Great Central

Speedway's own Bill Frindall(apologies to the younger members of the BSF who won't have a clue who he is) - as always Mike comes up trumps and fills in all the missing details for us.

Mike, Thanks for asking about Chris - he is on the mend after what was quite a dramatic end to an inoccuous accident. He is now making a list of ambulances that he has rides in!! Hopefully the list is not going to get any bigger. He had a steady and uneventful runout yesterday at Mildenhall and came through that with no problems. Hopefully he will be back racing soon.

Pity your trip to Mildenhall has had to be cancelled today since it looked like being a close meeting and keep banging the drum of support for the Young Stars and NL racing. Mike, I actually read the whole post, not just the results and as always thanks for the comprehensive comments and results. You make some valid points and it really does look like Rye are suffering big time with the crowds. It isn't that long ago that crowds of over 1000 were present for NL matches and there is usually some exciting racing dished up by youngsters trying their hardest to break into speedway. Mind you from what I heard the PL crowds are not that good either. With regards to the inclusion of Nick Laurence and Danno Verge as guest riders, if a reserve is missing they can be replaced by riders from the "Emergency List" which in 2011 was riders whose average was no more than 3.00. That rule is still there but I think Nick finished with an average higher than 3 in 2011 so maybe the criteria have been altered for this year. There is no definition of "Emergency Riders" in the SCB Rules as far as I can see. Pity your trip to Mildenhall has had to be cancelled today since it looked like being a close meeting but keep banging the drum of support for the Young Stars and NL racing. Martin

I totally agree with your assessment. I have known Rhys for quite some time and saw him ride against Scunthorpe and he didn't look race ready. He was certainly not like he was a couple of years ago. The point that I was trying to make was about the "hype" of the press release. MV must have known that Rhys would struggle even in the reserve berth so why build him up into something he currently isn't. Right now it looks like Rhys has failed and in fact Rhys never stood a chance to succeed without more time in the saddle and Stoke failed to give him that. With Ben Reade likely to stay in the reserve berth until July, any 3 point rider stepping into a main team slot will struggle. I hope, like you, that he takes his chances in the MDL or AJL and gets back to the form that I know he can achieve.

Three speedway meetings covered this week by BBC WM. Well done to them, and the commentators really know their speedway. Keep it up guys.

. 28th March Press Release Potters team manager Malcolm Vasey said "Rhys has a great deal of potential and is returning to the sport with a considerable amount of determination after taking a year out. I really do feel that Rhys is potentially a steal on a three point average and I'm sure he will add to his starting average. So he is put in at No 4 position, a tough enough job for any rider, but one who had been out of action for nearly a year and expected to up his average!! 24th May Press Release "that Rhys Naylor has been dropped and will be replaced by 17 year old Liam Carr who is a very talented rider and come highly recommended. Team manager Malcolm Vasey commented "Liam has come highly rated by people that we have a great deal of respect for in the North East and we are delighted to have him in our side for this weekends matches." Doesn't this have a familiar tone and isn't the real problem that Stoke have built a team too strong at the top end? Have to say that it is good to see Ben Reade doing so well after his kick back last season. Tony Atkin seems to be doing a good job as well.

Wie-Ja - the above post was "hijacked" by TMW but the latest news about Speedibee is that whilst the motorway didn't get him, the moderators did. Gone for ever is what I heard so that is one less to moan about the ever improving track at Leicester.

I wasn't commenting on the team but on the track and the uninformed coments from Speedibee. When you think how many clubs(at sea level!!) have struggled to get meetings on in this awful weather, just try doing it when you are 1500' above sea level. It isn't that long ago that the Buxton track was covered in snow. As for the falls, there were some, but that is part of not ridng on a flat track. I did notice for the first time, a more distinct adverse camber on bend 3 which is reminiscent of Rye House. Go past the point of no return and you are gone. It has probably always been there but I just have been in a position to notice it.

Up to your usual constructive comments again. For information, the track at Buxton yesterday was really well prepared and held up well all throughout the meeting leading to two fastest heats of the season so your uninformed jibes were not needed or wanted. In fact none of your comments on this forum are needed since they are always derogatory. .

Positively tropical at Buxton today on a day with little wind and some sunshine!! A well prepared track and some good racing but Dudley were just too strong for Buxton.

Information about Liam Rumsey is available on the Long Eaton Invaders website under Riders Profies. I am sure that information about Tom Sokes will be available on the BSPA website under Riders Index.

Vince, a very good post from an unbiased viewpoint. You are correct that despite quite a depth of shale on the outside, it is marbly and doesn't provide the grip that you need to be able to use the banking to the full extent. It is going to take time to sort out and yes the crowds are well down on last year but the weather isn't helping there. I did hear that more shale was being purchased to improve the mix even more and I sincerely hope that Gareth can get get it right so that we can get the racing that the Leicester public deserves.

Thank you Laurence for posting this very good report. It might get you another PP if Chris sees it!!!

The STR club are holding their Best Pairs championship meeting tomorrow at the Norfolk Arena with a start time of 1200. The event covers all three classes, Open, Intermediate and Novice with support races as well. Busy day in East Anglia tomorrow with two King's Lynn teams racing at Mildenhall as well.

Weather is good right now. Sunny with a few clouds around. Forecast is good and there is a drying wind. Hoping for a cracking meeting down at BP.

Have sent you a PM Martin Widman

Phil, Great turn out for the first event of this years championship. Having seen some of these lads in action recently round BP, we look to be in for a good night. With no Leicester PL speedway action for two weeks, I hope the weather stays fine and the good folk of Leicester turn out in force for this meeting. Stay safe boys - the championship is more than the 1st race of the 1st round!!

Most of Long Eatons fixtures are posted on their website. www.LONGEATONINVADERS.co.uk

If he rides as well as he has shown he can in the past, he will do a good job for Buxton even though he will be in the main team. Hopefully the travelling won't get to him but at least his home track is a Sunday track.

Surely you mean 2 "rookie" 3 pointers. Ben Reade is hardly a rookie.

Grat news that Leicester have stepped in to run this round and I hope the good people of Leicester turn out in force to support the young lads of the future.

As far as I am aware, it is a challenge match between the Kings Lynn Lightnings and the Long Eaton Invaders starting at 2000 over 6 heats. A few more details on www.LONGEATONINVADERS.co.uk

I don't know for sure. There is also the issue of how many meetings the council may let you have, I imagine, with noise and all that shizzle I imagine it operates in the same way as curfew. Withe the turn out u get for the Heatherns I'm there must be an official reason

You have done the right thing to bring it to everyone's attention. It does need more focus and let's hope that the efforts of all those involved in trying to get new tracks started are rewarded with success in the near future. Let us hope that Nikko's offer is taken up by all concerned.

You have seen first hand that the NL is definitely not a development league and when you actually see some of the racing and the race times being accomplished, it justifies your comments. It is a development league by default, witnessed by the improvement in riders, but it shouldn't be tagged as such. The fact that all riders now have to have professional licences should have been the trigger for the name change!! Your posting offers a genuine way forward and is a very generous offer, however I am not sure it will get a response but best of luck anyway. You are yet another passionate supporter of young speedway riders and have supported quite a few who have tried their luck in their chosen sport.