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Again, people shouting their mouths off with no understanding of what 'mental health problems' either means or entails. "Should a rider be issued a licence if he has mental health problems?" Did you know that if someone has OCD, that is classified as a mental health problem?! So if somebody has to continually wash their hands, or has to count a number of times before carrying out a daily task, or has to check they have unplugged the iron five times before leaving the house, they cannot ride speedway?! Don't be so ridiculous. Next, you'll be asking for a table of classification as to what permits you to ride and what doesn't. There are too many people who think the term 'mental health issues' means 'nutter' and that anyone suffering from it is incapable of living a normal life. And for the other person on here who believes that Craig's problem is alcoholism, and that he is using the excuse of mental health issues to cover it...firstly, you know NOTHING at present. But let's humour you...if someone does have an issue with alcohol, you do realise that may be BECAUSE of their mental health problems?! Up to 75% of PTSD sufferers turn to alcohol. But I suppose they are all using mental health as an excuse too are they?!

It’s early doors but it must be clear to most on here that Ipswich are head and shoulders above the rest of the teams in every department, No 1, heat leaders, second strings and reserves. They clearly had a plan to utilise the British discounts and with the whopping reduction for Thompson as well they have put together a super team. And with 3 riders on the up (Brennan, Thompson & Jenkins) it’s obvious even now injuries aside they are going to walk it. The other teams could have gone the same way but decided to do it differently for a variety of reasons. To be fair Ipswich have had little success since 1998 so are due a good year, especially after the horrors of 2024.

I should just ignore it. The majority of speedway fans surely just appreciate anybody that takes time out from their own evening to send updates for the rest of us. On behalf of them, thank you.

To be honest Gregory Laguta would be a better signing, he is a bit of a nutter and not afraid to ruffle a few feathers

If only Oxford could sign someone🤔someone like... 🤔, ooh I don't know let me think 🤔, erm Grigory Laguta! No, not him, the other one... what's his name 🤔

will ipswich last the season, could go bankrupt by may at this rate

Links for ZG v Lublin: VitalSport VK link: https://vk.com/video-220089063_456245827 MaxSpeedway VK link: https://vk.com/video-228433959_456239255 SpeedwayRus VK link: https://vk.com/video-53550004_456242102 OKT Speedway VK link: https://vk.com/video-228433959_456239255

And the mighty referee 😀

Weird how so many Belle Vue fans are bothered by the Ipswich team. Seems like most fans of the other clubs appreciate some good team building, and just wish their own clubs could field a similar team.... not Belle Vue. A lot of jealousy coming from the NSS. As an Oxford fan, last night was a pretty tough - but not unexpected - watch. A lot of work to do for the Spires, but a lot of wiggle room with points if they can find the right rider.

That’s the thing the BV trolls keep harping on about us cheating and being moneybags but it is down to good team planning. With the Thompson reduction at least he was in our team last season, why are they not having a pop at Sheffield for getting the same reduction for Anders Rowe when he was at KL last season.

i actually think the track looked much improved from last season, you could see the difference and racing was alot closer than normal wth out any passing, last night was just not watered enough but i think once they get the track prep right it will be a good racing track. gutted to lose last night but cant fault them, was just a sublime hard pass by max on brady, very good ride that. i seen a few vue fans moan on socials about the move, but thats the same move brady does to many riders and they cheer it,

But what a great team. It's a pity that all the other teams aren't allowed to strengthen to try and match them a little more.

You got tomorrow nights lottery numbers 😊

After Glasgow fans were so cocky after the first leg, so be over the moon if Monarchs can win tonight. Can't really blame them, both sets of supporters like to rub it in when the other does poorly.

I've seen some crap at the NSS over the years... if the track is heavy because of rain (in Manchester I know!) the racing is dreadful. I've also been to a lot of daytime meetings and some of those are nothing to write home about. It generally is always a spectacle though mostly because of how close you are to the track, the speed and noise of the place.

I don’t really get all the noise about Foxhall being a boring track with no passing. I agree that it does not hold a candle to the NSS but that is purpose built, single use, designed from scratch and funded by the taxpayer. No UK track can hold a candle to the NSS, it’s brilliant. When compared to the remainder of the Premiership tracks, I don’t think it’s any worse and I would argue better than some. Yet again, Louis has spent time and money over the winter making more improvements which from memory is the fourth or fifth set of improvements over the past few years. You can’t fault the endeavour. It’s too early in the season to judge how successful the improvements made over the winter are because the only way you would have had close racing with lots of passing this season so far is if you had introduced handicap racing and given every Aces and Spires rider a five yard head start. You can’t have passing when the home team is consistently first and second into the first bend and even on the odd occasion they aren’t, they steam round or under the away riders. It’s pretty hard getting past Doyle, Sayfutdinov, Brennan, etc at Foxhall once you are behind them.

They're just a class team all round. Great race between Pawlicki and Lindgren. Top stuff.

Cracking Heat 8. Madsen by a nose.

Think this may be close tonight. 61-29 for the stripes.

I tend to agree with you on Lidsey, although his heat 12 first lap was superb last night. Blodorn isn't normally afraid to mix it. Haven't see enough of Zischke or Zach Cook yet to comment, Mulford isn't quick enough to mix it with most riders in this league. Had the racing been better last night I might have come next week with it being a day off on Friday, but the dust has put me off, if I want to miss most of the action due to dust I'll do so at Perry Barr.

Ipswich have done some strange things this season with team building... using the full amount of points available, what's that all about? Signing British riders in the engine room, when everyone knows you are supposed to use Australian's? Tainted victory that will be 🤣

Exactly, away teams shouldn't be bothering turning up if they can't beat him

Tracks need a staggering amount of regular watering to prepare it properly and a minimum of at least 24 hours especially in hot weather. It also helps if a track has some material on it to start with plus some more as and when needed, it also helps if you have a track man who knows what he is doing and has the tools to fully do the job. In recent years I seriously doubt Birmingham can fulfill any of those requirements, and I have watched several meetings there over the last few years. When clubs learn to prepare tracks properly to entertain paying customers with decent racing then they will get better attendances, race suits, mechanics in matching overalls, 2 minute clocks on the centre green, electronic scoreboards, video replays in bars, transponders, superheats etc etc are all very nice but supporters generally come for the entertainment, most of which is close meetings and good racing. Until the basic product gets it right this sport will always be second rate. Its interesting to hear that Leicester and Ipswich have both taken steps to improve their racetracks, it really is about time.

I think you may have got me there!

To be fair it was Kirky lane or nothing, bhut the NSS is the template on which all future tracks / stadia need to aspire to if they can, its a great set up. Given their opening spanking at Foxhall I would say the Aces will be fine - certainly playoff bound!

It is amusing seeing fans behaving so bitter towards Ippo this season. I have no link to them but I hope they win the league at a canter this season then the playoffs. It does remind me somewhat of when Poole used to waltz to the title and the other clubs would all be bitter about it. With Gavan being an Ippo fan and never getting along with him on this forum I can't believe I am writing it but he seems to of calmed down in recent years so don't mind saying it.

Yes, we had to endure Jason Crump week on week. You're correct about the racing at times, it was awful and we made our feelings known in no uncertain terms. We ended up with the NSS so my advice to those at gate ‘n’ go tracks is keep on at your management and get them to produce a race track instead. You’ll love it.

Abysmal, that’s weird. Last season and 2022, only two teams had a better away record and 2023 we were the best away team. Even in this years qualifiers we’ve won one and had this narrow loss. The majority of the league could only dream of being so abysmal. Great effort last night and I’ve no problem with hard riding in heat 15. We’ve seen Brady do the same many times, during one of our championship wins being particularly memorable. All The Aces chipping in and not being as reliant on our GP stars as most expected. Good to see Max, Kyle & Sam from the old boys club have a good night.

How this forum shows the bitterness of other teams is hilarious 😆 Ipswich built to the limit of points. We would have walked it last year as well and even other team managers admit that. Crowds are brilliant. Atmosphere outstanding. Last year the track was “awful” and now it’s a fair playing field with a better track we win by bigger margins! Lastly, people stop saying it’s gate and go. Ellis done a stunning outside overtake and Thompson done the best cut back from last to second on the first bend. It’s painful I know… but just admit teams aren’t up to it at foxhall. Oh sorry we’ve beaten everyone away as well

Ipswich built the team that every other team in the Premier League would have dreamed of with all the team consistently contributing to the scoring Every other team assembled their squad with a few riders they wanted and filled the rest of the 7 with individual riders just to fit the averages left available to them They're the one team in the league I'd ever pay to watch home or away if I ever had the opportunity.

One thing is for certain the turnstiles are clicking, the opening two meetings have been staged in front of very healthy crowds!

If no one in the opposition team can beat Danny king on the night then Emil and Doyle are irrelevant

I can't see it being much good for the sport with it being behind a paywall. I must have not watched speedway for around 13 years then one evening I was browsing the sports channels and saw that there was a meeting on Eurosport, which started drawing my attention back to the sport. That coupled with Woffinden, who I was a fan of as a child, rejoining Sheffield in 2023 brought me back to the sport. I must have watched virtually every English meeting and all but 1 or 2 GPs last year on Eurosport. However, as I must already spend close to £500 a year on sports channels already I can't justify spending another £30.99 for another channel. That coupled with me not being able to get to Sheffield, which is a me problem rather than for the sport itself, I can see how it can be so easy to drift away from the sport.

Well done Monarchs , deserved the win, we were a 3 man team, although max Perry was better than his score suggested

One sided match, but some good races. 👍

Support a team that were champions 2 out of the last 3 years and illiterate, or support a team that are favourites to win this year and literate. I know which I'd rather be.

Jaimon "I'll only bring my best kit over from Poland once their season is finished after being bang average for Belle Vue all year" Lidsey? Becker had to be there to cash in on that "luck" as you put it... he was and he did.

Yep, I agree. Although it needs to start with another heat leader and then build other changes around that. If a Leon Madsen-type signing can be made, then the other changes can work around. Could also do a lot worse than Dan Gilkes based on how he rode for the Cheetahs the other night - surely only a matter of time before he's fitted in somehow.

One rider has form for this type of nonsense, the other rider doesn’t. Everyone knows what Charles Wright is like by now surely.

I agree, although with regards to the Spires team, 3 or 4 different riders are needed to make any real difference.

Ipswich as a collective group, Not just Doyle and Emil are making GP/Ekstraliga riders look bang average around Foxhall. Kurtz, Lidsey, Bewley, Tungate and Janowski have put up a combined 22 Points from 24 Rides around Foxhall so far this season.

On paper? They have the best team full stop, Phil.

What do you think this is doing?? As for your last point, I make it 11 former Diamonds riders still riding in the UK. The seven named for tonight PLUS Danny King (obviously riding for Redcar), Victor Palovaara (riding for Edinburgh tonight), Paul Starke and Adam Roynon. Who knows, maybe things are happening "behind the scenes" and they want to keep it quite? We all know what has happened elsewhere with various ventures trying to resurrect clubs. Someone always seems to come up with an excuse to block any new tracks being built, usually the space is down for housing, or there's a rare flower growing there, or it's a "haven" for wildlife.

I think cook is getting far too much stick. He is a very good second string but not a number one. he hasn’t been a championship number one even last year he rode mostly at number 3 rather than 5 which is the easier heat leader berth. whoever is number one at lynn is going to struggle because of how the team is built. I have no doubt cook will drop to reserve and score prolifically and bomber will go to number one and he will struggle against fellow number one’s. I think Lynn will do ok at home most weeks but could struggle against the likes of Ipswich and Sheffield

Link for today, tomorrow and Sunday http://kergel.ucoz.lv/index/live_stream_2/0-12

Because you have Peter Schroeck building a side. Him and Courtney are out of their depth. Oxford need to be careful as Schroeck will kill off any feel good factor with his teams. Look at the shambles with the Cheetahs and the young Aussie having no visa/permit

Speaking to my speedway buddies over the weekend, not one of them is going to fork out an extra £31 a month to get TNT. Be interesting to see the viewing figures for televised speedway this year...

Tune in tomorrow for Ticket Watch 📺😂

I appreciate the economics of cancelling Cardiff but I actually thought the racing last year was pretty good and crowds would have increased whereas the previous year the racing was poor so crowds were down. The racing at Belle Vue will be good but to pay more to sit in a stand at a poorer venue is not great value.