Pere Ubon

It's interesting to note the pricing policy for the two double-headers. For the average full paying adult customer the OTA is the place to be, where they are charging £23 compared to £25 at Brough Park. However for senior citizens (and other concessions) Newcastle's admission of £18 is more generous than the £20 on offer at Somerset. The £1 deal for kids at Somerset, is a real winner when compared to a fiver at Brough Park. So for a family of four going to Somerset it's £48, whilst the same family would pay £60 at Newcastle. I appreciate that each track has different costs and overheads, but the comparison is interesting nonetheless.

Ipswich have announced some fixtures changes. Most important is the Edinburgh KOC semi-final, which was scheduled as the 2nd Leg on 18th October, now becomes the first leg on 4th October. In the PLCT, Sheffield visit Foxhall this Thursday (27th), and Rye House (again!) on 18th October. Ipswich have reserved three dates - Thursday 25th, Saturday 27th, and Wednesday 31st - to cover rain-offs and possible finals. The 16 Lapper has now disappeared.

Is it really surprising that Workington are in trouble, given that there is such confusion over fixtures? Or is it a case of individuals posting on here, just fuelling the confusion, without knowing what's really going on?

An example none the less, and rather exposes a certain member's notion that you can't fail if you have a genuine number 1.

Genuine Number 1, Richard Lawson (8.60) - 4 points. All the Witches (6.79 - 5.78) - 7 points or more. A great example of why, according to some, we need a genuine Number 1????!!!!!

Regardless of if he does or he doesn't, it's very easy to talk the talk when it isn't your dough on the line.

I think that should read the 22nd September!!! All PL fixtures need to be completed by 31st October, or later if the season is officially extended.

This "exciting" end of season competition is set to start next week. Assuming (and hoping) that the Comets don't fall by the wayside, Ipswich will get the first pick. Given that they can't pick eighth place Glasgow, they will presumably want to avoid fellow Thursday tracks Redcar and Sheffied, which means a group of Ipswich, Berwick and Rye House or Plymouth. The other group is therefore Glasgow, Redcar and Sheffield. Seems like a real money spinner???!!!!!!

There are a number of stockcar tracks that run weekly, indeed some, particularly in the holiday season running a couple of times a week. The key difference isn't the commitment, it's the financial outlay. In all but the really top formulas, the competitors will pay an entry fee to compete. So all the promoter has to provide is some trophies and possibly some prize money - often covered by sponsorship. Indeed the same is often true for club grasstrack meetings. Somehow I would doubt if the average speedway rider would agree to pay an entrance fee to race, and accept the odd trophy and a bit of prize money for their time and trouble. Given that, and the current economic situation is it reasonable to expect promotions to try and put on a show every week? Are 25-30 home meetings still viable? I think there are a lot of people reaching the conclusion, that less is probably more.

Of course, but as already been said, it has be part of an overall package, otherwise they won't come back.

According to the Witches website line - ups as follows: Ipswich. Workington. 1. Leigh Lanham 1. Richard Lawson © 2. Dakota North 2. R/R 3. Taylor Poole 3. Rene Bach 4. Morten Risager 4. Ashley Birks (G) 5. Rohan Tungate 5. Ricky Wells (G) 6. Mat Tresarrieu 6. Ashley Morris 7. Stefan Nielsen (G) 7. Jason Bunyan (G) Great pity that a semi-final should be run with so many guests. However given the news from BBC Cumbria that Workington are about to fold, it must be a case of fingers crossed that we actually have a meeting. According to the report, Mr Denham said he sent an email to the BSPA on Monday to find out what the penalty would be for ending participation now. Let's hope they can see things out, at least until the end of season.

But you're a fan, and like me will go come what may. The casual fan, however, is far more discerning, demanding comfort and value for money. I'm afraid that regardless of whether the racing is superb or not, casuals will not put up with squalid poor conditions / facilities.

I reckon that run could be over, well before the team arrive at Shielfield.

Nothing to do with the water, just commenting on a posting, in similar way to which the original was delivered.

And what does that have to do with his GBE? Keep up? You're so far off the pace that the peloton, has already started the next stage !!!!!

As far as I can see the two posts are at variance. Your post suggests that "there has been a relaxation of the rules to give teams more options to agree a fixture", whilst CMIYC suggests "that Svemo and BSPA have a signed agreement for Premier League which allows facilities for riders.....". Whatever the position it really doesn't matter, but it does need to formalised. Otherwise speedway once again leaves itself open to ridicule if rules are relaxed without anyone else knowing about it.

Not trying to labour the point, but my posting which drew your remark, was directly in response to another member who posted an interpretation of Rule 18.1.2C. This made my comments about polish play offs entirely relevent. I fear most of us have now moved on, and have agreed that rule 18.1.2C has nothing to do with it, and that it is probably covered by the so called BSPA / BSPA accord. My view is that it is poor, that rules are not open to public scrutiny. Others disagree which is fine.

I think if re - read the post, you will see that I was commenting on Rule 18.1.2C, and nothing to do with the BSPA / SVEMO agreement. I hope this helps. I'm not doubting that this may be in place, but it's still rather poor that it hasn't been written into the rule book. It would save any confusion arising.

I wouldn't have thought so, as I remember Jarek Hampel being banned for missing an Ipswich fixture whilst riding in the Polish League play offs. Also if you were to apply that definition to the rule, then any league fixture, could be deemed a "national team championship".

I think you will find that 18.1.2C covers national championships, ie solos, pairs etc....not the Allsvenskan League. 18.1.2 Team may utilise a "Facility" to cover the absence of a Rider(s) who: ... C is recalled with prior notification, by his Federation for compulsory International or National Championship duty. Now the suggestion that it is somehow covered by the infamous BSPA / SVEMO accord may well be correct, but i would have thought by now it would have been incorporated into the rule book.

If that is the case it must be a supplementary regulation, as there certainly isn't any provision in the published 2012 Rules & Regulations. If this is the case it does establish a dangerous precedent.

I would be interested to know under what regulation Berwick were granted a facility for Seb Alden and Robin Aspergen. I didn't think that a facility was available for riders racing in a foreign league. Are Berwick claiming that the two riders were withholding their services? It would set a very dangerous precedent if riders are allowed to race in other leagues without any consequences.

That may be true, but certainly the failure to attract sufficient numbers through the turnstiles was a more fundamental reason.

I now know how Capt. Bertorelli from 'Allo 'Allo! must have felt. What a mistake-a to make-a!!

Clearly my mistake????