TonyE

There is a bit of irony in evidence here!

No doubt your guests will be track specialists!

Consider the 3 League Points a gift from the Lakeside promotion!

Hopefully, the weather will not win this one and the Hammers will prevail.

Seconds out - Round Two.

Perhaps the initial £300 was the maximum the referee on the night could impose. If that was the case, then the use of a multiplier to illustrate the later fine as excessive does not really apply.

Seems like the 'authorities' have come down like a pile of bricks on Mr Hemsley what with the fines and costs etc. What now for Leicester?

And it is even better when the Sky Co-ordinator doesn't get a chance to interfere! See the Club's website for how the track looked after the heavy downpour earlier on race day.

There was a reason Lakeside were happy not to have him back this year. Totally failed to deliver on his potential.

To all the keyboard warriors - I was there and, whilst the crowd was well down on the usual, it was certainly a lot more than one man and his dog. The crowd has always been quite spread out at Arena and that was the case tonight. Sky meetings nearly always result in lower attendances, off race night, half term break, almost Winterish weather will all have played their part. Some very good racing on a track that was probably under water yesterday - big plaudits to the track staff for getting it to the state where entertaining racing was possible. Good to see Stuart Douglas managed to get to see his boys.

Commentating - his Sky duties take priority.

Agreed, VOR does seem to be a bit of an oxymoron.

Second Sky match in 3 days, this one has all the makings of a classic encounter and, hopefully, will provide some excellent racing for us to enjoy. Lewis Bridger moves to reserve for this one with Lewis Kerr moving into the top 5. Hammers should get the win but not by that much.

OK -maybe I should not have used the word 'concept' - likelihood would have been more appropriate. There was discussion on at least one forum concerning his use in the home meeting instead of R/R. You cannot blame a team for maximising their chances of success - it has been done to the Hammers on numerous occasions.

I agree with El Addio, had Starke been riding Lakeside would not have won (or even drawn).

I believe the concept was that the likes of Dennis could step in to replace a missing 'second string' (hence the 4 point assessed average). Kim is averaging 8.38 around Arena this year so why replace him with a 4 pointer!

Got to feel for the Lions tonight but the Hammers (Rob Mear apart) were in awesome form and, in the main, electric out of the gate.

Craig Cook (for Kim Nilsson) guests for the Hammers who should definitely get something out of this fixture.

The team changes will make little difference to the Hammers and a comfortable home win is expected.

Proves just what a farce the EDR scheme is.

Absolutely true - cannot argue with that. Perhaps you could lobby Sky re not interfering with normal track preparation.

That is your problem if you have only ever watched Lakeside on TV - TV means Sky means track preparation interference and, usually, an uninspiring ( compared to the norm), racing surface. In the opinion of many other posters on this thread, they quite enjoyed the experience notwithstanding Mr Russell's antics with the surface. You have made your point - no need to dig any deeper!

Those two tracks, as indeed are many others, are limited by their physical location i.e. inside another racing circuit. Given a blank canvas, it is most likely both promotions would opt for a bigger racing circuit but, at the moment at least, it is work with what you have or have nothing at all. You have already expressed your views on the Lakeside track based on Wednesday's TV meeting which, if you had paid attention, included Andreas Jonsson saying the track was nothing like it usually is. I have seen duff meetings at tracks of varying sizes and many an excellent meeting at Arena Essex. PS I have been to Stoke and it was memorable for there being no track grading or rakers for the entire 15 heats!

The point being that some differ with your opinion!