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It's very interesting to read this because we are fortunate to have many holiday people who come to the speedway perhaps for the first time on the island.... I of course when I welcome everyone, just after 13 mascots of differing ages 7 - 24 have ridden but before the parade, ask the crowd "who is on holiday" to see the hands and shouts... why do it do that because these are a target for me and my team to try to engage with and get them out on the centre green to find out the where you from, have you been to speedway, blah blah. Not to promote the Island but our sport in general (and don’t think for one minute we leave our or visiting fans out of the extra fun treatment). Once I know the answer to my questions above, I always tell them what local to them and where to find it. And the resounding thing that I see time and time again in emails, Facebook messages or posts is that what they see when they go locally isn't half the fun or as entertaining as their experienced with 3rd tier Isle of Wight Warriors. Even more interesting I hear time and time again (and you will again see it written all over) is those who go to speedway but come to us because they are on holiday, want their promotion team to be more like us, our show, our fun packed family night out where we focus more on entertainment than the result, value over speed, a positive note rather than anything else. This why you will read the "Isle of Wight is the blueprint of speedway's future" and other comments all over social media....not by me but by people who have visited us (I guess that’s why we have won so many awards both in and out of speedway) and even more interestingly why clubs, far wealthier than us - (I know we are the poorest club financially in the sport), copy our ideas by the time I have shaken the last visitors hand or switched off the pits lights on the race day we first do it. So, sorry I don’t agree that we have a poor product, we have probably the best product for today’s environment, the best show in speedway, brilliant racing but most of all a very happy, satisfied and entertained crowd who want to come back or visit their local tracks which ultimately, sadly, disappoint.

Thats a carbon copy of the 1977 White City race jacket. Way back in 2000 I always thought the "rebels" nickname was a reference to the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion and the following battle of Sedgemoor in 1688 but if you look into the rebellion and what happened to the Duke and his followers you would hardly want to celebrate it. I don't have any issue with the Confederate flag or "Old Dixie". Anyone that takes offence at it or thinks that it is racist needs to get back to the holes they came from.

Regards your first paragraph... you should really read some reviews or attend it.... our presentation is good for speedway and is objectively good. Track Staff are smart - all dressed the same thanks to our sponsors Sydenhams. Are they polite.... read ANYWHERE about the welcome people are given on the Island and you will read just how polite, welcoming, helpful, engaging, interpersonal all our staff are - you see we view every person as equally as important as the next... who do you view the most important person on race day...? Actually for me there are 2 The carpark team (our carpark is free so they are purely there to welcome and direct) and then the team on the gate... why because they are the first people anyone who comes meets... if they are smart, polite, trained, and knowledgable its the right start... then also its what a visitor takes away with them... the thrill of the last heat, great food at the right price, seeing the kids on the track in the running race or our riders signing tareoffs to give away at halftime... is it their visit to the pits, the drink in the bar, our clean toilets or using our baby changing facility, maybe it was the visit to the centre green, or the old boys on the JAPs after the meeting, could be our brilliant programme, or the videos on the TVs in the stand... could be me interviewing as I go live before the meeting starts..or it could be the tractors grading or just perhaps they have really enjoyed their night with us... Sorry I got carried away.. to continue... is it tidy? Oh my we have probably the most beautiful stadium before race day, after race day and any day... it is always clean.. ask anyone who has been every air fence panel (all of which are sponsored by the way) are cleaned for every one of the 20 weekly meetings we stage, the grass is alway on point, our toilets are clean, with flowers most weeks, and painted every off season, our stands are clean, our bins are emptied, our weeds are... oh we dont have weeds in the stands of course, or that main spectator area, or the picnic area, or the pits.. but there are a few where no one goes on race day until they are outgrown by blackberries which we encourage fans to come and pick (wash before you eat them), are we sign posted? Yes we are and we have banners across the island, pop ups in cinemas, and other attractions, can we improve this bit.. of course we can. Is the PA system good.. ,we have a great PA, a two mic presentation (fixed and mobile) but it wasnt always perfect but as soon as it was reported guess what ... it was fixed. Is the parade good... OK our meetings go like this... firstly our MASCOTs are introduced to the crowd..normally 13 every week they go off into the crowd (signing autographs and inspiring others).. then the riders decend through the crowd high fiving the kids on to the track.. the brilliant Rob Dyer introduces them one by one, giving an overview of any recent news about the rider (he knows his stuff) and when the final rider has been introduced do we allow riders to go off... although if we have our second team the Wizards in the main event we have them on parade too to be introduced in front of the crowd... so yep I think its good but we always look to improve. I guess we always try to be different, we know we will be copied, we know we must innovate to maintain our sponsors, we know we have to work hard but the most interesting thing is we are all a team... I am the promoter, toilet cleaner, tractor driver, drain cleaner, painter, joker, receptionist, car part attendant, burger flipper, drink supplier, raker, trainer, confident, accountant, marketing manager, My First Skid coordinator, track watering specialist, roving mic, sponsorship coordinator and anyone of our volunteers could be exactly the same.. they are all equal and all so very important to us.. I think the only difference is that they look to Martin and I for leadership and direction... Our reputation is pretty much known outside the UK too... we staged the first ever NICE meeting - now when I was in Poland I could have lied and said we had gates of 2000, we were loaded we had every possible machine.. but I didnt I told the truth.... when the Poles arrived the night before (from Bydgoszcz) to look at the stadium, I was watering the track - by a hose pipe..... at first they thought I was crazy...then they helped me.... look at the feedback of the riders, fans, NICE management of how we presented the NICE Challenge... no one has done better, no one. As for racing I just dont believe the racing is better... it may be faster but it never better... I dont care if the track record gets broken... what I believe fans want is action, passes, elbows, characters, appreciation from riders, interaction.... not flat out first bend new track record..... we are maybe lucky in that most of our meetings are last 3 heats deciders... and this of course adds to the tension and suspence.... but ask anyone who travels all over and watches all three leagues the entertainment value of the 3rd tier is by far the better... Now i am not saying there are processional races or thrashings of a side... but this is in every league... By the way I really enjoy this type of thread and I learn from it...normally I read more than I comment but for sure we are super proud of our product.

Been to every track and for professionalism and slick presentation and putting on a good night i.o.w are right up there in the top 3 , actually could well be number 1

It would have been 25 but Bruno is a Cradley fan

Andy Galvin rode for the Dons a few times as a young kid, but when he came back riding for Hackney he used to wind the crowd up something rotten. Great box office, though

pride in the product is what seems to be seriously lacking across the leagues

I doubt it. Adam is 24 and these days most riders peak between 26 and 32. The number peaking before that (Batchelor, Karol Zabik, Ed Kennett) is small. I fully expect Ellis to continue improving for another 3-4 years and under the circumstances his seeding seems justified. He's not ready for the GP series yet, but in three years he just might be and the Challenge will be good experience for him.

I think you're reading WAY too much into the statement, Bob. What Grand Central is saying is that a lot of people remember Szczakiel for a first bend crash at Oxford (rather than for his achievements), but never mock any other riders for their crashes.

They're all full of s**t, whatever colour they wear.

It's a credit to those who built it. However, go to a big meeting like the CL Pairs, stand on the grass banking, in the dark like a sardine, with barely any extra toilet or catering facilities and it's horrific. It's quite frightening on that grass when it gets damp and little or no public lighting. It's great for their normal crowds up to high hundreds, even then lack of toilets and catering can be an issue. Not suitable for big Events without massive increase in portaloos and catering.

As long as they race I don't mind, another rubbish stirring post with love from Irrevelance from Birmingham....

Imagine if speedway crowds took the knee, most would never get back up again

Well, he did threaten Mr Farndon's position as the best Englishman... Still, had he sung in a group, you'd have been a fan!

Sweden has 8 teams and they are meeting the other teams just once- so that makes 7 matches. In order that each team rides 4H and 4 A they have introduced an extra round where the teams will have a " derby match " which means they meet 6 teams once and 1 team twice. Mind you they are having QF`s with all 8 taking part.

Speedway in years gone by had personalities and rivalries and these characters and behaviours have long since been banned by the the current establishment. Take a look through the history of the local derbies and for example the shenanigans that took place between Rayleigh, Eastbourne and Canterbury and then throw in the big fuel debate between Rayleigh and Eastbourne, leaping Len entertaining from the Centre Green, Johnnie Hoskins, Dave Lanning kicking verbal wotsit out of each other plus the Romford Bombers in the Essex Gold cup and speedway had a great mix of rivalry with some entertainment thrown into the mix. The same scenario applied to other teams around the country. You had riders who were personalities with the likes of Arthur Price, the Kennett brothers, Ted Hubbard, Brian Foote, Lou Swanson, Peter Moore, and these were in the lower divisions. Move up a league and you had the greats such as Olsen, Mauger, Briggs, etc to name but a few. In the second division added those at number six and seven who were invariably ex grass track and starting off were probably the equivalent standard of riders plying their trade at the IOW and Mildenhall. The sport was entertaining albeit the racing was no more spectacular but these were guys using effectively standard bikes or the track spare who honed their riding skills. Now you have a sanitised watered down form of entertainment that is no longer a raw sport where you support the guy next door who was giving it a go. Today you have the gate and go merchant who throws more money at the equipment then that are likely to earn hence the need for sponsors and treats the punter with contempt, most have zero in terms of personality, little in the way of team rivalry and the belief that as a sport it owes them a living. Professional some may be but as entertainers few make the grade until you move down to the third tier where the riders are willing to give it a go irrespective of the conditions and most of them do it because they want to prove themselves and enjoy riding. Without sponsors those in the upper echelons cannot make a living and is financially unviable hence the sport is now at a crossroads in this country. The third tier will be here long after some of the others have fallen by the wayside.

its about the % of TV meetings in these circumstances though or rather the % of none TV meetings with no crowds. Much less fixtures in Sweden and Poland. Whereas in this country they'd have to have run many loss making none televised meetings without crowds, to maintain the integrity of the competition. Of course they could have thought outside the box and arranged a much reduced competition which was affordable within the TV revenue and would still fulfill the contract. Had they have done it quickly enough it might have been one of the first live sports to appear during lockdown and who knows what the audience might have been. But they didn't. Or maybe you're right and the TV deal isn't worth a bean so it wasn't worth trying to secure the income from it? Either way someone dropped a bollock.

I also went to the two at Hackney Sid, plus one each at both Bradford and Coventry.

I was a fan of the GP system when it started, but I've started to tire of it the last few years. It's not so much the one off world final that I miss, more the qualifiers along the way. It was always fascinating during the last round of heats trying to second guess which riders who were 'safe' were possibly going to do a fellow countryman or club mate who were desperate for points a 'favour'. Fair enough it was cheating but it just seemed part of the occasion in those days. Speaking of race fixing, something has always bothered me about the infamous 1982 Overseas final 'scandal.' Bruce Penhall has mentioned in print on a few occasions that he wasn't happy (he even used the word furious in his autobiography) with the finishing order of that race, he said the other riders didn't stick to the agreed order. I don't get what he means. Obviously Sigalos had to win as he was only on 5pts and with Kelly and Shawn both on 6 it didn't really matter who came second, one of them was going to be joining PC and Les in the run-off...The only way I can see of guaranteeing all three qualifying would have been if the Morans had dead - heated for second and scored 7.5 points each..Although I can't imagine that's what Bruce meant!

To be honest with you Steve, I'm a live sport man. I don't really enjoy watching televised Football or Speedway. I'd much rather go and watch a live event. If the GP was held at a decent track like the NSS, I'd probably go. After 10 visits to the poor temporary track at Cardiff, i decided I'd had enough.

Because he wasn't from Liverpool???

I remember that I really disliked Charlie Monk....but, for the life of me, I can't remember why now!

I think that is a little harsh on Mucha, Steve. While he never reached the heights (or the fame) of some of the other Poles, he had already established himself as one rider who wasn't out of his depth at World level. He was also unusual in the fact that he was quite at home on smaller British tracks. When you saw him, he already had two World Finals under his belt, with 7 points at Wembley in 1969 (including a defeat of Briggo), 6 points at Chorzow the following year (including a defeat of Olsen), and a top-scoring 6pts for Poland at Wembley in the 1970 WTC Final. Mucha was one of the steadiest and most consistent (and certainly under-rated) of that that batch of Poles in the late 60's and early 70's.

For many of you who attend Saddlebow Road regularly you will know Merv Beckett. He has sadly passed away after a battle with cancer. The Lynn news are running piece on him tomorrow, and I figured you may be interested in the article https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/tributes-to-much-loved-kings-lynn-scout-leader-a-friend-to-everyone-9119484/

Bet 365

I'd certainly pay it a visit if ever on holiday on the Island.

Great days when the touring sides toured British tracks. I think Brum in the 70s at various times had Olching, young Poland, young Sweden and a Swedish club (maybe) at various times. Brilliant

I doubt it too. He showed last year and with his scoring this year that he is clearly still improving.

I'm new to full time Polish Speedway this year and what has surprised me so much is that for a Sport that is so geared up to team work in Poland with the way they run it, with all the club staff, the team colours, the team merchandise, the team socials, the team practice etc. that all of that team work appears to be left at the pit gate in the majority of cases. Admittedly I only see what is fed to me on the TV coverage but I can't really see any team spirit in any of the teams with everybody concentrating on doing their own thing. Maybe that's what the riders have been told to do, maybe I have got it wrong. Are the riders under so much pressure to perform they've got to concentrate on themselves. Who knows, maybe Kolodziej asked to be taken out but if not I don't think he would have been taken out in any other league in the world. I thought similar in other matches where the scoreline has not been in doubt that why aren't they giving their No 8's a ride

... Back to the rest of the GP Series... Surely if Emil doesn't win it this year he must be in danger of challenging Leigh Adams of becoming the best rider to never win an Individual World Championship?

No. There was a rumour involving two speedway administrators, but Ford was not one of them.

I think this may have got mixed up with my Wally Loak thread-but here goes. My most hated but respected (along with the Newport crowd) was Ivor Brown- he was the most hated visitor to Newport In Prov. League days-because he was so good, always smartly turned out-he would be booked for second halves just to get the crowd wound up. Hard rider indeed , but off track was the nicest and most mild mannered gentleman. It was a dam shame when he got injured early in 1965. I always think of Ivor as the epitome of our wonderful sport- I can still see him in my mind's eye-what a great bloke. And a wonderful advert for speedway in his era.

Between 1956 and 1963, Ove Fundin was ranked at no. 1 in the world in the Speedway Star rankings every year except 1958, when he was second to Barry Briggs. Peter Craven made second place only once, in 1962, and third three times. Ronnie Moore was second on three occasions. Briggo was second just once but then came into his own 1964-1966 as Fundin began to decline. It is, of course a field for endless speculation and you can never know what special factors might influence any particular Grand Prix season, e.g. which tracks would have been used during the season, but simply going by historical records and, from 1960 onwards, my own personal observation of the leading contenders, I would say Fundin could well have won the Grand Prix every year from 1956-1963, with Briggo winning 1964-1966. Two caveats - Briggo might have won in 1958 and Bjorn Knutson in 1965. Personally, I really couldn't see Peter Craven winning a Grand Prix Season, but wouldn't rule out Ronnie Moore, especially in the 1950s. But then things rarely work out as you expect them to!

No Laguta ??

Do you really think he will even be riding round Monmore in a couple of seasons!!! Poland and world speedway is all about fast starting and fast bikes these days .IMO

His last meeting last year was the GB / Denmark test. He scored 10, apart from a couple of French league meetings, ( admittedly not very strong although he beat Bomber a few times ) he’s only raced three meetings in the last 10 days, scoring 15, 10+1 & 13+1. And more meetings this Friday and next Tuesday I know he’s my son and therefore I’m biased but who else would you put in who’s getting regular competitive racing at the moment bearing in mind the meeting’s in 10 days time ?

Can see Super Slow Freddie wanting to kiss CVS backside for a ride for Wolves next season

Hopefully the announcer playing 'Jump' before that start was deliberate. ..

As the Council leader said today in her weekly Q&A on facebook - Stadia UK still have a 'longish' lease on the stadium but if a developer were to come along with a properly funded scheme to develop the site, to include a new or revamped stadium, then the Council would consider it as part of the usual planning process. There is no scheme currently on the books and there is currently no intention to lose the stadium facility which belongs to the people of Poole!'

Personally I think that Briggo and Fundin would have dominated with Peter Craven as a spoiler...but could one discount Ronnie Moore?

Yes 1. Dennis Fazekas 2. Drew Kemp 3. Kacper Lobodzinski 4. Esben Hjerrild 5. Petr Chlupáč 6. Mika Meijer 7. Mario Niedermeier 8. Steven Goret 9. Ricards Ansviesulis 10. Ben Ernst 11. Daniel Šilhán 12. Ernests Matjusonoks 13. Jason Edwards 14. Daniel Klíma 15. Markus Maximus Lill 16. Leon Flint 17. Jan Macek 18. Pavel Kuchař

I think the confederate flag was also known as the rebel flag. The team may well have been named after local history but in the world of speedway there’s enough logic in using something called the rebel flag for a team nicknamed the Rebels I guess... the Somerset promotion made the right move ditching the flag a few years back definitely.

I maybe the exception but I always used to love travelling around the country to see some of the big "Prestige" individual events... The Pride of the East, Barum Trophy, Golden Hammer, Brandonapolis, Coalite Classic, Olympique, Golden Gauntlets, Blue Riband and probably others... never made it to Ippo for a 16 Lapper or Star of Anglia, it's just too bloody far away Some of these were still being held until the late 90's/early 00's. I think the problem started around that time when riders would pull out, often at short notice, the BLRC is a prime example, where for whatever reason riders took the p1ss.

Adams speedway teeth were cut on the uk. He’d done grasstrack in France and a few practice speedway meetings but his first “real” speedway was the British youth championships at Eastbourne and Scunthhorpe. It’s a pain that young UK riders struggle for kit but clubs seem to find sponsors for several brand new engines for the latest foreign “superstar”... even these days

Anyone who has been to Isle of Wight Speedway will laugh with derision at that ridiculous statement.

Then it's clear, if there was Speedway in Yarmouth then it could run but with no-one to race against as other local authorities haven't agreed then it's all pretty academic. How on earth the BSPA can be held responsible in the current climate I just don't know.

Black Lives Matter should have been All Lives Matter, everyone is equal.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, in general, nor do the majority of white people. Speedway's main problem is trying to get anybody of any background to watch it. I'm sure all the promoters would be delighted if any ethnic minority adopted it as their sport.

Ipswich offering full refund or carry over until 2021

Think this is the correct decision can now focus on 2021 with the same teams, hope all clubs are able to run