paulboy

I could be wrong but I didn't think you were allowed to replace your number 7 in heat 4

Oh it's no criticism of the riders, they need to race as much as they can, does anybody really believe many care about "their" team?

And for good measure I saw Cameron & Danny on the box last night as well, although both were riding for their own clubs this time!

My first visit to the new Belle Vue and impressions are good, although I'd expected that from TV meetings before. Got to give huge credit to all the riders for continuing in pretty wet conditions and. as has been pointed out before, the best racing was probably towards the end with the track at its wettest! Kenneth Bjerre the undoubted start for the home side, most of the Starts had their moments and certainly gave maximum effort. Without doubt a track I would go back to. A rare venture up North for me, is there really no decent road across to Sheffield (where I was staying)? Took well over an hour to drive about 40 miles (and took even longer on the way over that afternoon!)

Took in this meeting as part of a mini tour. Certainly an unusual venue, even when you are within a few hundred yards it's not obvious where the track is. I do like the fact that you can buy your admission ticket in the bar outside, great excuse for a pint (after several at the cricket earlier!) The actual meeting wasn't great, not helped by the sun break after heat 1, although there were some good races towards the end to make up for a very processional start. Can't help feeling that they got things mighty wrong with the track design though, certainly not an easy place to pass! Josh Bates hugely impressive for the home side.

My first visit to Scuthorpe & certainly enjoyed the experience, even though the meeting seemed to go on forever, but thats the problem with RR for both sides. Thought Witches were lucky that Schlein wasn't excluded for riding through Douglas but that Auty was fortunate to be in the rerun of heat 4. Danny King was certainly class. Also enjoyed Rob Godfrey's unusual style of centre green presentation :-)

I've just come back from a mini road trip, taking in meetings at Somerset last Wednesday, then Belle Vue Fri, Leicester Sat & Scunthorpe Sun. I saw Cameron Heeps ride in all 4 meetings, for 4 different clubs and Danny King & Michael Palm Toft ride in the last 3, for 3 different clubs. How crazy is that?

It didn't look that bad to me, but I would have thought the weather forecast, M5 problems & 3 home matches, with 2 against Wolves & Swindon, might have put some people off (including me) when they could watch it at home

And if you use it as soon as you can & it doesn't work you're called an idiot for not waiting. The best thing they can do is ditch the stupid bloody rule, I'm pleased Lions didn't win because of it! I'm no Jim Lynch fan by the way!

Everyone's saying he should have played the joker after the event but it didn't look a no brainer beforehand, 2 riders who'd done nothing against Richard Lawson who's been on fire this week (although admittedly not so much for the Rebels). And Nicholls & King, who'd both run last places, would have been up against Charles Wright who'd only been beaten by a snapped chain, so anyone's to win, but we'll never know!

I think you may be right!

I'm making a day of it in Leicester and watching the T20 cricket in the afternoon before the speedway. Can anybody tell me if there is an easy bus route from Grace Road to Beaumont Park or is a taxi the best bet? I'll be leaving my car at the hotel so I can enjoy a beverage in the sunshine

The late Murray Walker???

I don't see how thinking someone is a bloody afwul commentator is having a personal agenda, nor do I believe for one second that the TV industry would pay much attention to a couple of speedway commentators. The subject's been done to death and Pearson in particular is obviously marmite. I'm not too keen on the usual 2 replies from his lovers though, either "could you do any better" (maybe if I was being paid to but I'm not) or "turn off the sound"!I think if you pay for a service you should be able to listen to it! I watch a lot of sport on TV and, in my opinion, there are very few poor commentators. Admittedly a lot of ball sports are very different to commentate on than motor sport and I'm not very keen on Huewen and the posh guy on Moto GP, but even they manage to get through a race without shouting and yelling WOOOAH whenever something happens. And I agree the guy on the Swedish coverage is so much better!!

Why fortunately? Your mate is he?

It's all about opinions, I think their commentary in the race off plummeted to many new depths!! I genuinely can't think of worse sporting commentators, with the possible exception of Jonathan Pearce on BBC football. Yet I think Natalie & Scott in the studio do a decent job!!

Does Pearson get paid for each time he shouts whoooo or get out of the way? And how can the other muppet suggest Emil should be excluded for that?

Pearson does dart too & he's no good at that either. On the whole Sky's commentators across all sports are pretty good, which makes the speedway more disappointing. If you think you need to shout to make a decent speedway commentator then good for you. I haven't seen anybody suggesting snooker style commentary!

Good point in fact most of the BBC football co-commentators were pretty dire. And Jonathan Pearce could almost be Pearson's brother! I have always been a tolerator, but last night I had to actually turn the sound down! I don't question his knowledge, he's just not very good at commentating without sounding like he's about to have a very messy accident! Tatum somtimes calms him down but more often then not they are both yelling at the screen together. Yes I know it's a difficult job, like to see me try etc etc etc and I couldn't really think of a viable alternative unless a non-speedway person was brought in.

I agree not biased, but if there is a worse sports commentator on British TV than Pearson I have yet to come across him.

Or he's just the cheapest option!

Very likely I would say

Know exactly what you mean, was planning on going to this but no point with 2 Devils missing, Newman was great last time around too!

Surely if he's a gating tart that should make for good racing as the Rebels pass him?

Ditto!!!