the start of the season :-) ... even though up to the Sheffield meeting the promotion were still worrying about the wooden spoon and throughout the meeting they conceded the team was not as strong as they would have liked hands up the lads have done better than I expected - although I never doubted their commitment just that the team is way below the entitled limit. Although it has been a very strange season, especially at Brough where some teams have turned up beaten before the start, and who could believe that Sheffield would finish bottom. Even this current team, is probably only 2 riders away from being a very competitive side as at least 4 can up their averages and we have points available under the limit and also I would say well done to Martin and George, whilst other teams go through their regular annual axing of riders, George has again stayed loyal to his riders through thick and thin. And this can only be positive as more riders will want to ride for them. I think we can look forward to 2019 with optimism

I doubt it. There's a chance of a rain shower at 7pm!

The league riders championship should be based on this season, not this season and last

Worky deserve to be in the play offs..so I hope they win

Not supporting the BSPA particularly, but is there any other sports organisation, association or even corporate that issues press releases after every board or Council meeting?! As many owners have found in the past, the more you seek views from fans the more and different views you will get in response. Fans views will be 'biased' depending on what club/riders they support; what league they see or have seen most of their speedway at; or what their TV Meeting experience has been; and even down to what facilities they are expected to endure when they do attend a meeting.

In addition to that. Both George and Martin said that there is a new league structure proposal which they will support, and they already have had riders contact them to be considered for a team place in 2019. No dinner dance this year, but a end of season get together is planned. Need for a Supporters club to be restarted, and a Trust support group under consideration. With new owners this (Newcastle Racecourse) an entirely different relationship that with the previous dog/betting management, hooray. Fans were invited to name riders they would like to see in the team next year, and G & M confirmed some of those names were in the frame. Thoughts on a possibly National League side in the future, possibly shared with another club, but lots of obstacles to overcome first, probably travel to an almost Southern NL especially to us. Debate about do fans want weekly meetings, or say 3 meetings per month with the odd gap to be used for say rearranged rain offs. Weekly meetings favoured, but of course, you devour the fixtures quicker and could end up like Berwick this year with no more fixtures in August. Easter is 3 weeks later next year, so the season should be more balanced over the summer. Very encouraging and enthusiastic evening, which could be the start of more social and informative fan gatherings.

Thoroughly enjoyed last nights telly match , and it told us quite a bit . Have Somerset got what ir takes to be champions ? - yes they have and i hope they do . Can Poole trust their heat leaders away from Dorset ? - no they cant . What about the riders ? Somerset Jason Doyle - back to his best Aaron Summers - steady performance Nico Covatti - came up with the big win when it mattered. Richard Lawson - as always looks the part when he gates Jack Holder - exciting to watch and forms a potent heat 13 pairing with Doyle . Allen and Wilson Dean are reliable reserves . Poole Brady Kurtz - jumps more starts than even James Sarjeant Josh Grajczonek - looks like a German porn star with that silly tache Richie Worrall - never convinced on the Oak Tree track as a Rebel and last night was just the same . Nicolai Klint - coping well out of the reserve position now Chris Harris - hard to watch great riders on the downward spiral Jacobsen and Woryna - did ok especially the young Pole

You've hit the nail on the head again. All the world champions that had to retire over time took so many bums off seats - Fundin, Briggs, Mauger, Collins, Penhall, Olsen, Rickardsson, Crump... The list of characters and crowd pullers is endless. Sadly, no one in current day racing holds their puling power. Woffinden and Doyle, with respect, just don't have it.

There are so few fans these days, it shouldn't take long to meet them all.

I seem to remember Zetterstrom copping a ban for choosing Poland over this . That kind of action is no longer a viable option now that Poland are the Exhalted ones in Planet speedway . But you honestly cant blame any rider , these BSPA events are poorly paid and riders would probably earn more after one race in Poland than they would get for winning this . As for Cook's participation , yes it's a bit daft having only ridden two meetings for us , but does it not make it a better meeting him riding in it ? Been a long time since the riders championship in both top leagues had any relevance , they really are just another run of the mill open meetings . But i never turn down an excuse to have a piss up in the New Barrack Tavern, so i'll be there .

Totally agree, it's just a shame his off track antics overshadowed his on track performances. He was a great team rider who could deliver on any track. Ronnie Moore was a naturally gifted motorcyclist, so was Michael Lee And Darcy Ward. Three great riders that made it look so easy.

Bollocks, and the usual over reaction from critics like you, easily offended and looking for an alternative slant. Promoters, like all other business's, don't need to tell all their business during discussion/negotiations but do need to communicate news when it is finalised and can be reported.

It would be possible, in extremis, for a CL team to run with seven guests! absent No 1 (by average) - guest absent No 2 - guest absent No 3 - guest absent no 4 doubling up for other team - guest absent no 5 doubling up for other team - guest absent reserve - guest absent reserve - guest Clearly absurd, but as per Art 18.8 of the rulebook.

I think the Promoters collectively know all the options, as it's not exactly the sole prime exclusive interest of the sports fans. What they have of course is the cost of everything, and the the consequences of whatever is decided good or bad, unlike supporters who all differ anyway. As I said, and Skidder1 has commented on, why harangue the BSPA for not announcing they are having a meeting, and not publish the outcomes which may well be getting carried over to another meeting or a secret vote after the meeting in order to proceed. In say a sports football problem, like signing a new player, the clubs don't tell the press where they are meeting, who they are signing, what they are offering, what the demands are, and who the alternatives are and how far down the road they are at with the alternative player. It's all done and dusted first, and the outcome announced for the sports fans and administrators to move on. Expectations of some on here are mostly fanciful and inconsistent with what they might thing about other sports or businesses. Get real.

That's handy to know, any good books you could recommend ?

If we get there I fancy our chances with Steve Worrall getting back to form, two decent reserves and Bewley improving all the time. The wins at Somerset and Swindon have shown what we are capable of doing.

Berwick and Glasgow certainly do.Their fans fans still enjoy a day out even if the result doesn't go their way

Speedy bill does really need to make it a bit less obvious he is Josh Auty. Embarrassing really.

Like Paulco says no one really cares what you call the meeting and who is there nowadays,for most clubs it's a supporters bus trip and a good day out and hope to see a decent speedway meeting.Result is irrelevant .

Somerset is one of the best race tracks in the U.K. last night's meeting didn't produce the normal amount of passing. People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones "Stoke Potter".

Lets face it, the BSPA is our equivalent of the KGB. Fortunately, they do bump people off ! It's about time that heads were removed from the sand and realistic thoughts given to the sport. Changes yes, there has to be. Take the possibility of one senior league, together with the National League. Say we had 14 clubs in it, running on alternate weeks. Riding from April to September would give 26 weeks, but a 14 club scenario would require 28 weeks, no rain-offs, to complete the league only. A KO Cup competition and Play Off system, assuming they were still wanted would require more weeks. The question is, how many teams are in the BSPA thoughts? A rider would only be guaranteed 28 meetings (26 League, plus 2 KOC) and that is clearly not enough. With the cost of equipment, riders would need more than 16 meetings to justify the outlay on machinery. With one league only, doubling up would not be feasible. So where would the extra meetings come from, without doubling up? To get any current Championship club to join the Premiership, pay rates would need adjustment; we've seen in the past (1995/96) that amalgamation almost financially crippled some tracks. Therefore, would the riders give it a go for less money? Possibly they would, but only if they had more meetings guaranteed to earn their living. I just wish the BSPA would do the honourable thing and consult with the people who matter most to them - the fans. Without them, they're knackered. However, as we know from many years experience, it will be highly unlikely they would. They would be very foolish and, perhaps they are, to ignore our wishes, whether in part, or full.

Wish i could find the threads / posts about this from pre-season. But 100% agree. League matches first, get them completed and those that have hosted all their home fixtures by an agreed cut off are then able to enter the other competitions, if not there would still be X number of weeks to prioritise the completion of league fixtures. That way we might have a chance of the genuine top 4 being the top 4 and prevent the ridiculous post play off date matches where blatant average manipulation occurs.

After watching the meeting Aces v Leicester which was conducted on a super smooth surface where riders could blast round at great speed it was a big come down to see the shocking state of the track at Somerset. I was lead to believe Somerset was one of the better tracks but apparently I was misled. I think its one of the roughest surfaces ever shown on BT sport .even worse than Pooles.

Now that is a good idea.... I have suggested it to management...

How refreshing to see BV hold a minute's silence instead of the new fad of holding a minute's applause, taken from football just because some of their fans can't keep quiet and show some respect. Well done BV, better late than never

Somerset deserved the win. I still think these two teams will be in the final so it would be stupid for Poole to show their hand too soon. I would like to see the Rebels win the league.

1 - Warsaw 2 - Torun 3 - Katowice 4 - Stockholm 5 - Copenhagen 6 - Togliatti 7 - Cardiff 8 - Prague 9 - Riga 10 - Munich 11 - Los Angeles 12 - Sydney 13 - Auckland 14 - Dubai

There is an old saying in sport, same for both sides. OTA is a good racing track , fact. The World Champion confirmed it. When your guys made a legit start you were competitive. Summers, Nico and Bradders all made passes. All of your top guys were poor tonight except Klindt , hence seven starts for Woryna, who also faded at the end.

A very simple solution and a great shame if not offered. Never know I few may go because of this offer with the intention of leaving after the first meeting, but enjoy the racing in the first meeting and decide to stay.

Very difficult to compare riders from different years, The sport has changed so much it would be wrong to make comparisons like for like. I watched Michael Lee more than most and referred to him as god. There wasn't anything he couldn't do on a bike. Even the most daring moves, he would make look so easy. But would he have been so dominant had he been riding on todays bikes. Who knows?? Speaking with him, he says it's a totally different sport now to when he rode, and it would be wrong to make judgements. These bikes require a different skill, High revving speed machines, that needs the throttle open all the time. Darcy Ward, Shawn Moran, Thomas Gollob were all excellent riders in their time, But there are many more who could be included in any list of greatest riders. Robert Lambert has made big strides this year, and who knows how far he can go. Along with Dan Bewley I believe this country have two of the hottest talent about. Probably, in the future we will be talking about them being in the greatest lists as well..

Then we will agree to disagree, I've been fortunate enough to watch Gollob in his prime all over Europe and in particular Poland, Some of the skills of watching Gollob especially around Bydgoszcz was just simply sensational. And would have to put Kelly Moran above Shawn on NATURAL ability

Averages dictate the riders that can be used and they chose Scott who they also bought, while no doubt getting nice loan fees from Glasgow and Poole, so it's always useful to have assets.

Didn't take too many meetings for the Wimbourne Road Faithful to get back to there old carping ways and whinging at just about everything. Why can't you lot be gracious in defeat for once !!! You were stuffed !!! End of !!!

That’s not true. When Darcy arrived at Poole he was good but not brilliant. He was also a “cheeky” rider who could read the track one lap ahead of his competition but, he did make mistakes and, he didn’t win every race. He became brilliant in the following years and was the brains behind the “Turbo Twins” duo.. In my opinion, for what it’s worth, Robert Lambert, year for year, could be on par to DW.

Why would he? Twice Swindon win the title, and dump him both times. Not getting a chance to see the World Champion at Swindon pretty much killed my enthusiasm for going to speedway this year, although, to be fair, Troy was a decent replacement considering the restrictions that were placed. Let's not forget that the "one over 8" nonsense was voted in by other clubs, but I would never have got rid of an opportunity to welcome home the World Champ.

Nothing against Cookie but it is called the 2018 Championship League Riders Championship for a reason and surely no-one however high their rolling average should be invited after 2 only meetings. Will he himself not be embarrassed to be there? Yes it is still a great sport, unfortunately run by a group of people who are either completely out of their depth or who constantly have their judgement clouded by intermittent bouts of self interest (or both).

With all this Baldy is nice talk Im worried the real one was abducted by aliens on the journey up

Rune

looking at Nicholls score he should be more worried about his own performance rather than his team mate trying to win a race

THAT'S more like it ... a proper dream

Auty again upsetting his team mates though. Why can't he pass riders fair. Especially his team mates. A couple of times he just rode across them. Nicholls certainly not happy with him

They could even hand out a voucher on the way out £9 off the next meeting you attend as long as you leave the stadium prior to heat one of the second meeting I’d have thought that wouldn’t be too difficult for the club - So the club lose £36 because they are unable or un willing to help customers.

How can they name him when they haven't yet decided who to grab out of the stands?

Because Doyle could come in and score points for a team that's vying for his own team's qualifying spot and could score the point that puts his own team out of contention for the play-offs. Surely you can see the lack of credibility in that. And the junior will replace the #7. The heat leader will be replaced by his team's next lowest average rider.

I couldn't agree more. I would have kept him. But lets face it we were skint. Plus Nick definitely earned his chance. But to me, I dont see how anyone could turn down the world champ.

I debated your point over the weekend on Facebook with another fan who had a remarkably similar argument to yourself. So I hope you don't mind if I copy and paste the replies that I made to his posts. "The Sheffield promotion has taken the usual disgusting step of blaming the paying patrons for the team's current demise." Your opening point is essentially that you believe the promotion blamed the fans for the team's performances in last Thursday's programme. Now without reference to the particular article that has caused you to say this it would have been difficult to identify where your argument was coming from as none, NONE, of the promoters who contribute to the programme did any such thing. As I pointed out to the other fan, the author of that piece is not one of the promoters. And he made it very clear that what he writes in his column is his opinion. So, and maybe I'm - once again - just being a bit stupid here, why is it necessary for you to portray that it was the promotion that wrote the article when in fact it was actually, and with the greatest respect to him, only one of the programme contributors? And why is it the "usual disgusting step"? When have they done this before? Can you provide examples please as I've not seen any? "Mr. Lomas....being grossly offensive to die-hard Sheffield fans...." Grossly offensive? Really? How and why is it offensive? It would seem that's its just you and the other fan that have taken offence to what I thought was an interesting and thought provoking article. As I mentioned to the other fan, in the past I wrote a similar column in the programme of another professional sports team in Sheffield, and I did this for quite a few years. Not once were my words & opinions even edited, let alone questioned. I set the agenda and I essentially wrote what I wanted. I'll wager that this is the same situation here, as many of the topics the author covers aren't based specifically on Sheffield speedway. If the promotion was 'influencing' the author then surely they would be all about Sheffield. So for me you're looking for something that isn't there. From your previous posts on here you, like the other fan, appear to have it in for the promotion and I've obviously no idea why, but I just think that if people aren't careful then the constant criticism and sniping that some fans seemingly enjoy handing out could ultimately have a serious impact on the future of speedway in Sheffield. "Contributors to THIS forum are true aficionados of shale: salt-of-the-earth supporters" That's a ridiculous statement that is just simply not the case is it. Not every fan uses social media - there are times when I wished I didn't! So are you saying that unless you do you're not a true fan? Honestly, is this what you're saying? The other fan with the same argument as you uses Twitter and Facebook - are you suggesting that his point is not valid because he hasn't posted it on here? I actually think you two would get along having the same views and opinions. The other fan seemed unconcerned about the potential impact of the actions of the fans attacking the promotion, the management, the riders, etc. He claimed that once the figures become unworkable then they’ll end and that it would be madness to continue at a loss as in any business. For me surely it's in the best interest of every speedway fan to do what they can to ensure that the figures don't become unworkable? To do what they can to help support and promote speedway in Sheffield? And to not look to destroy the club from the inside? From a very selfish and purely personal perspective I want to watch speedway in Sheffield for as long as I possibly can. Ideally that would be right up to the point at which I die or at the very least when I can no longer find anyone willing to take my dribbling, incontinent and incoherent body to Owlerton. (To be fair the latter probably isn't that far away.....) And I will continue to do what I can to ensure that this happens. As we all know, British speedway is in a fragile position and it needs as many people as possible to be working together and in the same direction to ensure it survives and ultimately prospers. And this is why I question the actions of those fans that either deliberately or unwittingly seek to undermine those that put their time, money and effort into running speedway. I fail see what they get out of it other than perhaps some perverse sense of satisfaction that they have contributed in part to the downfall of the sport that they purport to love.

I think this is another potential example of the need to scrap the ruling that there must be an exclusion following a stoppage. If this was first bend it would be all 4 back. Because the riders have continued to race side by side for longer than the first bends there has to be an exclusion, whilst rare this happens and surely the potential option for racing incidents with no direct fault and all riders return for a rerun has to be considered not just with the occasion but in future likely situations too....?