False dawn

And Bartosz came all that way for nothing 🤪

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/38759838/emma-louise-jones-presenter-tnt-sports-speedway/ She appears to have all the right attributes 😁

So in the league section of the KO Cup, T/S rides aren't allowed. But an aggregate point is awarded. So isn't this a two leg competition just like it is in the knock out part of the competition? Just saying.

As it turned out it was gate 1 and gate 4 to some extent that turned out to be difficult. My perennial complaint is why don't the track staff fix it? Back in the day we had a man or men with rakes on the start line that would fix any obvious problems. Oh I know that there was always accusations of doctoring the gates for the next race in favour of the home team. But if one gate was deep or slick, at least with some attention this could be improved. Uneven gates are annoying especially in key heats (13,15 and especially any super heat).

There seems to be a contradiction in what you say. If gate 3 was a graveyard on Monday (and yes it was, not a single win) the riders obviously didn't get used to it.

How do you know. Have they tossed for gates already?

You could be right. I thought the 8 day rule would prevent him riding for BV at the NSS next Monday. But I checked and the 8 day rule doesn't apply if the guest is replacing the number 1.

Would have been a bu**er if all 3 had been rained off

Well I enjoyed it. It was great to relive some of those old memories of clashes between the two sides. Dan Thompson and Jody Scott put on a great show for the Bees as well as Bomber's usual 100% showing. Sam Masters was untouchable for the home side and it was great to see Erik Riss back to the sort of form we all know he's capable of. Thank you Oxford for putting this on. The Bees ain't dead yet.

If someone is dropping in a bike via a drone for him to practice in his exercise periods, I'd be very worried 😱

According to the article in the Star they have had specialist help with the more difficult areas of damage, as well as the regular track staff and an army of volunteers. The general gist of the article was that everyone is working very hard to make the circuit ready in time for league racing. I'm sure if they could have run the youth training this weekend they would have. I have to say that there have many comments about the extent of the damage caused. There wasn't just "a few bent poles". The starting gate was destroyed and there was mention today of damage to the transponder wiring.

Generally I agree. But the authorities, for whatever reason, decided to give Tai a WC. Would you turn it down if you were him? The fact that he is not going to be fit enough came later and from what we hear, it wasn't for the want of trying.

A more generous interpretation of what little we know is that Tai was badly injured. Then against the odds he's offered a WC for this year's GP series. He accepts in the hope that working very hard he can be fit in time. Unfortunately his body didn't quite co-operate enough to make the fairy tale come about. Just saying.

Having watched a lot of BSN meetings last year, I realised (again) what a good job they are doing. I'm sorry BVTV, your presentation was amateurish, the lead commentator didn't seem to know who was who and the camera work seemed designed to miss any overtaking. If I can't get to this meeting next year I will not be buying the stream again.

I hope the weather forecast improves.

Good job we don't have the Leicester Hunters anymore, eh?

BSN confirmed by email that they are not covering this meeting. Belle Vue told me a week ago by email that it wasn't scheduled but to watch the website for details.

Not by choice if my reading between the lines is accurate.

Now there's two name to conjure with. I met Kevin with his now more famous son at a NSSC meeting not so long along. A humble and kindly fellow who I had a lot of time for back in the day. But Andy Hackett. I remember him riding at Brandon after the second halves, right through to his senior team days. Whatever happened to him?

Good luck Northampton. We all wish you well. Period

Joking aside. This is a great chance to keep the Bees name alive, and to revive some of those memories of classic ties between these two great sides. The Bees always came to Cowley and gave a good account of themselves. It will be a pleasure to go back in time for one night at least. I don't live local anymore but I'll bee there. I hope to see many old friends there as well.

Well done to the pair of them. I'm suitably impressed.

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “We will give the Coventry fans a side that they get right behind, and we also may have a surprise or two up our sleeves." I'm telling you, at least one of the H&H pairing are making an appearance 😂

And Northampton fans. Are there any?

I remember listening to Chris Morton at a Nuneaton Supporters club meeting a couple of years ago talking at length how he designed the NSS track. He couldn't find any plans of the Hyde Road circuit. But he visited the site of the original track and found that the inside kerb still existed on the ground. So he measured that all out and started from there. So in a real sense the Hyde Road circuit lives on. Pity they haven't got a roller coaster that overlooks the track though, eh?