mikebv

Spot on.. Even the NSS when "running slick" delivers much better racing than "being grippy"... Given the handling of the bikes these days, grip can make it as near to "running on rails" as a speedway bike can get. Fast for sure, but very processional, as all follow the same "sweet spot" around the bends.. I would think a clay based surface would be specifically difficult to get right, particularly when moisture is either within it, or in the air...

It is the annual "Leicester already need to make changes" thread.....

It isn't as if there are "millions of pounds" riding on their decisions is it? Refs in other sports get well paid, and even get someone else watching a monitor to advise them if they get things wrong... Speedway refs are more like "Sunday League" officlals who do it as they enjoy being involved.. And, like it or not, the rewards for winning titles in UK Speedway are more "Sunday League" than even "Conference League".. If they make decisions that could recklessly impact safety of the riders then that is a different issue, and disciplinary action should be taken and be severe.. Otherwise, common sense, and perspective, should be used..

For the aggregate bonus point, should the return match only take the result after 14 heats ? In this instance, it might not matter, but in others it may.. In a sport with such home team advantage, the extra heats (up to 5 if called off after Ht 10), could make a big difference....

100%... Litigation would be enormous if anything happened which COULD be attributed to someone who has just not passed a drugs or alcohol test.. The ref and the clubs complicit in letting him ride, could face prosecution, as could the governing body... Even the rider himself could sue if he got injured as "you let me ride"... You don't pass, you don't ride...

His gating was poor v the higher level rider when I watched him... However, whilst behind, his speed was very much on a par with the higher standard in front of him and, only very rarely did he get cut adrift from the rider in third, and often, by the end of the race, would have closed down the distance he had given away before bend 3 on the first lap.. When in front, he had some real speed and control of the bike at that speed..

Thierry Hillarious as he got renamed...

Seems to be being taken very seriously by the countries looking at their line ups.. So. Why no GB?

Very sad news... One of the best English riders ever, and won many times, both individually and as a team man, domestically and internationally, in an era with many of the best riders who ever rode a speedway bike... Condolences, and Best Wishes, to Chris and the rest of the Louis family... R.I.P. "Tiger"....

Artem nil after 3 rides... Still, at least he turned up...

Have the local scout group booked it?

Dave did an incredible job for many years to keep Stoke running and competitive... A true unsung stalwart of UK Speedway..

Max and Jason leading after 2 heat wins each... 6 points.. Doyle on a warning after one heat... Dan, two points and gated stone last by some distance, twice.. Cierniak looking the real deal at 5 points.. Blasted around Emil.. Definitely will make a mark in the GP's, the old guard will be looking over their shoulders..

And just got a taste of "top level" riding... First out of turn two, third (last) out of turn four.. It must be a great learning opportunity for these "decent" lads to race against the very top of the tree...

Emil got out of that one OK... Could have been nasty if he landed on his head..

More scary would be that he is genuine in his views.... .. And with some Speedway followers... You never know...

Some advice... Just get there early.. Before everyone else... Although... If everyone gets there early.. Before everyone else... Everyone will already be there... Another cunning plan thwarted....

It's paid practice, and gives the lads some experience of riding in a (however contrived), team concept... If fans don't want to watch it, then it will stop.. If fans want to take any of the UK leagues ultra seriously then they are a very accommodating of the way the promoters run them, and obviously happy to collude in the "made up stuff".... Therefore. Let's just let 14 lads turn up and ride, some with dreams of stardom, and some with a desire to keep riding because they love it, with some also wanting to help out the new ones.. It still costs these lads a fair few.quid to compete, so some payment to help offset those costs is more than reasonable, therefore an admission fee is also reasonable given you can still get some excellent entertainment, particularly at the NSS..

Bless.... Its the NDL mate.. Maybe these lads get their expenses covered at best... And I cannot see the Aces making too much out of it, in fact, probably subsidising it.. But, it may deliver several Championship level reserves and SS's over the next few years, and maybe even some of a standard higher.. Personally, couldn't give a monkeys about any of the leagues given the way they are ran, but Speedway is still a good night out, especially at the NSS..

Duckworth-Lewis-Stern will need to be involved....

Instead of criticising, I'd like to see you coal carrying for our entertainment like the brave coal carriers do.. Risking bad backs each time they compete just so that we can watch our favourite sport.. Although, they now use that smokeless coal which doesnt give off the same smell and amount of dirt on your hands and face that I remember when I first started watching coal carrying in the late 60's... And since the 80's and all Thatcher's pit closures, chances for young British coal carriiers have reduced massively, with many now working in Poland as the Poles have kept most of their coal mines open, with the result being coal carrying is still really popular over there.. And dont get me started on the ridiculous guest coal carriers rule, and the CCR facilty, both of which get used far too many times to cover missing coal carriers., many of whom are coal carrying elsewhere on the same days UK competitions takes place.. Or they cannot attend due to following their own international coal carrying dreams and ambitions on the world coal carrying stage... Arthur Scargill must be turning in his grave.. Edit (If he was dead, thanks RJ72)

And where did he get it from?

To be fair to him, he isn't a HL.. As a No2 he can do a solid job, but even when he rode for the Aces at No3, he often struggled.. And that was at a time when hardly any "top riders" rode over here.. A Div 1 HL now has to be at an "international level" I would say, rather than being a Div 2 No1 level...

Well done... Get yourself down to the track and watch some of the best riders in the world, even if they are riding for the opposition... I certainly didn't see last night mentioned on any satellite or MSM outlets, with the result being commiserated or celebrated by maybe 4,000 at most from both teams... So just watch the racing, particularly at Brum, as I seem to remember they didn't exactly "pull up any trees"' in Div 2 too regularly, so, even if another "no success season", you get to watch Messrs Sayfutdinov, Doyle, Bewley, Holder et al.. Be a shame to lose another track due to fan indifference, particularly in a small sport where the team who finishes bottom won't be missing out on any major financial rewards nor face any relegation risk.. A track where the owner has put his hand so deep into his pocket, and wants to see the club move to its own site... Will hopefully get down to Brum when the Aces are in town...

Looking at the scores, some optimism for Worky with their new riders once they get dialled in.. Hope the crowd level was good.. That is the main result for Workington..