Halifaxtiger

He was straight up and won the re-run, beating Fisher in the process. Barker's move was reckless and as far as I could see the exclusion decision was correct. Gathercole's superb last to first in heat 9 was upstaged by Reade's win in heat 14, only to upstaged itself by Barker's brilliant ride in heat 15. He and Fisher were outgated by Roynon, Barker going past on the outside on lap two. He then pinned Roynon to the inside and slowed the race down, allowing Fisher to get round the outside. Team riding of the highest quality.

Certainly the Mildenhall promotion will lose out in terms of the attendance due to the unavailbility of several riders given the Dudley away support and the attractiveness of this fixture to neutrals. I was really looking forward to the match but, like many others, I doubt very much that I will attend given who is missing. That's not Mildenhall's fault, but whether or not it was advertised at 3pm in the first place it seems to me that moving the start time forward would resolve the situation to a significant degree, so why not do it now?

I am surprised by that, Bryn. I was stood by the railing on the first bend just below the banking and there was no difficulty in seeing round those corners (21CH makes fair point above, though). I must admit I could hardly see the 3rd/4th corner, and certainly couldn't make out the riders. For that reason alone, the match could have been called off. Good to meet you (at last).

I was on the beach in blazing sun at 3pm but soon after a sea mist came in and it was freezing. Same thing happened at Smallbrook - red hot, then a fog came down. I was on the first bend and by about 8.15pm you could scarcely see the 3rd/4th corners. I can understand if the meeting was abandoned because the referee couldn't see the whole track - that was entirely likely. However, I don't think there was a question of rider safety - from the entry to the first bend you could clearly see the exit to the second (to be fair, I couldn't see what it was like on the last two corners). This is my second fog off, I had one at Somerset a few years ago.

At £10 entry, Dudley must be one of the best value speedway tracks in the country. This was a very entertaining meeting with several cracking races (usually involving young Mr Perry) and I have to say that having an interval aside the presentation is very good as well. I am wondering just how Stoke managed to built Mildenhall. Back in two weeks.

Priest and Branford were on a 5-1 when Nielsen fell.........and then the thunder, lightning & hailstones descended. Mr M is right; heat 15 should not have taken place, draw fair result. Credit to all the riders for carrying on on the day.

Thanks again

Thanks Jayne, much appreciated.

Can anyone give weather updates, please ?

Mildenhall. Its why I am in heated negotiations with my boss for time off to take in both matches, because with two excellent racing strips thrown in they should be something very special indeed.

All of the staff at Mildenhall (with rare exceptions) are unpaid volunteers. Even allowing for the (in my view) extortionate rent that Mildenhall pay and the cost of ambulance cover, this was a very profitable meeting - certainly profitable enough to pay about £40 for four trophies. As GC has accurately pointed out, I am sure that a sponsor could have been arranged if the BSPA had made it clear that they would not be handing out rewards to the first three pairs. Whichever way you look at it, the decision not to give recognition to the riders who finished second and third is a pretty poor show.

Complete nonsense. As I have said, about £40 for four trophies, equivalent to three and a bit entrance fees or around 0.5% of the gate receipts. Given the attendances that they attract, I would be very surprised if Mildenhall are losing money.

Having had a look on the internet, you can get a cheap trophy for less than £5. With engraving, less than £10. For second and third, that's about £40 or just over three entrance fees at a meeting that probably had a four figure gate. I am with Bw double on this one. Not having a trophy for second and third is cheapskate penny pinching.

I saw someone with a young blind lad; hope you both enjoyed it. Strangely, there wasn't much passing and Rye House never even got close, yet I was very glad I went. The meeting took two hours but it seemed to pass very quickly. Rye House, an unlucky Morley and Chessell apart., were poor and it was sad to see Sarjeant, Franklin & Hazelden struggling, because I had hopes for all three.

Week in, week out, Peterborough is better than that ? In my (albeit limited) experience it isn't (but its still one of my favourite tracks). Quite. There can be little doubt that that meeting was a huge success and a superb advert for British Speedway. Why on earth would you want to move it elsewhere ? I am firm believer that if someone makes a success of a bif event they get it again, if they don't, they don't. I am was no fan of King's Lynn or the Chapman's but quite simply they deserve next years round after that.

Hyde Road certainly. Plough Lane could be fantastic, especially when packed to the rafters. To throw in a wild card, St Boniface Arena Plymouth. Usually big crowds and good atmosphere, some excellent company and the racing on that tiny track has to be seen to be believed.

The thing is Mick is that the Leicester track isn't a 'dog'. Dogs don't produce a meeting of the quality that I saw against Scunthorpe. So the much maligned shape isn't, after all, completely to blame because if you can produce a meeting like that once you can do it again. It seems that fingers should not be pointed at David Hemsley so much (and, to his great credit, he is the most visible promoter I have seen for a long time - every time I am there, he is wandering round talking to people) as at the Leicester riders. I suspect that the theory that they were responsible for the change in surface to the appalling one against Plymouth is true. Its one reason why I have always said that you prepare tracks for spectators, not riders, because spectators pay, riders get paid.

I am not so sure. Branford's performances at NL level this season haven't been that impressive and he never looked like scoring points at Redcar. I think Blackbird would be a much better choice.

I think we agreed on that at the time and I will agree now. Stoneman did look very good but I too thought Bates was very impressive indeed.

Well said indeed Based upon the match against Scunthorpe, that is simply not true and Leicester is no more of a gaters paradise than virtually any other PL track.

Coldish ? the master (or is that mistress ?) of the understatement Can you tell me the teams please, Jayne ?

I didn't think the crowd was that bad - around the 500 mark - although it was well down on the league match last season between the two clubs. A freezing night, rain blowing about in the area, a challenge match and the FA cup all probably had their effect. Stoke have been at fault in the past for delays in meetings but they can't be accused here. Two nasty looking accidents (particularly the second) and there is always going to be a hold up. Worrall never looked liked getting beaten and broke the track record in the process (although one or two times were questionable). Birks wasn't quite as dominant as I thought he would be, and Stoke's long tail was all too obvious. They won't be able to carry two riders all season. Ben Reade showed flashes of real ability last year and this was easily the best I have seen him ride, with some sharp gating and a superb pass of Ritchings. For the Heathens, Perry looked good - a couple of very fine passes on Birks - and with Roynon in they will be a handful for most teams home and away.

Kerr will bounce back, he's a terrific rider. Very few will pass Heeps this season at NL level, home or away. Lowe was very impressive indeed.

Nonsense. I didn't see Blackbird do anything wrong in either heat - certainly nothing that I haven't seen many, many other riders do. In heat 9 (and I have seen a very good replay of it), Nathan Stoneman clipped the back of Blackbird's bike in a tight first corner and that sent him ramming into Lowe, nothing more. Cockle's reaction was entirely unnecessary and in sharp contrast to Blackbird's sporting gesture when they returned to the pits.

Personally, I think that Volty has been pretty fair in his comments concerning Leicester Speedway. He has been critical of the fact that track improvements were not made and shown concern for the club if things don't improve, but is not one of those who refuse to return without actually finding out whether it is better this season. Voice of reason (amongst others)for me.