Coventry_Bee

Sarj has the ability to be higher than a tier 2 draft rider. If you think he is going to improve by doing what he has been doing then I think you need to get real. Starting 15 meters back where he has the ability to beat most reserves in the league is going to cost us points. The reason we have done so well is that we more often than not haven't got the heat advantage of heat 1 we should so we expect the reserves to get us back in it in heat 2. How many more years has sarj got in tier 2? I see a few move up to the number 2 spot.eg, Garrity , Newman, Worrell.

I'd like to see Danny King back, along with Garrity, Hans and I imagine Harris is a certain starter. Sarj needs to sort this gating issue out, it's costing us points, and meetings. We are all expecting it and waiting for it each time he turns up at the gate. He is however on his day a very good rider and when you look down the list he does stand out as somebody we need to stick by and work with. This number 1 position is so difficult to fill now, look down all teams and they are all capable of having some really dodgy meetings. The new race format means the heat leaders meet each other much more than before. Only Darcy looked anything like an out and out number 1 in the whole league.

Like I said I might just be in minority, updates used to be what happened in a race that's all. Who gated in heat 7? Were we on 5-1 from the start?? I usually make it to most meetings but due to holiday I'm not able to be there tonight. I do see the funny side to the comments don't get me wrong, but it was funnier when it was the odd comment thrown in here and there. We all appreciate the updates.

Although very informative at times, are updates from Brandon not becoming a little daft. We know the riders look at them, so be the wise guy and mock certain riders to play up to this fact, tonight so far we have Nicholls our title winning captain and also PK! One of the leagues finest ever riders on the recieving end. As much as the odd comment is funny I accept but it's not about the races any more it's about the comments. Maybe I am just one of the minority in this, just my opinion.

If you actually read it correctly I said for many it's about the whole day/weekend, I'd imagine a few wouldn't even remember there was a meeting on the amount they drank.

I really enjoyed the day, for many it's about meeting up with friends on here and it's always a great atmosphere in the town. The racing is an added bonus. It's what you make of it really. These riders are the best in the world, they arnt going to give an inch so people who expect passing moves every lap are dreamers. The way the seating is arranged always bugs me, why not try get all sections filled in middle tier, make it feel fuller.Flags free for the back straight so it looks good for TV, well at £60-70 a ticket why not give everybody a flag so they can have ?.The atmosphere was good, the rider entrance was clever and some of the races were top draw, track held up well and Ole Olsens new job as track waterer was quite amusing. Shame they don't get the national anthems sung as the guy who used to do it a few years back was really good. Last comment was that the fireworks seemed a fraction of the length they used to be a few years back when I last came.

I though the ref held the tapes far too long all night, caused tape exclusions and found it quite annoying to be fair. Good win for the bees but our new found Roman Matousek at number 6 is well on the way to fencing a team mate as well as the opposition, as good as he is I don't think he is easy to ride with. Robson was so close to being wiped out and as much as he is all action he will have a big off soon riding this way.

I hope to see Belle Vue get into the play off's. Be a close meeting, I hope Nicholls is back on good form after a poor meeting Friday. A few of the Poole riders really don't like it and will be glad to see the back of the stadium, a 5 point win for the aces.

Such a sad loss, the forum has its good points and it's bad points. It's occasions like this where you log on and see a post that I am sure was a shock to many of us and is a reminder of how we take things for granted. Yeah, I see people I know by name and face on here and I might not say hi but you kind of feel like you know them,we are all part of the speedway family and such a shame we lost a huge part of it today. Thoughts are with her family and friends, a post I'm sure Sandie never expected she would have to make, so thoughts also with you Sandie.

I missed the meeting as I was at Goodwood, great to see Greg there. Perfect opportunity to spread the love of our sport. Looks like I missed a great meeting, it's strange how inconsistent the top riders are this year, Holder, Zegar, Hans, Lindgren etc, they have all had inconsistant meetings to say the least, even down to Bjerre, Cook, Batch and now Scott's form has dropped. The problem is you drop a rider and are not guaranteed a better replacement. In regards to Scott's incident I would have thought that he was having a bad night, they touched and in most cases they are pulled back with all 4 back in ( I think it was first bend incident) Scott's 37 now, of course him form will drop. Not everybody is like Hancock, sadly every rider declines, you get the odd flash of what used to be but overall I think Scott's doing a steady job. Unlike other riders he always gives his best, you won't see him pull up, tootle round at the back. Even if it's for a point he battles to the very end so maybe he's not scoring the points he once was and the haters have there opinion as they are very much entitled to but for me I enjoy watching Nicholls race, doesn't take the pee out of fans hard earned cash.

Actions spoke a thousand words last night, he was just odd. Heat 1 he could have caused a crash while getting lapped. If his bike was broke then pull into pits or centre green!! He showed no effort or interest in being there all night. Belle Vue want fans to come and support the team away, why should they when there number "1" rider can't be arsed in turning up.

My first visit to Leicester tonight, I must say what a great little stadium you have. As a Bees fan if we get something like that I would be really happy.id quite like 1 stand and I am not quite sure why they didn't extend the building that' holds the track shop but that's me being picky. I think at Brandon we are spoilt with being able to see the pits area as the only problem I find is the pits are the wrong way round but like I said we are lucky that way at Coventry, it gives very little interaction with the riders the way you have it set up, especially for youngsters to be able to see the riders, bikes warming up etc.but on the whole you get a great view no matter where you stand, it's so close to the track it's brilliant. Catering, toilets etc were all you need from a stadium that has around 15 ish pay days a year. The track held up well and with the inconsistent weather they did a great job on it. Onto the racing!! Leicester did well, it's quite a short run to first bend but it's so wide I think the tracks ok, not much passing but that was maybe down to conditions. Belle Vue had too many riders having an off night. Zagar was an embarrassment to the club, that's all I want to say as he put no effort in what so ever. Cook struggled with bike issues and didn't look great all night, ok but nothing like you would expect. Scott had an iffy first 2 rides then got stuck in, a hard first bend in his 3rd ride and he was gone. Max was very good, looked fast and really tried his best. The lions deserved there win, the people who made this all possible deserve a pat on the back as it serves the purpose for speedway, no holes due to stock cars, no standing far back because of grey hound track. Will be back again for sure, sets a super template for other clubs to follow. All we need is some land in Coventry and a move would be welcomed from the crumbling stadium that's had its day, we can't live in the past otherwise the bees have no future. Thank you Leicester speedway !!! Top Job

Cheers, I don't think the stewards bother much as long as somebody says and you don't end up in so body else's seat. Never got tickets from a tout before. The ticket site isn't really user friendly, apart from by the start anybody think 1st or 4th bend is best?

Not been to Cardiff for a few years but decided we are going to make a weekend of it. I usually buy the tickets via the website, however looking there isn't much by the start line, when I have been previous there are always empty seats there so do I wait and buy on the day ?? Also I am driving instead of getting a coach so I am booking a parking spot then driving out of Cardiff and looking to book a cheaper hotel as not paying stupid prices that are quoted everywhere. Any pointers on these would be appreciated. Thanks

I haven't said don't punish him, I've said a ban says you can do what you like on track as its racing. The most you are going to get is excluded. It's all about opinions, mine is that Greg did wrong but if pedersen had been pulled up before now for his track tactics then there would be no talking point today. http://youtu.be/znWAW7803RQ

Greg has earned that respect, he hasn't asked for it. Crump and TR were hard but also very fair, there is a massive difference in my opinion on the ability of Crump, TR and Hancock vs Pedersen. I've not seen a rider push others so wide but on the receiving end he is the first to bail off., then the arms wave in the air, wag of the finger. Unfortunately he won't be remembered for the titles he won.

The problem is that if Greg is punished with a ban then it opens a can of worms. Basically that you can send fellow riders, I'd go as far as team mates that close to the fence you have to bail off. I'd rather Greg do what he did after a race than riders sorting it out on track. Pedersen has been lucky with injuries, holder, Greg and hamper are proof that nasty injuries are seconds away without nutters trying to put you in a fence.

It's not the move last night that was to blame, it's pedersens attitude, disregard for fellow riders and inability to try and pass fairly. This has been brewing and it was just a matter of who and when. Opinions vary but you can't keep putting riders in the fence, Greg got hurt big time last year with a nasty injury. It has become far to common to say that was a hard Pedersen move, how many times can you push riders in the fence and expect to get away with it, Greg was wrong but not without good reason. If it finally makes him think again before making a move then it's job done., rather that than next time out somebody gives pedersen a good old shove down the back straight and he's in the fence. That would be getting even. Scott never got a ban so with gregs history I expect the same, I was at Coventry when Wayne Carter and pedersen started, he on the track is a complete liability towards other riders if it's not going his way. A lot of riders have respect and time for Greg, most wouldn't pee on pedersen if he was on fire. The powers that be need to step in and get them all together before the next GP.

It is comical reading some posts on here, a bad meeting and its get the rider out, Hans is doing ok, not great but I rather have him than anybody else who could fit in. Forget all his good rides and just concentrate on the bad stuff, that's what the forums about isn't it. Sticking the knife in. Unfortunately the new system means the top guys meet each other ever race nearly, somebody has to score 1 or 0 I think it's ridiculous the criticism Hans gets. On Monday night he showed true commitment to Coventry in heat 15, he was waiting and ready to race in awful conditions, yeah the result didn't go his way but he was out there way before the rest. He could have said no thanks but credit him and the others in that heat as they wouldn't have been able to see only a few yards in front of them . Hans could have a Bee, Robin, Or anything on his race suit !! it's his living, doing something he loves so give the man some respect.

I haven't been to the stock cars for years, keep meaning to go but it's one of those where you read about it and say must go next month. I used to love the noise and seeing all those cars on track with the better drivers trying to come through the field. Speedway has a lost generation in my opinion, it will hit if we get that far in say 10-15 years. It's mainly older folk or parents who bring there kids at present, I am 36 and I enjoy most sports but the alarming thing is that in the past 10 years or so 90% of sports have improved the "show" football, rugby, snooker, cricket, darts.. They have gained pulling power where domestic speedway has shoved dynamite up its backside and sat on it. Old school beliefs with old school behaviours, no vision for the future or even the good of the sport, when riders are trying to find ways of running meetings (Rory) then what's that say about the sport we love. Mr Sandhu walked away because of the way speedway is run, fans have left in there thousands this past decade or so because of the way speedway is run. The way it goes is we butter over it for a year, AGM time excuses come out and we wing it for 12 months. It's not about race nights, it would be a huge help but it's an easy get out to shift the issues. I don't think my great grand children will see speedway, not at a professional level anyway. It's a shame Sandhu walked away as if given the chance with the help of people who really know and love the sport like Rosco and especially Buster Chapman then they could have at least tried to revamp the sport, it's 4 bikes and an oval track, that hasn't changed... The show, the entertainment, drama ..!!!!! Daydream over ....

He does come across well on TV and interviews he gives in the speedway star are always a good read. I think he has a future in TV if he wants it but I do agree that he is perfect for a role in the future generations but his feelings about the governing bodies and not riding for team GB does cast doubt over this. As a Coventry fan obviously we have a huge amount to thank Scott Nicholls for, he is in our history books as our most successful captain. He always gets a great reception when he returns. Would be interesting though who would be most well thought off at the end of there careers, Scotty or Chris Harris ??

Good old teletext, waiting for 7-8 pages to go round. Awaiting the result and if lucky the top scorer. Flicking between BBC and ITV teletext. Here in coventry we used to have Tom Wadrop who did a radio report at 10 so that was the back-up. Don't realise how lucky we are now with updates on the website and interaction on twitter with the riders. The negative is such as Holders crash Friday when news spreads like wildfire. Darcy was on the phone non stop after the crash luckily.

It does look that the new generation of rider use the Air Fence as a rule to push the limits of speedway. Holder was unlucky on Friday, when riders crash into the air fence normally they try to let go of the bike, I think Harris is the best example, he doesn't want to be going into the fence with the bike. Had Holder gone into the fence at the speed he was going and the bike hadn't lifted the fence the bike could have done serious damage to chris. No matter what though it needs looking at because its such on Chris Holder, lets hope he comes back better and stronger.

It is a shame that the track is the talking point and if did look very sandy looking, although as others have pointed out that the 2007 was really rutty and made for intresting racing. Poole have suffered with there track recently and that's after work over the winter, not like Cardiff that has a handful of days. I am sure this will not happen again as any man made tracks will be under the spotlight after years of us just expecting an acceptable race track.

The presentation was great, the racing a complete lottery! Tai's crash was nasty and I thought he went in to fast and a copy cat crash with Pedersen but didn't have the air fence to bounce off this time. KK was really unlucky but hope he carries on this form for Coventry. Lindback and AJ are just making up the numbers and Gollob was a man "with his head in the shed". Bombers gating is getting as legendary as his 2007 win !! Not the best GP by far but still enjoyed watching it, I learned alittle about what actually goes on with a speedway bike after Scott Nicholls explanation. I thought Nicholls and the other guy were really good, funny but didn't go to far but I did think the comment about Scott being afraid of the dark was good and how Nicholls kept a straight face I don't know!! Also good to see Sophie back on screen. Be a shame if its just a 1 off.