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Right here we go here are the unfortunate facts Yes I’m a travelling Workington fan but don’t let this distract you from the fact that this was a horrendous advert for speedway! We need people to want to come back and although I appreciate we have no control over the weather but we do have control over announcements and keeping the fans updated … nobody had a clue what was going on unless the speaker system was gone people on the first bend had no idea what was happening. All appeared very unprofessional and especially as the promoter is part of the bspa we need to do better someone come on the centre and announce what’s going on! On a side note respect to the track staff for the work draining the standing water they did do a good job, my only issue is newbies won’t want to return and you can’t survive on idiots like me. Onto the next one! Up the Comets!!

Even jake Allen said on the stream it was just about rideable but not raceable

The Comets/Comics pun has been going since the 80`s, normally by the same person, though it is wearing a bit thin now.

Local football team playing at home so a no brainer not to go head to head with them lots of football fans came after as it's a 10 minute drive

What a brilliant meeting! Track is top notch. Massive crowd. This what it’s all about! Oxford giving everything but being passed inside and out.

First heard it in 1972

It’s a sad state of affairs for the league and speedway in this country, not a solely Plymouth issue when a team is starting a brand new season with only 6 of their 7 permitted riders. Guests are the bane of the sport and it just gives a complete unprofessional look. The fact that teams and rule makers havn’t already come to this conclusion in advance that in the event of injury, there isn’t enough riders to cover and go round is the biggest worry of them all. This has now happened for at least 2 seasons for multiple teams but instead of doing anything about it, just continue to plow on with the farcical guest situation. The Premiership has started to get its act together and is becoming more professional and things are being put in place to make an overall better product - The Championship is being left behind massively.

Was there nobody else there to talk to?

Decent display from Birmingham considering they were writing off as the leagues whipping boys before a wheel was turned, closer meeting then expected helped by the fact that Emil binned it twice which was very unlike him, hats off to Scotty tho, show's he can still mix it at 45.

100% correct decision to call it off. Used my spare evening to visit a relative in Lynn hospital and it was slashing down when I came out at 8:10pm. Clubs often get criticised for getting it wrong, so only right they get praise when they get it right.

Very disappointing travelling 180 miles for a rain off which was ultimately caused by a heavy shower about 30 minutes before start time. The second shower which came after 6-30pm only lasted a few minutes and made very little difference. These are my personal observations and thoughts : Hard to understand why the track was watered with dark clouds approaching. The PA system wasn't functioning properly so nobody had a clue what was happening, we just stood around cold in excess of 70 minutes after the advertised start time before people started walking toward the exit. Not a great advert for Rob who was just saying in the Speedway Star how they are trying to raise the profile of the sport. The track staff did a good job with the track to the point were I believed the track would come to the riders after 3 or 4 heats if racing had got underway. It was observed that the drain on the 1st bend was higher than the track, this contributed to the large puddle of water that formed there. We appreciated getting a refund quickly. It was made known to us at this time that the riders wanted to give it a go but the referee ultimately called it off.

Chances of the meeting going ahead with cook and batchelor present was always going to be slim. track staff did a excellent job but another shower made the decision. At least everyone goes home fit and well.

Glad to see Brummies will not be cannon fodder, in a league of just seven you need every team to be competitive, if one or two are not, it makes the play offs for forgone conclusion to the rest, in which case you might as well skip straight to them.

Bet he still says it over the mic on Saturday, but we will give him a cheer UTC

A VHS tape will be avaiable within a few weeks

Ok, can't do anything about a heavy downpour that was forecast on several weather apps. The promotor was straight out after the rain stopped, actually driving the tanker sucking the water off, so he was being very proactive in trying to get the meeting on. If the call had gone out for 20 odd volunteers to help sweep off the rain water, I am sure they would have helped. Even our number 7 , young Harrison , was keen to sweep the start finishing area! What was a major failing, was keeping the crowd informed and entertained. Just playing the same tape over and over was plain lazy ( All aboard, all aboard...!) What is the point having an announcer in the box if they are unable to communicate with the crowd. Why no rider interviews to break the boredom- new team members, new female etc? From the demeanour of the team manager and Worky captain, on their track walk after sterling remedial work, it was obvious they had no desire to ride. Don't know what Babs Horley was saying to the riders, but personally I have seen worse tracks raced upon? The second shower sealed the event end and finally a decision was forced. To cap it all , the farce to get tickets stamped/ refunds needs to be addressed. Surely someone could direct the crowd to what was happening , which side to queue, what procedures etc. Maybe the tickets should be date stamped as they are being sold on entering the stadium, just a thought? I only had to travel 5 miles home, but did wish the Workington fan parked next to me, a safe journey home for his wasted time and money. As others have said not a good opener, we must do better all round.

Tobias 5+1 from a 4 point 2nd string! What's not to like (eh Martin Hunter?) and a donut too. Ticking the box. 61-29 didn't see that coming. Fab crowd, both car parks full half hour before start time. We'll done team.

Exactly, Tobias shoved a load of dirt in the doubters faces even with a dirt deflector attached!

5 more than what people thought he would get

Massive crowd, live rock band, top quality racing, Tobias the new Zetterstrom, bonkers 61-29 result........awesome quality blend of everything u could ask for from an entertainment venue..... WINborne Road! Well done to all the Pirates, take a bow C'mon the Boys

Plus a Quality doughnut after he got a 5-1 with Lawson!

Absolutely spot on! Not only is he the promoter part of the BSPA, he runs the whole 5h1t show, is it any wonder the sport is in the state it's in? There should be some kind of time window in place to run meetings, much like they have in F1, to stop all of the faffing and dithering. It's the same today as it was 40 odd years ago when I first started attending.

I’m more annoyed what it does to the “general “ speedway fans it looks horrendous and like I said although it’s disappointing surely communication with the fans will help a bad situation. He’s my gun shot my foot !

Tobias T said to me before the meeting he had parcelled up the neg feedback hos signjng had brought over tge winter and was going to show what he can do. Was far mire accomplished than expected. Sam Hagon take a bow. Superb debut. Special mention to Killeen who tried all night and battled hard for his points.

Wasn't expecting that. The Pirates are looking really impressive.

They were in for whipping, weather gods has saved the embarrassment

Hahahah come off it. Track was nowhere near race able. Course Scunthorpe wanted to race we’ve got a team with a lot of newcomers in. I’d rather see 15 good races than 15 gate, go and follow the leader.

They have... but there surely comes a point where you've got to stop faffing about and get on with it or call it off, especially with another black cloud bearing down on the stadium.

He's been a "number one" when at Leicester. So in a weaker league, certainly has the potential to put a point on his average.

Betamax...

Not really to be fair, it was a factual statement that there’s only four Polish teams in the bottom division.

Track was decent despite the weather Birmingham were good especially in the early heats when Witches weren't gating Milik and Lampart were better than I thought they might be. Flint had a bad night but he's much better than that Ellis very good for the witches when he gated and Thompson was excellent and on the pace throughout

But on Monday Leon did very well, though I take your point. Having a bike that can actually manage four laps wouldn't be a bad start.

Part of the routine, how we laugh each and every time.

Brummies look like they are going to be a match for anyone this year, next Thursday at Lynn will be hard work for the Stars with the respective track time each side has had.

Me and the Mrs will be driving over from Sheffield for this. Should be a good meeting looking forward to seeing how Howarth performs as a no1 and a few riders in the Worky team which are abit unknown, think Craig Cook can really make a good year of it and rebuild his career, got it in him to be best rider in championship.

Poole Not sure about the rest

Read my post again, slowly this time. Or do you think Landshurt and Daugavpils are now in Poland?

There are people who want to. Understandbly, they do not want to enter into an arrangement with good old Clarkey boy...

As opposed to July when they'll be burning hay on the back straight two hours before the meeting?

There maybe 2 Ambos there but the Doc may have been required to go with the ambo to hospital

Maybe the decision was made/rubberstamped by the promotions of the other CL clubs as being in the best interests of all CL clubs.

What would a polish club get in this situation? I'd imagine they will have a clear ruling as speedway there seems to flourish every year in Poland.

So speedway no longer has rules… this could be fun

Whether the decision is right or wrong ( personally think under the circumstances it was right, especially as its 28 days) and it's so unlikely to make any difference to the outcome of the eventual league champions I would imagine, as the teams likely to get to the playoffs won't be affected by it one way or another through a full season.

James Denham is on the Offical British Speedway No Brakes No Fear podcast this week and he explains the riding order logic, plus much more. But basically it is to put an experienced rider out on the away tracks in heat 1 and allow the newer riders a few heats to see what’s what. Here’s the podcast > https://pod.fo/e/22b0b3

I'm normally one for sticking to the rule book, however, on this occasion given the circumstances and the clubs unsuccessful attempts to sign a heat leader I believe the common sense approach has been taken.

How does losing your number one to injury before the season starts make you a badly run club. If it were true then some of the most successful clubs in the sport would according to you be badly run. I think the situation proves that there should be rules about what happens when a team finds themselves in the position that Plymouth are currently in. Those rules should take into account the effect on whichever club has been unlucky enough to be facing the problem Plymouth are in and also consider how such a rule affects the sport as a whole. Any new rule will also have to consider what happens if the injured rider then decides not to take their place in the team while riding in other countries or due to retirement. ALL the promotions need to think very carefully before agreeing to any such rule(s) as the last thing the sport needs is another badly written rule that is open to interpretation depending on who is asking.

Steve Worrall Alfie Bowtell Ben Barker Paul Starke Lewis Kerr Max Clegg Danny Phillips

Well done to the Birmingham riders last night.