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Not the full package? Only Jack Holder, Dan Bewley and Sam Masters managed the higher average last season. 50% of all his rides for Sheffield were either winning races or paid wins. He is British and qualifies for a reduction on his average. He is on record as wanting to comeback to the club next season He will do for me.

Yes, the latter part of October has been exceptionally wet. However, there is too much hysteria over the clogged-up Championship play-off schedule. In any normal season, Championship clubs would all have been running matches from around the fourth week in March. Because of Covid, the first Championship matches were not run (at Glasgow and Scunthorpe) until May 21st. This means these clubs lost around eight dates on which league matches could have been presented -- two-thirds of their home schedule! Worse, Plymouth, Kent, Birmingham, Poole and Newcastle did not stage a home league match until June -- losing another two or three race nights. All of this was down to Covid. Not the BSPL, not clubs being guilty of calling off matches too soon (although this may have happened) and not because of any poor scheduling. As most understand, the need for a play-off schedule remains a necessary part of speedway promotion, with profitable crowds the norm (look at the Premiership finals) and any efforts to return to the old, sadly-sometimes-boring "first past the post" system wouldn't be a good idea in a time the sport needs every big attendance it can attract. The Covid pandemic has been the worst, most-disruptive and world-changing influence of our lifetime. To blame any other factor for this unseemly struggle to run off the last few meetings, in this truly exceptional year, is a senseless knee-jerk reaction. IMO

I am sure many forumlanders have seen this. I just have. Both Bruce and Erik come across as great guys and very personable and articulate.. The last World Final I saw was the Los Angeles one in 1982 (flew down from Calgary)-for what its worth I think Carter's exclusion was correct. I have been so impressed by Erik's determination in overcoming his devastating injuries. Kudos to his wife Helle also. Bruce I think is a true gent-the way he looked out for Kelly Moran when he was very ill speaks volumes. Maybe he made a mistake when leaving speedway for his movie career-if he'd stayed in speedway I reckon he would have been good for a couple more World Championships-however to each his own . I enjoyed Eriks' sense of humour -my question is -do you reckon if Erik's career hadn't been cut short -how do you think he would have stacked up relative to Hans Nielsen. Hans to me was the ultimate professional, Erik more human and mercurial. As Bruce kindly pointed out to him , in the 1981 World Final he (Erik) broke the track record at Wembley in I think his first ride. I was also interested to see Dennis Sigalos drop in on the interview- he finished third I think in 1982, Les Collins of course rode great races to finish runner up. I feel Dennis was also a potential World Champion- glad that all these Americans are still in touch with each other. Couple of other points- thank you Lee Ashby for posting these great interviews-any thoughts of doing one on your uncle Martin Ashby-another gentleman of the tracks. The interview also reminded me what a great loss Cradley Heath was to the speedway world- I could murder one of those pork sandwiches now. CH was my all time favourite away track

The most sensible post on this forum for a long time . What is scary is people think they will get big crowds because fans from Swindon , Reading , Cov will go . that never happens in great numbers and never will . Every one who has try to run speedway at Oxford money since 2000 has lost money and broke 3 of them hence why it closed down . As arnieg said find a level that allows them to run for season after season . Talk of top league etc is insane

The best signing Glasgow could make would be a new team manager.

Well said. I thought this year was extremely encouraging. Like many others, I was worried by the effect that Covid could have on British speedway. But I've since some really encouraging crowds around this season - IMO the general trend has been up rather than down. And finishing the season in such an exceptional year on November 4th (looking at the forecast, both legs should be OK next week) is hardly the end of the world. I also find it strange that some are criticising the growing practice of calling off meetings earlier rather than later. It used to be extremely bad business to call off a meeting as the last possible minute, when everyone knew that the decision could have been made earlier in the day. While less susceptible to the weather, football has always chosen to postpone earlier rather than later when faced with forecasts of extreme weather. I don't think there's more postponements in speedway now, they're just done earlier and therefore save fans, riders and promotions wasted money. It's simply better business practice. Again, some just take it as another reason to moan, but the genuine supporters who go to meetings appreciate not having their time and money wasted in the way it once was.

I had no idea Leicester fans were still so bitter?! (Are you Stewart Dickson in disguise?)

After this season Danny Ford clearly prefers to continue in the Championship in 2022 in order to defend all the 2021 silverware!!!! Poole have got some excellent sponsors - plus some others in the pipeline for 2022 - so even without a 'Main' sponsor but with some good consistent attendances from July onwards, another season at Championship level is very much the preferred option - at the moment - with 2 rider deals agreed already at Championship rates!

As far as I can remember all play offs finals have been run in October so with the weather in this country, rain offs and the season running in to November should be expected now and again. I think with all the issues with covid and brexit we should be happy that Speedway is happening at all and I think clubs have done a great job in general. Going forward it is fair to say more could be done to get the season finished earlier but for now happy that we are seeing two teams going all out in hopefully dry weather to win the playoffs even if it is in November and there will be fireworks one way or another.

Methinks that Bordeaux-based Jonny the Spud might have more than a passing interest in the welfare of Marmande's most famous speedway son.

Forgot to switch accounts?

Na, he’s not the type for YMCA

Edinburgh asset

It took me a day but I just realised what you are on about!

Maybe BUT Ian Jordan said everything owed would be sorted by end of September and all we have had is excuse after excuse, there is nothing stopping him making a further statement on the situation, the silence coming from his quarter is doing him no favours. If and I say if, there are genuine reasons for riders and fans still not receiving money they are owed and were promised why doesn't he say so?

I saw a few Edinburgh fans in the car park after the meeting.

Today there is no news. Tomorrow never comes and that's when I will be buying a round.

It isn't the first time a promoter has "done a runner" and left a financial mess. But when a track has been viable before the carpetbagger came to town, it can be so again under better, more-prudent stewardship. Hopefully, a responsible promoter can step up, forge a deal with the stadium ownership and BSPL, and allow speedway to continue -- perhaps at a less-ambitious level -- at Charlie Dugard's lovely little stadium in Sussex for many years........

Hopefully the club can be built back bigger and stronger.

The situation with regards the old management is very disappointing and has caused a lot of damage to the club, it will take time to re build it..

This is what happened to the last camper van that the Possil boys came across

Downside is that he may well put 2 points on his average next season which is feasible why should another club benefit from that, I get your point but Sam has to be back.

Yes Lisa, Zaine did better than expected but couldn't do the play off and Zach is better at Poole usually and has been saved for the final. Still have no idea why he isn't doing away leg, they obviously think Jack Thomas is better at Glasgow. Personally I would think Zach is more reliable but Jack Thomas rode well there for Birmingham.

Keep Sam ,Tom and Connor and build round them definite no to Riss.

17 years today Hull Vikings completed a treble at championship level by winning Knockout Cup, Young Shield and the League in 2004 , sadly out of the 7 riders Emil Kramer died 12 yrs ago in his homeland in a car crash and Garry Stead is now in a wheelchair following a speedway accident . The other 5 riders were Paul Thorp,Ross Brady ,Emiliano Sanchez, Joel Parsons and Magnus Karlson who brought silverware to Craven Park ,. Great days and great racing back then in the 2nd tier that had 15 teams competing at that level with no riders that doubled up in the league higher back then. The really sad thing is out of the 15 teams competing in that season 9 of them are now defunct teams Hull Vikings ,Workington Comets, Stoke Potters, Isle of Wight Islanders, Rye House Rockets, Exeter Falcons, Somerset Rebels ,Reading Racers & Newport Wasps so the moral of the story is support your local side and speedway or we won’t have speedway to watch in years to come

I'm in my b&b polishing the Trophy! Oh I say matron I Knocked that one Out!

Singalong after heat 14.

Did just fine at Peterborough

You jest. Big crowd here. Fantastic atmosphere.

Quicker telling you what has gone right…

There were four of us on the 1st bend along an Ipswich/Edinburgh fan. We cleared off after the meeting to go to the nearest Spoon's for some cheap Ale to drown our sorrows. Disappointed with the track being as dusty as it was, could have done with some water. Poole clearly the better team who handled it well. Been home for about an hour after the long drive.

Only works if don't have to edit your post to add the nibble nibble

Fricke?

Garry Middleton would lead riders into the tapes and get them excluding much to the jeers of the opposition but cheers from the rest!

Sponsorship from McDonald’s should swing it ..

We don’t find Poole fans irritating in the slightest it’s only Edinburgh fans that find Poole fans irritating that we find irritating. That should narrow it down for you.

Sponsorship is one thing but to be in a Panthers top cheering them on is totally a different thing altogether. . Don’t think it’s being unreasonable for Stars fans to expect someone to concentrate just on Kings Lynn .

Generalising again I see. And we definitely don't wonder when you bang on about it day and night! Lol.

I'm sure this is the general consensus from most speedway fans, realising it's not the 'club' but the last promotion, pretty convinced it won't tarnish the Dugard legacy and hopefully we can move on, but will take something special.

And they wonder why we find Poole fans irritating……

That's just simply wrong about the late start of the season... as you have then gone on to point out in your next sentence. And it wasn't a couple of clubs, it has become widespread throughout the sport and each time a match is cancelled because of THE THREAT of rain it has a knock on effect meaning that the 2 most important matches of the season are now being run in November! It all should have been done and dusted by the end of September, you know it, I know it, everybody except the people running the sport knows it.

That’s enough, think I will stay off this thread. If you want I can arrange to get the Possil young team to pop down to give you a welcome. You can show them round your camper van, you will probably have to get the bus home though.

Cheers. Just been having a look at November meetings, thought I had missed one. Just to expand on that, I make it only 2 meetings have been run in November since 1989 (not including training track/novelty meetings) so it's hardly a regular occurrence.

If these meetings get rained off again then what are Poole & Glasgow fans thoughts about a straight one off winner takes all final at a neutral track like Leicester on Saturday 6th November

The encouraging increased crowds I saw at most the tracks that I attended this season was the biggest. Once restrictions were lifted, most tracks seemed to be doing very well... as people made the most of being able to get out and about once more.

Do you ever do anything but moan? Feel sorry for the Kent fans, who bear the brunt of most of your negativity. Many sports have run at irregular times over the last 18 months. Just take a look at when the 2019-2020 football season was eventually completed. I don't think the speedway season having to be extended by just a few days is going to be the end of the world.

Not for the first time, and certainly not the last, UK speedway demonstrating how inept they are at running the most prestigious meetings of the season in early winter. How they all must rue the COC's earlier in the season in much better conditions, which have led to the farcical fixture congestion we have seen in the past few weeks. ( COC's are cancellations of convenience )

i wonder if the stadium owners are saying they need to be top league to return?

DVD isn’t even HD, and we are on 4K and now 8K TVs are coming out. Everything is online today. No physical copy ever required. Perhaps it should be made available to download in 4k.

Let 'em roll creep push and stretch the tapes as much as they dare after the start marshall walks away. Ref lets the tapes up when the rolling rider is moving backwards and is left at the gate. However if the tapes are broken ....that rider is EXCLUDED.