Grachan

Yes, but that works both ways, surely. And I would think there is a lot of onus on the club to take responsibility for that. One would expect a professionally run club to have their house in order on this, particularly as they were all summoned to the Home Office a couple of years ago. Having said that, it does seem unclear if this is actually the reason anyway.

You have no choice. You need a sponsor.

It's the club at fault just as much as the rider. They would be his sponsor and they would know he needs a visa. They should have checked on this too.

It says here that if someone on a work permit loses their job thrn it is the respinsibility of the sponsor to notify the home office within 10 days. http://www.redwingimmigration.co.uk/tier-2-visa-curtailed/ Who was Holder's sponsor last year? Troy Bachelor lost his job at the same time but has no issues this year. Were both sponsored by King's Lynn or by previous employers? There could be a connection with that if it is a visa issue.

Interesting one. It's a very grey area as to whether Kildemand is a GP rider or not. I would say that this year's averages are based on last year, so, yes, he should probably be classed as a GP rider. Having said that, it seems reasonable to have him in for Chris Holder - and probably weakens Poole anyway. The should have just left the averages as they were, or put in a percentage upgrade based on last year's new averages.

Exclude them under the 2 minutes then, if it's expired.

They can do what they want in those 2 minutes, surely? Otherwise why have it? I don't see why it is ok for one rider to go and have a wee, sit around in the pits, then come out onto the track with seconds to spare, but it's not ok for a rider to come out in plenty of time and do a bit of pre-racing ritual before the two minutes expire.

You have 2 minutes. You have 2 minutes.

What is wrong with gardening? I don't get it.

Wasn't the idea that a race would continue if nobody touched the tapes as a way of keeping down the number of stoppages?

I just don't see what the purpose of this rule is. If riders are at the tapes and ready to race by the end of the 2 minutes, what is the issue?

3 riders. Musielak hadbone as well. Heat 15 stoped. Unsatisfactory start. Rider in white warned. Doesn't sound like new starting regs to me.

Looks likeva few 15m handicaps being dished out at Belle Vue tonight for this. Not sure what it's supposed to achieve really.

I thought it was good when Swindon had "second" colours of purple race suits a few seasons back. It was linked to Excalibur sponsorship though, and soon disappeared. I like team colours, but Swindon and Belle Vue, for example, should have one side wearing different colours.

He did indeed. Not just a max. A 21 point max.

It's not as simple as that though. I guess Chris Holder and Troy Bachelor decided the time for pussy footing around over track issues was long gone last year.

Maybe that is exactly what he is trying to avoid.

I think they are both British citizens.

From the way he was during his short stay at Swindon, I would say that yes he would have. There was something about him that I haven't seen in other riders - even Jason Doyle.

Didn't Woffy offer to do it. Why not let him have a go if they are franchising it? What credentials does this Rob Painter have?

Do any teams have a sponsor board in front of which they conduct interviews? This would, surely, encourage new sponsors amd cost pretty much nothing. These are common place in most sports now, but I don't recall seeing any? I may be wrong though. Or how about the big markings on the centre green like you see on the rugby pitch in the 6 nations - set up to look like they are upright when on camera? Surely the more of a high profile they give their sponsors, the more high profile sponsors they will attract.

Speedway's problem isn't being on TV. Speedway's problem is that most people in the country have no idea what it is or that it exist. Being on tv does not contribute towards that.

On the night attendance is clearly affected by tv, but it's not just speedway that is affected in this way. There is a Swansea v Sheff Wed football match live on BBC1 at the moment. Take a look at the crowd!

Such a shame. Before long, now, we will probably have two leagues of equal strength - totally defeating the object of having two leagues.

My main experience of Bob Hughes is that I though I'd seen him ride but hadn't. My first ever meeting was Weymouth v Crewe in 1974. Weymouth used R/R for Bob Hughes, but I didn't know anything about that. I just assumed it was him and filled in my programme accordingly. Pretty sure I never did actually get to see him ride.