bluebee

Zagar superb tonight. Like the rider I saw at Brandon in years past. Doyle almost imperious. Good meeting and some good hard riding from both sides. Nice to see Brennon and Hume giving it a good go - both riders look promising. Surprise appearance of the night - the Ermolemko mullet! And the track again was very good although I know some on this thread would have been disappointed not to see a nice blue groove like they are used to.

Have you just found out?

Shocked as many are here. He was en enthusiastic commentator but more importantly a well liked representative for the armchair fan, and an affable personality who skillfully showcased the sport for to a wide range of spectators. Never met him but if I had I would have expected him to be the same genuine and pleasant personality that he portrayed on screen. Speedway has lost a close friend. My thoughts for his family - they have lost a man who was a very welcome guest in many homes. RIP Nigel you will be greatly missed - Wind it on!

Wish I could attend - missed out on tickets for the opener - but I will be coming later in the season as many times as I can. Must keep Oxford going and for any of you who might have missed it go to the Brandon Update thread and GET YOUR EMAIL OFF!!!

I've sent in my email. If Oxford can come back so can Brandon. I've moved out of the area (nearer to Oxford now!) but would still travel to attend some meetings throughout the season. I suggest a link in other topic areas to get as many people noticing as possible.

I understand. I supported Reading when I lived there and Coventry again when I moved back to the Midlands. It's always hard summoning up the enthusiasm to go to another track but I'm glad I did. I can appreciate how you feel about Jordan as I felt pretty much the same about some involved in the demise of Brandon. However, going to Leicester reminded that a promotion can be welcoming and that there is something about the mix of fans that is good as well- , that it still has some connection with its working class roots and being a bit quaintly old-fashioned is a good antidote to the hyper-real presentation of other sports. It may be that this can actually be a selling point, I don;t know. I do hope you go again. As El Addio has said there is something magical about a good live speedway match.

We have Oxford back. Newcastle and Birmingham are still running. It's important we don't talk the sport down. Times are tough and money is tight but speedway is still a reasonable option in these times. It's not as expensive as football and some other sports. I just hope that the promoters think about this and give value for money - decent tracks, promptly run meetings, some s smiling faces when I buy a programme or a drink - and no last minute cancellations. Oh and have a word with the riders about making sure they turn up properly prepared. I personally cannot understand why people on this forum don't attend meetings. This is a speedway forum after all!

I wish the people involved with the work to return speedway all the best. It must be hard to stay positive when it appears the odds are stacked against you. However, as it has been said, Oxford's revival is a beacon pf optimism. I have lost the two tracks I supported - Coventry and Reading - an I feel fortunate that having moved into the area I will be able to see speedway again on a regular basis. For that I have to thank those whose hard work and persistence hard got Oxford back when it looked t as if they were lost for ever. I am still hoping that speedway will return to Coventry, though I think at Reading i it s very unlikely. Those who denigrate the efforts of the ones who work hard to keep speedway going are the sad ones.

Well decent looking team, 'big names' involved, feelgood factor in it being a phoenix for the ashes, this should mean an excellent start to the season. However, it will need serious and sensible heads to build on this foundation and I hope that is going to be the case. The quality of the racing on offer (and that doesn't mean a home win every match) will be important. The race night has to run smoothly, the riders need to turn up regularly and they need to get the supporters feeling valued. Last season I went to Leicester and I felt it was well run and the people involved were friendly and helpful - I am sure it's not the only club like that. Oxford would do well to look at the clubs that have retained their support and take some lessons. Oxford needs to be a success for the whole sport not just one city. Speedway needs a good story for next season after the problems it has had recently. I'm looking forward to being a fan again!

Thanks Skidder!. I aim to be there as often as I can.

Must admit I'm getting a wee bit excited abut the season in prospect. Supported Leicester last season but now moved to Chippy not far from Oxford so farewell Lions and here I come for the Cheetahs. I really hope the support will be there over the season. The team building looks good and should be rewarded. Just two questions from me. 1. Will there be an Oxford website soon? What is the planned racing night? Would be great if Oxford was a success and was followed by a return of my beloved Coventry Bees. And Swindon and Eastbourne of course.

Shame. Shamek was such an exciting youngster. Thanks for the info Henry. It goes to show that talent alone is no guarantee of success at the highest level. Still, he and his brother have made longish careers in the sport at a pretty good level.

Ryan Fisher a future world champion? Much as I liked him when he road for the Bees I never heard that claimed for him. Maybe crashing his van at a testimonial meeting at Brandon but paid to that. Certainly a champion character! Also was David Howe that highly rated when he was young? Rated as a good prospect but a world champion? Maybe I'm wrong. Saw him at Cardiff and was well off the pace.

Just been passing the time watching some YouTube videos (thank you Clean Cut Sports!) and particularly enjoyed the precocious talents of a young Przemysław Pawlicki . The commentator observes that he was certainly a future world champion in the making. What happened to the exceptional Shamek? Why didn't he even make the GPs? I've looked of Wikipedia and it only goes up to 2010 in his case. I know his brother has been making a name for himself. Also what other riders at a young age were considered future champions? I don't mean the great riders like Leigh Adams who just didn't make top spot but the shining lights who suddenly faded out of sight - I am sure injuries accounted for some unfortunately.

Great to see the Brummies carry on (wish I could see another Midlands side returning - Coventry). I wish you all the best for the coming season. I do feel that good riders might be in short supply and this could affect the Brummies team. If that's the case, and the side is not top quality I do hope that this won't deter the fans. It's also very good news to hear of track work - competitive racing is a must if the sport is to survive. Merry Christmas to all and I look forward to seeing a Brummies team racing at Oxford (just moved nearby - great timing!).

Well I am pleased to read this after all the despondency on Estbourne threads. I hope that there is no carry over of ill feeling when the new management get going. After a worrying season at least there are some faint of signs of recovery in speedway's prospects. With Newcastle running and the revival of Oxford on the cards, speedway moves on. Fingers crossed for the Brummies and I still hope - probably vainly - for my beloved Bees to return. I do hope the BSPA can make sensible decisions for the future. Cots need to be reasonable and there needs to be a concerted effort to develop home riders - all promoters need to pull together for the benefit of the sport. Perhaps the problems we've had this season might focus a few minds - I hope so.

It was OK but we were definitely spoilt by the racing on Monday. There was not enough on the outside for a consistent passing line and the inside line was strong throughout. However, the best riders made something of the track. Tatum thought at the beginning that the outside was going to develop later in the meeting so the track had been prepared for racing.

If only there were more ready to underpin it with cash! What tonight showed was that close meetings with racing that's not first from the gate will attract the fans. I can honestly say t of hat the meetings I have attended this season very few, if any, were like this. Speedway has the home advantage problem - if only more were like Belle Vue and to some extent the Showground. I hope Lynn and Ipswich do better next season as well. There needs to be persistent competition throughout the season I fear that we're going to have a riser shortage next season and that may create further problems - we've seen clubs struggle with rider demands this season. I do hope the powers that control the sport take a rational view. This final has shown us what a great sport speedway can be.

Hope Bewley stays in British speedway. He may not be the best team rider but he is a fantastic racer.

Well at least they turned up! Not the case for many teams this year.

Well done Peterborough! C commiserations to Aces. But the absolute winner is speedway. Fantastic two matches to end the season. If only this level of speedway could be at every match the the sport wouldn't be in the trouble it is in.

Hope trhis makes Eurosport rate speedway as a spectacle. Needs to be promoted. Wish every track was as good and fair as Belle Vue

The fat lady hasn't sung yet!!!! Reckon it could set it up nicely for Thursday.

Thanks Iris. I think I'll file that picture along with the pictures I have of the Reading Racino or the jetpacks they said we would all have on Tomorrow's World

Sorry must go now. Interesting debate and some could points made by you all. Hope the same level of rational debate can be held in more influential circles.