RobMcCaffery

I was a lot happier to pay to watch rain-ruined processions when it only cost an arm to get into speedway. If they want the leg as well as they do now I expect better. I think white just surrendered.

I know a retired presenter that might be willing to make a comeback for that.

It'll be the wingdings font next. I've heard that things are about to pick up - the 'Start' (sic) Gniezno manager's found a map of the track.

You've been in America too long Alan. Bring it on! The "Start" in Gniezno is looking more and more ironic.

Of course. I've seen both sides of it. I remember a mud bath at Rye House before I got involved inj the sport professionally when riders were racing bare faced to try desperately to see, the crowd getting soaked and no chance of racing whatever. Whenever I hear of Rye House meetings getting called-off early I remember that waste of money and wonder if a painful lesson was learned. Anyway, it looks like the track's coming round and we might see some speedway.

There's been a lot of debate over meetings over here being called-off too easily. Isn't this a reminder of why pressing on regardless isn't always the best option? Hopefully the track will allow racing later on. Maybe it's just Gniezno......

Get the feeling Gniezno aren't that happy about this going ahead?

Careful or you'll find a horde of Poole fans defending you.

Very happy to be proved wrong.

Rybnik's start delayed by 30 minutes to 14.30 local time due to rain. Edit: Looks grim - can't see that going ahead.

Not just that, back in my early days names like ROW Rybnik were just that, names. Now thanks to the wonders of modern technology I can finally see what the tracks are like, as well as the major teams. When I saw a shy, confused Zenon Plech sitting in the bar at Crayford in late '75, having finally been allowed to come over I never once dreamed that one day that mysterious world of Polish Speedway could become so familiar.

I take it Lodz's protest team was deemed not worth giving TV coverage to.

Works in Poland.....

You do get the feeling detailed management accounts for the Polish clubs would make very interesting reading. It's another way you can't compare the BEL with the Polish or Swedish leagues - financially it's it's just not a level playing field - or track.... Something that was very apparent in my commentary days was how impressive so many sports facilities I was commentating from around Europe were very impressive - and funded by the local council. If only we had such support here where it's private money that sets up and runs the stadia.

It's interesting that they seem to see outside city funding as a right, not a benefit. Are the Ekstraliga clubs also getting these subsidies?

I was in Scotland in May for a non-speedway event and would have loved to see Ashfield again but the 3 pm start time clashed with the event I was attending. Thankfully I was able to get to Armadale on the Friday. There's always too many things going on on Sundays for me, and I suspect for quite a few others. I haven't seen Ashfield since the portakabin fire but thought it a good, basic stadium, certainly by comparison with the Blantyres. Shawfield was an impressive venue and clearly on the right side of the city if there is a Lanarkshire bias in the Tigers' support. It's a heck of a gamble though given they're struggling to even make Ashfield pay and this isn't really a good time to take risks in the sport, no matter how great the potential win might be. Is there the money to take that risk, especially if significant cost were needed to get back in there? I wish the answer was yes because speedway and Shawfield seemed an ideal fit when I visited it.

Superb post - if only more thought that way! Not every one can win, but everyone can enjoy the racing. Sadly too many can't enjoy a meeting unless their team's won. When the wins run out, so do they.

Excellent news. Many thanks.

Quest is wide open - showing a complete run of 'Salvage Hunters' all day. That could just be a 'fix' for UK viewers since I'm unsure if Quest is carried in other European nations.

Eurosport have two live events tomorrow afternoon so TV coverage might have to wait for the evening slot allocated to highlights of the event plus last week's SEC. The Polish version of the ELRC is also scheduled for tomorrow so that's going to be affected.

Always a great guy to interview. A fine rider gone far too soon.

Or maybe Ron was trying to reverse the ruin that Silver lefyt behind then? Ron's only fault was to keep trying. A decent genuine guy who really does not deserve what he gets on here. I've known plenty of reptiles and idiots in the sport and he certainly wasn't one.

Please please please can people keep their politics to themselves in a sports forum!

Wonderful to get away from the stresses of the EL desperately trying to find a way to survive and to see riders for whom riding for their teams mattered rather than it being just a way to make some extra cash or putting in a few 'skids' before heading abroad for the real money, to use their best bikes and put in some real effort. Some like names, I like speedway and that was an excellent example of speedway as it should be with only the exceptional circumstance of Simon Stead being blocked from riding by the SWC preventing both teams turning-up in full. No compromises, no contrived formula seeding or protecting riders out of their depth, just team speedway as it should be and something that those fools who think only the top riders are worth turning up for are denying themselves from seeing. It's their loss and if they think people respect them or are in awe of them for that silly stance they're deluded. As for the fool trying to insult the PL by wittering on about empty terraces closed due to the death of 96 people just up the road, sometimes words just cannot convey enough contempt. Relieved to hear both riders aren't as badly hurt as was feared.

Looking forward to my second meeting at the EWR, if only to listen-in on Rob Godfrey's conversation with the referee ;-) "If Jim says it's am unsatisfactory start, it's an unsatisfactory start...." No shorts - I can be cruel but never inhumane.