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What he said in thr Speedway Star referring to signing for Belle Vue was, "It's not a second option for me.Belle vue and Peterborough are both first options I could have picked from and I am happy to be with the Aces. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that riders say whatever is expedient at the time. I suspect that if another club had come in with a better offer he wouldn't be riding for either of our clubs. Just as most of us would work for whoever offered us the best deal.

Yep hopefully he’ll come to Ipswich and get about 7 and then 14-15 at both Peterborough and Kings Lynn if buster doesn’t think Kenneth isn’t one of the best riders in the league still then he needs to have a little look around - Kenneth isn’t one of the top 8 in the world anymore but only Doyle in our league is!! In theory there’s 3 heat leader berths in every team so that 21 heat leaders.....I’d love for buster to try convince anyone there’s 21 riders ahead of Kenneth riding in the uk this year!!!

Better off without him as is the whole of Speedway, if you don't like it Berge then begger off. Got enough problems as it is without the incredible sulk kicking off every year.

I think people are missing the point, if there is a benefit to this drip feeding news approach (and I’m not necessarily saying there is, but I’m keeping an open mind) then it’s not for the benefit of posters on here who think about speedway every day, but more those who stop thinking about it in October and start again in March and those who go occasionally or haven’t been yet. Also struggling to see why this team is so uninspiring and awful....all seven riders appeared in a team which comfortably finished top last year and although we’ve lost a heat leader it looks a competitive team in what is again a weaker league. Perhaps people wanted things freshening up with a few new faces and I can understand that.

If you're a hipster you'll name drop this band, Black Midi, every chance you'll get. They are the hottest band in London right now..... and look what they've done So perhaps speedway isn't just for old folks in anoraks after all. Enjoy

31st February

Oh how we've missed your wonderful words of wisdom, NOT.

I'm not but aren't they targeted at your personal search history and interests etc.

Dope and oil and turn back wheel most of us could do that !

Absolutely. Promoters have to be so careful they get the right blend of fans allowed to attend matches. An individual interview should be conducted before access to the stadium is allowed, they can't risk the happy clappers being put off from coming back because of too many miserable sods having been let in. PS. RIP Jeremy Hardy

Has there been regular EDP back pages / Radio Norfolk slots etc to keep this media hype going thru the winter? Do you get these even when signings are announced? Ipswich traditionally name all 7 and early (this year has had different issues) We then see at least weekly bits in The Ipswich Star and regular slots in sports news bulletins on Radio Suffolk even thru winter as well as dedicated sections on drivetime show You dont need to have a signing to announce to have a media slot so long as you have the structure and relationship with the outlets

Who was the German that Ipswich had last season , got injured quite early in the season? Would he be a 4 or still 5 something?

I hope Bjerre does really well not after Buster said he wasn't a UK heat leader anymore.

That's exactly how it will happen. He will ride 1 meeting on borrowed machinery etc then we will replace him with a rider up to 5.5ish. Personally don't like the sound of it as I would rather win fair but as shown last year. Cheating is now allowed

Young kyle bickley would do a good job

Yep, the club needs to keep the media exposure and fans on the edge of their seats about top draw signings Kerr, MPT, Riss, Jorgensen What a team to get the ladies juices flowing and the men to get a rock on over

Not really, can assure you he isn't

Good to see Teo has a close named after him on the new Blunsdon Meads development near the Abbey.

I don’t think barren years will matter. BV supporters are used to it, and we have managed to maintain reasonable levels over the last decade. Unfortunately speedway just doesn’t have the pull. For the majority of people it’s boring and not worth the investment. The catchment area etc doesn’t really matter. It’s the same for many clubs. I think an average attendance of 1.5k is an astonishing achievement, I really do, given the absolute mess this sport is currently in.

bit harsh that.sour and grapes seems to come to mind

The crowds were far from poor in respect of what a decent speedway crowd looks like today. No official attendance records are ever published but like I said countless times last year, it’s pretty easy to guess at the NSS. I would say we averaged around 1.5k which certainly isn’t poor. It’s probably one of the highest in the uk. The rent is high but nothing like it was in the first season. It was renegotiated. That said, the losses last season would be 5 figures I’m pretty sure of that.

Yes of course the signings are announced on all media outlets. Radio Norfolk even rang me up about them today 'blimmin heck'!!

Phew! That is a lot of additional bums on seats for the next several years to claw it back. Around a 1,000 or so for 20 years. They must really believe there is a UK speedway upturn somewhere down the road. Better by far to buy a Euromillions ticket for tonight!

Belle Vue only ride on a Monday or Thursday. Somerset's home matches are a Wednesday and then all away matches except Birmingham are Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I assume that's the difficulty if the mechanic is the real issue. Seems a little far fetched though.

Nothing to do with him as far as I know. His company was Sabre Cleaning.

I've got all the Hawks/Kestrels books and dvd's. I'll have to buy this.

There was a very interesting interview with Bob Valentine in 'Backtrack' a couple of years ago where he described a potential 'scuffle' he had with Gordon Kennett after a particularly hard race but both ended up shaking hands.

Yes I recall when 'The Rebels' visited Hackney in 1975 with Dag in the team we pulled off a tremendous win and Christer registered probably his best return for 'The Hawks' of 13 points. Highlights of that meeting are featured on the 'London Tracks' DVD...a great addition to my nostalgia collection.

League matches only for Green Sheets.

He needs one more Home League match. BV first Home League match is 29th April, and with the cut off being 23rd April, I don’t think his average would actually change until 6th May. He would do 3 away League matches prior to 6th May.

I thought that EVERY premiership club was hosting a round of the youth championship.....

Probably something to do with the name of his company - Kent Sweepers.

This should not be allowed to happen but doubt anything will be done to prevent it

I guess it might depend on what the ongoing relationship between the club and the various media outlets is?

SO COME ON YOU NUMBER CRUNCHERS! who is still available that "fits" with-in the points limit? We could have a fans vote with who's on offer................

Guess the first period you started watching is always the fondest. I was lucky to start at Plough Lane when Varg-Olle was ruling the roost and loved watching the stars of the day under the floodlghts,especially on those nights when the place was packed!That love affair lasted until the dark day when our local hero,Tommy Jansson tragically died.I still continued until the end of the ‘77 season,then my visits were somewhat sporadic Until I started going regularly again ,and being more mobile,also further afield in 1984.That period,which I also loved lasted until the Dons closed in 1991,but have to admit the last season or so,I was going out of routine instead of the love of the sport Then on moving to Hamburg I rediscovered the sport on seeing the track magazine Bahnsport Aktuel at a local railway station,but it took me a year or so to get to a track,because I first had to find out where they were and had missed the local meetings for that season anyway.From memory the first meeting was a Vojens GP which TRick won in 2003-4,then I found Brokstedt wasn’t more than an hour away I also love reading about the early pre-war daysand would love to get in a time machine and go back to see some of those old tracks and stars

Yes, from what I gather Somerset have tried and tried to contact him but have failed to do so on many times. Do t think his heart is in it TBH.

So with Berge quitting Somerset because he couldn't get a full-time mechanic in the UK, what does that mean for BV? A predicted short stay to be replaced by a higher averaged rider after 1 meeting when his rolling average changes?

He left Belle Vue under a cloud to sign for Peterborough spent many years at the showground even rode for them to help Rathbone out due to injuries in the lower division and as its been said was negotiating to return to Peterborough it was only Buster Chapman that stopped him returning to the Panthers again this season so you have him to thank for that.

Tungate looks a steal,,, and will no doubt show his warm side to the panthers faithful

I won`t betray a confidence but Tungate acted like a right tw&t

Well I never saw that coming!

Shocker overwhelmed.

no sorry I don't

or more like Al Jolson

Have the Pairs the night before and a League match on the Sunday. I'd imagine there would be a big crowd especially if the right opponnent was picked. I only travel from Bridgwater and even that was a nightmare on a Friday even when going the back lanes. It must be x10 worse if you are coming from even further away.

Well deserved, good club and track

Hope to be bringing a few Comets supporters over with us for this one. Well done Mr Barker !

Ben Barker looks like he has organised a great days Speedway for his testimonial, Redcar Workington Newcastle & A Middlesbrough team This means all Redcar riders are in , Deserves supporting, Put MARCH 23rd in your diaries

Splash inordinate ammounts of cash on something that the Brummies would currently find unaffordable, and end up in the same place as the Workington Comets. Reality can teach some harsh lessons and fans need to be mindful of that. 2019 may not feature a team of Galacticos, but at least it's a team that should ensure some continuity of the club into 2020 and hopefully beyond.