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Very difficult to quantify one’s feelings at a time like this.Somehow we wish we could turn the clock back and stop it happening, then somehow convince ourselves that it won’t happen again, but at the same time secretly knowing that it always will. However long we follow the sport the pain we all suffer when this sort of thing happens never gets any easier to deal with. Motor cycling in all its different forms is a very special sport. I wouldn’t swap my time on bikes for the world, but it is so sad to lose young men this way.

Plus they had dirt too rake back in.

People still go on about the Under 21 meeting and how good the racing was, hard to imagine that was in 2013. The track prep that night was different with the tractors doing figure of 8's to bring the dirt back, plus track staff had rakes them days to also help bring the dirt back from the fence.

Most clubs have 2 ambulances, Plymouth is close to the hospital a&e department, no excuse should be compulsory if anyone can afford it Poole can.

I can't imagine that Lahti or any other riders not based here for that matter have any interest in riding in the UK at the moment.

Personally I think its mainly down to rider skill or lack of. The best meeting I ever seen at Shielfield was the round of the U21 World Final a few years back. I think as Fromafar eludes to alot of the modern day riders are as quick as each other when in front but couldnt pass wind behind.

I've witnessed riders who struggle to deal with dirt but look comfortable when tracks are slick. I would imagine the best gaters prefer slick as such conditions appear to make it harder to overtake. In my opinion too grippy a track isn't great while sometimes slicker conditions can produce good racing . Tracks prepared with enough dirt to produce a good outside line along with adequate moisture level to prevent a track becoming too slick seems to produce better racing in my subjective view. Consistent tracks, prepared with the sole aim of facilitating entertaining racing should be the ultimate aim because fans pay their money to be entertained.

Should have made it top 2 non GP riders.. One night each.. Keep more riders interested as they go into the semi final...

Another Schroecker potentially! I also think Middlo probably gaffed with the TS though going one race too early.

Kerr and Starke not up to the job.

I was almost about to compliment Schroeck till I saw he replaced McDiarmid with Killeen in heat 12. McDiarmid had just got a 5-1 in heat 11 & scored 9+1 from 4 rides, beating Starke, Marson (2), Lawson, Cook & Kerr. While Killeen had scored 3+1 from 3 rides beating Starke & Marson (2). Was Schroeck trying to throw it away? Luckily for him Oxford still won.

you can't put a price on someones life or serious injury no matter the distance to the hospital just to save money !!!

I agree. You get a fully-equipped private ambulance, complete with paramedic, for much less. Presumably even in Dorset!

Either way,it's wrong to gamble on only one ambulance, if it gets awarded I would imagine the knock on effect will cost Poole alot more than a grand. Even little ole Plymouth has 2 ambulances!! Should be compulsory imo.

Hopefully they've got Sweet Caroline on repeat to help pass the time.

Meeting likely to be abandoned if 2nd ambulance has not reached the track by 9.30pm! Result to be awarded if so.

With Poole always portraying themselves are the ultimate professionals you would have thought they would have two ambulances at the track like several 'smaller' clubs do. Hope Gilkes is ok.

Surely Poole can afford a second ambulance/paramedic like the majority of clubs in the Championship

Other one ain’t been born yet

Snooker Monday, Darts on Tuesday, Bingo on Thursday, Lawn Bowls on Friday. Compulsory night in with the missus Saturday and finally Football on Sunday.

Regardless of what format you use over an extended period ( 10 GP'S ) unless there is a consistent run of bad luck the cream will always float to the top !

🤔 Big brother has been at work

I don't think anyone from Lynn has blamed the track for the defeat, if anything it helped us get a very respectable score considering Ipswich's power this year. But those who paid for an afternoon's racing and got a blue groove are perfectly entitled to criticise from a VFM point of view. It's unusual for Foxhall and there were obviously meteorological reasons for it so hopefully lessons will have been learned. Telling people to deal with it doesn't really help anyone going forward.

Simple answer is Schroeck is absolutely clueless

I’d imagine if he wanted to come he would be over here right now. He used to ride here regular. But not for many years now.

Promoters want home wins as that keeps their crowds... Entertainment is very much a secondary (if that high), factor...

The main factor at Glasgow looks like the shape and width. It will always be difficult at Shielfield to replicate this

Most of the meetings I've seen live this year have been processional mostly. But then maybe the same could be said in previous campaigns when tracks had more material. Glasgow seem to have it right with the track prep and the riders who are willing to race.

Firstly best wishes to Gilkes but how have Poole lost that to a 4 man team? R/R , Gilkes injured and a nowhere near yet fit Jenkins yet still pulled it off Yes Masters rolled in 15 but look deeper why you lost the match The reserves are abysmal you can’t carry on like that Lewis Kerr was a poor signing although Lawson stuffed him up in one race … maybe top riders don’t want to ride for Poole I know Dan Thompson didn’t …. Muddlo got the tac sub wrong should have been heat 7 and then put Cook in heat 15 instead of Rowe was a strange call

First of all well done to Oxford. They started on fire and left us for dead out of the gate in the first half of the meeting. What looked like an innocuous fall for Dan Gilkes turned into a very long break. He sort of slid off, but went over to his right and I believe, though not confirmed, put his arm out and broke it. He was on the track for a very long time and when moved, on an ambulance stretcher, was on a drip, breathing oxygen and holding his arm close to his chest. Let’s all hope he has a speedy recovery. The delay was frankly ridiculous. No county ambulance available. So the casualty had to be taken to hospital, 5 minutes away, then it too a while for the patient to be handed over before it could return. Pirates worked their way back into the meeting but Kerr’s throttle went the wrong way when on a 5-1 in heat 13. It ended up with us needing a 5-1 in heat 15 to force a draw, but Masters got a big roller and to the dismay of the crowd the ref let it go. Lawson got by on lap 3 but it was too much for Cook. A few thoughts. Kerr is a terrible signing so far. Just not good enough. His bike packing up on the final bend cost us a draw, then he was picked of by an excellent McDiamond like he was standing still, then in heat 13 shut off when on a 5-1. The rest blew hot and cold. Believe changes will happen to this side, and I am not talking Cairns. Special mention to McDiamond. Spoke to him before the meeting and he is a level headed young man and could be a future top Aussie. Very good signing who won’t be at reserve for long.

I think I got it on cd,I'll pass it dan ford when I see him next. Lol

The Manchester United of Speedway skimping on money again! Was the supermarket trolley out of action? 🛒 I hope Gilkes is back on a bike soon, he's been really impressive on his few outings in a Lions race suit

If this gets awarded to Oxford it's Poole's own fault for not having 2 ambulances, absolutely ridiculous!

It should and we can all go home. Oxford better team tonight anyway.

Didn't think it looked that bad but obviously it hurt him. On Oxygen and holding his arm as wheeled into ambulance. Best wishes to Dan and a very speedy recovery. Oxford deserving of winning tonight. Poole riders last out of the gate heat after heat. Misfiring and crap reserves. No consistency. Masters untouchable and McDiamid a real talent. Dan Ford far from happy. Shows up poor signings.

Every team has the opportunity to build a competitive band of riders like Ipswich but it takes effort to attract the sponsors and the backing to build the best with a reputation for fairness and paying wages on time. How many clubs have mismanaged the financial side by under estimating the income, the numbers of supporters, the attractiveness of the product and then give some thought to trying to compete at a level which in reality they can ill afford. The UK could put together at best three or four teams that could hold their own in the top tier of Polish speedway, the rest are fodder making up the numbers to satisfy a piss poor T V contract and the egos of a few promoters who have never promoted anything in their lives. if you want to know what promoting is all about then go back to the successful days of Wally Mawdsley, Len Silver, Dave Lanning, Johnnie Hoskins, Ian Thomas, Graham Drury and a good few more whereas today look what you have got, fools and the money which is soon parted and no cohesive response to what is wrong with the sport in this country. Most of those running clubs have heads up their own arses. You have no real strategy for new talent which is ignored by the majority of hard core supporters who believe the only real fix is league racing whereas many individual meetings at so many levels can offer excellent competitive racing but this is discounted by many and they wonder why you have few prospects making it through the league. Until you have a change in the attitude of promoters, the set up and the supporters change of attitude to watching racing that involves all levels the sport in this country is only going one way. Thankfully not all of the European speedway nations are following the UK business model.

I agree with this, if I was visiting an away team say within 200 miles then a 3 or 4pm start works well . When visiting most away tracks now with a 7-30pm start I have to price an overnight stay into the cost and hotel prices have gone up markedly especially in the summer months. I would much rather witness live Speedway than watch it on tv.

A little late but Kergel is apparently showing all three matches. So he's probably doing that for the rest of the season. http://kergel.ucoz.lv/index/live_stream_2/0-12

He said next week.

... and held it at the weekend

Attendence first round: Kumla 2221 Målilla 2261 Norrköping 1378 Eskilstuna 2984

Obviously we would be weaker but Heeps is usually poor at Poole and is probably one of the worst number 5's in the league.

As they say in the trade, he's lost his bottle. It remains to be seen if its short or long term...

There should be room for common sense and the impact on entertainment.

Was watching this live and could see it was a shocking accident fair play to the camera man for turning the camera away straight away RIP

Pirates could well have three 16 year olds riding in the team next season.

With Zmarzlik we are seeing one of the true sporting greats and should appreciate it whilst he's at his peak. He's a level above every other rider when push comes to shove and knows exactly how to win a GP series - consistency. We'd all like a more competitive championship, but this guy is simply a legend. If he wants it, and avoids injury, he could dominate for another five years.

In this current era I'm tending to agree with you, I'd rather have 1 night of jeopardy than 10 nights of mediocrity.

I agree with it, I'm pretty sure they asset system would never hold up in court if it was challenged. But feel there should be some reward for NL/NT teams who bring on riders, who then go elsewhere.