BobC

Whats going on?Twice in two weeks we agree,Steve!!!! The refs got to go.He is consistent though...............at making appalling decisions

Great day out.Very enjoyable. Isle Of Wight Speedway should be thoroughly congratulated on terrific nights entertainment.A perfectly prepared track,with 16 hts of the U15's,(includes the reserve race),5 250cc races,and 6 quad bike races,you certainly got your moneys worth! Things were going along at such a pace,I could hardly keep up with the texting,let alone giving race incidents!Indeed,while I completed my programme,Brendan Johnson,who had to withdraw,was actually doing the texts for me!Thanks for your help,mate. Time for ht4 was 55.0 secs. In the Quarter and semi finals,the riders rode as per helmet colour/gate sequence. In the Final,the riders could choose their gates.Red,Haines,gate2,Blue,Hopwood,gate3,White,Wrathall,gate1,Yellow,Norton,gat e4 Before the main event,there was a 250cc race.As Brendan was taking to the track for the first time since breaking his arm,special arrangements were made to allow him to test the arm in this race.However,as soon as he reached the 1st turn,(riding his normal 500 cc)he knew things were not right,and immediately pulled up.Came back to the pits and withdrew. This made the 1st reserves race very important,as the winner would ride at No.12.In the first start,Amy Carpenter looped and her bike took out Chris Bint.VERY pleased to see both walk away,eventually.In the reun,Ben Reade duly took the honours in the match race with Tom Davies.There were 3 races scheduled,but due to injuries,only one was actually raced. Results from the 250cc races. Ht1.Shane Hazelden,Adam Portwood,Rhys Naylor.Brendan Johnson,(ret inj)4 laps,no time Ht2.Hazelden,Portwood,Naylor.65.0(3 laps) Ht3.Hazelden,Portwood,Naylor.63.5(3 laps) Ht4 Hazelden,Portwood,Naylor.62.8(3 laps) Ht5.Hazelden,Portwood,Naylor.62.0(3 laps) Peter Oakes and his team worked wonders to keep things moving.Dave Pavitt,# Name Removed # and Bryn all made sure things went as smoothly as possible.Good to have the presentations up in the bar afterwards. Congratulations to Joe Haines,a very impressive performance. Sorry,I didnt get any of the quads race results,but they were very good to watch.

Agreed! Almost complete justice.Shame Leigh couldnt have got 2nd though. That'll do nicely!

C'mon Leigh or AJ. The other two? Couldnt give a toss

You dont have to have contact to force a rider off. Really getting peed off with Crump and his actions lately. Crap decision.

Lets clear this up. 12 riders. Each rider takes 4 programmed rides. Quarter Final:Riders finishing 6th,7th,8th,9th Semi Final:Riders finishing 3rd,4th,5th,PLUS winner of Q/F Final:Top scorer,2nd highest scorer,PLUS 1st and 2nd in S/F Thats the format for the series. Last night 2 riders failed to turn up.Rather than ride with only 3 riders in some heats,Peter Oakes nominated riders to fill the spaces.Only the points scored from their PROGRAMMED rides counted towards their total. At the end of the day,it wasnt ideal,but Peter Oakes gives the youngsters what they all desperately need,experience.He should be congratulated for his sterling efforts in very difficult circumstances. I would like to correct the results for Jack Butler.He scored 0,0,0,0,1,1 The points that didnt count towards the Final result were: Ht1.Meakins 1 Ht3.Carpenter 1 Ht4.Paterson 1,Butler 0 Ht8.Piper 2 Ht9.Butler 1 Ht11.Franklin 2 Ht12.3 riders only. On countback,Meakins got the nod to go directly to the Final,over Piper,as he had won 2 races. I can say with complete honesty,that I get as much pleasure watching these youngsters as I do the so called 'Stars'.I support the sport at all levels.On Thursday,I was at the World Team Cup at Reading,and will be there again for the Final later today.You cant get a bigger gulf in experience than that! Very well done to Ben Hopwood for winning and Joe Haines for gaining 2nd.Both very talented indeed.Special praise for George Piper and Scott Meakins for making the Final.With all due respect to both,I dont think many would have said they would have got there. Good Luck to each and every rider for the next round at Isle of Wight in August.

Hey,whats it like up in cloud cuckoo land? Ist....Even Hans had to take some action to avoid hitting the fence.Watch how he has to try and straighten the bike.It was this that allowed Scott to pull up the inside.Miscalculated slighty...my arse! 2nd...Take another look at Scott diving under Hans.Infinitely more room than Hans left Scott a straight earlier. 3rd....Are you Hans in disguise? How can you possibly say that there was no malice intended.Only Hans knows the answer to that.He over rode and new it.Scotts pass was hard but very fair.

Still not seen the Sky coverage,so cant comment on what was shown on tv. Sulky? Damned right he was.After the race had finished,Hans kept his motor on a little longer,went out wide,and tried to nudge Scott.Much as it was on bend 4 a few moments earlier,Scott had to take avoiding action. Yet you still insist that Scott should have shaken his hand! Unreal.

Some thoughts from being at the event. RIP OFF in every respect. Car park,normally £1,was £2.Arrive late and park at the Football ground,some were only being charged £1. Programmes.£5 Only included Swedish Round 2,and Play off and Final.Polish prog sold out,EXCEPT for one guy who had a few and was selling them for £10 each. The Stadium.A World Final arena?I dont think so at all.God only knows what people must think of British speedway. The parade: Who thought that rubbish out?Good to see them ride round as a team.Didnt even come out in any sort of order,and the gap,at one point between one team coming out and another was almost 3 minutes! Start Girls.Didnt have a clue what was happening at all! A member of the track staff had made an attempt to advise them.Totally ignored.Kevin Coomes then tried,and made a complete mess of it.Ie,he made the girls change flags,instead of reading the prog and changing gates as required.Thankfully,someone did make them see sense. Kevin Coomes.What a complete and utter pratt.Loves the sound of his own voice.Got a lot of things wrong all night long. The scoreboard is situated on bends 1/2.No Kevin,it is on turns3/4. Kept announcing the teams right up to 7.15,and then said 'these are the approximate teams for tonight'!You what? Please make use of all the refreshment stalls,situated ALL AROUND the stadium.Apart from the bog standard burger place,there was one events style van the 1st turn.Hardly suitable for a large gathering. Tried to do his 'Brighton Bonanza' style of getting the crowd going.Lets start with bend one.He was stood addressing turn3! and so on.Looked bemused when the cheers started up at the other end of the stadium! Made himself look and sound like a complete idiot. The track.Ok for a few heats but quickly became super slick,and dusty.Not a good advert for a sport the pertains to race on dirt/shale! John Postlewaite: Stop strutting round with that smug arrogant look about you.Do something for us,the paying public for a change.Your organisation is completely and utterly ripping the public off.If last night was your idea of a good overall presentation,then you need a lot of help.A very poor effort. So there you have it.My advice if going the Final on Saturday? Take out a mortgage. Take your own food and drink,unless you want to miss 3 or 4 heats while you queue up. Dont wear anything decent,as it will get covered in dust very quickly Dont try and follow the scoreboard,as that was frequently wrong. The best of British? Very very sadly way short of the mark. You have been warned....

From my view,sitting just behind the start,Hans move looked lethal.As has been said,riding an opponent out is one thing,but to appear to chop him off is not on.Such was the ferocity of his move that I swear his footrest touched the kickboards.From white line to kickboard in such a manner is dangerous.How on earth can that be judged as fair? Fortunately,Scott had the foresight to back off a little.If he hadnt,gawd knows what would have happened.Scott then returned the compliment,with far less force,yet you could visibly see Hans not like it.He likes to dish it out,but gets all sulky when its returned. It is such a shame,as on current form,I think he is probably 2nd only to Crump. Note:These are my thoughts having been at the event.I have not watched the action on tv to prove/disprove my thoughts.

Bloody right he has! Shame he got the timing a bit wrong,as the heavens opened just after ht5 at Poole tonight!! He will try again on Friday..........you have been warned.

Just a pity Brendan wont be there in the mix though. Good Luck to all the competitors.

Best wishes Chris. I wish all the lads a speedy recovery. Sorry I didnt really get to chat you properly.(To be honest Pat,I got you muddled up with you know who!).I sincerly apologise for that one!

Get well soon Steve. George could be joining you soon! If he fires off that air horn close to me one more time,he will require an operation to extracate it! All the best Steve.

Thats correct,Friday 21st July is at Plymouth!

The feeling at the riders meeting was that not enough riders could make the 30th at Somerset,and didnt seem to get full agreement.although it was agreed for the IOW on the Thursday 17th August. Amy was very unlucky,looked very painful.Well done to one and all.Keep plugging away. I agree Main Man,the referee didnt seem to have full control of either meeting.As for the helmet colour fiasco near the end,well you couldnt script it could you! Sorry I didnt get chance to chat to you or Peter,but you both had your hands full trying to keep things moving.I was there supporting Brendan and George,keeping them informed of how things were going etc. Once again,many thanks to Peter Oakes for his hard work in keeping the whole thing going.

My apologies,I wasnt aware of a young lady riding. Good for her! Best of luck as well.

The first round of the U15's Championships being held at Buxton this Sunday 18th,anyone know whos actually riding? This follows the Buxton v Newport Conference meeting. Good Luck to every single lad that rides,but especially to Brendan and George.

Oooops,placed my thoughts on a different thread! Well done to Brendan(of course!)Great to see you out there. The results were... Ht1..59.50..Joe Haines,Adam Wrathall,Brendan Johnson,George Piper(puncture) Ht2..60.97..Josh Auty,Jack Roberts,Ben Hopwood,Ben Taylor. I fully appreciate the efforts of Peter Oakes to get these races on.He works tirelessly on the lads behalf. He made sure that they were all introduced individually,with an old fashioned(but greatly appreciated),style parade.No helmets,and a little more than walking pace.Some even smiled!! A quiet word with each of the lads before going on track,and raptuorous and enthusiastic applause for their efforts after their race.Encouraging them all the time. I know it was not ideal,and can assure you Peter wasnt happy at messing the lads about.It was out of his control. The best way to pay Peter and the lads back is to pop along to a meeting when they ride at your track,or one near to you.They are the future of British Speedway. Well done to each and every rider for having a go.Im sure they all loved the experience.I did,and certainly wouldnt have missed them. Finally,again,many thanks to Peter Oakes and his sterling efforts to get the Academy up and running,even if it appears that officialdom doesnt always seem to want to help.

The results were... Ht1..59.50..Joe Haines,Adam Wrathall,Brendan Johnson,George Piper(puncture) Ht2..60.97..Josh Auty,Jack Roberts,Ben Hopwood,Ben Taylor. I fully appreciate the efforts of Peter Oakes to get these races on.He works tirelessly on the lads behalf. He made sure that they were all introduced individually,with an old fashioned(but greatly appreciated),style parade.No helmets,and a little more than walking pace.Some even smiled!! A quiet word with each of the lads before going on track,and raptuorous and enthusiastic applause for their efforts after their race.Encouraging them all the time. I know it was not ideal,and can assure you Peter wasnt happy at messing the lads about.It was out of his control. The best way to pay Peter and the lads back is to pop along to a meeting when they ride at your track,or one near to you.They are the future of British Speedway. Well done to each and every rider for having a go.Im sure they all loved the experience.I did,and certainly wouldnt have missed them. Finally,again,many thanks to Peter Oakes and his sterling efforts to get the Academy up and running,even if it appears that officialdom doesnt always seem to want to help.

Will probably be popping in the Prince Of Wales too. Its young Brendans birthday on the Sunday.Its also his Dads (Dave) birthday as well!! Might as well meet there for a natter,along with the many others.

I asked that last year.The answer is Ole Olsen. He doesnt really want them there at all as 'they just get in the way' We suggested bringing the 'live' entertainment forward by 15-20 mins,and then have the kids,before going straight into the meeting presentation.Perfect timing.The vast majority of people are ready by then. Ole's reason for saying no? He wants them in and out of the pit area asap,as there would be too many people milling around the senior riders. To be fair,it does give the junior riders and their families time to pack up their gear and settle in their seats before the main event. I would prefer to have no 'live' entertainment,but have at least 6 races for the kids.After all,I go there for the Speedway,not to see some faded pop star. Rant over.I will still be there to watch them though.

Colin was at the End of Era meeting at Exeter last season.Still very warmly welcomed down that way too. Loved my visits to Blackbird Road,even though it was never actually in it,I seem to remember! Favourite Leicester rider? There can only be one.........RAY WILSON. THE BEST CAPTAIN OF ENGLAND.....................EVER.

Last year I went in a soon as the gates opened(5pm),as I was told that the youngsters would be out early. I hadnt been in my seat for 5mins,and they were off,with only a few people in the arena at the time. They deserved better in my opinion.Ole Olsen was being his usual demonstrative self.Hardly gave them time to do anything.They were all ushered off pretty quick. I hope its better organised better this year.