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Quit whining, Shov; nobody here can understand you, but you don't let that stop you!!!

That was a fantastic Grand Prix. Some brilliant racing which, once again, proves that when given the right track, these boys can deliver some spectacular entertainment. It's still the best sport in the World when done right.

Traditional race sheet for 2019 Wroclaw GP https://www.keepandshare.com/doc16/23709/gp-2019-5a-pdf-177k?da=y

I watch the Colts at the NSS and the racing is around 2 - 3 seconds slower than the Premiership.. The racing is great and only by the announcer telling you the times of the heats do you realise the time difference... Stick four lads of a similar ability level on a race track that is conducive to deliver decent racing and you will be entertained... Stick four lads of a similar ability level on a race track that has too tight bends and too long narrow straights, and you invariably will not be as entertained.... And those lads could all be the best four riders in the World providing the low level of entertainment, whilst four 'juniors' could be the four lads providing the great racing.. Even teams, with close racing ran on tracks that allow passing opportunities, has to be the overall objective to deliver 'the good night's racing' that a Speedway promoter should be offering up as his or her minimum aim.. That 'good night's racing' should then get supported by a wider evening of off track entertainment to keep the punters engaged.. Do that well and no one will notice, or even care, that any of the riders on show are not GP stars, or even that many of them are not even international class.... Fans would just go away from the venue pleased with what they had seen and, more than likely ,be willing to return to get more of the same. .

Having seen the racing at Wroclaw, it begs the question as to why BSI continue to put SGP s on at poor tracks. E.g Prague is a great place to travel to but Pardubice is the best track in the Czech Republic by a long way Krsko rarely produces good racing etc For gods sake put the meetings on real race tracks

At the end of the day, the tracks play a huge part. In Poland they have czechova and Toruń, now Wroclaw. If you look they are all very similar in shape and size. Big entrances and wide exits. Speedway is just better on this track type.

Excellent entertainment tonight. All of the riders should be applauded for giving us the best GP this year and one which will be difficult to match.

Forget "GP"; that was quite possibly the best meeting I have EVER seen...

Best GP for years not just the series.

Same for both get on with it, quit crying.

Bartosz Pasquale...

Great racing, Great crowd, its everything the sport should be every time, all the time.

That was a cracker of a meeting, takes two to tango and Redcar were worthy of their point. The speedway at Glasgow this year is absolutely superb, thoroughly enjoying it. Completely agree that Kyle has the outside line in his locker, if he chooses to use it and Connor getting visibly quicker every week. I thought the second pits camera worked well last night once the signal issues settled down. The 2nd meeting in a row with a very healthy attendance (no freebies), positive signs for the club.

The integrity issue for me is brought about by owning more than 1 club in any league, it effectively means those clubs under the same ownership can "squad" their riders so that one of them wins the league. Of course when Mike Parker tried this in the 60's he had rider control and an independent SCB to contend with nowadays the teams who are squadding are also on the Management Committee so very little to stop them winning the leagues every year.

Just got home from the meeting. Going to 'try' and put an unbiased veiw on the meeting. Yes, I am an Eastbourne fan but I like to think I am pretty pragmatic and not afrais to say if our riders are out of orsder or if the track is not up to standard Got there tonight ready for a cracking meeting and feeling a little nervous despite only having a 4 point deficit. First thing I heard that there was issues was when the announcer said that the away team had complained about the track and did not want to ride it. There were several people down on turn 2 discussing and kicking dirt around so to speak. Then Jon Cook was interveiwed, he was seriously annoyed and dismayed that the fotness of the track and been called into question and clearly put the blame on Craig Cook (and his mates). At this stage I has no ill feelings about Glasgow or Craig Cook. I am no expert and certainly, I am not one to judge if the track is rideable by veiwing it from turn 1, on the stock car track, which is where I stand. That started to turn a bit when Martin Dugard explained that Jason and Alfi had been practising on the track that day. I must admit, I was less than impressed when we were told there would be a delay as the Glasgow riders had not yet changed. But still, no real drama. It was on the rider parade that it all started going a bit sour. For those of you that dont know, the way it done at Eastbourne is, the bikes are wheeled on to the track, then the riders are paraded out to 'Sussex by the Sea' and then introduced one by one, the away team first. This all takes place on the back straight as thats where the main stand is. When both teams have been announced, the riders are pushed off and have a few practice starts and the opputunity to slide into the turns to get a feel for the track. Tonight, after the Glasgow riders had been announced, some of them pushed off, before the Eastbourne team had been announced. They came down the straight and into turn . With people still on the track and the infield (including kids, who are the Eagles mascots) the track staff held out red flags to stop the Glasgow riders. Craig Cook ran straight into one of the track staff and then kicked off at him. Ot then all kicked off with several people involved. My lad went round the pits to see what was going on and saw people pleading with Craig to go and ride heat 1. He was refusing, talking about his injury and saying why should he ride an unsafe track! So, heat 1 started without him. As much as I feel he should be banned from the whole meeting, thats not what I want. I pay my money to see the likes of Bomber, Scotty and Craig Cook riding. I love them all, they are Brits and I support British riders through and through. The track rode fine. Even the reserves in heat 2 looked comfortable and were not struggling, Yes, there were some fallers but certainly was not more than you can often get. Someone on the updates site said its unusual to see 3 falls in 9 heats, really? I have seen 3 in one heat at times, and not just at Arlington. And Ed Kennet did not fall. He tagged the air fence riding a high line, stayed on and carried on, the air fence started to deflate and the race stopped, thats why he was excluded. Craig Cook, when he finally took to the track, rode it fine and looked classy and smooth. The races that he did not gate were the races of the night as he looked brilliant trying to make the pass. It was a real shame that the controversy ruined the night as it was great for Eastbourne to go through but I feel Glasgow were just deflated after the whole thing, it was really meeting over after a few races. Could have been so much better if Craig Cook had popped out and won heat one. I always think there are two sides to everything but the Glasgow manager having the guts to go on the mic and apologise afetr the meeting said it all and hats off to him for doing so.

I posted earlier that of The Bandits long unbeaten run was going to end, the Bears were just the team to do it. So it has proved to be, another great team performance from the Bears, especially as they are a 6 man team in all honesty. The play-offs must be a real possibility for the Bears. Well done, all of you. Its a good time to be a Bears fan.

Just need to get the first GP of the year at the NSS now to set it all off with a bang. ..

The long unbeaten home record is gone. UTB.

I'm now thinking "ArthurRudge" is actually Sam Ermolenko

I always imagine his voice breaking while being interviewed and sounding like Barry White!

Our tracks by and large are a bit like the roads in our towns and citys, they haven't changed for years and they no longer fit for purpose of modern day situations.

Let's hope Bomber comes to the party at Foxhall when it matters in the play-offs. Looked like on Thursday he was riding to get sacked to end up in Poole's team!! Not very good when he was not on the victory parade truck, I know he was probably feeling down but still no excuse. Also, if he is struggling with set ups why is he not out after the meeting trying things out. Thought the track would've suited him Thursday but doesn't ride the right lines. Cam, Eddie & Jake prove passing is possible with wide lines & inside lines. He needs two big performances at Lynn & Poole this week.

Are you saying she doesn't know her onions??? Steve

Totally agree , the racing has been brilliant this season and although we sit proudly at the top of the league , we're not hammering teams at Ashfield . Every meeting , apart from Birmingham and Edinburgh , has been close battles . I'm just hoping our new number 2 was riding poor equipment last night as he looked very slow . But 4 wins in the space of 7 days , life is good

Agree with Arthur there needs to be an extra rider with differing opinions. They just agree with other on everything. Put some spice in there with someone outspoken. This meeting has been great from heat one. Take not Belle Vue. Had to wait until heat 15 for a good race.

Not bad, but I think we've seen better racing at a track like Poole.....

Never forget that Parker would make Chapman appear to be an angel. Any good that Parker ever did in either Speedway or Stock Cars was only done due to it being in his interests. The nastiest piece of work I ever met.

Nothing amazing at all. I visited Plymouth almost weekly when I lived in Poole. For the last 7 years Ive been going every week to Plymouth,as I live in Devon. Seen more meetings there than at Poole over that time. Poole is my hometown club, just because I dont live there doesnt mean I cannot support another. This season has seen the overall standard of racing drop alarmingly. The whole package needs looking at. Meeting presentation is dreadful too.Guy in the middle hasnt got much of clue, despite being there for a while. What bothers me most is the fact the the Promoters continuing to say there are no problems,its all in the riders minds. This despite repeated calls for track prep. One or two people saying it, fair enough,maybe there isnt a problem. With riders, Team Managers etc saying it, there clearly is. Riders will talk amongst themselves. Word will get round very quickly amongst their own. Oh, if you read my post above, then you will see my comment regarding the track last night. To save you the time, I said 'its the best its been for months' I certainly do not want to see Plymouth close. It is one of my favourites. Its a great little circuit,when prepared properly.

It is within the bounds of possibility that a person may have a home track but be a regular at another As Mike0310 will confirm, Bob is - or rather was - a regular at Plymouth.

This is an OFFICIAL thread

Nothing new in this article from Dick , he's been writing this sort of stuff for years

For a 5/6 hour journey, 300+ miles each way, I would have said it was an ideal time for the meeting!

Pod’s post was totally unacceptable and stupid.Did it really affect the crowd level I doubt it.Just my opinion though.How long was the Post up for before it was corrected and it was 3- 4 hours before start time.This is a forum and as such maybe should be taken with pinch of salt ,phone the Stadium would be my answer.Before internet days that was all you could do.

Got to agree about the track. My heart always sinks when I arrive at the stadium on a fine day to find the track's been flooded - which happens quite a lot. It always produces terrible racing for the first few heats, with riders struggling to turn, then improves gradually to produce better but still not great racing. Think they might need to look along the M8 to get some advice on track preparation (used to be the other way round). On a positive note - Danny Ayres! The most exciting rider on track and a great character off it - check out his interview on this weeks Friday Focus https://youtu.be/mDOzLGyBs9U

With a change of main sponsors possible, it seems like the decision to go with race jackets rather than race suits was a prudent one....

mikebv is spot on with his post.The racing at the NSS in the National league is superb value for money .And no the racing isn't good because of riders mistakes,far from it.You get lots of young riders of similar ability producing great close racing.Regarding race times Jack Smith clocked 61.53 in heat 1 recently which is on a par with many races in the Premier league.You hardly notice slower race times.Doyle v Fricke or Kemp v Flint etc would be exactly the same entertainment.

Don't forget that Norman Clay also lost his life in that crash... Steve

Selfishness is one thing. Earning money another. I would like to see Emil as champ.

In such a holiday destination it makes perfect business sense to run weekly especially through the school hols.. They also seem to focus on making the Speedway just one part of the overall nights entertainment package rather than the only thing on offer.. You get out of it what you put in, in most things in life.. More power to the IOW's elbow..

Poor Craig...being respected by the Hydra.....

Nowadays may be more appropriate to call it doubling down.

I have no affiliation to either team. But surely to allow your riders to practice allday on the day of the meeting will (1) affect the track and could be almost construed as gaining an unfair advantage. (2) be deemed using football terminology, as ungentlemanly conduct by the home team

Bartosz Pendergrass..

Not sure I agree with that... As a Dons fan, I was quite happy with small tracks, and enjoyed the racing at many of them. Trouble is, nearly all of the big pacy tracks (which would be more suited to modern machinery) were closed down. So, that IS a big change. We at least had variety then, but think of it, Hyde Rd, Custom House, The Shay, County Ground etc, and even ones like Earle Street and Kingsmead... I would love to have seen modern bikes on some of those. Steve

Wroclaw, like the NSS, has an American Football pitch inside it.. Maybe that's the secret everyones been missing..

Chips with curry sauce is great. Had that when I went to Rye House a fair few years back.

I've run several retail businesses for over 30 years.. And the customer is always right.. Even when he or she is a complete and utter first class f***wit of the highest order!!! If they pay you money, then look after them and they will probably come back...

£10-00 still expensive tho

Kent kings are right up there with them. Uncle Len still runs speedway every week.

Spot on... When riders rode in both of the top divisions it was to give them a chance to develop their ability against better riders, to see if they could make the leap into the top league permanently, and then further into international class, once they became established top division standard riders.. Now it's simply done to allow riders without Polish and Swedish contracts to make money, and all it has done is result in some clubs racing on nights they would prefer not to, to accomodate these riders' earning potential and deliver a fixture list driven by when the riders are available to ride rather than when the customers will be available to attend. .