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Every season people try an predict the Winners ,this season there is a lot of riders who were heat leaders in the national league who will be occupying the 3 lowest point positions in most teams .Obviously it looks like Sheffield will have a massive improver in Drew Kemp so they will be in the mix ,think people liking Somerset will be disappointed as the two reserves will hold them back in away meetings . I witnessed last seasons favourites chosen by most people Scunthorpe ravaged by injuries . So this season no predictions just hope all teams have less injuries to riders than last season and the best side comes out on top

Knowing they are actually going to get paid for their time.

jseeewzz . cant believe a winning bidder on e bay has given wucky speedway shot feedback after winning the full programmes of the h18torical , 2018 season . the stuff only cost 3 quid and someones moaning about it ! ! ! prob from north o the border ... put them back on again and i will buy them .. just msg me, L .

Berwick Edinburgh Glasgow 3 horse race.

As A regular at Newport travelling from Bristol I did not consider that the bridge toll was significant therefore its abolition would have been of little consequence however the pesky speed cameras hidden in the overhead gantry about half a mile before the booths had to be allowed for. I think they caught a few riders out.

This made for a really hard read. For any of us that had the pleasure of watching Tomasz at the peak of his career, it must come as a huge shock to find he is still suffering so badly. I can't imagine the pain and frustration he must be feeling, and the possible prospect that things may never improve much, must be awful for him. It is so sad that several of the sports greatest riders have paid such a terrible price to entertain us, although I believe the injuries to Tomasz and Leigh Adams were not actually on a speedway track, but it matters little in the grand scheme of things. I must also mention Darcy Ward, probably one of the most naturally talented young riders we have seen for many years, he too had his career cut tragically short in a split second. I must admit I was truly shocked to read about Tomasz's condition, I pray that things will improve for him and all those other riders who have suffered such appalling injuries whilst entertaining us all.

It's not a World Championship, it's a World Cup. It doesn't mean anything. It's only partly organised by FIM, the same as the track racing youth meetings. Except the 250’s speedway which is a World Championship since 2 years.

Correct Pooles all round package including sponsors was the main reason why riders used to go there

BV I think it was.

It is well known that Poole used to lure big name's due to the amount of sponsorship the club attracted. I do recall Adam's was offered more money in 2003 to ride elsewhere, but the deal was better at Poole that year.

Nephew

Because it’s in Europe, probably without prize money and nobody/not enough anyway cares...

Sounds like Matt has been paying himself plenty out of the club and the rich sponsors making up the wages of the riders.....

Its possible that there have been many British World Champions, gold medallists or other record breakers in 2018. Woffinden isn't just a World Champion, though. By virtue of his three titles, he can be said to be the greatest British speedway rider of all time. Certainly his achievement is unique. With the possible exception of the truly remarkable Lizzy Yarnold - whose inclusion shows getting within the chosen names is absolutely nothing to do with the size of the sport you represent - none of the other nominees and few other sportsmen could claim that. To me, that means that the complaints of undeniably biased speedway fans that he did not even get a mention are entirely justified.

And you honestly believe that do you!

Interesting that it is a five year plan, as this was published on 20/12/18 by the Birmingham City Council Planning Committee Commonwealth Games Planning Main point of interest for speedway is 4.16 "• Noise has not been adequately assessed particularly in relation to the existing Speedway venue. This needs to be considered to avoid conflicts with future residents." By the end of all the regeneration the track will be next door to a housing estate. Summer evenings with the windows open and the sound of motorbikes and dust echoing around the new towers don't think the new residents will be happy. Hopefully over the next few years the club can work with the Council and the Commonwealth games legacy commission to secure the future of speedway either at the current venue or a new venue. It would be a terrible indictment to the legacy of the games if it ended with finally killing off a sport in the City that would have been close to its 100 anniversary Far better that as part of the sporting legacy other sports not taking place in Commonwealth games could benefit. Maybe the possibility of a new track and stand being built in Perry Park close to the current BMX track and noise level issues are slightly reduced as it is right next to the M6 which is banked at that point. That area of the park could become dedicated to 2 wheeled sport but also the inside of the track could be used as a football/rugby pitch. As I say hopefully rather than a negative people can work together to create something positive.

He was averaging more than that for Newcastle before he got injured. you can hardly blame him for his last 15 matches last season when he was in a team where he obviously wasn't wanted. Scunthorpe should have checked the rules BEFORE they tried to sack him (especially since your promoter is actually on the management committee). There was no way he was not going to ride as he would have received a 28 day ban which would have affected his NL appearances. As for him not getting to grips with Scunthorpe, well he won't be the last. The Worrall twins didn't particularly like it either when they first started. That was why they came to Newcastle at reserve! Personally I don't have any problem with the last two. Lasse Bjerre isn't the first "troublesome" Dane George's had to deal with. We once had Nicki Pedersen. Different people react and perform (or not) to different managers.

Instead of tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies

..I am sure if we had the best Best Basketball or Ice Hockey player in the world then they would have been spoken about ..When Redgrave etc done well how many fans watched rowing during the year ?

Workington Sheffield Somerset Scunthorpe

Another pathetic out of touch irrelevant post that has absolutely nothing to do with the discussion. Are people actually incapable of reading? Nobody has said 'speedway' deserves a mention. However, British World Champions in ANY sport deserve a mention, however brief that may be. It's interesting to see the folks who constantly 'like' this type of post. Moxey, SteveRoberts, Gustix.

And some people just think that you throw together the rubbish that you generally post? Don't stop going your own way with some second hand news!

Flippin eck.. its Christmas Day, this thread is like an argument with yourself.

Dunno. Who said that there's a takeover proposed?

Looks a very interesting League a lot close matched Teams Imo.As long a they just get on with it a not have the usual end of season log jam with fixtures.K.O.Cup and Shield fixture should be completed and out the way long before Play offs unlike previous seasons.Wont hold my breath though.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all supporters.

Have the promters of this league collectively done a very good job by raising the overall quality of this league whilst increasing the number of teams and working to a low points limit? The league has lost Erik Riss, Adam Ellis, Rene Bach, Ludvig Lindgren, Nicolai Klindt and Dan Bewley (to take just those with 6+ averages who ended the season in their teams' declared 1-7's). Others have gone due to retirement, not returning, or had left their teams' during the season for reasons other than retirement or injury. The league in 2019 will re-gain Kennett, Sedgmen, Kerr, Douglas and Bates plus 5 or 6 others with previous experience in the PL. Then there are 12 or 13 newcomers (some of whom have a small amount of previous experience). This group is going to be significant in terms of how good the 2019 league is, compared with the 2018 version. Some teams (Eastbourne, Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Somerset, Eastbourne) are including at least two newcomers to the league - will this turn out to be the undoing of those clubs or are there some potential big averqge-gainers in there? Overall my view is that by the end of the season, the changes made this winter will be viewed as a success.

Sheffield - look good on paper but so they did last season. Andersen, Nicol and Kennedy have to live up to the hype. Leicester - very solid top four who should score home and away. Add on Mountain starting at reserve is a bonus but even if Perks drops they have a strong reserve. Somerset - granted i'm biased but I fully believe that is the best top 5 in the league. Reserves are the question, though Atkins does know the track. Redcar - very strong top 3 and massive potential at reserve. Can't see many teams beating them at home. Edinurgh - Wells is a good no. 1, Lawson a strong reserve and Pickering, Heeps and Andersson are solid enough. What Sedgmen will do is the big question? Eastbourne - As much as they will be strong at home with the lack of experience in the lower end, they may struggle away. Glasgow - people may be surprised but I really don't rate this team. Poor lower end may be helped slightly by Vissing, Jensen and Starke at home but I fear away may be a one man team, Cook. Workington - Very strong at home tbh and probably an exciting team at Derwent Park. However MacDonald being a British novice and Lambert being in the main body, I can't see an attsck on the play- offs. Scunthorpe - no omph in the team tbh. It's an ok looking team but doesn't make me feel any confidence in it. List starting in the main body is intriguing decision as Bailey isn't good enough to make the top 5. Berwick - same as Scunny really. Has no x- factor to the team. Newcastle - poor team imo but at the same time it probably has the biggest potential given that every single rider can improve their averages, I just don't expect them to do it. Brummies - sadly the speedway club that I am closest to, even though i'm a Rebel, looks a poor side as clearly they are trying to re make an asset list. Wajtknecht and Shanes are very good signings though.

Reasonably solid Newcastle side, and one or two names in that team who would not think of Newcastle type riders Of the last two riders. Not surprised to see Phillips name down on the team sheet with his old man one of the promoters at the club and he did a decent job when he was last there. Bjerre, good rider and kind be spectacular on his day, but is someone who is very difficult to manage and can be at times disruptive, if you can get him in the right fame of mind and happy he is capable of beating anyone, if not then you have problems and he will let you know.

A quick update: Thurrock Council have acknowledged our petition and have asked the Hammers to present the details of it and the campaign to get the team a new home in the area to the Thurrock Council's main cabinet in January or February. This will place both the club and the campaign on the council’s agenda such that it is recorded officially in Council minutes and ensure that the club gets an official response. So please get all speedway fans you know to keep signing the petition as it really is going to help us. We need riders, promoters and clubs to post/tweet links to the petition and the Speedway Star to actually put something in print as it is yet to appear in the magazine. Thank you all for signing so far, I wish I could give you all a hug or buy you a beer, whichever is most appropriate lol. Thanks for trying to save our team Here is the link: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/support-the-return-of-lakeside-hammers-speedway

the track at plough lane was reduced in size at the end of the 1967 season because of the damage being caused by the stock cars to the speedway circuit bends. the track from 1968 to 1991 had seperate bends for the cars and bikes. shale on the inside and tarmac on the outside. at the end of most speedway seasons we used to lift the shale from the straights so the car track was tarmac all the way round. it could be a nightmare trying to relay the speedway straights after a wet winter. i can remember sliding all over the place while driving a mini roller trying to pack down the wet shale!. the reason the starting gate was moved back was to give the riders a longer run to the first bend because the straights had been made shorter. happy days.