salty

Good second by the Gaffer - not so useless! The Russian fightback begins. Loved Brandon's response to Cieslak saying there should be a reserve "that's not possible". Why?

When it's a televised meeting the ref has diddly squat to do with whether the meeting goes ahead. That goes down to the meeting steward who is there to do Russell's bidding, in other words do everything to keep Sky happy. You can't blame Sky for the continual farces but you can blame Russell. His determination to keep the TV boys happy has resulted in some shocking meetings, tracks and decisions in the past few years, and why we are saddled with Ronnie - the Man with the Sadim touch.

I would say that the one thing Darcy has learned whilst off a bike is to say "I've learned a lot".

Only lost out on a point. Hardly worth the reaction of the crowd laughing their legs off. Someone near Pearson sounded like he was going to explode.

The Heat 10 rule causes more problems than it solves. Every week when it starts raining Pearson starts banging on about getting to Heat 10. Obviously the team winning wants to get to that mark, whilst the team losing wants it off. At least tonight there would have been no prospect of reaching Heat 15 and we would have been saved yet another nail in the sports coffin. Pathetic from the officials yet again. Time after time it seems the demands of Sky are put before every other consideration. What and why is Ronnie Russell always there? He reminds of that character Zelig.

Would have a lot more sympathy for Cook's views if he was a newcomer to the sport, rather than someone who has been at the centre of the BSPA's decision making process for the past few years. Last night's meeting at Lakeside a good example of what a shambles the sport has become.

Of course there isn't it - and Poole wouldn't get a facility if they didn't have a valid medical certificate. The only thing we as punters can do is walk away - and thousands have. The rule book has always been manipulated, but I think the few remaining speedway followers are now more clued up than they used to be about the various abuses. The "fit to ride the big Polish tracks, but not the tight British ones" is a fairly new manipulation though that seems to be gaining popularity.

Might not be, but it had a good go at winning that accolade.

Good to see the place smartened up and a very healthy crowd. Racing was entertaining and good to see Compton riding well. Hasn't been a great start to the season on TV with some poor EL stuff, the Warsaw fiasco and the Pairs meetings been hit by the weather so was good to have a meeting that showed the sport in a positive light.

Used to be on finishing order in the previous years British Final, but so many riders turn down the opportunity, I think it just on nominations now. To be fair to Kyle he has always grasped the chance to do the qualifiers at junior level (afaik), so that may have been a factor. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/speedway/piratesnews/12919804.Speedway__Newman_selected_for_Gorican_GP_qualifier/

I've never known a rider spend so much time looking behind, or over his shoulder. Quite sad to see how much he has regressed in the past couple of years.

Doesn't say he agrees with the decision, he says he "respects" it.

Wonder if Phil has changed his viewpoint at all after last night's debacle.

Good post. Last night's shambles joins the other cities you mention in the GP "Hall of Shame". This latest fiasco does more damage because of the nature of the event and the crowd that had been attracted to the capital city. Is there any talk of recompense for the 50,000 who had to endure last night's rip off? I guess the argument is they saw 12 heats, but I'd be surprised if any of that massive crowd went away anything but disgusted.

If Scott Nicholls says "I have no idea" one more time I'm going to put my boot through the telly.

Did my eyes deceive me Haven't got replay where I'm watching, but that was awarded? Pretty sure it was just the start of lap 3 when Holder fell. Was Pedersen under power when the red lights came on?

Hadn't mentioned Botham. Prime example of an ex-player going into a new career which they are totally unsuited for.

Racing, greyhounds, both Rugby codes, cricket, baseball, golf, football.

At least now Nicholas spends large chunks of his year down under, which is good news for those of us who no longer use the words "golly" and "gosh". The current Sky team aren't too bad, with Bumble, Nasser and Athers having particularly good chemistry and Mikey having the best voice on TV. Nick Knight, however, has to be the dullest commentator ever.

No mention of the end of the previous season at all other than the body blows of a serious injury to Mike Lanham and Mark Coutney's transfer request. Just to re-iterate he (Rogers) says they moved into their new house at Oadby at the end of the '83 season and one of the first items of post they received was a letter from CO "telling us that Midland Sports were selling the Leicester stadium for redevelopment" Goes on to say when the story became public knowledge "there were those who nodded their heads and claimed they had known, or that we had known. Maybe they had. We definitely had not."

In Martin Rogers book he says the first he knew of anything happening with regard to Leicester was when he got a letter dropping on the mat. The grudge was to do that lack of warning and that even though CO knew that Rogers had moved home during the close season to be closer to Blackbird Road there was never an inkling that closure was imminent.

Got my copy today - I was worried I wouldn't get it until after Easter - and as good a read as ever. Really enjoyed the "Hazy Heroes" feature - some great memories and names there. However,...... a couple of questions. Surely Klaus Lohmann suffers from ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) not MS? The Halifax team pic on Page 45 names Graham Plant as standing between the Lohmann brothers. Would love to know who it is (Paul Sheard?), but I'm fairly certain it ain't Planty.

Interesting definition of the word "help". I would be careful Gustix, there is a guy on this forum who is always moaning about threads being taken off topic, you might fall foul of him.

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/11863958.Speedway__Ford_reveals_concerns_over_World_Speedway_League/ All about the money..

Any ideas why Poole pulled out? Surprising because last year Matt was effusive in his praise of the competition, calling it the "holy grail".