Halifaxtiger

Decent meeting. Brilliant performance from Holder, best I have seen him ride. Probably best I have seen Heeps ride, too, and a mention for Connor Mountain - really got stuck in and rode with a lot of grit and spirit. Bizarre to allow people to tramp all over a newly prepared track and I am wondering just why anyone would want to. I, too, thought the track grading before heat 15 was a little odd. Bringing the blade out at that stage of the meeting is something I am not sure I have seen before.

I have seen good gates just about everywhere I have been. Rye House was probably double the best I have ever seen before.

Above is what Paul said. Then there is what you said (after). Are his comments 'overrated' ? Or is that remark aimed at the Scunthorpe fans only ? Whatever the case, I don't think its unreasonable for me to have suggested that you lumped Paul's comments in with the suggestion that views of Scunthorpe are both skewed and biased. Nobody disputes your right to comment on this forum in (pretty much) anyway you want. But if you make a statement that many others disagree with (and, lets be fair, you are totally on your own here with everyone else opposed) expect to get some criticism. As to Owlerton, its certainly not clear that you haven't been there for years (and I'd very much accept that it has changed in that time). That is why you have got several critical responses on that, too.

Erik Riss, Matt Bates, Tom Brennan, Craig Cook.

I'm not a Rye House fan and have made only occasional visits in the past but I think your comments are harsh and quite possibly made at least partly as a result of the unfortunate and difficult circumstances that you encountered. As I have said elsewhere, the meeting wasn't brilliant but it wasn't bad either. Its clear to me that the stadium is a work in progress and that a considerable amount of money has already been spent there, the new stand by the pits area being the obvious example. Its not brilliant standing on piles of ashes or earth but I have little doubt that they will be dealt with in due course and there will always be issues when improvement and renovation work is ongoing. I think Shads has commented about the PA system on the home straight and clearly that needs fixing. Although I would accept that the management should stop people standing on access areas, that is far from just a problem at Rye House (Redcar is particularly bad). In addition, it is just simple courtesy to move out of the way of a disabled person (or help them) whenever possible. To me, that's far more about the people than the management, and its reflected in the unacceptable behaviour you were subject to later. While in no way do I understate the problems you had, I find there is very little to be critical about having a speedway promotion who are quite clearly prepared to invest heavily in the sport that we love, both in terms of the team they have assembled and the plans they have for the stadium.

I did see Harris, Batchelor and Porsing pass. I also saw Scott Nicholls do his very best to assist Perks and block Lambert's outside line (so did the meeting updater). You have been very fortunate in your choice of meetings if that is the worst you have ever seen. Give Stoke a try..................... Don't doubt it but that was a different era (and before my time). Since I have made occasional visits to Rye House (2005) last night was way, way bigger than anything I have seen before - which is brilliant I was hiding from everyone on the third bend (not just you, believe me) To be fair, its where I like to stand and did so at both Lakeside and Kent.

I know Sommelier is a huge speedway fan and clocks up many, many meetings a year so I am very surprised that's the worst he has ever seen. He must avoid certain tracks It wasn't brilliant but I wouldn't even class it as bad. In addition, I don't think it would take much to sort the track out and given the major investment in the stadium and the need to retain that remarkable attendance I'd put it top of the list. That Kent meeting will remain long in my memory more for the way that rider safety was put seriously at risk than the actual dreadful meeting itself.

Judging by reputation, I don't think BWdouble would do that. The people who told him might have some sort of grudge, though - I have been fed false information myself in the past. I am very pleased that George is still attending and slightly disappointed that he isn't part of the promotion. There's no question about his enthusiasm and committment to Belle Vue but he is tainted by his involvement with previous years.

Not that bad. Not brilliant by any means, but not awful. Did a 3 hour meeting on a dreadful, bald, dusty track with genuine concerns about rider safety at Kent a few years ago. That was far, far worse.

Biggest crowd (by far) I have ever seen at Rye House. Racing was close but there wasn't much passing - big blue line on the third bend and all the grip on the outside of the 4th and if you got on both you weren't going to get caught. Kennett was superb - quite possibly the best I have seen him ride because he didn't look like getting beaten. Perks, Rose, Porsing & Robson impressive, Branford unbelievably lucky when he fell in heat 7.

Good meeting, probably the best I have seen at Kent. The Kings will take some beating on their home track, particularly if the reserves strengthen up a bit. Hopwood a bargain on his average, big performance from Thomas and an impressive one from Stoneman. For the Fen Tigers, only Jenkins stood out.

I must admit I thought the complaints about a 2 hour meeting were rubbish. A lot of meetings take that long, simple as. It wasn't a brilliant meeting but it wasn't a bad one either. Get back to Friday night start times and the moisture will stay in the track and there will less dust and better racing. Mason(surprising a few on here, including me), Bates and Brennan impressive.

Don't doubt it. But you're accusing Paul - and others - of overstating the quality of the speedway at Scunthorpe (ie being untruthful to prove a point). He doesn't do that.

Dropped a clanger with Owlerton. As one or two have said, its been rubbish for the last couple of years. Massive, massive shame. In my view, Lakeside is the most underrated and over criticised track in the country and its one of my favourites. Of three meetings I saw here last season, two were good and one brilliant. It'll be interesting to see how it rides in the NL.

I must admit I am not sure how you can interpret 'no movement of the motorcycle is permitted' any more than one way. Its got a serious challenger countrywide - Belle Vue. Brilliant stuff there Friday night. They have crap presentation and intervals, though, so Scunny is still in front. Living in West Yorkshire is just about right for both Paulco calls it how it is, always has. If he says it was brilliant, it was.

15.2.9 When the Green Start Light is illuminated, no movement of the motorcycle is permitted, nor any additional time allowance or outside assistance can be given. Mr Reeve clearly doesn't know the rulebook or simply ignores it. Both are of concern and you simply can't have one referee going his own way while others stick to the letter of the law. Time is only wasted on re-starts where the riders move. They know full well they should sit still and allowing one to get away with moving will eventually result in longer delays. At Belle Vue on Friday we had one re-start for moving. The rider was warned and it didn't happen again. Paul is pretty much spot on - there was a considerable degree of movement. I thought heat 2 was worse, though - Bailey got a huge flyer.

Quite clearly, a few (5, to be precise) agree with me too. Whatever anyone says about Scunthorpe Speedway, its still just about the best racing track in the country with some of the best presentation and as little delay as possible. That is pretty much what every speedway fan wants before anything else.

Little aggressive for me I'd agree, but I still said his 'digs' at Scunthorpe were 'inane, pathetic and unnecessary', not that he was.

Brilliant meeting Usual good quality EWR meeting. Great meeting a brilliant speedway meeting Cracking meeting yesterday Sunny, hot (for half the meeting anyway) and very windy at Scunthorpe yesterday. Mind you, I keep forgetting Rob Godfrey has a magic wand.

I don't think he is gloating over Plymouth at all (and the last time I looked they were very much alive and kicking) - more reacting to your inane, pathetic and absolutely unnecessary digs at Scunthorpe Speedway.

Rules being applied consistently. I was still surprised. That's putting a huge amount of pressure on him. Usual good quality EWR meeting.

Quite correct. There is a point here - while I agree with the guest system, the situation has got totally out of hand - but that certainly isn't the way to go about it.

That's new one on me.

If you are committed supporter, yes. If you a floater or a newbie, very possibly not. A friend of mine took two newcomers to the Sheffield/Somerset free meeting. They had left by heat 12 and won't be going back because it was so poor. Its why everything has to be done to ensure that the speedway is as good as it can be.

How many meetings does it take to put someone off ? Some will give it another go, many won't. Having said that, I suspect the result might be equally as responsible as the track.