redlead

After last nights dismal display by Redcar, then Leicester are definitely favourites to take the 6th place.

Shocking performance by the Bears, yes Dyer and Skidmore were a little better than the rest, but a top score of 9, and only 5 heat wins between the team is very poor for a top of the table, play off chasing team. The track once again looked very good, even when it was getting wet, the big bump going into the 1st bend has gone and the track looked smooth. It seems the better the track the worse we ride it.

I can remember John Louis when he at Cleveland Park, Middlesbrough, He went through the match unbeaten,( I think he broke the track record), defended the Silver Helmet, broke the 3 lap track record, and won the second half, an awesome display, I don't remember any other rider dominating a meeting as he did that night.

Much prefer the Eurosport commentary to the shouty Sky coverage. I think Scotty does a much better job than Tattum who is out of touch. The difference between Sky and Eurosport is that Sky take their own cameras and crew, and Eurosport pick up the feed and add their own commentary. As to which is best overall, I'm just pleased to have speedway on tv.

Can't agree about the track, the bumps going into the 1st bend are getting worse, both wheels lifting, not good. I arrived at the track at 6-45, it was so dry dust was blowing off it. About 7 o clock, the "track man" watered the track going so far, then turning round leaving a big puddle about on the 30 yard mark. A 20 minute water is no where near enough when the track was as dry as it was (Glyn would start to water on the Wednesday weather dependent). Once the blue groove appeared it was over as racing track with only one line. Arron and Ossty must have been so frustrated not being able to make progress. As for the meeting, to win by 10 and yet come away so disappointed, and if rumours about the extra tyre is true then Redcar speedway is rapidly descending in to farce. Well done to Scunny for the fight back, and giving themselves a good chance of making the next round.

Can't agree about the track, although better than it has been, it was still very poor. For reasons known only to the track man, he went over gate one twice with the bowser, leaving it totally soaked, riders were starting on the inside curb! Also going into bend 1 was riding over a ploughed field, and so slick by the end. However I agree about the racing in the last few heats, it was the best we've seen at the STMP for a long time.

The promotion are working hard at promoting Berwick,but if they aren't producing a good product, ie speedway RACING, then support will drop off. The track at Redcar for the first match, was very slick and bumpy, for the next match it was better but still slick. Too many race reports on the updates of many matches, ftg, spaced out, features to often. On Saturday many heats were spaced out producing little excitement. I think there was only two or three over takes all night, if there's no passing close racing can raise excitement which is what speedway fans want, not spaced out processional races. This problem seems to occur at many tracks and unless something is done then more supporters will stop going to the speedway. Speedway It isn't a cheap night out for a family, and if people aren't getting their monies worth they will spend their money elsewhere.

A very unexpected but pleasing result for the Bears, everybody chipped in (except Mitchell)who get better, Wilco,Ostty, Arron, Skiddy,all did well, Matty looked a lot better, but Micky D was outstanding. The track looked very slick and racing mostly processional, apart from one or two passes. Heat 15 when Micky beat Alden who was on a max was awesome.

Bears were terrible, the track was worse, It's a poor excuse to say the bears were rusty as most of the team have ridden in the off season or have had several practices or matches. There was an inability to make a good start and on a very slick, dry and bumpy track, good starts were essential. There was few high spots for the bears, the two new Aussies seemed to get better as the night went on, one good gate by Kus were he looked good when winning, awful at the back. The biggest downer was of course the crash with Max and Wilco, hope both will be fit soon. Newcastle well deserved their win and look to be a very strong team, and might I suggest are stronger without Tully as all the team can take a ride.

Baloo would bring the bare nessesities, so may his equipment would be suspect,

Can anyone tell me if this meeting is available on dvd, and if so were I can get a copy, cheers.

The situation with reserves was abused by teams in previous years when reserves could only replace injured riders, riders who were off form were mysteriously with drawing due to injury. But I do agree if a rider is genuinly injured, without a replacement his team is out of the compition.

Glad to hear Alex's injuries, although not good, are not as bad as they could have judging by the comments about the crash, hope he makes a complete recovery and is soon fit.

With a bit of luck he will have got stuck in the mud!

Keep Charlie, Chris, and Kelvin, but ditch the mole.

I'd go for that!

Not sure about Nicholls, but the others are doing a good job in very difficult circumstances.

I think all of the Sky speedway presnters do a good job, some a little better than others, I would prefere Chris Louis to Kelvin Tatum, but that's just my preferance. I think it's been said before but all those who knock the presenters should turn off the sound and try recording themselves comentating and talking for about 3 hours, not an easy task. Charlie is getting better all the time, especially being the main presenter in last nights rain off, can't have been easy.

Whilst the passing of any one connected with our sport should be given due respect and recognition as with the former rider who recently died, I feel that in the case of Kenny Smith, he was in post as it were when he died, and after devoting most of His life to speedway, from bike pusher at Cleveland Park to manager/promoter at Scunthorpe, and after being instumental in the careers of some of British speedways brightest prospects, Auty,Haines and Woofenden, I feel it was a disgrace that in the British round of the S.W.C on the day he passed away, no one, management, riders, or former riders paid any respect to Kenny. As far as I'm aware there was no minute silence. I've seen in other sports black arm bands worn out of respect, football, rugby, cricket, athletes have worn black ribbons, Motor GP, Formular one, Indy cars have all held a minutes silence on the starting grid prior a race being started. Where as I would'nt of expected a minutes silence in Poland on Thursday, I would have thought a silence would'nt have been out of the question at Peterborough. Your assumption is correct, I have contacted the B.S.P.A and I'm awaiting a reply. As you say Ole Olsen is in charge of the meeting, I can't see him refusing a request from the Team GB management to wear black arm bands, I could be wrong, But I don't think a request would be refused.

I think Charlie is doing a good job. If she did come to the job knowing nothing about any thing about speedway then she is learning well. It's not an easy job to interview riders straight off the track. As for being the best Sky have used, I think she has a long way to go before she's as good as Suzi.

Too right, the first and best.

After showing no respect for Kenny Smith on Monday, I was hoping that there would have been a show of respact for Kenny last night, but once again it was missing. I find this totally disgraceful, Team GB should hang thier heads in shame.

Olsen keeps tracks slick so that the advertising hoardings don't get dirty, I mean He has to get His priorities right does'nt He, who cares about good racing

Great meeting, at last world class riders were given a track they could race on and did'nt they deliver, let Olsen run the G.P.s but let Buster do the tracks. I, like alot of people though King was a poor choice but He was by far the best G.B. rider on show. I would leave out Bridger and Kennet for the run off and replace them with Richardson and Nicholls. The only thing that spoilt it for me was there appeared to be no mark of respect for Kenny Smith, I would have though a 2 min. silence would have been in order and black arm bands, I hope this will be addressed on Thursday.

The only change to the current format is, I would like is the addition of a reserve who could have a maximum of 5 rides and put in at the managers discression. I felt it was unfair on Denmark to only be able to run one rider in a heat, if Nicki had been injured in his first ride that would have ment 5 rides with no Danish rider.