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I said I wouldn't attend any of these cup meetings,,, but after last week and the arrival of Kings Lynn,,, I've just gotta come.

Yet the Bears riders were singing its praises last night in the post match chat with Roy!!!! Funny that!!!! Regards THJ

I wonder if buster still thinks that Kenny is no longer a heat leader in this league lol.

I remember in the 60's if there weren't at least 5 passes in every heat, the meeting ran past 8.45 or one of the superstars shot off home without buying everybody a beer they used to refund double your entrance fee.....probably.

Think Promotion will be glad these type of fans have decided to attend given the state the sport is in.

I agree that too many times races are too strung out but there does not have to be passing to have an interesting race. Close racing is what is require which we won't often get until teams have riders of similar qualities and abilities. I've been to many meetings up and down the country where the fare has been just the same. Passing is good but you can still see a good race when the riders keep closer together and seem to be making an effort to get or keep better race positions.

Was good to see a few Redcar fans up, they obviously thought they had a good chance of winning something unlike previous years... Now I'm sure there's a name for fans who just follow a team when they think they are going to win... No can't think of it oh well never mind

Totally agree, & that's why I went up the pub rather than attend.

Glyn Taylor didn't built it, David Hemsley did.

Yeah i agree... Summers and Tungate are just as good as Bomber and Cook

As I understand it the team manager nominates four riders and the Twitter poll is to choose which two of those go in heat 14. So it’s as broad as it is long really. Opposing fans can’t choose your two worst riders out of the whole seven.

I’m sure they will target a win in every meeting this season, no reason not to. Disappointment at defeat is fine as long as people don’t start being silly ie demanding riders be sacked and writing the team off after one loss (if we lose). One thing this forum does very badly is perspective.

Maybe the amount of debt was more than anticipatated would be my guess.

Tunnocks caramel wafers,, and sweets,, the massif diet.

Should be an easy away win with us bringing a reserve in for a heatleader.

You are right we will never know the full story , but it would make interesting reading to hear Ged's side of things . Personally I have absolutely no faith in Buster Chapman what so ever I don't trust him and that is why I have totally withdrawn my support. It's not the lies it's the truth that is not being told that bothers me.

With the attitude Darcy shows, I'm more than justified in why I gave no money to his fund. He really is a horror of a person

Honestly Well done Redcar as they rode with a lot of grit and determination... they deserved it... However... and I accept that it was the first home meeting of the season but I stand in line with the tapes and the starts seemed so disjointed and scrappy which was most unusual as Phil Day is normally a very good Start Marshall (as is Barry Simpson when we borrow him from Redcar) and although this had very little bearing on the final result as it was the same for both sides it did look very messy... I thought this new "starting" rule was going to improve the starts however I can't say that slicker starts or a slicker starting process was evident this evening... Regards THJ

Another reason why Charles Wright will be right at the top of the averages come the end of the season. He’s starting to become the real deal.

The wait is nearly over and our hope is the Polish Strea*ers are alive and well. Nice Polska league kicks off the Polish league season- all start times are UK times Saturday March 30th Lodz v Ostrow Eleven sport 2 start time 7.15pm Sunday March 31st Gniezno v Gdansk Polsat sport start time 1.45pm

From this, I'd say Robin has it wrong as it doesn't say that riders nominated for 14 cannot race in 15....

Buster will only pay what is needed to make speedway viable at Lynn.Why overpay and see another team go by the wayside.We have seen too many go in recent years.

Buster obviously wrong to say that Bjerre isn’t a heat leader in the Premiership but I suspect he has been let down by him at Lynn too many times in the past for him to pay what Kenneth was after.

The expected result. Panthers need to get Cook back on board ASAP otherwise this team teams looks pants on paper without him.

It's my opinion that THJ is on point re all he has stated about this sorry situation. Derwent Park would have been available to the Comets over say the next 3 to 5 years. Unfortunately the perplexing financial situation precluded that happening. Another home would have to be found eventually but i still live in hope that something may hopefully develop.

yep , i agree with that topaz . i am a plum , but i dont come from Plumland . .! ..for you out of townies , that a village near Wigton .. between Maryport and Carlisle . but i know someone who lives in the area ..... .

It's not designed to make the starts slicker, it's designed to stop the green light - go. it forces refs to to vary the length of time between the green light and tapes up as he has to wait until the start marshall has cleared the the back of the bikes before releasing the tapes. Newcastle, especially T J, struggled with this a bit. Though for most of them it was the first meeting it was used properly. Whereas for Redcar they used it during Barkers Testimonial and, I assume, at Leicester on Saturday. It certainly wasn't used at Redcar on friday where, For whatever reason, the green light wasn't illuminated until the Start Marshall had cleared the back of the bikes ( as per last year). It is, however, something we need to adjust to and quickly. I would have thought that it should have been done during Press/practise day so that they could get used to it. (I wasn't there so I don't know whether it was or not but the tapes haven't been used during practise in the past when I have attended).

Think Buster will be ‘looking’ for a tight match with the home side just getting home.

Without doubt, one of the finest race tracks in British speedway.

Most Bears fan don’t go to Rough Park because it’s the worse track in league

Alas after Friday, less positives. I know the riders are learning the track but even so it was a disappointing home start Well done to the Bears who were certainly the better team over the two legs. Decisions certainly went against the diamonds. I could be wrong but I didn't see Clegg actually touch the tapes in heat 8, the ref clearly stopped the race to early to exclude Greaves and then there was the heat 12 controversy.....tough call for ref.... but the fact that barker also fell would imply some contact with bjerre... in most (BUT NOT ALL) cases the rider diving up the inside is excluded . The most worrying aspects for me over both legs is: apart from a couple of flashes, generally we didn't look quick and the bears when behind were catching our riders in both legs at the gates we were moving all over the place and we've already had 2 tapes exclusions and 2(3) warnings we were beaten by redcar who were thrashed by Leicester !!! Lets hope it is just rustiness but we would all agree we would have preferred to start the season like redcar (or Leicester!)

As a first time visitor to Leicester I will say it was one of the worst presented meetings I have been too in many a year. The ' Racing ' was none existent, who ever came out of the second turn infront won except for the Bates ' overtake' on the line. Track preparation was awful hence the tractor spending more time on the track than the riders, ( a rider did post a video of the track condition before the meeting showing the problem hours before the meeting) and led to two riders crashing. Control of the starts was terrible, why did the ref call the riders back from the start line when they were ready to race to do a twenty minute track grade? One overtake all night, speakers on back straight were poor ( terrible echo) and the centre green needs cutting. No second half racing? Yes, the opposition were poor but that was not a good advert for speedway on a cold night and there were many comments from home supporters on the way out who were not impressed.

Away win looks on the cards to me, unless Summers can add double figures to his scorechart.

Been off this board for a few years due to ill health, which has fortunately improved. After being away for nearly 6 years I made the plunge and bought a season ticket for this season. Have to say I enjoyed last night and thought there was some decent racing. Thought the team looked ok and especially inpressed with Jorgensen and Bjerre, who once they get a regular run of meetings and dialed into the track will be fine additions to the team. The only rider who really seemed to struggle a bit was Lambert and I'm sure he will be fine also once he gets used to the right racing lines at Brough. A couple of incidents changed the result when we were on a 4 - 2 and Greaves fell and the re-run produced a 3 - 3, heat 12 with Bjerre unlucky to be excluded and then Wethers lifting in heat 14 when comfortably ahead. Thought Redcar certainly looked a decent side also yesterday and there was never any danger that the aggregate win would be theirs. I think both teams will do ok this year and be in the mix for things.

Much as I would love to see the Witches hit 60 Id say you are spot on Baggy Too tight to call - that little bit of luck either way on the bight likely to decide it

Did we get battered last night, don't think we did. Meeting decided by a poor refereeing decision, but you expect that from a Mackem..

The true situation is that normally at this time of year this thread (or indeed the absent match thread, which no doubt Dick will now start after being alerted ) would be buzzing with expectation of fans, old (where have all the regular contributors gone - even Tel has lost interest so that's a concern, hope the old boy is still well!), and some new. What's been apparent to me is that following on from the positivity of Dec 20 when the Rathbone team was announced it has been an organisational shambles right up to P&P, which I heard was fairly well attended to be fair. I'll be there tonight but can't say that I'm looking forward to it but that's more to do with the state of the sport generally in the country rather than our own internal problems at the EoES.

I can't remember the old days, I liked the bar too much.....

He's only posting about Poole riders on a Poole thread. Quite right too imo. Bore off yourself!!

IMHO, Companies who sponsor a club should have their Logo around the track and other viewable places where Jo public will see the companies name, brand etc. Companies that sponsor riders should get their logos etc on the rider and or macinenary they sponsor. end of.

It's as you get older, and speedway fans being old, attention spans don't last too long.

I may be wrong but I like to watch speedway and regardless of the competition. I became hooked on offroad biking back in the 50's and still like to watch those with a skill that I profess I never acquired. Scrambles, grass and trials were all weekly individual meetings, apart from star meetings where a British team turned out. Shrublands Park was my top scrambles venue, brilliant place. Yes, team riding is what many go to watch, however, in the sixties some of the best meetings were individual meetings and they continued really until the GP's when for various reasons individual meetings lost their attraction. Remember too that the Laurels is one of the longest running individual meetings that is now still with us. A meeting that I would always get down to Plough Lane to witness. The line-ups for some of the top individual meetings were as good as or even better than the individual world championships. Thus I am more than happy to say that I can still watch speedway in my retirement without having to turn on the little box in my living room. I have followed Rayleigh, West Ham and Arena Essex / Lakeside, all now defunct. £15.00 may be a debateable cost as is any price for a commodity. As Teaboy says compare it with fags and booze. If I go to the pub I can easily spend £16.00, whatever the cost I make the decision as to how I distribute my hard earnt money.

Len runs Kent like it's still the 1980's, speedway every week. You have to applaud him for that. The crowd numbers prove it's what people want.

Although your post included an emoji, it does nothing to hide the meaning of it . Instead of making jive remarks about the effort the work and money that has obviously gone into the presentation of each of those clubs, you should be complimenting them for trying to make this sport look more professional. When making you predictions you ought to remember, had it not been for Buster there would not be a Premiership league for your cheaply attired riders to compete in

Play-offs - Wolves; Swindon; Poole; Belle Vue. Thanks for turning up and looking smart in your kevlars: - Kings Lynn, Peterborough, Ipswich

When the weatherman said on TV this morning that Summers coming, little did we know it was a hint to Peterborough signing a rider. Media Genius Or What!!!

How anybody can side with Craig Cook in that saga is anyone’s guess. Speedway is struggling financially and whilst there is sponsors pumping money in keeping clubs afloat they should get every preference available to them. The fact Cook said he would of signed on for more points money and milking the club even more null and voids any slight argument he had. Clubs need extra revenue and if riders aren’t happy then go and ride somewhere else. All the other riders have got on board including more high profile names like Andersen, Lambert and Harris.

What is it that creates such bitterness as to have to throw a boot in at every opportunity?

Cook admitted that himself in his statement. He wanted his own sponsors on the kevlars and Peterborough wanted their sponsors in colour and on the arms. At £6k for a set and then race jackets too for spares, it's a lot of money to make up. Don't get me wrong I would love to have race suits they do look professional but I don't see anything wrong with race jackets either.

I went to Prague on a weekend break. It is a gorgeous city especially around the main Old Square full of restaurants and bars. Its expensive in the square but go one road off the square to find prices two thirds cheaper. Pick pockets are everywhere and they have no shame. Keep your hand on your wallet. Apart from those pests its worth the visit.