Grachan

I agree, and it led to a close finish last year so why change it?

That's a shame. I liked the scoring. I guess it solves the anomaly of the winner not always being top scorer though.

What I was really trying to say was that I don't believe there is any difference between trying to attract any different ethnicity to speedway than there is with trying to attract white people. If people are interested they will come. If the evening out is a good one they will come again.

Some suggestions to get more BAME fans to be interested in speedway: Less restarts after someone makes a good start Less tractors going round for ages. More up to date music over the tannoy. More modern stadiums. Any other suggestions?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, in general, nor do the majority of white people. Speedway's main problem is trying to get anybody of any background to watch it. I'm sure all the promoters would be delighted if any ethnic minority adopted it as their sport.

I'm interested to know why you feel it is an issue that speedway in this country needs to address. I'm not saying it isn't, but I can't think of any examples as to why. Yes, most - if not all - the riders in the UK are white, but that's just a case of who is deciding to take up the sport. I don't see it as an equality issue. As for taking the knee, it should remain at the rider's own discretion. Personally, I find worthy white people taking the knee rather cringeworthy, although the intent behind it is probably a good one.

Another thing about Cradley 1983. Their no 8 was Simon Cross.

Ah right. Apologies. I just clicked on the link and saw "Cancelled" without checking properly. Dur...

Cancelled.

I don't remember the exact story, but it was one of the follow ups. Chris Pusey in an exclusive interview, telling of how speedway was fixed. If, as you say, he had an alcohol problem, then maybe there's a connection with that and him doing the story. The Jiri Stancl one is actually quite an interesting one if you watch that final race and listen to Dave Lanning's commentary on how Penhall and Stancl seem to be "playing to the gallery".

Also sold his soul to the Sunday People in the fixing scandal.

Wigg, of course, only moved up from Weymouth that year, so he, too, was something of a sensation.

Pusey was a good rider. I'd say he was probably of similar standard to Bob Kilby or someone like that. Great team man but not quite there in terms of international success. All of the Cradley team achieved a high standard at World level, which is remarkable really. Ok, it wasn't all in 1983, but the pedigree is there.

Solid as Belle Vue were, nothing can top the riders in the Cradley team. Broadbelt, Wilkinson, Eyre, Pusey - not in the same class as anyone in the Cradley team. Just look what every member of Cradley achieved in their careers. Gundersen - 3 times World Champion Wigg - British Champion /World Long Track Champion King - World Number 3 Grahame - British final runner-up, 5 points from 2 rides in a World Final Collins - Overseas Champion Ravn - starred for Denmark in World Team Cup final Pedersen - World Champion Not bad for a side supposedly weakened by the loss of the previous year's number one. And Phil Crump got a maximum against them!

Thanks.

I don't really follow Polish speedway, but watch it if it's on Freesports or Box Nation. Can someone explain Robert Lambert's position in his team for me. He seems to be the equivalent of a number 8, but is by far the best rider in the side. Are they using rider replacement or is this a tactical position?

Live Polish speedway is, rather bizarrely, on Box Nation tomorrow, which is a Boxing channel that you can get if you have BT Sport. 3.30 is Wroclaw v Zielona Gora 6.10 is Grudziadz v Leszno

I believe elite sports people are exempt from quarantine. So that still rules out Poole. Bmmm tschhh.

Thanks for those. I haven't seen the aerial shot before, which gives an interesting perspective.

I'd love to see some pictures of the stadium from a bit further back to get an idea of how the whole are looked. I've seen many from inside and of the entrance but some shots from further back would give a nice perspective of how the area looked in those days.

I would have loved to have gone to Tilehurst, but was a year too late as I started watching speedway in 1974. I've even gone on a pilgrimage to the old site and tried to imagine what it aws like when the stadium was there. I've seen pictures and can see what you mean about Cowley - the big scoreboard, the same white fencing and a railway track running along the back!

I regularly go past the stadium site on my way to get my noodles at See Woo. It still feels strange that it's no longer there, and it is still sign posted, which must confuse away football supporters! When it was first built it was hidden away at the end of an industrial estate, but the new road system put it at the side of a major route. I believe the stadium was never even finished. The portacabins on the home straight were supposed to be temporary but were never replaced. When it first opened, the place was packed and the atmosphere there was amazing - particularly on the back straight. It was definitely neglected over the years, though. The back straight was eventually closed off, and the terracing around the stadium eventually collapsed and became grass banking. Smallmead had the best pits view in the UK. You could see both home and away pits clearly from the top of the third bend. People would stand there to watch races, then all make a dash to the back to get a good view of what was going on between races.

I used to love the 3TT. I used to watch all 3 clubs regularly though, so maybe that helped.

Live Polish Speedway on Freesports next Friday (19th) at 5pm.

Poland has three because it can fill out the stadiums. GB has one Grand Prix, which has yet to be a sell out. If Cardiff was full then I would say it would be great to have another in the UK, but it isn't. The World Finals at Wembley used to sell out. These days a one-off World final would probably not be a sell out, but if it was it would be mainly because of people coming from Poland. Whether we like it or not, Poland is the centre of the World as far as speedway is concerned.