TheWellBehavedWorrall

I saw that earlier when searching for Carrillo; I couldn’t believe how many meetings he rode in and thought it was a typo, but back then, you had a 28-meeting Premier League, a 14-meeting Premier Trophy group, plus the knock-out stages to that competition and the Knockout Cup itself. Add in the Spring Cup and Scottish Cup fixtures, you were spoiled for fixtures. You’re spot on regarding Bentley. He was particularly outstanding for Hull, if my memory serves me correctly. However, he wasn’t quite as potent in 2004 and 2005 marked his final year in the sport.

Has the press and practice been? I haven’t seen any photos.

I only visited Odsal once - the 1996 PLRC - and it was an experience that will live with me forever. The atmosphere, the banking, the racing, etc, Odsal and Bradford Dukes were a huge loss to the sport.

Thanks for sharing, @IainB. I’m in no doubt that Leigh Adams is one of the best riders not to have been world champion. As someone else said, he achieved averages of over 9 and 10 across three leagues in the UK, Poland and Sweden for over a decade. A remarkable achievement of high level consistency and not only a testament to his ability, but his professionalism too. It would be easy to suggest his shortcomings on the world stage were down to a lack of ruthlessness or risk taking, but the GP that Leigh Adams rode in was very different from the one we see today. No disrespect to today’s field, but GPs from 1995 - 2005 in particular were littered with number ones, all capable of winning a GP. I met him by his van after a meeting at Oxford in 2001 and he was so pleasant.

This should be an outstanding meeting; an excellent way to start the season. I visited Northside last year and thought the set-up was great. Steve Lawson has done an incredible job, as have the Workington Comets’ stakeholders, so hosting this meeting is well deserved.

Time makes the heart grow fonder with that 2004 Tigers’ side. I remember it well. An incredible showing in the group stage of the Premier Trophy was sandwiched between an aggregate loss to Edinburgh in the Spring Trophy and a disappointing league campaign. I particularly remember our hard work in the Premier Trophy went to waste as an all-matching-race-suits Reading took us apart in the semi-final. Jones started well, but chucked it due to mechanical issues (ironic as an engine tuner) and his replacement - Lee Dicken - struggled. Stancl’s inconsistent form away from home was a problem, Paul Bentley - who had topped the averages in recent years - wore number four and rode like a number four - while the reserves, as highlighted, were dreadful. Barry Campbell and Corey Blackman were two journeymen; we got what we paid for. Carillo was an improvement, but not enough to salvage what turned out to be a disappointing season. I vividly remember Carillo arriving mid-way through the meeting at Shielfield Park due to traffic. It was Ian Steel’s last meeting as Tigers’ manager.

Hoping for a Tigers’ win, but Armadale is such a tight track, who knows? It might only be the Scottish Cup which is in essence a friendly, but it’s a huge opportunity to lay down an immediate marker after last season’s disappointment. From what I’ve read, those who have appearances under their belt have done well, so long may that continue. I have to say, for all I’ll criticise Edinburgh as our rival, I love a trip to Armadale and I’m delighted speedway continues there.

What a horrible situation. I was gutted when I heard what happened. His wife and kids - with whom he seems to share a loving life with, based on social media - must be in bits. My heart goes out to them. After last year’s season ending elbow injury, how can someone be so unlucky? He’s achieved everything and more in the sport, so naturally, you think of retirement, but I get the impression us mere mortals will never understand the resilience and determination of a speedway rider. All the best Tai.

I think the selection of Starke at the expense of Foord speaks volumes for the panic stations at Wimborne Road. I’m not buying the agenda that Poole are protecting their image; what Poole are doing is neglecting the future of the sport for what they see as an ageing diamond in the rough. The suggestion that machinery was the issue doesn’t wash. I could have pedalled around Ashfield faster than Starke did last season.

He won the Stars of Tomorrow competition. He’s basically a GP rider in the making.

Berwick’s biggest challenge in 2025 will be filling the void left by the departing Freddie Hodder.

I wouldn’t be disappointed with that side, if I was a Berwick fan. Cook’s a great signing. He seemed to have screwed the nut last season, so with a settled season under his belt and a healthy pre-season, we see any any Craig Cook next season; including the best version. I think Hagon could be a very good signing. He scored well guesting at Shielfield against us in June. I also think Borke has a lot of potential.

Again, I keep reiterating that I’m referring to these riders’ performance as a new signing. I lived abroad, so didn’t see any speedway beyond 2004, so can’t comment on Leverington’s performances after that. What I can comment on is seeing our new signing score 1 at Ashfield and 1 at Armadale in his first two meetings. He only scored one because McAllan and Campbell retired and were excluded. In both meetings, he was replaced in his fourth ride. Can it get any worse as a new signing?😂 Again, he may have come good, but the initial signing of Trent Leverington was a disaster. A quick search and he ended the season at the bottom of our averages and appears to have been dropped for Ross Brady late in the season.

Not great, Arthur. Not great.

As Martin Luther King once said; ”Wimborne Road? Not for me, mate. I call it the oval sleeping tablet”.

There’s more chance of Long Eaton finishing in the top four than Plymouth.

Are speedway attendances released? I heard your cleaning staff are still finding our empty bottles of champagne at Wimborne Road from when we swaggered down to Dorset fourteen months ago, won the league and paraded the trophy around your stadium.

No doubt Juul and Wolbert were rubbish, but Leverington was woeful. I had left the country for work when he returned, but Trent Leverington - as a new signing which is what my original comment referred to - was dreadful beyond comprehension. A quick Google and in the Spring Trophy, he scored a grand total of 1 point at Ashfield and 1 point at Armadale; both points coming because someone else retired and was excluded. Yet, he still wasn’t as disappointing as Ivacic. Lee Complin was a retained rider, not a new signing, who failed a drug test; nothing to do with on-track performance.

Panic stations at Wimborne Road since Glasgow announced their line-up.

Max, you are indeed mad.

He was the very first rider I thought of as soon as I saw this topic. There are leg trailers like Joe Screen, exaggerated positioning like Armando Castagna and smooth sailors like Bjarne Pedersen, but nothing on this earth comes close to Rob Grant’s style. It was so bizarre, I wouldn’t even know how to describe it. Can anyone find a picture? I can’t.

Was he? I didn’t think so. Actually, I’ll go even further and say that he often withdrew from competing for the first bend; pulling the clutch and putting his left foot on the ground before hitting turn one. We’ve had some terrible signings over the years, from Dalle Anderson to Trent Leverington, but few have been as abysmal as Ivacic. He arrived as the Slovenian or Slovakian champion, but ended up at reserve. Factor in the costs associated with mobilising him, his work permit, etc. An absolute disaster of a signing. Genuinely dreadful.

I was exaggerating for effect, not looking for a letdown competition.

I can only assume you didn’t see any Glasgow meetings last season, or you’ve suffered a serious brain injury. The word ”woeful” doesn’t even cut it. The biggest letdown in the history of Glasgow speedway.