HGould

Guest and Rider Replacement for us, doesn't bode well. Don't think the M5 on a Wednesday rush hour will be beckoning with that side.

I was at Festival at Speed at Goodwood in Sussex over weekend; poured down from Saturday night and most of Sunday did it rain at Arlington????

runner up wasn't he in National League Riders Final last season and a 9 point average, not sure where you think the lad should be riding as no NL side could fit him in, are you suggesting he retire? Plenty older and far more experienced than him are in NL and shouldn't be like Clegg and Perks for starters. Dont think he is a dirty rider from few occasions I've seen him.

The difference now is that it is the PL Clubs who are making the "one league noises" as they cannot afford inflated points money and guarantees on reduced crowds. That's what Matt Ford originally implied in his article, admitting he lost £20,000 on a "recent meeting" and saying that his Crowds in PL at that time were lower than Eastbourne in CL. That was in early May so crowds may have changed at both venues?, but says ti me if ford is losing £20k that PL rates need to come down to more like CL level and that some riders will have to take a pay cut and those doubling up on top PL and CL money will hope to have more matches in one "Big league" team than in 2 teams one in PL and one in CL. Another poster on here different thread did an excellent study that there were just enough riders in PL/CL to staff 14 teams (7 man teams) or 16 teams (6 man teams).....that'll be the issue - rider availability... How many of the CL Teams can take the plunge and join 1 League??? and what happens if they don't do they go NDL or Close??.. Of those in CL now I would guess Glasgow; Sheffield (if new Owners); Leicester; Somerset would be certain to want to move up. I would guess Edinburgh; Newcastle, Scunthorpe, Birmingham and Eastbourne may want to move up but would be taking a big risk. Berwick and Redcar would struggle I would think to compete on current crowd levels and of the middle 6 probably only Scunthorpe would ultimately take the plunge. So that would be 7 + 5 a League of 12.

A Track where a rider has to have the skill to "turn the bike" are not trick tracks, they are part of the sport and a good rider can ride any track. If you are going to define good tracks by those where it's full throttle all the way round you are totally missing the point of the sport. Redcar is an excellent track but nothing at all wrong with Eastbourne, Edinburgh or Newcastle and all can serve up great Racing and so regularly.

some of the latter races involving Kennett / Nicholls / Harris and Douglas were as good as you'll see, Kennett often slagged off for his away form but seems to be enjoying speedway again and Nicholls is like a vintage wine, seems to get better with age. Despite the sun delay (justified I think if conditions not safe) cracking speedway and as a neutral I cheered at various times for both sides and Heat 15 was worth admission alone.

Have Eastbourne got Redcar in the semi final? Great match last night, Leicester very unlucky but Eddie Kennett races all night v Nicholls and Harris were outstanding and he pulled it out at the end with a brilliant ride. Seems he is finally happy and settled back at Arlington where he began. Eastbourne have to address that tail though as Bowtell; Morley and Wood are absolute passengers away and should be beating riders like Joe Lawlor. I went to NLRC at Leicester last Autumn - Morley and Bowtell were 1-2 may be that sums them and Wood up - big fish in little pond. Wood OK at home but as bad as other 2 away. Leicester I think need to replace either Worrall or Bates and Guests/RR won't work, Mountain was outstanding last night, best I've ever seen him ride.

Can't help but thinking winner of this tie is Cup Winner favourite as Redcar look a lot stronger and Glasgow beat anyone over 2 legs. Edinburgh and Newcastle would hold no fears for either of these teams nor Eastbourne if they hold on to 24 point lead at Leicester and Leicester look to be suffering with bates/Worrall out.

Wood is a real enigma isn't he, dominates in NL and probably CL second string quality at home in CL; but rides like a novice away. Is it in his head? or equipment issues?

well worth a trip over from Brum I think you are right. Nicholls, Douglas and Bomber should be more than a match for Lawson; Kennett and Kerr and Easties bottom 3 look very weak away, although Newman has ridden well and added some stability since signing for them from Brum. Early heats will be vital for Leicester as they will need to hit fast and hard, Heat 2 could be key if Lions can get a heat advantage and Ellis Perks and connor Mountain can fill their boots... I'm going Leicester 58 - 32 on the night and a nail biting aggregate win by 91 - 89 could be a cracker.

are you seriously suggesting that Leicester are not paying riders, they must be the best supported Club in the Championship???

Kids and Adults (for £3 I think). seen it at a few tracks this season, some promotions are really trying and its great to see.

very enjoyable meeting, good racing, good atmosphere boosted by some visiting fans, best crowd possibly this season, I estimate around 650-700 mark and Brummies on and off track seem to have turned a corner which didn't look possible round time of the electical outage lies and fiasco. Credit to Peter and Dave Mason for turning the ship around, be great if they can stabilise in this League and stay in it.

excellent advert for speedway and we need more like this. had to smile at the crowd, in fairness been to Arlington 3 x this season and very good crowds every time around / above 1000 mark but not quite as packed as the cgi machine has shown thre. Definitely be good if BT Sport could enhance a few PL venue crowds.

Decent meeting , IOW would have won if Wood had not had engine failures. Was stood next to an IOW regular who said Wood either wins races or breaks down. Got to question any riders professionalism if that keeps happening. Clegg a class apart, if brennan had not got injured Cradley may have made top 4, no chance without him. Crowd for Cradley dwindles by the week, wonder if it is down to Promoters saying no longer looking for a track? Pearson never there any more not surprisng when he is on TV most Monday's

I like Leicester, go there regularly, track improved by recent changes and heard someone say more changes planned to 3rd/4th bend??. (more banking). Done very well there from a virgin site and all credit to them. One gripe I have is that the lighting is awful, have spoken to a few riders who say the same (2 Coventry riders last year one very experienced) that light poles are too low and outside of the track is dark and can get tricky when wet or dusty to see properly..

Bigger worry is that he is the guy tasked by No Limits Programme to Coach on and off track - hardly the perfect role model - "whinging Aussie" (excuse the irony)

very tough on Nathan Stoneman who arrived with some very good performances and on occasions looked capable of not only scoring points v other reserves but also a few opposition 2nd strings and heat leaders. Much as I like Danyon and think he deserves a chance is he any better than Nathan?? Danish lad a huge step in to the unknown!

The big problem with the current system lies not with the track but with the NHS. The Paramedic cover which Tracks pay for is "private" and provides basic perfectly well equipped ambulance but more serious injury requires County NHS Ambulance to get injured rider (or could be unhealthy spectator) from A to B. The worse the injury the higher spec NHS Ambulance required. Watch "Ambulance on BBC" to see how stretched they are. Tracks not to blame here.

This is the problem with the tracks paying far too much attention to the "one spec of dust and I'm not going keyboard warriors" and over-watering. A safe track as free from dust as possible is better than an over-watered track with no dust. Crazy in context of Loomer Road is that a lot of this "dust dust dust" rubbish is coming from a Cradley Heath fan and ex-rider Mark Robinson.

What a sad and negative old person you must be. No doubt one of those dinosaurs who moans any time anyone under the age of 21 walks within 10 feet of them. I've seen Eastbourne's Community Programme in action on 2 visits to Arlington this season, a credit to their Club and the sport, trying to bring in new fans to replace the sad old dinosaurs. Brummies too doing great work with kids and sadly sad old gits at Perry Barr too, mostly from Sutton Coldfield.

The only MP I ever met who actually supported Speedway was dear old Alan Beith up at Berwick.

I was shown many years ago that best way is to move your feet not your head, so you do 4 x 90 degree feet turns and makes you a lot less dizzy as head is always pointing in same direction as feet. Trick taught me by an old Squaddie at Coventry Speedway.

Steve Boxall got a 2 year ban for NOT failing a Drugs Test but refusing to take one - so 2 years would seem to be appropriate for someone who takes one and fails one.

I think Eastbourne may have missed the boat as he signed for Mildenhall so they own his contract. I know that as the Brummies had a look at Jason when we made reserve change but Stoneman was preferred.