StevePark

Hope Andy Tully is going to be OK after his spill during P&P today. Very impressed by Lewis Kerr. Attitude, equipment etc., is spot on. Looked smooth and quick on the bike as well.

Think you should change the time to 9 AM Dave. 9 PM might be a bit late!!! I'll try and get down this Sunday to help out, now that I'm getting the car fixed this Saturday.

Start as we mean to go on... winning trophies

Lewis Kerr announced as the seventh rider to complete the team. More here:- http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/news/article.asp?id=100104

He practiced at Leicester yesterday... so can't be thinking about retiring that hard.

This weeks Star says Sunday 11 August for the Test Match between Team GB and Australia. Also this weeks Star says that (basically), Newcastle are awaiting a fitness report from Jason King, before any decisions (by both parties I presume) are made. They obviously want him to ride somewhere before the season starts.

I thought Rachel did the music at Brough these days?

It's OK.... According to the man himself he doesn't go on the Forums!!! (At least that is what he tells us in his prog notes, on more than one occasion).

1994. Quality a bit poor but it'll have to do! http://speedwayondis...yker-grove.html

Gulf Oil sponsored Edinburgh, many moons ago. Lada sponsored both Hull and Newcastle in the 80's. Newcastle were also sponsored by Federation Brewery in the 80's. Duckhams Oils sponsored Barrow in the 70's (when the were the Happy Faces). I'm sure there are plenty of others!

'Just' injured. May have been a time when he was 'between clubs' but not for very long.

Do the Stock Cars not play a big part in it too?

I am presuming that both Wolves and Ricky Wells are happy with the deal they have struck for him to ride for the EL club. I also presume that Wolves realise the consequences of Wells not signing for Sheffield (or any other PL team), so why on earth would they offer a cash incentive (i.e more £££ than they have already done a deal on), just so they can suppliment his income of riding PL? It's surely not up to other clubs to suppliment a riders' income? It's surely up to each club to do a deal with each rider separately?

The simple answer to that is, IF he's not entirely happy with the deal, is not to sign in the first place?

Ned was certainly based in Darlington last season.

So.... That'll be a great chance for all those slagging Richard Hall off on here.... to do it to his face!

Presumably in the (unlikely) hope he might agree to sign? If they don't ask, they won't know.

Of course, Benji might be just looking at NL, rather than PL, although, I have to admit, I haven't read the article in the Star.

Hadn't noticed that! Well spotted!!

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/speedway/i-m-not-greedy-says-track-ace-1-5266952

Depends on what is meant by 'biggest deal'. It may not mean financially (not saying it is, or it isn't, as I don't know). Fans were crying out for an out-and-out number one. They have (potentally) got that, but at a cost to the rest of the team by the looks of it (as you point out). I don't think you can have it both ways in the current financial climate. On the Ricky Wells point. I believe all riders are meant to have taken a cut on what they earned per point last year. Wells won't be the only one dissapointed.

If the finances are not there in the first place, how can they spend 'big'? If you 'over spend' you run the risk of not running at all the following year, surely? It's not like 'the old days' anymore. Simply put - The promoters haven't got the money they used to have, the fans haven't got the money they used to have, the sponsors haven't got the money they used to have. Every promoter has to build their team within a budget. Some will have a bigger budget than others, that has never changed.

Only two announced so far, Richie and Ben Barker. Expect names announced one by one and over a period of time. That's the way it's usually done. It should be a decent field, but, to be honest, people who can, should support it anyway, as it gives valuable support to injured riders.

Keep posting under all those aliases, my 'friend'. Meanwhile - back on thread - are Redcar close to announcing their final rider?

And so, here is my invitation to you. Either PM me with who you are, or, come up to see me at Brough (or any away track I might be at when you are there, maybe Berwick, if you are there every week) and introduce yourself.