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Everyone in the stadium , bar Michael Breckon , saw that too . As many have said , cracking meeting tonight . Didn't think we were going to get anything like a defendable lead for most of the meeting , but we upped our game after the interval as the Somerset heat leaders faded . Some ropey looking starts , from both sides , were allowed to go unpunished before he pulled Chris Harris , of all people , back late on . I thought the Somerset bottom end would struggle , and the reserves did , but Anders Rowe did anything but struggle . Those saying Kyle Bickley should have had more rides , I can sort of see your point , but although he outscored Bailey , Bailey was the more aggressive of the pair as Bickley was easily passed by Rowe in heat 8 . And we could only replace Andersen the once . Will a twelve point lead be enough ? Very possibly the way Rasser and Cookie go down there , but it's play off speedway and anything can happen .

Huge congratulations to the Tigers. A thoroughly deserved win. After the shock of Cookie losing out to Bomber and Rowe in Ht1,it was never an easy ride for Somerset after that. Razzers Ht13 ride to go round Bomber and inside Morris was fabulous. Both Kelvin and Nigel would have had a heart attack with the blistering speed. of it. Sensational ride. Despite 3 Tigers getting more warnings for starting than the local weather forecast, they never let the Rebels get away from them First time Ive seen Sam Jensen, very impressed. Now go finish the job and win the title.

No, if that happens you could still decide it's 42.5 for the League so Ippo could decide to keep their seven or use the extra points available... If though another team over 42.5 wins the league they should be allowed to keep their seven too if they so wish, and that figure becomes the maximum figure.. It's ridiculous that fans become attached to riders who win leagues (especially younger fans who you want to engage more than ever) only for them to be often left out the year after... That simply doesn't equate to a sensible business model... You also have the nonsense of TV mentioning that a meeting involves "last year's Champions" when maybe only four of them are actually in attendance... British Speedway desperately needs some aspirational attainments, and dumbing down the leagues means no team has to aspire to "beat the best" because "the best" invariably gets diluted...

Wilson’s last meeting as he is retiring and he will be a big loss to the sport great role model for the younger lads.

Bar last year August has had more rain fall than October in recent years ...no one can judge when the rain is going to hit in the uk

The sadly missed speedway historian, Keith Farman, who was an absolutely devoted Ove Fundin fan, made a comprehensive study of all Ove's races. He found that although Fundin beat all his main rivals more times than they beat him, Craven was the one who beat him the most times.

To reiterate a previous post, I don't get why we are running our play offs in October. We could have had the season done & dusted by the end of August with the Play offs in the first two weeks of September. Between April & the end of August there were 22 weeks.

So if Ipswich win this year every team bar P/borough have to aspire to drop there team limit to 41.43 for next season ?.

dont like that falcon why on your list are poole the only club without a no1 !!??

Why have season ticket holders been short changed, and why make this statement as a non Aces fan who clearly has no idea what value Aces season tickets are? To put you straight I have a season ticket and I have got every single match that was stated my ticket included this season. Please think before you post ridiculous and quite frankly slanderous, factually incorrect comments.

You can’t rule out Kinsley, he’s very fast round the EWR and beaten some good names.

Last night's meeting just got better and better, some immense (and tense) racing to savour. Feel a little sorry for the Rebels reserves who seem to have been dismissed entirely when, in my view, they were certainly in the thick of the action last night - yes, just 1 point amassed between them in the end, but the effort was there (Connor only scored 3 and look at the effort he put in). Anyway, a 12 point advantage is more than I'd hoped for/expected, fingers crossed we can hang on to that tonight - this season's efforts certainly deserve one last hurrah before the long close season.

Take a look at the photograph plus all the GH and SH winners over time.

Another second division rider, Bob Leverenz, also qualified for the 1951 final, finishing 8th, while Geoff Mardon, a third division rider, qualified as reserve.

Same tripe from the Hog's mouth you don't know me very well ........do you really think I give a sh** who likes me on here this Forum is like a toy to entertain me when I'm bored Advantage Glasgow , Somerset's reserves cost them dearly

I don't think he beat Jack Parker. He won it from Ronnie Moore in 1952 and then held it against Moore, Freddie Williams and Split Waterman. He later won it again in 1955 when he won by default against Ronnie Moore, who was injured. He was then injured himself and didn't defend it.

Even this evening during BTs Champions league matches they showed an advert for the Speedway play offs and the final GP i do have to admit that they promote the sport well even better than Sky did. Although Eurosport may be a pan Europe broadcaster I am unsure that the big Polish sponsors will want to have banners and boards at British tracks or get involved in club sponsorship even if the racing is shown live in Poland. It has to be remembered that people will only spend so much time watching Speedway on TV and with all Polish Extraliga meetings broadcast along with lots of other meetings I’m unsure how many will watch UK racing. I know Orange sport in Poland found this when they took the Swedish league that they didn’t get the viewers they expected.

1st of April

Presumably because they don't want lose money running meaningless meetings

So we repeat the error of earning the money then handing it straight over to riders to have glorified practice sessions while their best efforts and bikes are elsewhere? Of course with Eurosport NOT being a premium sports channel it has far more subscribers, mainly those getting it as part of a basic pay-TV package but I suspect BT get higher viewing figures. Many people receive Eurosport without ever bothering to watch it. A five year deal is fine so long as it's a benefit and not blocking better options over the five years. If, somehow the sport were to see an upturn it would be locked-into a bargain deal. Regarding potential sponsors, I take it you're referring to the claim that we may tap into Polish sponsors. Why would Polish brands like Nice, Get Well, Mr Garden, Fogo want to advertise to the UK? Eurosport's inability to maintain a stable schedule, which has been the case for 30 years, plus its lack of channels and contracts like the Olympics to be taken care of in high season it threatens to be a highly disjointed service, although hopefully not lamentable enough to start live coverage at heat 19! There is one aspect of the BT deal that is overlooked. BT take speedway seriously in its channel promotions. One moment you can be watching a top football premiership match, the next it's the next speedway event being mentioned. There were regular promotions for speedway during their Champions League coverage including the final. You see a constant flow of promos for major sports, and speedway's right in there. I wouldn't liike to even try to estimate the cost of having to pay for that publicity.

Thrilled we've made the final . The updates were pretty biased , though it seems the ref in both meetings were happy to let things go at the starts . Personally if a rider doesn't break the tapes then all is good if he makes a good start . Leicester or Redcar to come , I'm really not bothered which one it is

Great result for the tigers tonight , fair play to Somerset for making a fist of it , so its down to lions, tigers or bears oh my , lions, tigers or bears oh my ! I'm sure we can find some forum members on here that could play the parts of the Tinman, Scarecrow and the Cowardly lion , lol . You choose but keep it fun !

Well done Tigers, they never give up, was nerve wracking watching updates. Lets make it our year.

Aye, seems like that,,, according to the updates, it seems your lot had more rollers than Hilda Ogden.

I can’t see Glasgow moving up and losing the “local” derbies with Edinburgh, Berwick, Newcastle etc

Looks like narcissus has done well.

I do lurve an ironic post!!

And Vissing

At least there's a silver lining if it's off,can watch Wanderers in Istanbul.

In fairness for several years i was frustrated by the riders who stuck at the same level in NL and got team places year on year but there is a fresher feel to the league the past couple of seasons and many of those mentioned will be moving on/frozen out next year (if there is a Nl of course)

There was a time when referee Lew Stripp and Len Silver were not exactly the best of friends. One programme accidentally named him as Lew Stiff. I am certain it was just a typo.....

I think Flint and Gilkes have done exceptional well and had excellent seasons. ; Bickley at CL level for whatever reason has not improved in my opinion especially his Away form. Of the field now and compared to 2018 the point is the only really "new emerging names" are Palin and Edwards. Too many in my opinion who have been there at that level for too long.

The second division must of been such a competitive league then, going back to those days Jack reached seven world Final's 1950 / 55 all at Wembley then reached his last one with a five year gap 1960 also one at reserve at Malmo.I often think because of Bluey Willkinson/ and Jack's success poor old fellow Aussie Vic Duggan often gets forgotten through no fault of his own.

World Champ in 1951 and 52, first and only second division rider to win the World Title ( which shows how competitive the second division was in those days). I am pretty sure he beat Jack Parker in the British Match Race Championship when still in the second division with Edinburgh. He still has a street named after him on the site of the old West Ham Stadium.

Mainly the ex Motocross riders.

Agree, as popular as those two riders are we have to be tough and address the awful away form for next year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/3083271 No rain on this. You should be fine. I will be warmer in front of the TV.

If both Cook and Robert are back at Lynn next year there will only be one #1 and that won’t be Cook

So SKY is not free for Eurosprt, neither is BT, neither is Eurosport Player. Is there a free way of viewing Eurosport??? I with BT and get access to the Speedway GP's and MotoGP and World Superbikes. Plus I can watch World Rally Cross so I am happy with that. I can lose British `Premiership without shedding any tears.

I went in 2012 It hammered down with Rain for about an hour before. The roof covered most of the track and they put actual covers on the parts exposed to the elements. The Meeting went ahead and was an absolute belter. Keep my fingers crossed for you that you get to see a good un

I'm not so sure. I can see Holder and Kurtz going toe to toe for the win

Excellent news.

I have got a photo of Les in Wimbledon colours in my collection. I beleive he made a few appearances for the Dons in 1960, give or take a year.

I was at The Shay that saturday evening with two other Hawks fans. Infact we were discussing that very meeting a few weeks back on route to Kent Kings. Zenon Plech was superb that night. Pretty sure it was Thommo,Chalky and Sean Wilmott who were scoreless. That victory made up for all the Northern Trip hammerings that we normally witnessed. They were good days, Dons on thursday routing for the opposition, Hackney friday of course and more often than not Coventry saturday as my mate was Ole Olsen drunk. Back on topic pleased for the Witches who I have now adopted since Lakeside closed down and have been a regular all season,only missing a couple of meetings. Looking forward to the final whenever the weather will permit.

R.I.P. Svein Harald Kaasa who lost his life at Hampden Park on this day in 1972

yes and no. Carter didn't have the natural talent of Lee (has anyone?). But he was better than Lee in 81, 82,85 , 86and pretty close in 83/84. Maybe that says more about Lee's decline? Carter in 82 was arguably as good as Penhall, and Penhall is certainly regarded as same class as Lee. Agree 100% on the similarities.

Just as well i wasn’t a team manager in that case !!!- i would have been useless.

Well, if it is included, I hope there are no Poole riders invited, they struggle to complete 4 laps at Foxhall

Tbf it’s no debate between the two. Stef had a poor season this year but on that average and down at reserve he’d be a steal round the EWR! Plus Lambert won’t go higher than a 5pt average and he could even have to start at number 2.

Shocking, if true. Pearson is becoming a scourge on British speedway in this day and age.