SPEEDY69

I think at Ipswich they actually related to the hot rods/stock cars as they go on for hours on Saturday or Sunday once a month but people refer to it as the speedway stadium.

I would and so would tousands of people. How much disruption does it cause? Imagine living next to a busy road, or around a major airport, or near a football stadium or rugby stadium or a school etc. Etc. I That would not be an issue.

The GP has never been about the best riders in the world, so debating who is is interesting but not relevant to the GP's.

Not pressure from anyone but on himself because it will be doubly embarrassing if he doesn't score well if front of his home crowd (I'm sure many fans go to both Spires sand Cheetahs meetings).

Ipswich will be hoping so but it brings a weird additional pressure for him.

Back to the meeting itself, woeful from the Witches. Poor guest in Brennan.

Not from the Oxford promotion clearly if they think Kemp over Kerr is an improvement I expect more changes to be made. Will Sheffield have a guest or use R/R for Woffinden?

Yeah, right. He misjudged and went onto the centre green.

Connor must be fixed up elsewhere otherwise I don't think they'd drop him. Leicester? Sheffield?

For me, the standout incident was the suicide of Billy Sanders in 1985, as this put a cloud over the speedway for some time, particularly because as a fan, I had no idea this was a possibility and he was almost unbeaten at that point of the season. Other memories/incidents (it's a long list): Michael Lee and John Cook coming out naked and doing a lap or two, again mid-eighties; John Louis breaking the track record to 60.8s and it being beaten I think by John Cook who went under 60s for the first time; Kevin Jolly ploughing through the 4th bend fence and going end over end and landing on his feet (early 80s); me beating Scott Nicholls in a second half race (admittedly he fell off ); me practising at Foxhall alongside my idol at the time Jeremy Doncaster (mid 90s); Jeremy pulling off his dirt deflector from the bike by hand at the frustration of being excluded I think; me and friends as children riding bicycles around the woods/car park, skidding like we were speedway riders; winning the KO cup in 1985 given the loss of Billy; Preben Eriksen wheelieing a big enduro-style bike at the last meeting of the season and all the japes that used to go on at those meetings; Eriksen getting in trouble with the law for the seductive artwork on the rear of his van; John Cook riding around Foxhall clockwise (silencer & footrest swapped over/removed) and managing to slide the bike around the turns as well, far better than anyone else. Hans Nielsen winning the Star of Anglia or Golden Sovereign every year it seemed; JL being run over by Doncaster at the start of a 16 lapper; the people sitting in the tree watching the action for free; the great collapsible safety fence; Good Friday home & away against King's Lynn. I'm old

Updates said that Scott had a bike issue in heat one - he didn't, he was squeezed on the inside of turn one and went onto the centre green to avoid hitting Thompson. Not a re-run though because he went for that line which then wasn't there!

It is if the race has started.

Nope, he isn't. That for me is still Hans Nielsen, given his record over all meetings (not just individual World Champs).

If I were involved I'd be proposing things to the BSPL/FIM whoever is in charge because I do think it's that serious. Some of the more inexperienced riders (and the Aussies of course) seem to get mentally switched off at the merest hint of a wet track these days. I'd be looking to ban the high revving short-stroke engines for one thing as they do seem to 'take off' alarmingly when more grip is encountered mid/exit of the turns (leg waving doesn't help either). I don't think, even thought it's title is speedway, that bikes need to go any faster and I know there are a lot of 'tuners' out there whose business depends on this search but I'm sorry, the fans should come first.

I think Harris will score much more than that and it'll be a closer score, maybe 48-42 but I don't have a great record with predictions!

Quite, and that's why a rider would be foolish to rebel and I don't think they'd ever get to that stage of withdrawing a licence.

Thanks for the added info. However if said Polish rider told them to do one, surely they could still ride here but not in Poland? Not sure how their visas work so maybe once granted to ride here they could continue for the season or would Poland contact the Home Office?

Per Jonsson another example. We're not in the EU anymore - even so, when they say they're 'banned' I think what they mean is a contractual penalty rather than an actual ban - e.g. if they do ride here they will lose their place in their Polish team and not be in contention for open meetings, riding for Poland etc. maybe even suspending their registration. No rider will want to lose all of that hence it works for the Polish teams to threaten it.

Not surprised, he's very busy already.

Blue skies and sunny at the moment, shouldn't be any worries for tonight.

Now he was quality and box office. His win in the British Final, passing others on that wet track was courageous beyond belief.

That doesn't mean they will just allow anything though, so I don't see any need to worry about that. Brown envelopes suit the current administration though and I'd be more worried about that.

I'm surprised Birmingham have preferred Lampart over Zach Cook, we'll see what happens.

Madsen definitely not the answer, Michelsen would be ok but I think he's busy enough.

Great news for Birmingham and those going to Foxhall, unfortunately I'll be 'avving it' at the O2 seeing Liam Gallagher