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Yep , Jittendra is one of the good guys, not arrogant or publicity seeking, just gets on with the job and presents a good image. Speedway, and Redcar, would be worse without him.

Hot on the heels of the Isle of Wight rumpus, looks like the BSPL have succeeded in alienating another guy with the best interests of the sport at heart.

Forget the score, one of the most entertaining meetings thus far. Congratulations to both sets of riders for putting on a good show.

Vintage racing, if only it could be like this every week. No losers tonight. Thanks to both sets of riders, restored the faith in what a great meeting can be achieved with a mix of talent be it young or old. Cheers guys you did the sport proud.

I think you're right, and if there was a chance of a change of management I'd agree. That's simply not going to happen though, because there would have to be an acknowledgement that the present leadership have got it badly wrong. More chance of you and Alan becoming Mackem supporters I don't know Jittendra Duffil at all but I have rarely - if ever - heard a bad word about him. Sounds like he and Barry Bishop have a lot in common.

Why not let IOW do what they want to do, and have someone independent there to see how it all goes and if anything new could be tried in any of the leagues? Let's be honest speedway needs something new, and also tracks to be better prepared.

Not the time for a breakaway as the change over would be quite damaging to the business's and the sport. Far better to change the management of the BSPL in an amicable manner. No point in making the sport unmanagible during a season cos that really would see the end of UK speedway.

Need to read it again HT and I totally agree there is a great deal of difference between the guys you mention and others as I did say "like for like" changes on the management committee... does the mafia ever give up their control... the good guys; the guys who do the right thing dont get a look in unfortunately then they get disallusioned and leave the sport or take a back seat and their enthusiasm ideas and drive are lost to the sport... Regards THJ

How ironic... Wolves riders getting passed on the inside coming out of turn two.....

This has got to be promising news for us gladiators fans. Fingers crossed

Whist I fully agree with your sentiments Dave and think you are correct... the only issue I see with a change in management is you change with like for like people with the same blinkered mind-set; we have had several changes in management just in the last 10 years but nothing has changed unfortunately; as it still ends up with the self interest mentality and protectionist values... the whole of Speedway needs to change not just the Management Committee of the BSPL They need to implement a set of rules and stick with them instead of abdicating authority everyone needs to sign up to a charter to say that they will stick to them with the best interests of the sport as the basis and work for the common good of all concerned and if promotions cant do that then the punishments need to be severe and I mean severe... oh hang on European Football Super League on a miniature scale hrmmm and what made that lot change People Power and what will make this lot change; nothing because the lunatics are running the Asylum and they are all locked in safe and secure... But when its gone or run into the ground then what; they will cry and say people/fans didn't support it and folk on here will say we told you so... Back to the usual impasse Regards THJ

You do feel for the likes of Rob Grant and the Masons as an example.. People who come into the sport and, with the rules as they are, spend a lot of their time working with one hand tied behind their back until they have 'served their time'... They also get criticised quickly when things go wrong/they make mistakes, due to the lack of respect or understanding for promoters in general, which has been built up by the fans due to the actions of the umbrella promoting organisation over the years.. Those with bright ideas should be given the opportunity to bring those ideas in.. Let's be honest, they couldn't really do any worse than those who have let the sport drift to what it is today in the UK could they? The die hard, hardcore fan base is what now exists at most tracks so you woulndt lose them by trying something different, therefore it's a perfect time to try something new.. Just a shame they didnt try anything new when they had a year out in which to plan it..

Supporters club coach away trips (even the ones where we broke down) Foreign riders felt genuinely exotic (with the 70s seeing the Danes and Americans going from nowhere to world beaters in the space of a decade) Most of your team re-signing for the following season The roar of the crowd during an exciting race (as opposed to today when all you get is the tutting of your nearest neighbour on the terraces 10 metres away) The ability to go to a different track every night without travelling the entire length of the country (my 1974 holiday itinery - 6 tracks in 7 days all within an hour's drive of our Coventry base)

Firstly I wasn't there but interesting to read the comments and really glad that the meeting was exciting. Yet on updates a number of heats were described as ftg. This shows you don't need loads of passing in every race to have a good match. Two determined teams, fans from both sides, uncertainty and surprises they to me are what makes a good match plus of course some overtaking. Well done to both teams particularly Redcar. Sadly a few glasgow fans are being a wee bit negative on other websites. We were never going to go through the season unbeaten, speedway isn't the same as Scottish football. So if we were going to lose I'm glad it was to a decent team, on a decent track with a decent promoter.

Yep. A strong programme board with a large bulldog clip was mandatory!!!

its sad state .. the worst thing is that there is no update from the club on why yet again no work has started .. surely pressure and questions should be asked and then relayed back to the fans . Rather than blaming fans for being negative , how about a statement saying we are fed up with the developers and can no longer trust in anything they say about the building of the stadium .. To me we are going down without a fight .. this just lets hope its gets built attitude is not working . As for the local mp he's been as much use as an ashtray on a speedway bike .

Reading some old speedway stars the other day got me thinking about what I really miss most about going to meetings back in the day, and whilst there is loads of stuff I think one of the things that was wonderful for a kid was to be able to stand up against the solid safety fence and feel the speed of the riders as they came past.. except on the bends when you had to duck down at the last minute to avoid a face full of shale!

He doesn't get the money off trybooking until the meeting has been completed and confirmed as done... if it doesn't run they refund the money back the club don't get anywhere near it otherwise... Regards THJ

We’re not pushing Bates we are stuck with him. I didn’t agree that he should be in the rising star category. Should be 21 and under only for me

If you had been sacked from a job you had done well( some for years and years) and some if not all of them doing it for nothing because of their love of Newcastle speedway, would you give £20 of your hard earned money to the person who has sacked you ?

Might the new start time (which, I entirely understand, has been adopted to accommodate the Gems) be an issue? It wouldn't bother me what time the meetings start but I have rearranged some Sunday afternoon family stuff. Others may be less willing, or less able, to do that. Some may be at work on a Sunday afternoon. I don't know enough about track preparation to comment properly but could the Gems run first with an option of showing up at 6.30 for the Diamonds meeting? Just a thought...

Best track in the country and the best 1-7 in the country. Becker & Douglas played a big role for the Wolves in tonight's very entertaining meeting.

Because Wolves could have got a point with two 5-1s.

Just giving the lad a run out for traveling down had nothing to lose

And some say last weeks meeting from Monmore was good. Chalk and cheese. No comparison.

George said much the same to me, that he had four people to beat, three riders and the ref.

Why name a single replacement when the rules would now allow a horses for courses guest for the rest of the season.....

When you see some of the names on the honours lists year after year it is a travesty that Tiger has not joined those ranks.......

Think that was one of the great things from those days, in that the speedway world outside of the country was fairly unknown and there was always a new discovery who would seemingly appear from nowhere Of course one of the big things of this era was the arrival of the American riders on the UK scene

Good job he has decent Team to manage.He couldn’t run a raffle when the going gets tough.Jensen had to be in Ht 14 n place of Sedgeman.No doubt he will have a valid reason for not making a change.His money keeps him in his position.

Thing is who is next,maybe the time is right for a breakaway league!

We need at the very least to raise a don’t go petition for Jitendra to stay , This also needs to go to the BSPA for them to keep him on as a SPEEDWAY PROMOTER to bring the sport into a modern era . It needs to go to Twitter too . I don’t know how to do it !!!!

Yes, that happened to me a couple of times when I was distracted by conversation. I soon learned, however.

Which have all been met

I recall the once being in the pits at King's Lynn with Spike spannering for George Hunter. George had incurred a tape infringement (rolling at the start) and was excluded. George could be heard balling down the phone to the Referee saying, "It's my job to beat you, not your job to beat me!" + a few expletives!!! Sure miss him.

Disappointed Tiger heading home , but today is why speedway is the best sport in the world , the best two teams in the league served up a classic on a brilliant track .

Of course that was often the common practice years ago but things have changed fundamentally now as speedway slips its way down the slippery slope. I recall that George Hunter used to drive a HGV wagon from his midlands base to Immingham Docks and then returning home before then venturing up to Edinburgh to ride that same evening.

Not necessary, some such as Blackbird Road closed because the stadium owners sold the club down the river.

Yes this is correct.... we wanted to introduce to the 2020 NT 2 new innovative rules. 1. The team manager of each side could choose two heats in which to select 1 rider from the oposing team to put on 15m in two heats which may not include heats 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 14 and 15 and it cannot include a previous heat selected for 15m handicap. The away team manager would chose the first heat, home TM 2nd, away 3rd and home 4th heats. A brilliant yet simple rule to inject more action to the racing and a rule which is already used (tapes rules) so confirmed as OK for safety and every UK track. This for sure will feature in our meetings this year should we find ourselves in a position to actually race. 2. When 6 points behind the team manager can choose gate positions. Again a simple rule that could have a great affect on the match. Note - during the AGM it was AGREED to introduce both these rules by the NL only for it to then be stopped at a later date saying no clear rule could be written. !!!!!! Or was it a fear that this was the NL once again leading the way forward However, even with these great enhancements to the show, along with all the other ideas we will implement, I also refer to Poland. They use the same thing (all be it with different rider positions) but 4 bikes, 4 laps, 15 heats. The greatest part of going to speedway in Poland is 100% the atmosphere - the crowds 100% back their team, chanting, applaudings, scalves, massively sponsored, rider interaction with fans and what does this all equate to....... a show, theatre, drama....... all what is missing in British Speedway save for the play offs. Perhaps controversially, the Polish squad system works well in my view too, forcing rider to ride to the best of their ability or be dropped as opposed to virtually guaranteed a team spot regardless of performance due to lack of riders. I am not saying our riders do not really put their best efforts in, they do, but there is not consequences for behaviour, or poor performance. Finally another huge difference is ethos.... In poland is club, club, club - one for all and all for one... yet in UK is about the rider who rides for a club... If a team makes a change (which none take lightly and for Martin and I we would do anything to avoid it because of the fan / rider relationship) the club get totally hammered online and the rider complete sympathy - but I can assure you there have been occassion when riders behaviour would disgust you all but to protect the club and to a degree the rider it is hushed up and the club in general takes the negative PR on the chin. Then sponsorship... in Poland it the club and brand where most sponsorship is directed where as UK its, in general, rider related. Even when clubs get sponsors, riders do their very best to get in there with them which in turn reduces the club sponsorship money available. As a club that relies heavily on our brand and sponsorship this is something that really hurts us both in the bank account and credibilty when it goes pearshaped. We did introduce something else at that AGM too, we asked to have a promoters end of season dinner (yes that is right little old IOW) to celebrate all the great in speedway much like the WSRA dinners. Of course it was immediately shot down until we offered to organise it, Mark Lemon seconded it.... then the BSPL agreed to stage and organise the dinner and it was a HUGE success. Anyways... Now I am off to study Mr. Godfrey's statement in the speedway star and I am sure we will be responding with some clarity #truths As I always write support your club they need you. These are troubled times and stay positive / constructive and we will all come through this. Stay safe and all the best,

It is also Fathers Day on Sunday so that might not help but I do not know what the solution would be.I suppose Rob has not had the season ticket money and that would of been a big disadvantage from the start.

He explained his reason on the TV. Didn’t want to concede 2 5-1’s and let Wolves have a point. Not agreeing with it but that was the justification.

Or their managers mention it to them..?

A win for Peterborough would be a win for British Speedway. It would show that a team of homegrown riders can beat a highly assembled team of foreign mercenaries. Come on you Panthers.

To stop the select group hogging all the places and opportunities. Flint was there to be signed as a Prem rising star at the start but nobody wanted to know and Wolves went for the old hand who didn't work out. For once it would be nice if the rules were adhered to rather than changed when it suits.

Spot on, Arnie. As a Londoner, your last point applied to me too. In the early 70s we had Wimbledon, West Ham, Hackney, Wembley, Crayford and Romford with Rye House and Rayleigh in close proximity. Twice a week (West Ham & Hackney) was regular for me. Three times was not unusual. Four on several occasions as well. Perhaps, best of all, was the idea of having mostly the same team year after year with favourite riders re-appearing each season so you really felt your team was your team and not just a collection of visiting guests that changed annually. You could buy their rosettes, safe in the knowledge they would last longer than one year!

Only occasionally, but there is an extensive junior programme where they compete against their peers. Helpfully reported on by racersandroyals here:

Having had a practice last tuesday i would expect an all round improvement from Kent ...Scott excepted of course he was superb without a practise..

Speedway has been practicing social distancing for quite some time though...

No sympathy I am afraid - it was a daft idea to launch the season without being able to have maximum capacity and they wont be the first to stop. Its an absolute farce. Should of forgot about 2021 and planned ahead for 2022 - looks like Somerset made the right call.

Extremely well put and the first of the Objects for which BSPA is established is to "protect and represent the lawful interests of the Members" This is not me making it up but is from the Articles of Association produced when the BSPL was formed. You could say that they aren't doing a very good job but like us they have been battling with Covid keeping their own businesses going, as well as trying to run the BSPL. This may come as a bit of a surprise but I do have some sympathy for the "Top Table", because trying to plan your way out of Covid restrictions has been difficult but in my view there was no better time to shake the tree and come up with something new. Barry came up with an idea to liven up the 2020 NT competition but it was rejected as being too difficult or something like that. We have ideas on how to change the look of speedway as we are also very conscious of the criticism of the "same old same old with tractor racing" and I think with our team challenges, Best Pairs, 3TT, Handicaps etc we were doing a pretty good job. Yes we sometimes did have problems with our track but we normally filled the interludes with news, interviews or action for the kids. Nothing works 100% of the time but if you don't try, nothing will change. Martin Widman