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Very poorly worded insensitive post. A bit like posting "Happy Birthday to Fred West - For all his faults, he laid a nice patio"

Some really good shouts on here and I'd just like to add Tony Davey. Only started riding late 1970, had a handful of matches at the tail end of the season to average 3.38. On to 1971, he achieved in his first six matches scores of 15-5 (away), 15-5 (a) + track record, 12-4 (h) + T/R, paid 14-5(a), 15-5 (h) 9-4 (h) plus a fall. Ended the season on 9.93, with 9 full and three paid max, finishing 7th in the overall averages. What could have been but for the terrible hand injury the following year....

Apart from some rather dubious birth qualifications, they stick to their national side, rather than playing for all of them during the course of the season.

I visited his grave some years ago when pasing by and I have to say when standing over it I felt nothing but contempt for him.

...and then achieved an average of 9 plus in his debut year in Division One and qualified for that year's World Final.

Dean standing was a excellent heat leader for Ipswich in the national league in 89 and 90 and I think he was reluctant to go into the top league when Ipswich went upon 91. Ended up going to Stoke and had a torrid time before signing for Swindon and I think he retired. extremely stylish rider. Now living in Australia

Wasn't it part of the contract that Sky demanded that the "top riders" had to ride over here? Speaking to one now ex promoter at the time, a rather large portion of the "Sky money" pretty much got swallowed up by his "World Class" top rider.. So much money dripped through so many fingers, with the end result? The World Class riders 'effed off' to more lucrative pastures new, and the huge Sky investment left zero legacy for the sport from which to grow.. Amazingly ludicrous really....

Indeed. In John Berry's first book he stated how he rated Tony Davey higher than Peter Collins. The rules in 1971 apparently precluded Division 2 riders from partaking in Division 1 unless they had a tie-up with a Division 1 club. Of course, PC was at Belle Vue, John Louis at Newport, Malcolm Shakespeare at Leicester... the list was probably a little longer than that. When it came to the first match, JB said that Davey was a complete bundle of nerves never having ridden at that level before. Things didn't improve as both Olle Nygren and Alan Sage were excluded from the first heat for tape breaking. Then came Heat 2 and the awful crash... A classic case of 'What might have been'.

I like Jorgensen but he is not a 9 point man!! Aarnio and Auty are only going down not up... also not seeing the uplift from Palin others are seeing i dont think hes one of the strongest rising stars and think he will do well to average between 3.5-4.0

Did you mean the STANDARD of speedway has deteriorated :-) Supporter of New Cross, West Ham, Wimbledon, Hackney, Crayford, Canterbury, Arena Essex, Rye House speedway clubs. What's there to whinge about ??

Kelvin gets it right...

John Louis averaged 8.74 in his debut year, then up to 11.31 in his second.

I'm probably being thick, but I don't get what you are saying. Aside of what befell Kenny and Pam, he was still a great rider and sounds like, had he lived, he would be 60. Maybe not a celebration, but moreover, a fact.

The “boat” is defined in the speedway regulations. The 2020 regs - probably also the 2021 regs too - at 10.2.3c) say that a rider who has been or is eligible to ride in the NDL and has not represented an international body other than the ACU is eligible for a 2.5% reduction. So my reading is: Bunyan doesn’t count as he’s retired No to Wells, Campos and Schlein If BWD or Terry-Daley have ever ridden for Motorcycling New Zealand (or any governing body other than ACU) then they won’t get a discount.

Every track has some home track advantage although it clearly varies from track to track. Belle Vue is no different.

I think a lot of people are living under a cloud at the moment. When the sun breaks through, their mood will lighten. Hopefully a Covid free summer will bring some optimism back.

Its difficult to tell how far a rider can go. Rob was a useful reserve at Lakeside butfor some reason suffered a loss of form / confidence so gave speedway a miss for a while, and concentrated on continental grass tracks. Jon Cook then got him back to Lakeside as a British 3-pointer which seemed to be a steal because his average was down due to previous loss of form. However the comeback never really worked, he never really got back in the groove and retired for good. I think he could have dropped down to the lower league and done ok but last time I spoke to him he was doing happy enough doing continental grass tracks and apparently making it pay so had no real desire to return to speedway. The thing is Rob was never a full time speedway rider and always had another job laying gas pipes or something and its always hard to combine two jobs and still do well. I suppose on grass tracks he can do his day job then focus on his racing at weekends. If he was full time speedway I guess he could have been a useful top league second string or lower league heatleader but I wouldn't have thought international class, but who knows.

So pleased that they are holding this meeting. over sixty years ago when he came to Coventry he became my favourite rider from his very first meeting, he was unique, as I believe he was the first Polish rider in a UK team, he cheerfully signed an autograph for me, smiled at everybody and was a live wire on the track, and a brilliant rider. It was a sad day when he left the Bees but he has always been remembered. Thoughts will be with his family, friends and everybody in Poland today. Hopefully a Zyto style entertaining meeting as fitting tribute. A brilliant way to kick off the season

This forum is a hotbed for ex fans unfortunately .....

there certainly seems to be a shortage of optimists. Me, I think we're in for a good season and I'm pleased so many young Brits are getting a go.

KT and NP are employed by BSI to provide commentary on the world feed from the SGPs. Not by BT.

This suggests that he has withdrawn from his Swedish and Danish commitments to ride for Lynn and Brum; http://www.kingslynn-speedway.com/_mobile/news.php?extend.31057

A poor idea which has been badly put together

How dare you say that. You'll get accused of being negative!

I said that 8 hours ago

Links for tomorrow in order of best at the top https://sport.tvp.pl/52992339/kryterium-asow-2021-zuzel-w-bydgoszczy-transmisja-na-zywo-online-live-stream http://spedway.ucoz.lv/ go full screen and then press the little square with the 3 lines in it- their other channels come up at the bottom and click on TVP Sport. http://www.drhtv.com.pl/drhtv-1.html http://www.maniak.tv/mk10

And you never hear boat race fans complaining about how boring it is that Oxford and Cambridge have reached the final again....

Not very well worded. IMO

Andy Grahame was the same. He was forced out of the BL because they lowered the points limit, and not a single team could fit him in, yet his average was too high for him to drop down!

He does rely on his gating.

just don't think he ever wanted a Sunday track and was never happy at Newcastle. Made some shocking starts, at least one per meeting, and struggled to pass the top men even when he was quicker than them. If he can make starts in 13 and 15 he's capable of beating many of the other CL #1's.

Yes, if I recall Lee was a much heralded youngster who struggled for a couple of seasons but was given time and probably went from #7 to heat leader in a season in the 2nd tier. Going on to be a GP rider. An excellent example of the benefit of giving young riders time to develop. I always assume if I rider isn't doing a Peter Collins, Michael Lee or Kenny Carter in their first season then they won't make the International stage but it's just not the case. Of course Mauger himself. Was only ever top man around Newcastle but by all accounts was out of his depth as a youngster at Wimbledon. Not sure of the league configurations back then though.

crazy how the sport, over the years, has tied itself in knots over averages to two decimal places when they can only ever been an approximation of actual ability. Creating any amount of dysfunctional behaviour and decision making.

Don't see it personally the heat leading trio will still be up against riders of the same standard they have been up against for the previous seasons so don't see a 4 point average gain in them . Jordan will be ok would suggest his average will go to about 5/6 at home anyway probably 4/5 away but can see him taking multiple rides . Simon and theo will be ok at home and probably achieve there average but can't see any great strides away would prefer Kennedy over Macdonald but again from what I have seen before dont think they have a massive improvement in one leap . Starting so far under the limit and hoping we have 46/47 points in us each meeting is just folly. Sincerely hope I'm wrong but even in a short season it's going to be long and painful

Whinging bunch of Muppets....... As Statler & Waldorf would say.. (quoting Dickens) ... Speedway: It sums up the best of times and the worst of times! For me, standing on the spectator side of the fence it's a sport. Go the other side and it's a business and sadly not the greatest of business models. It's like selling diesel cars, the car works well but it's future is less than bright

Speaking personally when I re-located I had no close association with a track unless I was willing to travel 30-40 miles which I was disinclined to do. When living in Oxford I was within walking distance of Cowley Stadium which suited me. Never having subscribed to SKY or any equivilant service I lost touch of current affairs but the sport still holds dear and the thirty plus years I spent following my team gives me great memories...wouldn't have changed it for the world.

yes two pointers I guess. Then ending the season as eight pointers. That Poole era in the 2nd division was a convey belt for Australasians. plenty of examples of two point Aussies in the Diamonds ranks during the National League era. No need to develop local talent back then. Plenty went from assessed two to second string in their first season then heat leader in their third. Hunter and Bargh (and others) were just before my time and missed out on seeing Shane Bowes progress when the Diamonds closed.

If I recall the three Aussies were all allocated very low assessed averages when they started their British careers?

ah yes I recall Dugard, Havelock and Silver emerging at the same time. He was on a steep upward curve. World Finalist by 1990!!! 2nd season?? Remember seeing him at Brough in his first season. Scary but quick. Was always going to be a massive talent. yes. What about that group of Aussies. Wiltshire, Adams and Boyce all around the same time after a lean spell. All massive talents For some reason I don't ever recall seeing Mear ride live. Was he mostly top flight at Essex? Didn't he attempt a comeback at one point? Could he have gone on to have been international class?

That lot will get mullered away and will lose a lot at home not competitive at all no heat leader except Auty and he's proven countless times he's not good at number 1

Now that is getting your excuses in early

You would think that in a global pandemic that can still restrict travel, it would have been the more sensible option too...

Darcy Ward in 2009.

A 16 year old Martin Dugard went from 5.69 up to 9.75 in 1986 winning a league and cup double in the process.

One can't deny that the status of speedway in this country has deteriorated but there are plenty of manics on here. But I guess if speedway is all you've got to be depressed about you're probably not doing too bad.

Extract " ...missed the latter half of the campaign through injury and underwent surgery on his shoulder. Whilst racing in New Zealand he has still been struggling with the pain, although managed to retain his New Zealand Solo Title and the New Zealand Grand Prix championship" Doesn't seem to me he has missed a season and a half.... Rode in and retained his National title. So he made a successful return but subsequently decided to rest again. He has ridden since too No reduction of any amount is justifiable

Maybe there's nobody better.

I had me a jawa in the 70s and despite riding road bikes most of my life and still love it as I approach 60 the sheer terror of riding a speedway bike has never left me lol , they are all absolute madmen

Matt B. That's the most honest post I've seen on the forum. I've said in the past they should have bought Coventry for the sport and had all big meetings there, and used it for the development of young riders ect.

Who cares who wins or gets the wooden spoon. As long as we get a season and we see the back of this rotten virus ,we are all winners.