mikebv

Great first turn.. Didn't hook it too early which could have been tempting, and moved Pedersen over...

Nicki P. King of the block pass.. We will miss him when he decides to hang up the kevlars. ...

Come on Robert!! Great start for him with Madsens two rides..

Great ride by Warriner... I mean Vorriner.... I mean Voreeni... I mean Veroni.....

Stockport County get 3500 a week...

They have... They are going to run the meetings by sharing riders... Riders will be allowed to ride in both of the top leagues for two different teams and even the NL if they qualify to do so depending on their average so these lads can have a third team.. They will also allow the sharing of riders on any given night between teams within the same division, so for example, Brady Kurtz could ride for BV on Monday and Sheffield on Thursday, likewise Nicki P could do the same but in reverse.. Obviously it could result in contrived septets, with riders riding under a 'flag of convenience' on a random ad hoc basis just to put a meeting on.. In fact, pretty much the operating model they have ran for donkey's years!!! Ahead of the curve British Speedway, ahead of the curve..

Circa £200 a point is the covid 19 going rate for the heat leader level riders.. 50% less than normal. . Hence Josh G decided not to bother...

Well, well, well.. Will it last..?

Another excellent edition this week.. Well done to all in maintaining such a high standard..

Everyone has things in their life that as they get older they remember 'as clear as day' even as the years advance. . Wilkie's crash that night is one that I can still see unfold to this day.. One that even as a young kid I had seen happen dozens of times before... One that 999 times out a 1000 the riders get up from and walk away.. Truly tragic that Alan never did walk again following that crash.. But truly inspirational the way he reacted to it, and lived with it. I suppose you either have that strength of character, and the courage needed to go with it, or you don't... And as he proved over his racing years, and the many years since that night , he had both in abundance..

A few refs certainly had to ensure that the locks were secure in their boxes... My over riding memory of Wilkie was of him standing on the fourth bend, inside the track where the tractor parked, wearing his Red, White and Black leathers, arms folded tightly, back ram rod straight, watching the racing intently as Captain of the team. He would then march across the track back to the pits at the end of the race to either pat his team mate on the back, or, if not succesful, and he felt it not a good enough effort, issue some 'motivational feedback' to his colleague... A proper Captain in every way... For some this might be a cliché, but not for Wilkie.. They truly don't make them like him anymore. .

My first hero... A true giant as a leader of men.. He rode in the days when it truly meant something to follow a speedway team in the UK.. But whatever it meant to follow the Aces as a passionate fan, you always felt that somehow Wilkie felt that passion even more... Not been many like him, (if any at all).. The incredibly positive way he handled that tragic nights legacy through the rest of his life, and the perspective with which he viewed it, should serve as an inspiration to everyone. Gutted tonight to be honest.. RIP Wilkie, God Bless..

Alll one family... Read in the SS that its against the law to check ID's in the stadium so people are sitting next to whoever they want and saying they are related.. Hence swathes of empty seats together, and lots of full seats together.. And we have to wear masks to get a kebab..

The tracks seem to have been a little 'off' from what has been the usual standard over the past few years that I have watched it.. Maybe restrictions to access or staff numbers are impacting somewhat? Usually a bit more grip around the outside at most venues, which delivers pretty good opportunities to pass. And that's even for the away team because, as you say, most of the tracks are of a similar vein, ie ridden flat out with plenty of space on wide 'open' bends.. Its still better than the Snooker though.. Or E bloody racing..

Whose the ref? Frank Ebdonski?

Can't have been for putting his leg out surely? That's very much the riding style for many these days.. And MJJ was doing the same..

What is it with all this shouting from the fans? Young fans it looks like too.... Far too noisy for me this. . Where's me blanket. ..

Running with the concept, I would just run with 16 riders over four or five rounds depending on how many tracks can make it happen.. The top 16 riders will invariably be mainly the ones who DU and will have spent the most so it gives them a chance to earn some money... It also means most on show will be of a similar standard so should mean the racing is decent.. Wild card to the winner for next years GP.. £100 a point on average would need £12k a meeting to cover it if using a traditional 20 heat formula, so circa 1000 fans needed at say £15 in, to pay the prize money and VAT.. Circa 1300 needed to pay all the costs in total maybe? Surely a Speedway starved populus would generate at least 1300 or so? (If those numbers meet the % criteria at the time).. And there are several venues around the country with tracks fairly 'local' to them so could pull in those fans too who are desperate to see some live Speedway.. Gives the riders a few quid, gives the fans some bona fide Speedway to watch rather than some contrived septets in a challenge, and, if sold properly, could get some publicity for the sport thus keeping it view..

I think Madsen thought it maybe better to not risk injury.. He could still win this, but the GP's will be his main aim..

Location. Location. Location.. A fair old way outside of Buxton and relied in the main on Belle Vue and Sheffield followers if you looked at what many of the spectators wore.. Dont think it ever really captured the imagination of the towns inhabitants and without any other living beings, apart from cows and sheep, within several miles radius of its location it would be very hard to attract 'locals' (as there wasn't many!)... Lovely on a summers day, not so if it was a 'bit parky', and you could get all four seasons in a day.. Facilities at best 'basic' but an enjoyable day out, and great to watch the racing so close to the action..

Not a bad shout that THJ.. None of them have had a great season, but then again, none of them have had a bad one either.. Every rider has definitely managed to maintain their average......

Wow. Well done Robert Lambert.. Another very mature ride.. Didnt panic, knew he was faster, and waited for his moment.. Fair play to Lahti too, a great night for him...

Good point.. Went through WW2 so it could quite possibly be.. I think the Colts will ride though, and it wouldn't surprise me to see an individual event.. And I am sure the SON will be given every opportunity to take place..

And loads of sheep..

Lovely ride young man... Very mature... Seem to remember someone else doing that move quite a bit (and has won 3 world titles by putting it to good use).. Even just 12 months ago Lambert may have been tempted to ride the boards and end up stone last, or off the bike.. We really do have two world class riders now..