FAST GATER

Sorry can't agree the way it has changed( ruined IMO) the EL format is too high a price to pay, as only a few have really come to the fore and would have done so anyway and probable within the same timescale Spot on

Jacobs did not need the EDR he is more than a little bit special and the sport certainly doesn't need the scheme he would have made the same progress without it !!!

IMO Pearson / Tatum are speedway's Walker & Hunt I for one love their commentary IMO they are getting better all the time ,their enthusiasm and passion for the sport is obvious and genuine plus I am sure they conduct themselves in a manner their employers are happy with.

I travelled around with JJ and helped in the pits for 4/5 yrs in the mid 70's and only ever saw him fall off once on turn 2 at the Port he was one of the safest riders I have ever seen race ( I would put him up with Peter Karlsson for that) as well as being one of the fastest .I have said before I over heard Tom Owen telling his team mate to block Jacko (gate 1) off gate 2 because if he gets in front you will never see him !!!!

What pleasure to see his thread about my old team and track which IMO was one of the best in the country for size and prep I can still remember Frank Varey throwing sweets to the kids as he graded the track . Then there was Joe Shaw with his famous comb over and Ernie Parks the promoter ( one of the nicest men you could possible meet a real Gent) he would come up to Jacko and say if you win this one John "there will be a little extra for you" in your packet this week.They were wonderful times to be involved with the sport and they were a great bunch of riders who rode for the club over the 70's happy days indeed .

No there were in the old NL but only 2 divisions back then

First track record held by Mr J Jackson then riding for Crewe ,my local track makes me want to weep could still be brought back to life but will never happen sadly

I really hope this is now the end of the delays and the start of your new stadium ,yet again this will hopefully be another new venue that the sport badly needs to enhance it's long term future .

Thought Chris and Kelvin worked well together last night and the girl in the pits Laura ,maybe a bit of a shake up in the presentation team perhaps ,I really do think that Kelvin has developed into a first class presenter and I am sure his excitememt at times is at the behest of his employers.

No Wolves race suit either ,was a little surprised by Tai and Freddie in the second match coming to grief as they did think in both cases it looked like bike set up for the change in track conditions. Thought PK did a fine job, not going to bang bars with Doyle ( in reality no one did class of his own ) but paid17 from 8 starts and in heat 11 did the business with Freddie. I think Bomber was a great guest and paid 25 from 10 starts what wonderful example to the younger riders turns up rolls his sleeves up and gets on with it ,had a lot of stick latterly for silencer issues well he silenced his critics last night .He may never be world champ but he will leave a huge hole in the EL and British s/way when he retires that's for sure ,some how don't think he will last as long as PK sadly !!!

He certainly is on fire at the moment and full credit to him he has done it the hard way but I think cream will always float to the top and I really do admire the fact that he will ride in any league at anytime( including the EL) unlike some of his fellow GP riders .

I believe his engines are incredible fast just ask Jason Garrity he's got one of his old motors !!!!!!!

Is he not one of the "Top Riders"( joint second in the world) you say the crowds will come to watch,Hancock not up for it Tai at wolves so surely you have the next best thing !

IMO I have nothing but respect for Bomber he has stuck with the EL and loves riding for his country ,may never be w/champ but he will guest and ride anywhere at any time and never gives less than110%

Spot on these are my sentiments as well .

I am afraid with regard to the importance of money we will have to beg to differ I would assume that it was quite serious affair otherwise I am sure SKY would have probably shown it quite unusual for PK to be the cause of it as he is one of the safest riders I have ever seen .

If that is the case I have no reason to doubt your information why is Tai not riding for Wolves full time( are the extra fans sustainalble or is it novelty value) ,i am sure on your figures the finacial reward would overcome the race night issues as I think we would all agree money talks !

I would agree with all you say in the broadest terms but I would love to know ( not a cat in hell's chance ) if the increased numbers at Wolves last night coverded the increased cost of Tai last night for the club .With regard to the big names I think that they would bring more people through the gates but at what cost ? the EL can't compete with the Polish and Swedish leagues with regards to pay or so I am led to believe. At the end of the day lets savour watching the w/chanp in the EL and hope that even over a short period of time there is an increase of interest in the sport in general .

Having w/champ in the league can only be good for the EL but would be better for a complete season he did give 100% which is all you can ask of him though .

Hope PK is ok sounded nasty just want him to get to the end of the season in one piece .

We will just have to beg to differ if you are happy to have 5 rider teams in the EL with cheap labour tagged onto make 7 man teams so be it ,it has been said on a number of occasions the EL can't survive without the FTR riders and not by me I might add.

Imo non of the above would stopped the a fore mentioned British riders from making the grade, if I was remotely convinced that FTR was anything other than making the EL a viable product then I would throw my whole support behind it but it is not .Nothing wrong with giving our lads a leg up as it were but this is not the way to do it . We haven't touched on the abuse of the system such as Coventry allegedly wanting Garritty to stay at reserve rather than "progress" to the main team !!!!

IMO all of those would have made the grade regardless, FTR is money saving nothing more

IMO Kelvin would be a great choice he is perfect in every respects , all round knowledge of the sport as an ex rider ,tech skills and he is still riding the bikes although obviously no longer racing .He has an obvious passion for the sport and has it's best interests at heart ,you can just tell that by the way he talks and I am sure he would get the job done definitely gets my vote .

Spot on the FTR has ruined EL( it is only to save money there really) do you want the same in the PL ?