Wee Eck

I assume it’s Andy Meredith, track curator at the NSS? I gather he’s been helping Glasgow for some time now. TBH Glasgow’s track has been consistently better than Poole’s for some time now although Poole’s has been a bit smoother, and for some that means better, these last couple of years. I like them both - Glasgow is fast and suited to riders who enjoy fence scraping, hence why Bomber and Basso score well there. Poole’s is an old fashioned track - it can be rough and inconsistent but, if the opposition are up for a fight, can make for really exciting speedway. I prefer that sort of track to the Polish bowls which tend to be all about speed over technique.

Are you hinting at something?! I can’t make up my mind as to which would be stronger, as they are or Newman at 2 and Rowe at reserve. Indeed, would it make any difference?

I agree. And yet some still do

I was thinking more of representing GB in FIM or FIME events in Europe rather than a challenge match in Scotland. So when did he last represent GB in Europe or has he never been asked and has always been overlooked?

Most, if not all sports have drug testing. Much of it random and unannounced. Many carry out “out of competition” testing. Only if there is a positive or suspected positive result is anything publicised. To do so would involve daily meaningless bulletins. Why should speedway be different? It is not a secret that drug testing takes place in speedway, both in the UK and elsewhere so what purpose would be served making details of negative tests public? As I understand it, testing is carried out by an independent organisation so, at a guess, even SCB members won’t know when and where though it’s likely they will be informed of the details after the event.

From his FB post, I’d say Wright wanted to be in the GB squad. But some have suggested his unwillingness to take part in other events involving GB has gone against him. That might be wrong but when did he last represent GB?

Even for you, that’s a mad one. You don’t like Poole. We know that. You think it’s funny misspelling the name. We know that. But to put something positive on a thread that involves Poole about a retired rider who rode for Rye House, juniors and seniors, Mildenhall, Eastbourne, Coventry, Swindon, Berwick, Lakeside, Ipswich and Plymouth (I’ve probably missed one or two) as well as Birmingham and Poole seems as if your final marble has been lost. Please revert to type and start being rude about Poole again. You being positive is just not normal

It is surely a natural reaction in a competitive situation? Fans don’t cheer crashes, just individual fallers when it’s an opposition rider. And rarely, if ever, if it’s a heavy fall. The same fans will also be the ones who applaud a fallen rider when he gets back on his feet.

My recollection was as someone else has said - the ban starts when he pays the two grand fine. Which he’s never going to now after what must be over 15 years away from the sport.

Protocol should be that his own federation, Motorcycle Australia, suspends his licence meaning he can’t ride anywhere

When would they practice?

I’m more of a neutral these days but I think Poole does provide exciting racing. I accept I’m old school, but I don’t find the fast Polish bowls exciting as it’s all speed. And I know I’ll get slaughtered for saying this, but the NSS - to me - is the same. There may well be passing but everyone is well spaced out. I prefer a track where success requires skill and aggression not just speed. If you look back to the Holder and Ward era, the track was probably as bad as it could be and yet the racing was hugely exciting. Glasgow, of course, is another exciting track these days and it was a huge surprise that they gave in so easily. 6 out of 7 riders should have done better. The only one who could hold his head up was Ace Pjiper. Was he also the only one who hadn’t been there before? If so, perhaps the others were beaten before they started, the manager included?

Yup. Same shape and everything…….

Other than 2011, Glasgow under Dickson weren’t very good. Perhaps he lacked support when it came to team building?

Tigers to win 63-27 and the Glasgow faithful to claim it was a great meeting!

72-18 is technically possible.

That’s better - it didn’t take long for Blobby to revert to type, defending the indefensible. 5 Monarchs scored 18 points between them because that’s all Glasgow allowed them. How much better did you want or expect Glasgow to be? Armadale is never an easy track for visitors and much has been made of Nowak’s dislike of small tracks but he scored the same as the Monarch’s second highest scorer so why diminish his efforts?

What do you know that no one else seems to?

100% agree. How dare business owners try to protect their own businesses? Especially when these businesses are already struggling. They should just let anyone in who wants to join, regardless of whether or not they can afford it. And bring back rider allocation. That was such a huge success. Or would have been had promoters not fought to hang on to their best riders. As Greta Thunberg never said, how dare they? PS Can I take my tongue out of my cheek now?!

Out of curiosity, what other word would you suggest was used? I don’t think that “ask” is suitable as, from PC’s reaction alone, it is clear it wasn’t a request.

Good prediction!

I am aware what PC said in his book. I am also aware of what was demanded of Chris Morton and David Gordon. And the steps taken by Chris, the late and much missed Steve Casey and others, including Ian Corcoran, to reach an accord with PC. Don’t forget that this is the same PC who claimed that he was involved in the design of the track at the NSS, having been consulted by Chris Morton when the complete opposite was the case. The truth and PC’s recollections are at odds here too.

I would guess that was by choice

Where has anyone said that Barry Ayres or any other ex Belle Vue speedway rider has to pay to get in? The previous promotion at Belle Vue refused PC’s 100+ list of people he demanded had permanent passes. Instead, they said that any former BV rider just needed to call in advance and they’d be admitted free of charge. I gather the same invitation is extended by the current promotion. Part of the reason for this is that stadium entry is tightly monitored by Manchester City Council under the (dreaded) health and safety rules, so no one gets into the stands without having a ticket, even one issued free of charge.

Who is 30p Lee?