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Congrats to Poole for finishing top of the league :) Looking forward to some very tough play off meetings ahead, the first hurdle being Ipswich who will be a different animal Monday. It’s not going to be easy over 2 legs but I hope we can push on and reach the final.

He has very little chance of getting back to the gp's and wouldn't be any good if he did. His main focus has to be league racing now.

I dislike Poole more than Ipswich, go Ipswich, wipe the smugness off the faces of these Pirates ....

So I had a look at the Showground exhibition today and the initial plans look to build houses where the Speedway track currently is. However, they say that this will be starting in 2023 at the earliest. I think that is ambitious and there is clearly much concern from local residents about the existing infrastructure of the surrounding area and the effect 600 new homes will have. This could drag on quite a while. On the plus side, the local councillor was on local radio this afternoon and was adamant that any plans must involve keeping the Speedway Heritage in Peterborough (her words not mine). She was very committed in that Speedway is not overlooked, I was surprised, I didn’t know she was a fan. She was at the exhibition and I made myself known to her. She explained that there was a Local Planning order number 30 that requires any sporting activities (she said such as the Speedway) must be relocated before the existing site can be demolished and that she would be vigorously making sure this is followed. I was very impressed with her. Alas we all know and probably have experienced how developers and planners can operate, but I am confident our local councillor is going to be on the case for Speedway, which in all honesty is probably a lot better than I thought it would be at this early stage.

The back injury was just prior to the 89 season I think whilst racing in Australia. Think he was lucky not to end up in a wheelchair. The Bees had to shuffle late on just before tapes up with Kai Niemi coming in. I think he officially retired after that injury but then made a come back towards the end of 1990? IIRC there was some animosity between him & Ole over TK racing/not racing with a broken arm in a Danish test match. Ole wanted him too, TK was reluctant but did only to pull out halfway through his first ride. I watched him from his first steps as a second half rider at 16 all the way through to the end of his Bees career. For me he was Mr Coventry Bee. so many great memories, beating Ivan Maurer in a tight match, Ivan being a tactical in the #2 & 7 race, Tommy being a raw #7. was a world class ride who had no luck in big meetings & always seemed to pick up niggly injuries when flying that always set him back that little bit.

Plan B - Poole forfeit

The art i suppose is recognising you have a problem with the track and addressing the problem.As SHOCKER says we need that track better than what is was last night to have any chance of beating Wolves we have racers in our team who need a good strip to ride on.

I paid £19 on the day last year from the ticket office. They will have thousands of cheap tickets. Always do.

only a fool would have said Poole would pick Swindon........i await apologies from those

Well Last night..... what's more disappointing is that we was actually in the meeting at the half way stage. Then we capitulated. I had to walk half way through heat 14. To angry and couldn't see them celebrate. We had gate 1, (9 times) in the 15 races and gate 1 was horrific. Not 1 win all night. Might aswell have not shown up at the tapes if you was on that. I think we had it in the last 4 races aswell which explains a bit of the capitulation. I was impressed with jye again. Deffo improved so should be at reserve next year. The track was poor sorry to say last night. Riders all over the shop (mainly ours) There just diddnt seem to be any team spirit. When our riders won a race. No acknowledgement, no celebration no nothing. You watch the Swindon lads and they just loved it. They wanted to be there. We diddnt. So season over on a whimper. AGAIN. year after year same thing. I still love this club though and support them through the tough times. But its wearing very thin now

Were you there? There was no dust until about heat 13. Belle Vue battled well but the Robins are strong from heat 10 onwards & often rattle up big scores from 10 onwards to win meetings. Now to keep it close up at Monmore.

Best crowd I've seen there for quite some time not the best racing but a good meeting due to the atmosphere. Just shows a big crowd helps massively

Don't know whether I'm pleased or not that the season has finished, again pot-less as usual. So annoying when teams like Poole turn up and show us how it should be done. Each and everyone of their riders were dialled in and showed how much it mattered, what a pity we cant say that about out team.. Over the season we have witness some good performances but the dedication can always be questioned. Yeah, I accept we had injuries, but the team we put out tonight was woeful . I get fed up watching riders going through the motions. I don't mind losing, but lets lose with pride......

Making the plays is already over achieving for us Witches in most peoples book To make the final would be an unrealistic hope when we have to take on the table toppers having just clung on to 4th by our fingernails Keeping the first leg within 20 will be the first task. Need it 10 or under to have any chance Whatever will be will be

The worst thing possible would be to take Ipswich for granted. Therefore I'm sure Neil will have the boys up for it over the 2 legs. Job is only half done and still a long way to go without the Ipswich riders been given extra incentive with Poole appearing overconfident. personally I give respect to Ipswich for getting to the playoffs.

Won’t happen. Too many selfish 2nd tier teams that have no ambition or cut their cloth accordingly. No other credible league has that many teams. The top league in the World has 8 (Poland) whilst Sweden have 1 more. No other league has more teams.

You've finished top of the league, and your underdogs for the title ? Christ this record has worn out all of the grooves.

What a shame - It looks like old TrackPrat has got the hump with Poole even worse than normal.....I wonder why

We did not want several tons of shale, we did not want track records broken every week, we did not necessarily want to win the league . We wanted a team that we could be proud of and had half a chance of winning most home meetings. We certainly did not want to be the loss leaders of the Chapman master plan and possibly suffer the consequences.

So it’s Leicester vs Cradley with dates TBC and next weekend it’s Belle Vue vs Kent! Unfortunately Leicester are going to embarrass Cradley but the other tie is hard to predict and so is the final! Belle Vue’s home advantage could carry them through, Kent look the strongest side on paper now finally everyone is fit but then Leicester topped the league! Least clear cut for a few years imo.

You'll be behind me Wishing your boys all the best against the Pirates. I must be mad, but it is Poole

Can I have £1000 each way on the Witches (so long as it pays to 4 places)

Well done to Glasgow, sounds a great meeting and a good practice for going to Somerset in the play offs next week.

Shouldn't be allowed, the bloke should've still been banned

Drink the half litre of vodka before you go into the stadium lol

Its a disgrace that this final has been run.... the Wolves vs. P'boro (PSC) qualifier is now scheduled for Sunday 13th October...... Name that sport???

Monday is still too far away to be accurate on the forecast.

Jake Allen in both legs sounds like a good option to replace MPT to me. With him plus Broc Nichol in for Nathan Greaves don't think The Bears will be weakened. Watch out The Lions. The Bears may have been knocked down losing 3 riders to injury last weekend but they are far from out. You may regret your choice of opponents........

Although a larger top league would be good I cannot see many clubs wanting to move up with the way the top league has acted in previous years to those that have moved up, most of which dropped out after one season, too many politics and if shown on tv not enough money is paid to cover those fans that stay at home and watch the meeting on tv. The cost of the riders is higher and unless the teams are weakened or the costs reduced how many PL clubs can afford to move up?

Chris Holder stays with Indianerna for at least one more season. http://www.speedwaynyheter.se/holder-klar-for-fortsattning

Promote youth gradually & not like the EDR system a few years ago.

Not sure why you are having problems- these are selling them and with an English language page https://www.ticketportal.cz/NEvent/Zlata-prilba-mesta-pardubic?target=2

I agree with Shovvy. The winner of the Swindon v Wolves Play Off will start as favourites in the Final.

Well done to the Robins. Isn't it a great feeling winning on a track with one or two bumps on it?!

More than that. Closer to 2.5. Back straight had plenty and the most I’ve this season, and when I nipped round for the trophy presentation the home straight had plenty of bodies too. TR also commented in his programme notes that this season average attendances were higher than last year, and he was pleased with that. With one, hopefully two, decent attendances to come against Wolves and then Ipswich in the final the management will be happy with the way things have gone. I think overall we’ve seen excellent racing, although last night was below par it has to be said, a winners trophy and semi-final of the PO is a decent season regardless of how it ends.

I too think that Belle Vue will edge that semi final but Spooner at reserve for Kent is a huge trump card that said i think the title will depend upon RTD and ultimately end up with Cubs hands on the trophy.

so gavan was correct poole have picked ipswich despite lots of posters including some "in the know"lol saying they would pick swindon for the "big gate"

They are under dogs. Swindon are in better form than them at the moment and Wolves just turned them over at their place as well. The bookies have them down as third favourites to win it.

Poor meeting tonight on a dusty track. A big pre Cardiff crowd must have swelled the coffers for the tangerine dream team.

Went as a neutral for my first trip to Swindon since 2014 tonight. Gutted for Belle Vue fans who must have had a right frustrating season watching that team, how inconsistent can a team be?! I hope their British riders find consistent form again next season after injury free seasons for Bewley and Worrall, that was a massive ride for Worrall to beat Doyle. As for Swindon, I can't wait to see them at Wolves in the play offs, that should be a tasty match up! Had their gating boots on tonight. Not the best racing I have to say but glad I went, a very healthy crowd indeed and a masterstroke to put the meeting on at the start of Cardiff weekend. When you get a crowd and occasion like that on a warm evening too, it reminds you speedway is still alive and well on its day! How I miss my regular fix at Brandon.

Forgetting they were favourites at the start of the season, finished top as predicted but are underdogs, same old record every year.

So how have we cheated tonight idiot

Yes they were. I was there when some of the calls were made. Same as for the end of season do.

The people who run track shops have those that are supposed to be ones for past tracks. In practice they are ones they have concocted themselves and not the originals.

Well just like to say i am very sorry for the loss of the Potters just like my own Gunners and the Kings we will never sadly see the the likes of them again ,they were all IMO victims of a changing world and culture .There are things the sport can do but I do feel in this day and age many extenal things have/ are conspiring against it and there has never been the robust support that football and alike have enjoyed from outside parties but has been seen as a blight and antisocial activity by non followers . I think that the NSS will be the last pupose built track in this country and the best we can hope for is that demise of the remaining tracks can be avoided for as long as posssible !

I've said before - my main issue with your many many posts usually on Poole threads is that they are simply repetitive - over and over and over again saying the same old stuff. Sometimes you have something valuable to say which is why you are not on ignore - but you don't need to keep on saying it. Once is often enough - for everyone.

Nice to see the old term of ROUGH park has made a return mmmmmmmmmmm

Good interview this morning on Talksport radio with Tai. Go to 9.32am https://talksport.com/radio/listen-again/1568696400/1568709000/

He's still very keen so I dont think it will be any surprise at all to see him back next season if given a wild card. He finished 5th last year after a bad injury and little to no pre season Was World Champion very recently. I think it would be A. very harsh not to give him at least one last shot & B. silly to just assume he wouldn't be a contender anyway. People here are forever predicting who's going to do what next season but there are often a lot of surprises, No one woulda have predicted Nicki the first year he won it, Greg in 2010, Tai in 2013. Same as everyone assumed Holder and Lindback would be top 3 in 2013 after the way they rode in 2012. Many Thought Doyle would walk it last year... The list goes on. You just dont know.

King and Harris as reserves is a nonsense. It should be British youngsters only.