Ommer Mon

Didn't realise Steve would be missing. I'll get there early in case you need a guest! I would have an assessed 3 point average so you should be able to squeeze me in.

I am really looking forward to seeing the programme. For me Tai is a real conundrum. He is a brilliant racer (did I just say that about a Wolves rider?), he is an excellent speaker who is a great ambassador for the sport but he has a rather individual approach to his image with the tatoos,ears etc. Let's not forget the excellent work he does for charity too. I think tonight will give more of an insight into his character and the amount of organisation that he has to put into his professional sporting life. It will be interesting to compare with the Ivan Mauger Story (the Flying Kiwi) from many years ago. It should be a really good watch.

I guess the big question on this one has to be who will score more on the night Cradley or Costa Rica? I have said enough elsewhere about how Scunny have put their side together this year but, as race day approaches, I hope some of their lads can take something positive from the night and pick the odd point up. The way Cradley are riding though a clean sweep could be on the cards. Perhaps Montie and Lucifer Sam should put a pound on an away win (and if it comes off remember who suggested it!).

The Bog Moggies are coming to town for the 2nd leg of our Cup encounter. The Heathens have a 10 point lead so we should be ok. There should be some competitive racing though. It will be a late finish as the second part to a double header. Heathens to win by 20 for me.

Certainly some of Nicki's infamous dive bombs into turns can only be classed as dangerous. You either let him through or end up in the fence. I think bans for a period of time would be difficult to implement. The decision can only be with the referee and as you say they can be inconsistent. One way of doing it perhaps would be to look at what happens in a meeting. I have always thought it very unfair when your rider has been fenced and is out of the rest of the meeting that the culprit, who has been excluded for unfair riding, only misses one race and is then back to beat your reserves later in the match.In these circumstances I think referees should exclude riders for the rest of the match to even things out. Perhaps if you get a couple of these in a season the case could be referred to some kind of independent tribunal (if that is possible in Speedway)to decide further action. You then have the dilemma of whether the ban would only apply in one country or across the world and whether it would include GPs etc. Not an easy one.

I agree that the crowd was noticably down and I think the World Cup would have had plenty to do with that. Holidays are also a factor already. For example in our small group there were five people instead of 12 due to holidays (including a trip to Brazil in one instance). I agree that the lads are earning plenty of money this year (including another set of sponsorship cheques handed out last night) and that plus the added track time they are getting doubling and trebling up is really starting to show now. I think Armo is a good yardstick to use to measure the lads' progress. He is a good and consistent heat leader at this level and both Cleggy and Greavesie got the better of him. That's real progress for the lads. I share Pete CC's concern for Scunthorpe next week. I have already upset one or two with my comments about their team building strategy this year and I really struggle to see how being thrashed at home and away with no-one to learn from on the track is going to help their development.

Congratulations onthe prediction Vog, you got it spot on. As others have said it was an entertaining meeting (by our usual standard) and all of the Potters gave it their best shot and gave us a few gating lessons. I was impressed with Ben Wilson. I have to confess I don't know a great deal about him other than he has been away from the sport for a number of seasons. It wouldn't surprise me to see some Elite League clubs making him an offer soon. I'm guessing he may not have seen too much of Monmore before and if that's the case he did well against some top class riders. I'm sure the Potters will make it to the play offs and they will be stronger when they get James McBain back. Hard to see anybody stopping the Heathens though (injuries permitting).

Thanks for the heads up. I'll set the recorder while I'm at the Stoke match( but knowing my luck I'll probably get Eastenders by mistake).

Any thoughts on Woofy's gardening antics at the British Final last night? I think the use of a shovel was taking things to excess somewhat! This may come in useful though if the Millennium Stadium track needs relaying again this year. I have to confess I have never seen anything like it unless you count Egon Muller's watering antics in the 1983 World Final

Let's get this one started then. It's the local derby and the Potters have been doing pretty well lately with the only thing they have lost to recently (with apologies to Leicester!)being the weather. With Wilson and Armo they have a good top two who should ensure some competitive racing. Shame James McBain is missing as he has shown a lot of promise so far this year. It has the potential to be the best meeting of the season so far in my book. Heathens to win by 14.

Great shame that James is going to be missing from the match at Monmore Wood. I was looking forward to seeing him as he seems quite a find.

Dudley follow the same policy as Wolves and allow fans into the pits up to about half an hour before racing. Also at Buxton there is a chance to look through the mesh fence on the path that leads to the rider car park and you can see straight down the pits there.

Have to agree GreyhoundP. Last year's play off final at Kings Lynn was one of the coldest nights I can remember at a Speedway match (but the result warmed us up!).

It may not sound like much to you but I'm delighted! I have received my tickets for Cardiff this year without the need to spend hours on the phone chasing Ticketmaster for them and being lied to, queueing up at the Rugby Club to collect them when they were not posted to me and having to evict 10 people form our seats when we got to the Stadium. Thank you See Tickets for the excellent service this year and I hope that Ticketmaster are never engaged again. BSI please note.

Thanks to Arthur Cross for his very detailed and insightful reports. Fingers crossed for Mr Taggart.

When the consultations start the NIMBYs gather. Brace yourselves for some opposition with ridiculous arguements. Birmingham had the University complaining that the noise would prevent their students doing their studies during the evening (remind me when that ever happened!) and Cradley were faced with the 'fact' that Speedway bikes have to be revved constantly all through the meeting or the engines seize up. At least the Aces have the Council on their side so they should be able to put a robust defence forward. Best of luck to all involved. It's about time the profile of the sport was raised above some of the poor facilities that fans have to endure.

Excellent news. Nobody in the sport has a better track record. Good luck Tony.

Bad news Montie. I'll be there. Who knows, my views may change depending on the performance. As I have said before my views have nothing to do with the lads themselves and I hope they make progress in the sport.

What a washout! The heavens opened over Monmore Wood and that was that. The great British weather strikes again. Amazingly it was bone dry just over a mile away and if the match had been staged at Dudley Wood it would have been on with no trouble at all. Looks like the restage may be 24 June but I think that clashes with a footy match. Easy choice!

Totally agree. I'm sure they will respect the riders. The issue has never been with the lads taking part but I wouldn't blame some leaving early. Hope it will be on, there is some drizzle around.

I'm glad to see Michael Neale named in the Scunny team. He has shown promise in the past for Buxton and I hope he has a good night. Fingers crossed that we go ahead. There was a lot of rain about last night and our 'Landlords' got washed out after one completed race. Hope they have had time to fix the track. I am about 15 miles away but there have been some threatening grey clouds around. No rain yet though so i'm hopeful. Don't forget the 7.15 start time. Anybody with a closer view of the weather?

Nielsen and Lambert should certainly make it more competitive. Who knows, that 10 point cushion could come in handy.

Could be a late night finish with Scunny visiting as part of a double header. I remember the Heathens demolishing Halifax 64-14 in 1979 with a certain Mr Gundersen dropping the point. (I always know he would never make it!!!) Could they actually go one better here given Scunny's form so far? I hope their lads have a reasonable night and are benefitting from the experience. I do think that a place in a Development League may have been more appropriate for them at this stage of their careers though.

With a 10 point lead from the first leg it ought to be plain sailing through to the next round for the Heathens but you never know and Joe Jacobs seems to be the man to beat at the moment. Looking forward to some good racing and a good evening's banter with the Bog Moggies.

Yep - happy to agree that 5 metres may be more appropriate. I think the main advantage would be to ensure that we get a 'full' quota of races. I always feel a bit shortchanged when there are a number of awarded races.