salty

Accept your points, but still feel in the case of the Supreme Court judgement that good common sense had left the building. If I recall correctly, there was mention that having won the original ruling the case presented by the Stadium owners solicitors at the Supreme Court was somewhat less than robust? Maybe somebody with more knowledge can elaborate? As you say - a precedent has now been set and it might lead the way for other cases of a similar nature.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day!

Yes OK you made that point before and you are quite right. But - apart from that - do you not agree she made a couple of very valid points??

True. If I remember rightly if they were to rebuild then there would be an injunction come into force causing motor sport events to cease. Utter madness. The law truly is an ass. The Lioness post above sums it up for me.

Bigger draw back than the lack of the GP top boys, is, in my opinion, the regular absence of the current contracted riders. All well and good for Leicester and Eastbourne to want to run on Saturday nights, but how often are they able to run without wholesale changes due to clashes with international events? A set race day (say Monday) would be a tough step to take, but I think in the long term it is the only way forward.

Didn't go, so confined to watching on TV. I thought the event came across really well and Jason Crump, in particular, was excellent, showing a real professionals insight. Streets ahead of anyone else who has filled that role imo.

Not a chance. The Newcastle team was effectively 6 heat leaders plus one other. Best at that level IMO.

I think Kevin suffered from riding at Poole when they were struggling financially in the early 80's. Looked very promising in 1980/81, but then seemed to stagnate. If I remember didn't he even take a break from the sport in 1984 which was the last one for the Pirates in the top division? Can remember him riding in the NL for the Wildcats but was still surprised he retired when he did.

Good to see you back, albeit briefly. Don't know why you left, but I would agree with TWK in this case. Hope the gig going is still mounting up. As for music Cradley had 2 pieces that I remember, unfortunately though I can hear them in my head I don't know the names. In the 70's it was a march (an RAF one I think). In the 80's it was a more modern piece that ITV also used for their Big Match and Midweek Sports Special intro. Edit: after a wee google.... 70's was the RAF March Past, followed in the 80's by The Big Match music which was by Jeff Wayne and called Jubilation. Not sure if that continued through to the closure in 1995 though.

Totally agree. We had a house full of guests watching the days sport. The All Blacks match was held at the state of the art covered stadium in Dunedin which cost upwards of €200 NZ. Far better stadium and atmosphere than "tatty" Mallilla. On to Lords for the cricket and again Speedway doesn't compare well. We all felt the home of cricket added to a far greater sense of occasion than the rural setting for the speedway. On to the World Cup and matches for this were held at Belo Horizonte, Recife, Manaus and Fortaleza in stadiums that cost approximately £600 million to build and renovate. All 4 stadiums looked aesthetically more pleasing than the open stands in Sweden and again showed Speedway in a relatively poor light. Unfortunately, we were too busy moaning about the shabby appearance and lack of comparable atmosphere to watch the racing. Was it any good? Back in the old days we used to get 90,000 at Wembley, time for BSI to pull their finger out.

At least we're now talking part in these competitions. A few years ago we weren't. Good to see that there now seems some realisation that this is exactly the sort of experience the lads need.

To read the BBC report it would seem that it clears the way for the football club to move in, but as you say, that is a skewed view of what the report actually says.

As I mentioned in an earlier post Dag does suffer from a back condition caused by a racing accident. Clearly the OP has Dag right when he talks about Newcastle, Oxford and the World Pairs meetings alongside Reider Eide. Rolf's accident (if I recall the same weekend that Penhall won at Wembley) was some 5 years after Dag retired.

The vibe I'm hearing is that Hills are to continue pouring money into the Derby next year.

Funny you should use the word trivial on a thread about whether the Speedway Star used to put a "g" next to a guests name in their match reports. Just saying like.....

If I remember rightly Dag stuck with a 2 valve Jap in 1975 at Oxford and in 1976 at White City. With most other riders on 4 valves that would certainly have put him at a disadvantage around the big White City track which would account for his slump in average from 10 plus at Oxford. Never broke a bone either I don't think (in reply to the OP), but suffers from a bad back after Reider Eide stuffed him into the fence at Newport.

Sad news. RIP "Super" Simmo.

Was one of my favourite riders in the 70's. Can't think why to be honest, he wasn't particularly spectacular, but I followed him from his tough first season at Brough Park to his breakthrough as a heat leader at Reading. Was a big fan of his brother Ulf who had a short spell as a Heathen in 1974 and was a silver cloud in a very dire year.

Horrible advert for the sport. Some compensation in that Matej popped his GP cherry (as he put it). Hope he can kick on and nab a few more.

According to this weeks Speedway Star, Heather McNeilly said she was phoned by Jarno Kosonen back in February and asked to do the meeting. Her family are long time friends of Jarno's apparently.

Really sad to hear this! Loved watching Simmo around Plough Lane when I moved to London in 1981 and his visits to Dudley Wood in the 60's and 70's. I've also enjoyed reading his book and column in Backtrack. Best wishes Simmo.

Really disappointing to see that only Adam Ellis has travelled to these qualifiers. I suppose we should be grateful that we have one on home soil. I know they are costly events to travel to for the riders, but surely there should be some sort of assistance to the riders as the experience gained is invaluable.

Forgive me if I've missed this on another thread, but did GB give up one of their places in the qualifiers. I thought Kyle Howarth was supposed to go to Italy? Also anyone know why Garrity wasn't given a slot after his performance in the British Under 21 Final? Did he decide not to do the qualifiers again? If so, it is sad that our youngsters aren't getting this vital experience.

Clearly it's all gone to pot since Rosco took over. Bring back Middlo!!!

Sad news. RIP Tony.