Gemini

I can't understand why people who really object to the commentary don't just do that - well without the bike noise. I mean we don't normally get details of what's going on during the race when we are at a speedway meeting....unless you happen to be a Coventry fan of course.

Yes that would have been us Rich - shame you didn't come and say 'Hello'. Both the dogs absolutely love cycle speedway but unfortunately we have to make sure the eldest one doesn't see the starts as for some reason she finds that really exciting. I dreaded every re-run heat.

Entertaining meeting today with a good crowd but surprised hardly any of the veterans were in their usual place - only spotted one. Where were they all? The racing in the second semi final was a lot better than the first one and the final was brilliant but unfortunately we had to leave at the interval as hubby is going to the speedway tonight and I had to get dinner ready first. Didn't see any of the 20 heat girls racing as we had to take the dogs for a walk while that was on. Got to get my priorities right. Well done to speedway riders Magnus Karlsson, Tai Woffinden and Ashley Birks for making an appearance and supporting the occasion.

I agree. There have been some really nasty posts on here lately which completely go against the 'attack the post and not the poster' rules. Robert I think you should just refrain from saying anything else about the track because everyone knows by now how you feel. You won't change anything and it just gets boring reading the same comments over and over again....and that's from someone who is on your side.

I like Nigel and his commentary doesn't bother me one way or the other, but I am getting a bit fed up of him continually saying the fourth rider 'is trailing at the back' when often he isn't. Trailing at the back to me means quite a way behind the other 3 riders not hot on the heels of the rider in third place and sometimes catching him a few seconds later.

I think you are right there John. Doesn't matter if it is Elite, Premier or National League they'll be some exciting races, some average and some strung out. Watching Chris Harris at Coventry in full flow, picking off riders from the back, is worth the admission money alone for me and I missed him last season. Now with him, Scott and Eddie back who are all racers I'm really happy with the Bees team this season - when they ever get back on track that is after all the rain lately. I've not watched any Polish meetings but gather from comments on here that, despite all the top riders being there, the racing is not any more spectacular than over here. Just that there are more fans which make for a better atmosphere. I used to like the racing at Oxford but of the present day tracks I think Peterborough is my favourite.

I've noticed one thing about you if it's wrong that you're too scary to be approached (note the smiley face!) - you are definitely lacking a sense of humour. Try lightening up a bit because it's not supposed to be a battle. We're all speedway fans who love the sport no matter where we decide to watch it. Ah... thanks for that. At least both names began with an 'M' so I wasn't far out. So was this the same night that the Invaders just rode round for 5-0's or was it another time when Ove and his wife were there and the meeting got called off? I agree the facilities weren't very good but I was quite happy standing on that bank overlooking the pits. Happy days.

Perhaps you look too scary to be approached. Anyway, I can't be bothered with all this stupid and childish Leicester is/will be brilliant and Coventry is awful racing with unfriendly fans but feel free to carry on if it makes you happy. It is a forum afterall. John...... I loved going to Long Eaton. You say it's a pity the amenities and comfort were zero but to me that didn't matter because like you say there was some fantastic racing. I'd much rather have a brilliant track for racing and watch from a grass bank than have a grandstand and good amenities but a rubbish track. Mind you they did make mistakes sometimes. I don't know if you were at the Long Eaton v Middlesborough match? It was a lovely Summer's day in June (but don't know the year) when the track was overwatered and Middlesborough refused to ride so Long Eaton just rode round for 5-0's in every race. My memory being what it is I could have this wrong and it was another occasion when the track was overwatered. I know Ove Fundin and his wife were there as special guests so I think it was pretty embarrassing all round.

Too many people getting in free, with a cup of tea and a few custard cream biscuits at the interval, just for pulling a bit of shale around all night. Actually with the so called 'Wonder Wheel' doing the job I don't think they are needed any more - at Coventry anyway? Also haven't I read somewhere that it makes the track more dangerous to rake the shale back to the inside so it's like riding on marbles?

Do you think I'd make a 50 mile round trip for the past 29 years if it was poor racing all the time? I'm really not that stupid but you're clearly so biased there's not much point in me saying anything else. My pet hate - fans who are so biased towards their own team they can't see anyone else's point of view. I'm just a speedway fan first and foremost and a Coventry fan very much second.

Perhaps me because I'd seen a letter in the Mercury from a group of fans about this subject, but I was only told to 'ask him yourself' so I very much doubt if you will get an answer on here. When Chris Popple did his charity speedway ride against Chris Simpson for the Diabetes Society I didn't have to ask him myself how much he raised because it was all above board and there was a photo in the Mercury of him handing the cheque over. Surely it would have been good publicity for Leicester Speedway to be seen giving a cheque to the Air Ambulance but it all seems to have been done on the quiet......if it ever was handed over of course.

And there again the written word gets misunderstood. What I meant was I will be 72 in a couple of months time so who knows if I will be around in 5 or 10 years time. And how very dare you call me a casual fan! I have been going to the speedway since I was 8 and started going to Coventry after Leicester shut in 1983, whereas a lot of Lions fans wouldn't set foot in the place. I loved speedway so I did - that's a real fan. TMW.............. Perhaps when you reach retiring age you will be a bit more sympathetic and realize you don't have a lot of money to throw around. If you have been watching speedway for 28 years at one track then another opens but offers poorer racing would you still pay out another £15 from your pension because it will help towards track changes? How do I know my money would go towards this? There is still a lot of mystery surrounding what happened to the 50% takings from the 2011 press and practice session where everyone was charged £5 to watch. It was supposed to be for the Air Ambulance but has anyone any knowledge of this being handed over?

Some of us might not be around in 5 to 10 years time so I'd prefer a bit of urgency rather than patience.

Ah.....that sounds good. I wouldn't like anyone to think I'm being deliberately negative because I'm not and I don't think I've said anything too bad since they've opened, just what a lot of others are saying - the track appears to be the wrong shape to encourage exciting racing. Fans are obviously going to vote with their feet if they're not being entertained, which by the sounds of it they already are. It's all very well David asking folk to bring people along but they're not going to go again if the racing is processional.

What am I? I'm obviously wrong in thinking that I'm quite diplomatic when I post in any Leicester thread, but even when trying to make a jokey comment some people seem to take it the wrong way so it's not really worth saying anything at all. Anyway welcome to our exclusive club.

Well done Rich. It's a tough sport so good luck with your training and future career.

He probably doesn't. They've got their own weird language once you go over the border to Scotland.

Any comments on the meeting?

Nothing extra will be done now Yorkscorp. Kevin Doolan says it's okay and convinced the management that it's one of the best racing tracks in the country so that's it.

Don't get that bit. Anyway, why are you picking me out from all the comments that have been made? I thought I'd been quite diplomatic. Regarding Glasgow though could this be the same scenario happening at Leicester in a couple of years time? Carry on as we are and if the racing continues to be virtually non-existent even the most enthusiastic fan who has stuck with it will get fed up? Difficult situation.

Don't know whether I dare comment or not because anything negative about the Leicester track is not viewed very favourably by the natives. Personally I think the damage has already been done now and it's very hard to get people to return once they've stopped going because of poor racing. There was a chance during the Winter to put things right but it was not used and Glyn Taylor got the chop for saying on here that the track was going to be altered when obviously nothing was going to be done. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how the season progresses to find out if Mr Hemsley is right or not.

With no brakes?

I'm pretty sure Leicester had loads of teams in the late 50's/60's - around twelve or thirteen? When I was 13 my first boyfriend rode for the Syston Foxes. Blimey! So long ago. Nowadays there is just one left - the Leicester Monarchs - previous club of the speedway promoter David Hemsley.

Only 6 Elite League meetings still doesn't seem like many in a March to the end of October season. Are East Park (?) Wolverhampton still riding?

Cycle Speedway doesn't look very healthy at the moment unless I'm misunderstanding the fixture list. I mean are there really only two meetings at Leicester from April to September? Also what's happening with the Premier League now Hull and Southampton have pulled out?