HGould

Terrible news to wake up to. Last time I saw him was on his Harley leading the parade with about 50 Harley at Shield Final at Eastbourne v Leicester just before Covid break season. Stopped and had a chat after the meeting and looked like he'd never stopped racing. Don't think he ever got due credit for runner up in 78 World Final as everyone sympathised with Jessup. GK had beaten Olsen on the night from memory. His best League again didn't get due credit was White City 77,he bore brunt of RR rides all season and showed he could ride big tracks as well as small. Always scored big at the old PB remember him and Niemi scoring all the points between them almost in one Eastbourne win at PB when we just couldn't seem to get a race winner. Above all that though its clear he was a top man, humble and widely respected.

VT signing for Glasgow will really upset the applecart in its own right. Side benefit clearly will be Brennan riding at 2 (or 4 presumably) and clearing up a lot of pressure on the lad which he hasn't always handled well. One of those anomolies where he'll ride like a second string as a Heat Leader but ride like a Heat Leader as a second string - often its in the head but can be crucial.

No I wasn't there. Holidaying in Ireland.

Interesting news I've been told by an ex City Councillor about Wheels Site which may indirectly help Brummies in longer term possibly. He believes that the 40acre Wheels site has been given to the new American Owners of Birmingham City Fc in exchange for the much smaller St Andrews site. There are a number of caveats, not the least that the new owners will take over the decontamination of Wheels a massive task likely to take 12 months and cost tens of millions. The new Owners will then build a City of Birmingham Stadium owned by the football club holding 62000 in 3 tiers. The top tier of 17000 will be cleverly hidden behind marketing banners to be opened for major events and it will have a retractable roof and drop in football pitch The aim is for multi sports including athletics, American football, stadium motor sport and concerts etc Associated facilities will include full soccer training facilities and pitches and a 400 metre training athletic track needed for major events. All funded by American Venture Capital. It will link with a massive new Movie Film and TV studio being built on the East Side by Stephen Knight of Peaky Blinders Fame. Hollywood Style facilities. The arrival and investment of Tom Brady NFL legend suggests a serious rival for London for an NFL franchise. Definitely a possible speedway GP venue of the future adjacent to HS2. The existing St Andrews site will pass to Council to develop for housing raising much needed funds. Apparently already all agreed and rubber stamped as part of BCFC takeover and signed off by City Council and Mayor Street. Brummies wise it may give access to Alexander Stadium if and when Birch field Harriers locate to the new smaller state of the art Athletics track. They (BCFC) have also bought the very modern Wasps Rugby Union training facility and moved in there. Alexander Stadium may therefore be available ultimately for other sports but timescale is 3 to 5 years. One final interesting correlation is Gary Cook who orchestrated Man City move to Etihad after it was transformed and start of their massive rise has been installed as their CEO with Brady working as a global ambassador. Win for the Council who rid themselves of a contaminated eyesore that was Wheels. Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium

Updates don't have a texter YET but apparently because they can't fill in the gaps, Plymouth don't have a team. They appear to have 5 riders plus RR with a doubt about Howarth. Who'll sort it first, the rapidly declining updates or the sadly injury ravaged Gladiators. Would be a very appropriate time for The Hearse and Pallbearer to arrive and Mark Phillips to lift the lid complete with kevlars, he's probably still faster than a few... Loves big banked tracks

So what if a tyre had exploded in Heat 2 (far less experienced riders possibly than Howarth) and a rider had been very badly injured. Surely IF IN DOUBT act and do something. At least the courtesy of going down to the Pits and having a look and a chat with Clerk of the Course and Howarth himself. Mark Phillips has ridden speedway bikes, not sure who the ref was but have they??.

Standing ovation from people who'd crao their pants if ever they had a tyre deflate mid race. In fact Thay defecate when they dropped the clutch

Something about this struck a chord about this topic and hey presto I found it. Scunny v Eastbourne June 21. Kyle Newman tyre, disintegrated. Plenty of pictures if you search for it. Maybe Skidder you could ask Kyle. I'm sure he'd remember it. Sometimes Refs aren't interested. Clerks of the Course feel compromised. Mark had the balls to ride round Exeter, that's proof enough for anyone to know he has rider safety at heart. Hopefully Plymouth will stay under BSPL and not be lost.

Excellent analysis. It's a bostin little track when riders attack it and the weather plays ball. It will be a big miss if they drop out of CL but sadly riders seem to think they have all the power and for those In PL a trek down on Tuesdays doesn't work. If situation allowed Saturdays do you think that would be best option? I guess what Leicester decide to do might scupper that though in terms of available riders. I hope Plymouth keep going as its a very welcoming place and Promotion and every time you go there's another little improvement in facilities.

It's Rory Schlein so they are probably stronger. Brennan would probably be their last choice as he singlehandedly got a meeting called off there last year in a strop. Plus he also assaulted their Guest Nathan Ablitt there more recently in the Pits and hot an SCB warning. I think we'll nick it 48 to 42 Theyll miss Gilkes and Barker.

Even the Prince of Darkness might be in a better mood tonight and not the usual doom and gloom. We'll done Plymouth

All we need now is for Barker to confirm he lent Richie some piss as Richie had just taken an anadin.. Only in Speedway

If they don't what's the point of them being there. Who are the presenters and reporters?

Richie has shoulder injury. Possibly too much painkiller. No excuse but that's possible explanation. Boxhall should never have been allowed his license back hopefully we never see him again.

Didn't know that. Thanks for confirming.

It's technical bankruptcy not full They carry on running essential services under supervision and have to be monitored.

Gary Flint and Mark Phillips are straight talking guys so hopefully all will be revealed. Unless of course they have been gagged under threat of fines.

Agreed. Very strange.

Ah OK I assume Worrall late call off and already using RR. Boxhall has previous so possibly turned round if he heard testing going to happen? Tactical engine failure lol

So where are Worrall and Boxhall Are you suggesting drug testers there by referring to Nick Morris

Almost all Councils of all political persuasions have seen their central Government Grant slashed in real terms by 50% since 2010. Birmingham has had to pay out over £1 billion since 2012 after the 2004 to 2012 Tory led Council lost a Court case about pay inequality in 2010. Councils in Thurrock, Croydon and Woking already declared bankruptcy and they have got no Govt help and they are Conservative. Many other Councils on a knife edge too led by various parties.

It's very frustrating that one of the most obvious places for any new Sports Stadium in the area, which is adjacent to Birmingham Airport and the NEC, massive infrastructure, easy access train and motorway, no noise issues, massive advertising potential is mostly in the Council Area of Solihull and not Birmingham. A lot of land adjacent to M42, M6 and M5 and in the case of the M6 and M42 corridor lots of land laid waste by HS2 excavations. In fact mile after mile of it.

I think there is merit to that but with a rather massive caveat. Cradley fans didn't support Heathens in numbers at PB, they did at Monmore. Bees fans didn't support Bees at Leicester. Speedway in the West Midlands has always been very tribal. Soccer is probably more tribal in Birmingham and the Black Country as anywhere. Having said that Wolves have a good following, Brummies a hardcore of 500, Cradley had a similar hardcore a few years ago in last ndl season. We can only guess Coventry level. Romantically those clubs could return. Purely pragmatically and IF all 4 clubs ceased to exist, is there a left field opportunity? If Essex, Kent and Somerset can be branded for Speedway purposes, could West Midlands Midlanders be viable option at a central site??

As pointed out Ladbrokes (as we know them to keep it simple) are kicking speedway out of Monmore but keeping very lucrative Dogs as they are longstanding Bags track beamed round world. ARC who run Perry Barr and who own Wolverhampton Horse Racing Track are leaving PB and taking that operation to Wolverhampton Horse Racing Track. There ARC will transfer lucrative Bags licence from PB worth 65k a week I was told and run horses and dogs, already have hotel on site. Can't see how PB could run with Speedway only. How long ARC take to set up Wolves Dog track at Horse track will be key. I hope Nigel isn't relying on Regional Mayor Street, a jump on the bandwagon Charlie not a genuine campaigner. Might have more joy out of City Council who put on Commonwealth Games and at least didn't object to speedway returning to PB. If Council goes Tory though forget it, they'll develop anything not tied down by cast iron covenants. CVS seems positive about a Moto Park and Wolverhampton Council seem keen to help. Possibly more accessible land in Wolvo within proximity to M54 Junction by new Jag LR Plant.

Normal BSPL Staged Meeting pay rates of about 50 to 60 quid a point may have something to do with it.