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Why does UK Martin seem to get so much pleasure from knocking everything that Birmingham try to do? His latest post is no more than his jaundiced personal opinions which he tries to present as established facts. No one, for example has ever suggested that James Pearson was "The next Darcy Ward" when most accept that he was just a young lad with a lot of promise. It's disappointing to read these posts from someone who worked so hard to get a planning consent for Birmingham - but if youv'e really gone sour on speedway Martin, why not find another pastime and lay off the negativity? There are good people trying to make a go of speedway in Birmingham and who don't deserve all this.

To be fair to Arthur and his ilk . It's tough for them to understand how things are in the Championship . There are two types of rider in our league . Those who ride for Glasgow Tigers and those who wish they rode for Glasgow Tigers . Now the pressure of having such an accolade placed upon them has proved too heavy a burden on some of them in the past . But this septet assembled for 2023 look a terrifying prospect for the rest of the league . And you can only see the pride of Scotland steamrollering their way through the season .

Why talk in riddles? Nobody cares about the “I know more than you do” line… spill the beans or don’t say anything….

Everyone is entitled to opinions but as a Director and minority shareholder in Birmingham Speedway I'd just like to clear a few things up: Not a single season ticket was sold after Adam Ellis was signed!! The season tickets holders from 2022 have remained very loyal with a renewal rate of over 85% already. I don't recall anyone from the club saying that James Pearson was the new Darcy Ward! James is an emerging talent and was recommended by Leigh Adams, Craig Watson and Phil Morris amongst others, hopefully, he will build on his first season and prove a real asset in 2023. I don't think James is a Darcy Ward pretender, he's just a 17 year old lad with decent ability looking to develop a career in the sport! As all fans know, due to the new promotion having access to the rider market later than all other Championship teams, it was extremely tough to sign heat leader standard riders. Adam Ellis' signing was always a risk with his other commitments, when it became apparent he would miss matches and risk having a ban in the UK it made sense for him to be released with Justin Sedgman being available proving a solid replacement. As for Claus Vissing, he disappointed on and off track, trying to move goal posts several times on an agreed deal! In an ideal world he wouldn't have been first choice, but as other teams found out there weren't riders queuing up to ride in the UK on a midweek evening! Broken promises? Is that Nigel Tolley saying our aspirations were to get into the play-off's? The two main shareholders Nigel and Tracey Smith worked their butts off to keep Birmingham Speedway going in 2022 and are continuing to do that alongside a band of willing volunteers so that 2023 will be more successful. Finally, this is all coming from someone who closely associated himself with the Phillips promotion at Birmingham, whose legacy was to break more promises than the current ever will!

What - bunch of Clowns who've never won a serious competition?

All it needs is a slip trip or fall and where there is blame there is a claim... once upon a time it was your fault if you tripped over... not now... and the walk to Northside is riddled with potential trip hazards... Also no one said it was remote however it is in an isolated position in the town without easy (walking) access at present but I can see that changing in the short to medium term... but it is much better if you are in a vehicle to get to the track... Folk will need to temper their expectations as this will be a work in progress for a number of years and a multitude of factors will need to be looked at as part of the on going process... Regards THJ

I hear the back up plan is just as good,,, some may say even betrer

Well they did it last season

similar ability with none of the attitude... Bowtell over Kemp all day

Wrong Adam!! Wrong club spelling - it's Opole in Poland!

Errmmmm,, well,,, well actually yes,,, it's the Bald head ya see,,,

Probably not a horse,, so I'm gonna guess a plane and then a Mercedes sprinter

Glasgow look like the Harlem Globetrotters of the Championship in 2023 , so it's just a matter of who finishes runner up . While the other seven clubs will finish above Edinburgh

5 in most cases.

It's absolutely fine. I'm always glad that someone posts anything in here because this is the only confirmed signings page which hasn't been pinned by the mods. I've tried emailing them but i may as well have written a letter to Santa.

Kemps emotional and behavioural biorhytms are rubbishe every Wednesday! Laurence is very thorough Mind you they aint much better any other day, he needs to mature FAST I agree with others Bowtell is far better bet, you will always get 100% from Bowtell !

I'm sure everyone would admit Jason Doyle is an out & out number one, but he's not qualified for the GPs in the last two seasons (relied on a seeded spot) so can't use that as an example to suggest Masters isn't an out & out number one imo

Following on from this theme of close racing isnt the solution to cap the top and bottom averages. Whatever the league a 10 point rider and a 3 point rider in the same race is likely to cause strung out racing. A cap on top averages might force the racing to be closer together. Then those who rise to the top step up to CL and sink or swim but again opportunities ahould be available.

I must say I didn’t realise the difference in being a no 1 and a genuine no 1 was a massive 0.01, Sam really must try harder next year, disgraceful. For gods sake, you couldn’t make some of this rubbish up. Why only Doyle and Fricke? Oh let me guess, because they’re in the GP’s.

Do you know my Mrs??

Oh I like what you did there,,, ruff but subtle

Someones been on the pi$s

Part of this road got resurfaced when a new bridge got put in over the railway, was used as a diversion for dock traffic which ended up coming out opposite Asda, all since dug up wot a waste of money

Emil for you imo, Your team would've been completed ages ago if those rumours were fake imo.

Hes just a dangerous little throttle jockey on smaller tracks

Depends what country you’re going on tbh, Tungate has progressed further on the continent on big wide open fast tracks. Masters far far superior in the uk. Wouldn’t say either is particularly strides ahead of the other really, think masters has better bike skills tho, Tungate is good on big fast tracks because he’s so light and loves the throttle wide open…can’t actually turn the bike tho or adapt to the varying challenges of uk tracks

I would ask for a bit of commission

Fair one mate

All good fun

How does Z.Cook ride a small track ....Will he be ok at Wolves this year ????...

Halifax ran on a Saturday and it was ideal,as after the speedway a lot of fans drifted off into the local pubs and clubs,and fish and chip shops,so it was a winner all round.

Little trip down from Edinburgh for this then onto Wolverhampton on the Sunday for Sam's testimonial good start to the season.

But where is the fun in that,,,, and I don't know for certain,,, it's just something I heard. And being a sad sack speedway fan, I need to try and get my kicks somehow.

This is not entirely correct. Krzysztof qualified for the SGP in 2002 but lost his place in the Poole team because of the ruling that year restricting clubs to just one GP rider so he moved to Eastbourne. Poole already had Tony Rickardsson who joined them in 2001.

6 men then & probably still win the league lol

That is genuinely funny...

As long as the stadium is still there, clubs have a chance of coming back, so Eastbourne and hopefully Coventry are possibilities. To offset this both Armadale and Peterborough seem to be on borrowed time.

Im shocked that Drew Kemp hasn't been signed by anyone? Birmingham should've gone for him instead of Bowtell .....

Well debated.

That barrel you are talking about. I think we removed the bottom of it around 2003.

But Stoneman - Joe Thompson and Connor Bailey ok? Morley has no announced place other than NDL, Dan Thompson has only top tier. Ultimately they fit within the team building rules (team build averages increased this year) and keeping themselves sharp or in the shop window is smart on their part. Sadly the NDL is at odds with itself, does it want to be a conveyor belt of talent or a viable independent product it used to be both but im not certain if it is anymore.

Much of the site will probably have to be demolished and made safe before any thoughts of speedway returning. I wish all those fighting the cause good luck because speedway needs a thriving Coventry.

I thought the idea was to encourage the youngsters to come and try it, most with a parent. So if the kid likes it his parent might take him more often. A quick look at the Zoo prices... Little old Banham Zoo in Norfolk is £57 and Colchester is £80, both for a family of four. Add to that once they have been once it's not somewhere you would want to go every week or 2.. I know speedway is expensive, but your not looking at the same Baboons arse every week at speedway.

Due to work commitments I cannot make every meeting. This season when my son went it was £22 for us both. Next season due to him having just turned 16 it will now be £40. Will make it difficult for families to attend with no student or concession prices.

He's being ironic.

Are you serious ?.

Part of the problem is that if you are working on a Saturday and finish late you haven't time to faff around organising on line tickets before setting off to travel.Also might have other commitments leading to last minute decision to go and in both cases you are penalised through no fault of your own. Maybe not a problem for the likes of Mr Barrie whose whole existence revolves around speedway but the powers that be should maybe accept not everyone is like that.

Both be hastily writing a column for the Dirt Extra calling out the ‘Forum Fannies’ for questioning the admission prices I would imagine.

Of course, many have disposable income, many do not. They have at least worked for that money and keep adult children into their thirties who will not work. But I will not pay £20 for second rate entertainment from money grabbing riders who already and are playing the system and clubs.

I hadn't realised there is no concession as I would be paying full price, that makes it even worse. Hopefully the club will reconsider their decision as this one makes no sense at all as its asking a fairly large part of their fan base to pay a £7 increase at a time when going to a speedway meeting will be well down the list of priorities to most people.