TheWellBehavedWorrall

You said he won’t be around for long after three races; I said we must be patient and I hope he comes good, but alarm bells are ringing after three meetings. A slight difference.😂

Was there something wrong with the speakers on the back straight? The old boy next to us couldn’t hear a thing. I struggled, but had to give him the times after most heats. I think Shielfield’s one of the only tracks where even without a great deal of passing, the racings exciting. Seeing riders navigate those top two bends is superb.

I feel like this perspective is shared by those running British speedway and in my opinion, it’s the biggest reason British speedway will die (as a competitive sport) in the not too distant future. Far too many people tolerate mediocrity and outright amateurish standards, accusing those (myself included) who demand standards and improvement as ”moaners” and ”negative”. We all want the same thing; British speedway to thrive, but I believe some of use are already anticipating what is coming while others bury their heads in the sand.

Agreed, but I always feel six is due more leniency than seven as they’re in more difficult races. I think that’s why Hodder was retained over Perry. Quite worrying how poor our reigning British U21 champion looked in addition to our former Bandit who appeared to be shutting off entering bends. I really like Hodder, but slowing down to hit the corner raises big concerns.

On a similar note, should Hagon have replaced Hodder in heat fourteen? Neither rode well, but Hagon had just relegated Battye to last in heat twelve, so in my opinion, the obvious strategy was to do a reserve replacement. Forgive me if I’ve missed a rule.

I’m not disputing any of this - you’ve quoted me saying ”patience is key” and ”I hope he comes good” - but the fact of the matter is, we’re talking about someone whose arrived a gold medalist at the SON2 and victor of the Gold Ribbon, ahead of several big names. It cannot be argued that the pre-season excitement has been extinguished somewhat. It’s difficult not to compare him to our most immediate similarity; Villads Nagel who was younger and arrived mid-season, but who hit the ground running. As I said, I hope he comes good.

Slovenian riders give me PTSD since Matic Ivacic, but this boy can’t be any worse.

Said this a few weeks ago and unfortunately, we found ourselves on the end of it tonight. What a talent.

You win some, you lose some. Well done to the Bandits who were deserved winners. I’m a bit lost for words for Battye. That’s the best debut I’ve ever seen. That assertiveness to shut the door on Howarth in heat four was of established heat leader calibre; not a young man making his debut. Bitterly disappointing from Hagon and Hausl. Hodder’s 3+1 exceeds what’s expected of him, IMO, and holding off Morris in heat four was a point we had no right accounting for. Harris has more than earned ann off day, but the other three desperately need to contribute. Patience is key, but after three meetings, alarm bells are ringing for Hausl. Of course, I hope he comes good, but he’s so far off it; spectacularly poor, heat one aside. My heart says he’ll come good, but my head says he’ll be gone by mid-May.

Forecast is a bit of rain and sun until around 4PM/5PM, then glorious speedway from there.

Shielfield Park, tomorrow night. 7PM (England time)/7PM (Scotland time). Love Shielfield. Those third and fourth bends can make or break a rider and even unchallenged, seeing a rider go around Berwick, full throttle, is a thing of beauty. I’m going to for another draw on the road. I think it’ll be close; I think the Bandits have put together a side with a lot of potential, but we’re strong too. As will be the case often in the early stages of the season, a lot will depend on if or how Hausl and Juhl Pedersen adapt to the track. Being left alone with their own thoughts for the duration of that back-straight could be dangerous.

I get my copy from Tesco every week, largely out of nostalgia and loyalty. Magazines are outdated in the current world, but British speedway’s lack of coverage dictates the vast majority of it is actually new information. I do feel like the content needs improving. Give us more insight, less reporting. Alun Rossiter’s interview a couple of weeks ago was interesting, as are the manager interviews because they give fans a perspective they’re unfamiliar with.

@StevePark explain yourself.

I might sit in the main stand tonight, if that’s the case. I’d also be closer to the announcer, so could maybe help correct his many errors. Who was the old presenter? Michael Max, I think? He was very good. I remember he was brought down to do the Pairs at Workington and the PLRC at Belle Vue, he was that highly regarded. At a time when there were 25+ active clubs in British speedway, all of whom had their own presenter. Edinburgh have quite a professional set up with no Laurel & Hardy like attempts at humour, but their previous one was also outstanding. I think his name was Scott Wilson. I still have nightmares about ”Peter ‘The Motor’ Carr”” because nine times out of ten, he was winning.

Darts has definitely become a spectacle; a blur between sports and live entertainment, but they kick started the rejuvenation by leaning on the characters and the rivalries, big time. Taylor and Van Gerwen, for example. I feel like speedway has so much potential, but we’re falling terribly short on the absolute basics, like a complete failure to modernise presentation. Anyway, I’m looking forward to tomorrow night, ”Lively Leon Flint” and ”a win for the rider in orange, Ainsley Harriett, in a winning time of two hours” aside.

FWIW, I’m not against 80s gay disco in the right environment (a 60th birthday party or an Elton John tribute act, for example), but that environment isn’t at a sporting event. We do a lot very well at Ashfield, but in terms of audible presentation, it’s dreadful. Utterly woeful. Glasgow - and British speedway as a whole, to be fair - has to rebrand itself, similar to what darts went through. Instead, we’re forced to endure incorrect announcements relating to riders, scores and times while we’re made to tolerate forced, dated, amateurish broadcasting like ”Lively Leon Flint”.

Senior Vice President of Airhorns.

He sounds mature.

😂 What an input. This is probably a grown adult, by the way.

What are you talking about? The track should be prepared for racing. It’s not black and white; prepare it for us or them. Poole came to Ashfield twice last season and won (once on aggregate); an emphasis that 1. We do not prepare the track purely for ourselves and 2. You build strong, entertaining sides that deserve so much better than they get at Wimborne Road.

Are we getting into this? Really? In the return leg at Ashfield, your riders - and ours - put on an absolute show of speedway. It was a pleasure to witness it. That is what speedway is all about. Don’t insult me or any other paying fan with at least half a brain with the ”we prepared it for ourselves”. Did you see Lawson and Cook in the play-off race at Ashfield? They smoked Harris and Howarth. Give them a racers track and they’ll entertain. We lost, but that is what speedway is all about. Utter brain damage, trying to justify two passes after the second bend across fifteen heats of speedway at Wimborne Road as preparing it for yourself.

Not quite the point the Lisa. You can talk about anything. You can talk about how many five years olds it would take to beat you in a fight, for example. The point is that a Poole fan criticising someone else’s track is similar to Donald Trump suggesting you should watch what you eat or Stevie Wonder questioning your vision.

Horrible situation for Swindon. A new company can be created on Companies House for around £20, but the fact the last entity to run speedway in Swindon has collapsed doesn’t exactly scream positivity. Do we have any Swindon fans on here? If so, do you still attend the likes of Oxford, or are you lost to the sport? Many years ago, I enjoyed visiting Reading, Oxford and Swindon. Cornerstone clubs of British speedway. It’s a travesty, what’s happening to UK speedway. I’m an optimist, but also a realist and without significant intervention, we’ll lose this fine sport one day in this country.

Ashfield, tomorrow night. 7:30PM (UK time)/10PM (Tehran time). The forecast does not look good. Prediction, should this go ahead: Glasgow 49, Berwick 41, me to cringe at least four times when the presenter says ”Lively Leon Flint” and the announcer to give the wrong time twice, incorrectly confirm the score four times and say the wrong rider won the last race six times. All of which will be supplemented by music more suited to an 80s gay disco than a sporting event.

I had similar concerns over Steve Worrall in 2024. 3, 3, 2, 1, 0 was a typical scoreline sequence for him. This is why I think we brought Howarth back. I feel like he’s got the mentality and aggression for heats 13 and 15.