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Okay..... *take a deep breath* first of all... I’m not a Leicester fan.. my name clearly states that... but I’ve got a problem with this part of your post... You talk about the Thompson twins and how they dominated in their last season racing... they’re young laddies who have worked their way up to heatleader status in NDL and have taken a massive jump into championship level... with the top 5 you have, they should be 2 that are exempt from criticism. Now... “the overrated Flint”... are you having a laugh... that laddy has worked his way up and deserves every bit of praise that he is receiving and has rightfully earned the chance to ride in Poland for Rybnik. You need to remember that this is only his 2nd full season at championship level. He’s probably had to work harder than most due to his locality... Berwick now has the facilities for the youngsters in the north but Leon has had to travel many thousands of miles over his short years in this sport... he’s worked hard to build up sponsors... he’s completely changed the way he trained and his overall fitness level is second to none... he’s got a great team behind him and is quite frankly the brightest prospect to come from North Northumberland for quite some time! So quite frankly, “the overrated Flint” is quite an insult to what that lad has actually achieved!

I think some councils see sporting events as a risk due to the possibility of the fans getting excited and shouting, which can then transmit the virus into the air... Obviously it would appear that a fair few councils haven't ever been to watch the Speedway served up at some of their local tracks.... Edit: Just had a brain wave actually.... The clubs could invite the local council leaders to a meeting and let them observe it... At the end of it the promoter could then say.... "See? No one shouted. No one cheered. And no one even moved their camping chair by so much as even one millimetre. In fact, the only time the crowd got excited was when we announced that the Bovril in the catering van was ready and that they could come and fill their flasks".... No masks the week after guaranteed..

They can add them to all of the GTR engines they've got... just need to buy some dodgy bendy frames and they'll have enough for a complete league of unrideable bikes

No they shouldn't they gave it their all,loads of effort and commitment particularly impressed with their team spirit takes 2 teams to serve up a good meeting and this was a great night of racing and speedway was the biggest winner a great advert for the sport. Well done to everyone involved from both teams.

I followed Poole throughout the 90s and beyond. The number of cups they won were phenomenal. Great riders like Loram, Rickarsson, Holder, Ward etc. All fantastic to watch. However, many matches at home were big scores for Poole and although the riding was fantastic not always good racing unless the Poole riders missed the gate. in the late 90s there were unknowns coming in , Craig Boyce, Gary Allen, The Langdon brothers and someone call Adam’s. Boyce in the first few meeting kept falling off and others were slow. What happened to these riders. In the end if you wanted to see close good racing you had to go to the away match, which I did. Back to my home city team Plymouth. They have youngsters coming in and they are not hitting the ground running. Did anyone expect that? They signed two old heads and a youngster who is a track expert. What happens? The 3 times world champion gets injured before he rides at home and the youn track expert is out for the season before he rides for the team this year. Having said all that Plymouth are getting good crowds that will increase when COVID is sorted. From all accounts excellent racing that is exciting new spectators. They will not pull up any trees this year but hopefully put down sound roots to grow in the future. Gary May has now come in and with his knowledge and contacts things should get even better. Look what he did at Somerset. Also, what a pair of promoters in the Undertaker and Matt Bates. What they have done deserves success. Hope to be there soon, incidentally where I used to play Rugby for the OPOs against the Old Sutts but that’s a different story.

Your last line is exactly why it isn't worth getting so worked up about.. It really doesn't matter who wins given how the teams are put together so just enjoy the racing... By the comments from those there, the racing was good, and the crowd decent, which hopefully will encourage many to attend again.. Four riders of similar ability, banging handlebars and racing closely for four laps (regardless of any passing or not), is still a spectacle to behold and will always possess that 'Wow Factor'... It's largely irrelevant what the score is, or indeed who prevails in the end.. Just enjoy the racing..

I went there last September, superb meeting and great promotion. It was the same Ticketing System that Brummies are now using. It's made very clear by Clubs using these Systems that there is a CUT OFF time for Tickets to be purchased. Brummies you have to pay by end of day before or early morning of the meeting. Plymouth put out a social media barrage yesterday and days before with a Cut Off time. If you can't be bothered to purchase a few days in advance that's your problem not theirs. Take some personal responsibility. I've been to 2 Meetings rained off I've had tickets for this season. Both Clubs refunded me within 24 hours no arguments or delays.

Reassess to 9 so he doesn't fit

I don't understand what the moan is about. If I go at watch Premiership Football at Villa Park I pay a Booking Fee If I go to a Convert at NEC I pay a Booking Fee If I go to Birmingham Hippodrome I pay a Booking Fee I've paid Online for Brummies Speedway and paid a smaller Booking Fee. I don't suppose people who just want to moan have for 1 minute considered that a Booking System is provided by a third party, how do you think that third party makes any money for their expertise, they either get an up front fee off the Football / Speedway . Concert or Theatre for using their system. We saw what happened last Autumn when BSPL tried to do it "on the cheap" at Ipswich using Paypal and Spreadsheets. Too many in Speedway want something for nothing and just want to moan. Support your local Club while you can while it's there. Very worrying times in the midlands with Wolves very concerned about Crowd limits and Brummies can't be making any money either.

The score is relevant a losing side invariably drop in crowd numbers and fans lose interest. Also what is the point in entering a competition and not bothering about winning , of course it matters to the fans and to say otherwise is wrong.

Its rumoured to be Pete Adams auditioning for the next series of the Masked Dancer

What exactly is the Wolverhampton mascot these days? "Rory the Roadkill"?

Well said Barry. I certainly couldn't have put it better myself. There are still so many people out there who still think that we withdrew from the BSPL because of the points limit and that just isn't true. The BSPL will continue to say that all clubs voted in the new points limit, but that is not what we have in black and white from the BSPL, and even if they did, how were they allowed to vote when the two most affected clubs, weren't even allowed to discuss the matter. It was our choice to try and run speedway on the island and doing it from our homes just adds to our problems but our business that we have worked bloody hard to build up with great support from businesses and supporters on the island(and off it), cannot operate under rules dictated by clubs who have no financial liability towards us. Martin Widman

This is a very challenging time for Martin, myself and everyone associated in one way or another with the Isle of Wight, and personally I am close to saying it's enough now. All we wanted to do was put on a viable speedway product, the BSPL emposed rules upon us giving an yes/no ultimatum to join the league in 2021. That means, no discussion, nor any prospect of allowing discussion in future years. While we did not agree with the points limit we were not allowed to discuss it - its this or nothing.... We are told that every promoter in the sport wanted it... yet I can name at least 6 who we deal with regularly who will say no such discussion has happened and even if it did, why are their views more important than ours for our league, our business. Of course it is not, but they didnt view it like this. Even to today.... Martin and I have received no communication from any member of the board of BSPL other than the office manager during the time that we wanted to leave. There was no "please come to the office or take a zoom call and lets discuss it", there was nothing... Yes - no, in or out... and like this for years to come. Now we are left in a situation where it is OK for BSPL clubs just to hire and fire riders at will, nomadic club names can used in amatuer events that bring in private hire revenue but cannot be used in amatuer second halves, and rising stars who are supposed to be protected clearly are not. And.... all the time the Isle of Wight has the ability to give these riders more rides, in a safe, relaxed, entertaining environment, and yet ultimately because we did not agree to not having a say in how our league is run while others who have no vested interest in it can, and without a prospect of this changing, rider will have the fear of sanctions for themselves or their BSPL club's and the only people who will miss out are the fans, volunteers, sponsors and riders of our sport. Believe me, while working full time too, running a speedway club is no pleasure ride, there are so many challenges, so much that you will never see or hear of that just makes us all want to stop it. But we love it...nothing gives us more pride when people have really enjoyed the show, or a young rider who we help scores well, or a rider from MFS becomes a mascot, MDSL rider, and so on... but the personal toll that we have to endure and now this increased toll.... its just heartbreaking. Enjjoy your speedway everyone wherever you view it... every club will need you all and all your positivity this and the coming years.... oh and BTW my smiling/laughing face earlier on a previous comment was only because even now people still think the reason Martin and I left was over the points limit, it totally was not... it was over how we were treated (and continue to be) by the BSPL. All the best.............

Wow just wow you are wasted on here you should have been a profiler. So you are basing his attitude on what , how do you come to this conclusion 7 paid 8 on a track he has never seen before a young rider making his way in the sport and you come out with this.

Take a bow Leon Flint and Kyle Bickley

Suspect that may be CVS's intention to try and put pressure on the council. He's right too. We cannot run on the crowds we have for much longer.

It's either almost or exactly, can't be both.

Of course it will be OK, the rules are only a rough guide this year anyway and their has to be some advantage to Louis being on the board.

Only due to the Euros starting ,UEFA would have pulled it if she hadn’t. Would still be in Tier 3 without the Euros I have no doubt about that.

Maybe Cam was getting too good at golf?

I may be reconsidering my attendance......

If they have supplied a product that is not fit for purpose - never mind outright dangerous - then the tyre company should be considered in breach of contract! With the limited number of riders available to British speedway this is a crisis that cannot be ignored. Commercial interests cannot override rider's safety.

Touch of class about him ,was very good at times last season at Ashfield.Having a field day at reserve,will find it a bit harder in the Team but he been riding in the Top5 last season.Who ever drops down will be OK for Glasgow though.They look the Team to beat for me.Tonight Will give us an idea.

It’s the reverse psychology tactic mate , if it’s good enough for blobby and all that.

They were that small I couldn’t read them most of the time so will take your word for it

It's Eurosport. It was always going to be an inferior production to Sky or BT. To be fair, considering it IS Eurosport, they're not doing too bad - although they do need to ensure they get the score right as it is a pretty key part of the meeting.

I don’t see why masks are needed outdoors. Matt Hancock keeps saying you can’t catch covid outdoors.

Bowtell may finally have found a home track he likes. Edwards is a fast developing prospect. Flint probably needs a season at somewhere like Plymouth (Edinburgh may be more suitable geographically) to develop his small track skills. Bickley will never be anything more than a CL reserve with a lot of stickers on his bike and van. Good choice of Guests for Plymouth again, they seem to have some links with Eastbourne management , Atkins and Andrews going one way for NDL and some lending of Guests the other way.. Plymouth wont be a soft touch at home and that will generate a lot of local interest and they now have the whole of the South West to exploit crowd wise. Great work by Mark Phillips and Mattie Bates

Hardly saw a facemask in the crowd at Wolverhampton on Monday ,why this draconian measure at Poole

He will take it in his stride and earn decent point scoring money Scott takes every meeting as it comes a great servant and rider.

Blimey where do you wear your masks

Predict a massive home win tomorrow. Hopefully closer on Friday when the opposition turn up.

And the Gladiators speak equally highly of you

You would soon see who "gives a sh*t" if any of the races couldn't be fitted in because of the curfew

Councils are weird. I guess they haven't worked out once people are in place, there's zero risk of spreading the virus when socially distanced in an outdoor setting. Of the five tracks I've attended this season, three required a mask to be worn if you were moving about then you could take it off once settled and the other two only required a mask if you went inside to order food, etc. I probably won't go to Ipswich or King's Lynn until the restrictions are removed, because I start to feel a bit dizzy if I have a mask on for too long. I realise there's nothing the promotions could do and it's just the ignorance of the councils involved.

I highly doubt many people give a sh it TBH.

Yes it is .

David Rowe confirmed him and Ermolenko doing commentary but doesn’t know how it being shown. Why don’t they put it on Quest channel?

1st Crump and now Cook..... not your year is it

I was in the pits at pboro on Monday and when proctor came in you couldn’t even put your hand on the tyre as it was so hot. They was taking the temperature of each tyre as the riders came in and proctors was some 13 degrees hotter than Lawsons when he came in, and there was massive cuts in them. I know it’s the same for everyone but I do kinda feel sorry for the lads risking their lives for our entertainment on these tyres that clearly are not suitable

Agreed with this, the team seems to have a bit of a tail at the moment, Bates Wright & Sedgmen don't seem to be on the pace at the moment, hope they can sort it but I wouldnt be surprised if team changes were to happen.

Effort and commitment doesn’t win you anything, that should be a given. That Plymouth side is horrific, thats why Berwick should be embarrassed by the result.

Seems so long ago. When I go I get there early and don't tend to move too much and leave late so always difficult to gauge crowd size. I'm sure that there was a drop off initially and a few regular faces disappeared never to be seen again. Whether that was the drop, Frost/Mahoney going or Horton surfacing again I don't know, although I'd have a guess. A fair few people had been calling for the drop for years because when the top league really was a top league then the lower tier was probably more traditional and sustainable for the club. I just don't associate Poole with second best so would be concerned that some of the fanbase will not have it and also it isn't much of a draw to visitors and/or floaters?

Barry, thanks for the update. You have an lot of support on here and fans far and wide and it is understandable why you may want to throw in the towel but don’t let these selfish morons get the better of you and the club. Petty minded individuals hiding behind corporate BSPL none of whom have the balls to come on here or any other medium to rationally explain their stance. If genuine speedway fans can do anything to support your cause, let us all know as many really do believe in the two of you and the club. You have the vision so don’t give up, you will find a way.

If you are in the open air and socially distanced which currently should be with the capacity restrictions then no masks should be required!

Was he talking about his tyres or his ability on a bike?

We usually do

Pretty good pricing! Get the 10% discount and under £9!

Yes, a certain jail bird was famous for breaking down on his way to Edinburgh and other riders have used the same tactic elsewhere. Looks like the rule isn’t a rule when it suits the top table clubs, again !