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Just read the Eastbourne "Club Statement" which it seems just intends to rake over the ashes and fan the flames. As previously commented, 2 paragraphs would have been enough to close the matter down. They haven't . What follows is a highly blinkered one sided view of everything that occurred. Lots is made of the Glasgow team waiting until the official referee arived before complaining about track conditions. That is the CORRECT PROCEDURE. Then plenty of "refuting" of pretty much everything. The lady doth protest too much. They can "refute" all they like but the bottom line is that their selected highlights of the events contradicts much of what I saw on the 2 minute video (now conveniently removed). i.e. Craig Cook chose to ignore all Red Flags and Lights, did not reduce his speed before riding in to and around the 1st / 2nd turn towards his teammates, the Eastbourne Team and Mascots and Track Officials at his point of departure. What I saw on the video was Craig Cook slowing up on entry to the first bend and then turning right towards the open pit gates on the 2nd bend where he collided with a marshall standing in the middle of the track with his right arm directing Craig towards he inside of the track towards the exit of the 2nd bend.... and presumably towards where the parade and all the assembled folks were standing ? I will agree that the ban of Eddie (Ed or Edward ?) Kennett was disproportinate. He should have been banned for 24 days for his premeditated sprint towards the second bend from the parade with only one intention ..... to fight with Craig Cook. What is NOT mentioned by the Eastbourne club is the failure of the other Eastbourne rider sprinting from the parade with Ed Kennett in the fist throwing to receive any ban, nor any ban of Paul Dugard for the initial verbal abuse of Craig Cook.

And the Glasgow riders wouldnt have ridden off if they hadnt been goaded by the presenter and the Eastbourne promotion.......end of

Wrong Cook should never have rode off during the presentation.....100% he was wrong If the marshall hadnt have stepped on to the middle of the track and walked into Cook then Cook wouldnt have kicked off........Cook was 100% wrong again to kick of the way he did But was Cook at fault for the fracas? No the marshall was...............granted if Cook hadnt have rode off the marshall wouldnt have been there........but if the marshall stayed in the right position its more than likely Cook would have simply stopped and nothing more would have happened apart from Cook getting a word in his ear which may well have come from his own management. How far back do you want to take things to assess who was to blame? If you believe Cook was at fault for the fracas........then go back to the reason Cook left the parade........the deliberate act of stirring things up on the microphone from the Eastbourne presenter and the Eastbourne management team So those who think Cook was at fault need to then equally apportion blame on the people who dished out the stick on the mic. The reason a scuffle broke out was because of an over zealous marshall getting in the way.......without him no scuffle.................without the Eastbourne promotion deliberately winding up someone who they no is a bit volatile , then Cook wouldnt have left the parade....the marshall wouldnt have needed to be on the track....the scuffle would never have happened As i said if you think Cook caused the fighting ....then go back to why Cook was on the track in the first place

Why would you be interested in a statement from Glasgow. Oh wait you sniff an opportunity out more than a blind Lesbian in a fish factory.

If he was 'slowing down' then he must have been going faster beforehand at a time when he shouldn't have even been riding the track! With the presentation always held on the back straight, Cook rode off into the 3rd/4th bends and then the home straight before entering bends 1 and 2 (where most of the fan video was taken). Red lights were on and marshalls were holding their red flags on the 3rd/4th bends and the home straight at the side of the track before he went into bends 1/2. Whatever the rights and wrongs of what happened in the 'fracas', (not forgetting it was all witnessed first hand by the SCB's Neil Vatcher as well as the ref!), none of it would have happened if all the Glasgow riders had stayed at the presentation line until it had been fully completed! End of.

Blimey is it not about time everyone moved on ? I just watched the video of this meeting on Eagles TV . It was fantastic to see Tom Brennan in such high spirits and looking forward to getting back on his bike towards the end of this year. Delighted for him after all he and his family have been through.

In Cook's version of events - as published in last week's Star - he didn't hear anything of the presentation announcements as he had his helmet on and didn't realise the parade was still going on!!!!!!

Agreed. Cook pushed the marshall away as I think most people would have done in his situation. The marshall exited the scene. at that point the incident was over or at least should have been. But a host of Eastbourne people - the dugards, track staff, security guards and riders - all confronted Cook and Vissing and the fracas ensued.

I'm guessing it doesn't help that a brilliant race track has been turned to junk, are you saying they should keep turning up and watch junk, just in case. My team are having a good season, been at the top or near top all season, but the racing has been junk, so I stopped going.

He was going very slow and was slowing down and would have never caused an issue to anyone on the back straight Eastbournes statement just deflects everything away from them....right up to saying marshalls with the flags were at the edge of the track

Regardless of the wording, Cook was entering the first bend at a fairly leisurely pace, the group of people were on the back straight. It's ridiculous to suggest he would have caused danger to those on the back straight.

Not true, Tom was easily beating all those riders when they fell, deserved and earned every point. TBO I'm glad hr's staying, you cant ask more from a rider than giving their all and watching him improve week after week is what its all about.

Shame, bet a lot of those kids were looking forward to the next meet till they were told that

Can't speak for anybody else but personally I don't have an ounce of respect for somebody that behaves and conducts themselves like that. Its the same type of aggression in the clip that was shown by a poster a few posts ago at the Eastbourne track, whereby Dugard was clearly seen advancing towards a Glasgow rider and thrusting/pushing the Glasgow rider aggressively such that he was caused to suddenly move backwards a few yards. He obviously has a violent conduct and/or temper problem. The guy needs help.

Better off buying this.

No its not,he has been punished for his actions and serve his ban, if he doesn't miss any meetings it is not punishing him.

My view is that the club is more important than the owner . If supporters stop going to punish the current owner then they are effectively closing the club down. If that is what you want that is your affair , but it will be you that closes the club not the owner. Nobody is going to continue to lose money indefinitely. What supporters should be doing IMO is to create a club that another party would like to take over. The above is not in any way an endorsement of Mr Chapman

Live streaming is coming. But not from all clubs sadly Also if what I'm told is right TV coverage of the british league wont be on BT next year. But will be on eurosport

I have only been to the showground once this season and that meeting will go down as one of the best I have been to ever. It seems that has never been repeated which is a great shame. Peterborough racetrack was arguably the best track in the country prior to the NSS being built.

Sorry Gavan, that is just your opinion of the events, you have absolutely no idea whether he would have ridden off or not. Cook is a bit of a precious at the best of times, what he does when the mist descends sometimes results in nothing more than him getting a meeting postponed, to him throwing punches, riding into officials and knocking heaters off walls....I sometimes wonder whether speedway is the right choice for him tbh.

Exactly how far back do you go Cook wasnt 100% responsible for the fight that ensued.....some are just either lacking in intelligence or simply Cook haters to accept what happened

Cook is only going to give his own version which we can choose to believe or not. But no mention of the marshal in the middle of the track who caused the fracas, only mention those who were in the right. Blinkered.

Excellent statement!!

Well let’s face it that official statement isn’t accurate or factual either, selective facts at best. 3 minute video footage of the sorry incident means you don’t have to be there to make an informed opinion. I take it you believe every word of the statement as correct fact because you were there. Which at best makes you comments blinkered. Its pretty clear the statement put out is at best part fact, part ignore the obvious and part fail to mention the part others who were involved played (notably those from the home side).

Don't think 28 even covers the bond. But if it's 28 from each of your alias,, then that's a serious amount of money.

And Jacob Bukhave from Newcastle.. Just saying.

I have around £28k in savings. How much would Buster be willing to sell for?

All you have done is to attack craig at every opportunity cant blame him can you

Could have been worse 'the Cookie monster ate my hamster'

Generally lasts about the same number of meetings before needing a spell on the sidelines Wonder if he will make it to the transfer cut off date.......

Hhhhmmmm...... Dugard does seem to have a violent conduct and/or temper problem

Maybe he hit a nerve as he wasn't far off the mark.

interesting you should mention him (Brennan), the guy Craig Cook alleged was nearly killed by the unsafe track his step dad owns, as a reason not to race. and people wonder why the Dugards were angry with Cook?

Gavan trying to defend the Undefendable. What a suprise. Anyone who thinks the flag Marshall is the cause has a screw loose. Cook caused it all. He is totally to blame for everything that happened. Banged to rights with over 1000 witnesses. The flag Marshall should be praised for stopping Cook before he caused more issues. Cook was a disgrace. Fact! By the way thought this was hilarious!

Mr Facenna made a perfectly good statement in Speedway Star last week in fairness to him Eastbourne did not comment until after the Hearing. Don't see an issue in what either said They agree to disagree so time to move on.

I would hold fire if I was you? The rain is quite heavy and persistent atm and it's forecast for most of the day.... Hopefully the club will do an early call off, for any travelling fans?

Probably within the next hour looking at weather outside it's lashing down at the moment

The bspa is a farce at times I think we all agree on that,normally thinks go wrong for my club but for once this time the decision has gone our way I do feel sorry for Redcar as if the shoe was on the other foot I’d be peed off as well,but it’s amazing really after all the talk about him signing Woolley has one of his best meetings for you.

true but the points limit will have changed and Redcar will probably be banned from signing riders called David

No I don't. But the decision will make others think about who they take and when. People on here have regularly criticised the casual way that riders are being signed and dismissed, and expecting the BSPA to do something about it. Look at the recent pages for evidence. Do if you do, do if you don't.

It's all very reminiscent of the debates about the Big Five in the old days. It was generally reckoned that the most gifted and most talented.rider was Ronnie Moore and the most spectacular to watch was Peter Craven, but for sheer determination and the most successful were Ove Fundin and Barry Briggs, both of whom would figure in most people's top riders of all times above Moore and Craven. It is all a matter of opinion and there are no right or wrong answers and depends on what it is that is regarded as the true mark of the "best".

Danny had an operation yesterday to repair his broken leg, but the good news he is already walking on it with help of course.

Your having a laugh, is this the same guy they hyped up saying he's bringing 3 engines over a polish mechanic, from what I've seen so far he looks no better than when he was here before.

A statement that should have stopped after two paragraphs.

Completely and utterly absurd situation, this is the sort of thing which makes the sport a shambles and laughing stock. Giving these riders bans instead of fining them from earnings was so obviously going to create these issues, I hope the goons who made the decisions realise what they have done, but I doubt it somehow.

He doesn't help himself I'm afraid.

So you've gained out of this then...

Can I just point out along with other folk that if this in fact is the case (and only you seem to be aware of it) David Wallinger is currently 5th in Plymouth's averages and as such cannot be the sole reason for Plymouth's impending (as you would have it) demise. To blame the Redcar promotion is desperation personified.

No, just left at the bends.

Having a good season.