1 valve

Maybe, the story goes like this. Artem rides Thursday at KL but gets a knock which looks like will put him out of Sundays meeting in Poland and Monday night at Wolves. KL promotion books guest replacement "Bomber", who lives nearby and is something of a Monmore track specialist(?) Wolves print their programme. But then, for Artem, good news, he makes a quicker than expected recovery enabling him to ride in Poland - happy days! Except, it is now realised it means he is fit to ride in UK (whoops) so not needing any more money cuz he's done ok in Poland he looks for a way out? Strangely, he doesn't go down the "aggravated the ankle injury route" which would mean he can ride as soon as he's fit do so, but instead opts for the "upset stomach" option meaning a 7 day rest (sorry ban) and cant travel to UK for Mondays meeting. One promoter (maybe) happy because now he doesn't have a big wage to pay and also as Artem has provided a sick note he's clearly not "witheld his services" and thus avoids a 28 day ban. Not sure the SCB (who the BSPA are accountable to) can do anything about it - but there again, Maybe Artem did have an upset stomach after all?

Didn't the doubt that Laguta would be missing from the Wolves fixture stem from him having to withdraw mid-way through last Thursday's home match v Leicester with an apparent bad knock to his left ankle? Also, what aspect of the SCB statement do you consider not believable? That Laguta was taken ill? or that the SCB did not receive a doctors note? or some other angle?

Unlike how a rolling stone gathers no moss, its amazing how in the world of British speedway false news, Chinese whispers & suchlike gather believers to propagate inaccurate rumours'

The Auto Cycle Union Ltd (ACU), as the internationally recognised Governing Body for the sport of motorcycling throughout the British Isles delegates to the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) as the sole National Body appointed to control the sport of motorcycle Speedway within that jurisdiction. Regulations generally conform to the ACU’s National Sporting Code (NSC) which itself is in conformity with the International Sporting Code of the Fédération Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM)

The 7 day ban is quite rightly a statutory rule, rather than one applied arbitrarily. So a rider suffering a none speedway injury/illness has seven days for the problem to go away which in many cases it does. In the case of the none speedway injury/illness lasting longer than the first 7 days then the period would be extended in 7 day increments Making the rule a statutory 28 day ban would (unnecessarily) prevent riders who have fully recovered in (say) 5 days from riding for a further 3 weeks.

Absolutely correct. As was the issuing of a seven day ban which is the long standing rule where a medical certificate has been presented for a none speedway related injury/illness. Whilst folk on this forum have ridiculed the situation, the same people appear not to have made any workable proposals of a better way the matter could or should have been dealt with.

It has been a very long standing rule that if a rider is declared unfit to race due to a none speedway related illness/injury & submits an appropriate note from a doctor then the rider cannot race for seven days. If the rider does not submit a doctors note then the rider is deemed to be withholding his services and is banned I believe for 28 days. It is not a case of the SCB overruling doctors (the rule is approved by the FIM) but a means to deal with riders who may wish to "pull a sickie". Its not a perfect solution, but at least a good one. Interestingly, A few years back I think it was Scott Nichols who pulled a muscle in his back loading his bikes into his van which prevented him from setting off to a meeting and subsequently had to serve a seven day "ban" because the injury was not regarded as a speedway related incident! -

False news based on speculation & nonsense.

Yes.

As they didn't, he isn't! He had no choice but to ride in the qualifier or face a 24 day ban, which of course would have meant him missing more than one Lions match (which as it happens they won anyway)

Just to emphasise a particular point. At no point was the meeting delayed by riders not being ready to go nor by the time taken to grade/water the track. All of the extra time taken was to accommodate the requirements of Eurosport and I'm not saying that is a bad thing at all, its just what was required. Speedway is actually "made for TV" given its regular breaks between races and track maintenance, its not unlike American football where the TV breaks add quite a considerable amount of time to the overall running of a match. The key is to optimise the timing of on and off track requirements.

To add some perspective to the negative points being made here. The "delays" during the meeting were down to waiting on TV advertising, coverage of the match at Wolves as well as interviews being made - not all were shown on TV. this combination even caused delays after the track had been graded and watered, not forgetting between the introduction of riders & heat 1. Kelvin was alone in the commentary box because his usual co-commentator was with his team at Wolverhampton. The crowd was affected by Leicester City being on Tv as well as the Lion. There was a camera on bend two which having viewed the recording appeared to be out of use? Can only agree with everybody who has criticised the production in terms of what was being shown - hopefully they will get better as more matches are covered. The Lions rode well as a team - the Tigers did not - doesn't help for good TV.

Not doubting the track at the time of the call off was not looking good & any additional rain would only add to the problem. However, promoters being keen to avoid wasted travel costs has added Weight behind this particular decision. Shame the decision has been followed by nothing other than glorious sunshine. Let’s hope it pours down between now and 7pm to justify the decision,

“Yes Minister, err will that be all Buster… err Minister?”

Good thought re the shape. Unfortunately the grass at the London stadium is not movable as per Wembley and there is only the shortest of time between football seasons when West Ham do not need it for their matches.

Not easy to understand why November is being suggested when the Stadium itself is not used for football very much after May. Ok so other events take place but with careful planning quite easy to see the summer months being able to be used. One issue could be if Cardiff have some sort of guarantee that no other UK round for GPs can be held (say) 4/5 weeks or more either side of their date?

Club owners have acquired the lease of the stadium.

The company that DH is a majority shareholder is the landlord. If somebody was willing to offer the right money they would own the lease of a speedway stadium with virtually 24/7 access for speedway - no other motor sport allowed. Perfect! Now to find another 6 of 7 similar venues & the future of uk speedway has something to build on!

Doesn’t want/need uk racing

How the respective 6's & 7's perform tonight is going to be a big deciding factor in the overall outcome. Quite possible for the Lions top 5 to fill a lot of the minor places when up against the Ippo top two but not all of the time. Can expect a Leicester win on the night but not by more than 4 points - Sure hope I'm wrong, but least there will be the consolation of seeing two of the worlds best race at our humble abode, even better if a Lion gets the better of them a few times.

It seems that NP has come to terms with the inevitable fact that the more races a rider has, the more risk to injury there is and recognises that at this late stage of his career, his body is not likely to be able to take much more. Sure, he still chooses to race and continue run the risks, but the risks are lower with fewer rides and frankly it is good he has come to terms with the fact. He gave it a go at Peterborough but unfortunately for everybody, learnt the lesson the hard way. Speedway riders should take heed from the fight game where far too many boxers have taken that "one fight too many" - Good luck Nicki for however long your speedway career continues, you have never ridden for clubs I support, but I will be forever grateful for the hours of entertainment you have provided - even if some of it made my blood boil at the time!

Difficult track for the riders last evening, but all the riders gave it a good go. With no possibility of track grading it was always going to be a case of limited racing/passing - but there was some so both track staff & riders deserve recognition for their efforts to get the meeting on & completed. Well done guys (& girls)

It is against the law for a retailer to charge you a higher price for using a card at the point of sale than they would charge you for cash. Its different for "online card sales " where the seller can and often does add a "service charge" which is entirely legal to do so.

Meeting postponed.

All makes good sense based on "what we know now" - However, which clubs/promotions will have the cash/courage/ability to ring the changes if things don't go according to plan? Or which promoters/team managers do we think have put a team together which they feel will not make the playoffs and thus do nothing about improving their prospects once the season is well under way. For me Leicester (SD) will not stand idle should playoff prospects look bleak - for that reason alone Lions will be in top 4.