Leaderboard

You didn’t have to love him to be able to show respect for the fact he’s died and the pain that will cause to his loved ones. You perhaps ought to show some respect yourself.

You'd do best to say nothing if that's all you have to offer. Rest in Peace Nigel.

Stop being a complete pr!ck ffs

Very sad news for the sport. A real enthusiast and ambassador. I thought he was an excellent commentator. In what is an incredibly difficult job, he was knowledgeable, engaging and with a tempo that often perfectly complimented the action. He also had an obvious chemistry with Kelvin Tatum that worked brilliantly. He should rightly be remembered as the voice of speedway, particularly in the GP era. Condolences to those closest to him.

I am in total shock... Nigel was a good friend, and a lovely, lovely guy. Of course, he covered darts as well as speedway, but speedway was his main love. It's not often you are lucky enough to get a true fan as a great commentator, but we were very fortunate. R.I.P. mate...

Shocking and very sad news. Speedway loses one of its best announcers and promoter of our sport. Huge commiserations to his loved ones.

I know not everyone liked his shouting, but it was a big part of why I liked him. Speedway races are quick and loud, so it matched the sport and carried that energy across on TV. Watching anyone else commentating felt flat and I missed that atmosphere he created. I am not interested in darts or soccer, but I assume he had a different style with those sports to suit them. And though it did get a little annoying at times, his relationship with Kelvin worked really well too. They had built up a rapport over the years that they were a proper double act that brought the best, and worst, out of each other. He was not the first commentator I heard, nor the only one, but for me, and I expect a lot of people who only got into the sport in the past two decades, he was the voice of speedway. This year and more to come will not be the same. R.I.P. Nigel

Rest in peace Nigel a real ambassador for the sport and an enthusiastic and positive a person. played the deference card to kelvin about things technical but he knew more than he made out. a lovely man gone far too soon nigel speedway will miss you

Totally agree....A much loved / entertaining speedway ambassador has just died ....and some complete numpties come out of the woodwork trying to get some headlines!!!! Not impressed........ RIP Nigel!

Should be a rule, where you have to put two riders in (assuming they're not injured). That being said, why would you need a rule "forcing" a club into trying their best to score points / entertain the public - they should already be doing that!

Think he would have had to take last ride as if not mistaken tapes exclusion don't count in compulsory 3 rides

Heard the dreadful news at Armadale this evening. Shocked and saddened indeed. Condolences to all his family and friends. Nigel did so much over the years to help promote British Speedway at every opportunity along with Kelvin in their TV broadcasts. Speedway in general owes him a debt of gratitude for the cheerful and enthusiastic way he managed to get all the positive messages across over many years. He will be greatly missed.

So sad... One of the very best promoters of the sport you could wish for... Condolences to his family and friends... He will be sorely missed and leaves a huge void to be filled... RIP....

What relevance does it have whether he’s been slagged for years by some or not though? The man has died today, nothing else matters.

They are going to use "ex Rider Replacement" for him all season... One for the historians there....

That was a chap called Stuart Bamforth in 1987, long before I had any involvement with speedway promotion. That was a dark time for the Aces for sure. I think Bamforth was really a stock car guy and he seemed to do well financially from the sale. From what I can make out, he was in his late 30s when he sold Hyde Road. He died in 2004 at the age of 55. He and I were born around the same year but our paths were very different.

I’ve just spotted this. I will leave others to decide whether they categorise me as a spiv, a wide boy or both (!) but you are wide of the mark on the three names you quote. Rick Frost sold out of Peterborough but remained in the sport as the main sponsor of Poole. He has now sold out of ReadyPower but is still a welcome friend at Wimborne Road. Sandhu was only ever interested in what he could get for Brandon as development land. To my mind, the vandalism at the site pre-sale to Brandon Estates bears that out. I think Ged Rathbone only managed to make decent money at Peterborough when he received a substantial payment from Toruń so they could use Jack Holder even though he was committed to ride in England, and he was roundly condemned for doing so. I suspect it was that action rather than anything to do with BSPL which made him sell up.

CL level is substainable at Eastbourne, one man run it into the ground and I have no idea where that article source came from..

I stopped using this forum some time ago. I looked here with just disbelief that Nigel Pearson had died. Then I was reminded why I left. Some of you are disgusting. Nigel will be a massive loss, not only to his family but the Speedway community. He loved Speedway, he was one of the biggest advocates of our sport. A totally decent bloke. RIP Nigel

You got tomorrows lottery numbers .

Terrible news,great ambassador for the sport over the years.Condolences to his family and friends.R.I.P.

Awful, awful news, a very sad day.

official announcement on BSPA site. Regardless of whether you loved or disliked him, his passion for Speedway was second to none. RIP

Probably the most surprising result of the season so far, that is until Berwick win at Edinburgh later on.

Not sure this sort of comment is approriate today of all days

Hope the story about Nigel Pearson passing that I've seen on FB not true. If so, people moaned about his screaming fits with Kelv but the guy loved speedway and promoted it superbly.

Your team manager is not up to the job, unfortunately. Time to hire Mr Rossiter

Any truth in the rumour that Heeps missed heat 8 as he was stuck in the queue for chips ???

Cheap 'away-day' for the Diamonds then?

Jack Thomas having an excellent debut for Oxford this evening.

A truly great supporter of Speedway. RIP Nigel

Not a bad meeting. Bears heat leaders very good, second strings not so good. Special praise to Jason Edwards who rode (and battled) really well tonight. For the Brummies, Ellis was very good and most other riders chipped in. Pearson looks like a very good prospect considering his age and it being his first visit to the track.

Why would anyone use a laugh emoji at this comment? Well said

What a shock. Terrible news he always promoted speedway and seemed a really nice guy. Big shoes to fill. RIP.

Awful news. Sympathies to his family and friends. There was no greater advocate or enthusiast for Speedway than Nigel at a time when the sport needs it more than ever. RIP

Really sad - loved his work and enthusiasm for the sport. A real advocate for speedway - RIP Nigel

Really terrible news. Condolences to all his family and friends. RIP

Can't believe it. It seems only yesterday that he was telling us how thrilled he was to be signed up to Discovery+/Eurosports for this forthcoming season with Kelv and the team. Totally shocked - not loved by everyone but I liked his love of speedway. He will be missed.

I don’t think that’s the case personally. I genuinely believe Louis wants to win as much as any of us fans. Born and bred in Ipswich and despite being told many times to move to a different club to further his career during his riding years, couldn’t bring himself to ride for anyone else. I think he tries his best, but unfortunately just hasn’t found the winning formula and has at times made some baffling decisions from the outside. No major trophy on his watch since taking over from Tiger despite being well backed financially, is something he has to take on the chin.

You can always tell what kind of season cam will have on press day. One chin equals a very good season two or more chins and it’s a poor season

It's only been 4 meetings for goodness sake give the kid a break

Can't work out why they make it slick with little dirt and no outside line, we all know that King, Doyle and Heeps revel in a heavy track with plenty of dirt on it, strange way to prepare the track

“We look very strong whichever way we set up. As I have always done, I will change the order around and experiment and that won’t change this year unless we find something that we settle on that we think is definitely the best set-up. That is something I think has worked well in the past and is something I believe we can do this year.” Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins won’t be afraid to tinker with his riding order as the Witches look to make a big improvement upon the 2021 season when they failed to make the play-offs. Sorry but I can't see what Hawkins sees, saying Witches "look strong" whichever way they set up! I understand a team manager has to be positive, but think he's seriously over estimated his side's ability!

vs Scunthorpe - so he only had to beat Douglas. If they don't ride the track correctly, that's their own fault. Huge experience in the team and the promotion to suss out and advice on track conditions and set-ups ... no excuses.

Why would any team sign Batchelor & Heeps fgs. Funny though

Iainb doesn't deserve a response imo! He sounds very bitter to me. Cud do without his bullsh#t!

Might take an hour to get out of the car park

Many thanks for all the replies, going through the list now

Great post

Newcastle’s the worst supported team in the league