crescent girl

Never heard of it before. Soccer pitches have it to avoid matches being frozen off -- when has that ever happened at speedway? What we need is something to drain water away, or covers to prevent rain falling on the surface. Just heating a wet track wont do any good, will it?

Just a reminder that it is "Spruce Up Our Speedway" weekend, with volunteers welcome from 9.30am tomorrow and Sunday.

Thomas Jorgensen has tonight withdrawn from the BenFund Bonanza at King's Lynn, as he feels it is 'just a little early' after his shoulder operation, and he doesn't want to cause any accidents to other riders. 'I want to be 100% ready for when the season starts' he told the club tonight. 'I will be on a bike before press and practice, and I'm sure I will be fit for that' Danny King has stepped in to TJ's place in the 20-man field on March 12th.

Following the 'plug' in today's newsletter, Darren tells me that the free bus to Redcar is now fully-booked. Excellent!

On the same basis, might it be around the figure paid by Glasgow for Aaron Summers last year? Like you say, same approximate age, etc. Although Kus has better FIM credentials, I'd say.

...and you sir, are very lucky to have one of our most dedicated supporters all to yourself!

Or the second...... Or the third......

Down the Bell End lane?

Date of arbitration doesn't really matter. The deal is done. It isn't as if Newcastle can back out if they don't like the price, because whatever the Tribunal decides is binding. The longer it takes to issue a ruling would be to Newcastle's favour, as their cash-flow would benefit from not making an early pay-out. And the other half are racing against them as visitors! Oh indeed, Mr Bennett - a no-brainer indeed!

Oh yeah? Elite take Thursday and Friday? Too bad if your club is Edinburgh, Ipswich, Plymouth, Redcar, Sheffield or Somerset, you mean? Aye, right!

Probably not, not right away anyway. But what can be carefully considered is to avoid using an EL club's assets if they are doubling with your PL club. For instance, Berwick are tracking five riders on loan this year, but none of them will be lost to the EL fixture-list. Newcastle, on the other hand have chosen to use several who might be lost for certain fixtures. It is a matter of choice.

From 1568. The last hurrah for Mary Queen of Scots (Catholic) whose army lost to that of her brother James (Protestant). The area is close to Hampden Park, where Rangers and Celtic have, over the past century, staged many re-enactments.

G42 is Battlefield. Quite appropriate, for Tigers/Monarchs matches.

Andre Compton, anyone?

Yes, first meeting at home is March 26th. Press & practice is the Saturday before -- March 19th. Apologies for any inconvenience, thank you for raising the question.

You could find that prediction coming back and biting you in the Baba-bum.

Berwick newsletter this morning reports that one early meeting is already sold out for hospitality, others filling up. Got a nice feeling about the coming season already -- it could be a good 'un!

Hey, Mods --- can't these multiple threads be consolidated?

Absolutely. Your #7 is out, you dip back into the NL pool for a temp (or indeed permanent) replacement. There can be no question of using a "guest #7" from another PL club. The rather-more-ticklish question comes when a #7 is injured in (say) Heat 2. On several fronts.

Absolutely true. Go along to your local track, be entertained, be thrilled and enjoy the terracing camaraderie. If you want, programmes and other club publicity will tell you what you need to know to further enjoy the experience.

Practice will be six weeks tonight. Hopefully that will get minds back on bikes and tracks. Meanwhile, what about former Bandits Jamie Robertson and Adam McKinna planning to drive across India in a motorised rickshaw? From the newsletter: Former Bandits Adam McKinna and Jamie Robertson, together with their good friend Campbell Rodgerson will be embarking on an astounding charity-raising drive in April -- going 1,600 miles across the Indian sub-continent, with no support vehicles or even a planned route! Not just that -- the intrepid trio are driving the entire distance in a tuk-tuk! These vehicles are the motorised rickshaws often seen in Indian films -- not exactly luxury transportation. "We are doing this as a personal challenge, raising money for the Wings For Life foundation -- the people who are desperately trying to research the business of spinal cord research" explained Adam. "So many speedway riders and other sports people are currently in wheelchairs, and we want to make a difference -- the question is not whether effective treatments and cures will be found, but when they will be found.” "So, as you might guess -- we are looking for some corporate sponsors. We estimate the total cost of trip might be around five or six thousand pounds and we are looking for some help to cover around 50% of these costs" "As Jamie and I raced as Bandits in the past, anyone interested in helping raise funds should contact us if you'd like to support us in any way and get some exposure for your business" "There will be massive publicity available to those involved, of course. Reach me at outstanding_wood@yahoo.co.uk to find out more".

Your support noted, and passed to the team producing the newsletter. Many thanks.

Errrrrrrrr, the poster was saying you never finished with the same team you started with. Not over-the-winter changes.

Er, unless you are Edinburgh last year!

FIM certainly took note of dangers imposed on helmet safety, and definately issued a ban. Anyone using one in a m/cycling event under FIM jurisdiction (not just FIM events) is going to lose their insurance rights, etc, if anything happened. As I understand it, the dangers were highlighted by Michael Schumacher's ski-ing accident, when he was apparently wearing a helmet-cam. The helmet manufacturers themselves then approached sporting bodies such as the FIM to emphasise the dangers.