ancient mariner

I agree that other than the Devils who have already been earmarked (if that's the right word) for this years PL, the remaining riders are not ready for PL. Based on his improvement last season (and if he continues his improvement in the forthcoming season) Jaimie Pickard might be worth a look for a PL ride in the following season. I will watch his progress this season with no little interest, as I will all the other former Devils that get to ride in the NL this season. Sorry to see that Paul Starke has not got a PL ride either. The only thing he did wrong was to get injured before he had the chance to show what he can do. Seemond has indicated in the past that he was not keen to ride PL again and he has his sidecar racing to fill his time now. Otherwise I expect the riders to go their various ways, in the manner that Speedway Riders do

Fair enough, but TBH it will surely be a case of "slowly, slowly catchee monkey". PL AND NL is too much too soon I suspect; we're good but not that good ...... yet

Do you know something we don't know? I thought Plymouth had been accepted into the PL, albeit subject to a track inspection (what's that when it's at home?). You seem to be suggesting that either Plymouyth will be running PL and NL or that Plymouth might be booted out of the PL, having only just been accepted into it.

Yes, you lose the teams, but you don't necessarily lose the riders, as Vog quite rightly points out. Plymouth for instance are likely to use only two of their NL side this year (assuming that there IS any speedway this year). The remaining riders will presumably be looking for a ride this year? Past years have shown that while you lose and gain promotions, it tends to be a redistribution of the existing riders, with the newbies replacing the retirees and riders going PL.

Rose tinted specs perhaps, but love your enthusiasm

Precisely

Crikey You mean to say there are RULES? Next thing you'll be telling me that the rules are fairly and evenly applied

I quite take your pint SN I have no doubt that there will be two versions of what went on and rights and wrongs on both sides. I just wish that the BSPA as an entity would try and set to one side this whole sorry affair and now do what is right for the sport. Heaven only knows just how tough the commercial climate will be next season. I worry that the sport is being torn apart and tracks lost for ever because the BSPA members have forgotten their duty of care to the sport. If they can't or won't show a care for our sport, then maybe someone else should? Please note that as a supporter of a team that has 'gained' from all this (though I fear we will ALL be losers), I have no axe to grind here. It is just very, very sad that it has come to this.

My immediate reaction was to assume that the 'promotion' of the Devils was to punish the Panthers and Bees with the sole intention of preventing them from running at anything other than NL, were they so minded. I personally consider that the BSPA have taken the easy, small minded and unpleasant view that if certain promotions will not conform, then they should feel the full force of the BSPA's displeasure. However, no matter what my view might be, please can I reassure you that there IS life beyond the EL and you might actually be pleasantly surprised at what the NL brings. Good, honest, all action effort, thrills and spills with none of the prima donna stuff that goes with the EL. To lose the EOES and/or Brandon to speedway would be a tragedy, so please I urge the Panthers and Bees suppporters to NOT allow this to happen. Embrace and enjoy the NL for what it is and look forward to a brighter future in seasons to come. Keep the faith because we need each and every supporter and their team out there not only next season, but for each season to come. Plus if you are in the NL you won't have to put up posts from Shovlar

Plus Peterborough and Coventry if they want to have any kind of Speedway this season Plus Peterborough and Coventry if they want to have any kind of Speedway this season

Besides, how far away are the likes of Edinburgh and Glasgow for instance? There must be some other reason, surely?

Welcome to my world Mikey! Until the BSPA are removed from their current position of apparently limitless power with none of the responsibility that goes with it, then the sport is screwed. As things stand I truly fear for the future and why might that be? Because individuals are allowed to place their personal agendas before the interests and well being of the sport

Perhaps it might be suggested to the BSPA that fixtures can actually be 'slotted in' on dates other than October 31st? On reflection, I think that this may well be a waste of time. I leave it to the BSPA to what they do best. Is it true that Mickey Mouse has a BSPA watch?

And this is what I believe is called 'using common sense' which would therefore be highly unsuitable for anything connected with the running of the NL

Tell you what, he is a LOT mad. Saw him early on in the season up at Buxton. Never really seemed in control of his bike, visited some far flung parts of the track, but my oath he was quick. From most comments I've seen, he is getting to grips with the idea of pointing his bike in the right direction and from what I've seen has been scoring heavily in the latter part of the season. Would love to see how he would get to grips with the SBA, he is a true entertainer.

You have to assume a certain level of common sense among those that have signally failed to demonstrate any to date. I rest my case m'lud.

Hi BFD, If I have to eat my words within the next couple of years as you suggest then that will be fine with me. It is a sad irony that Newport has a facility that many promotions would commit murder to own, has had a wonderfully successful team in the NL this year and has STILL failed to attract the support that it deserves. I base my view on the evidence of my last 5 visits

Let's face it, there aren't too many fans that take the trouble to support Newport at Newport, let alone a Bristol team riding at Newport

From my programme: Devils V Team Viking Ht 1 Nedermark, Glanz, Pickard, Andersen F 3-3 50.91 Ht 2 Prynne, Stoneman, Cherles, Woods 4-2 (7-5)54.09 Ht 3 Stephens, Bergvist, Bates, Tarp F 4-2 (11-7) 52.07 Ht 4 Simmonds, Messing, Stoneman, Charles F 3-3 (14-10) 51.22 Ht 5 Andersen, Nedermark, Bates, Stephens FX 1-5 (15-15) AWD Ht 6 Glanz, Pickard, Messing, Woods FX 5-1 (20-16) AWD Ht 7 Simmonds, Bergvist, Stoneman, Prynne 3-3 (23-19) 52.44 Ht 8 Andersen, Pickard, Stoneman, Charles 2-4 (25-23) 52.34 Ht 9 Messing, Stephens, Bates, Woods 3-3 (28-26) 52.57 Ht 10 Pickard, Glanz, Bergqvist Stoneman 5-1 (33-27) 52.00 Ht 11 Simmonds, Nedermark, Andersen, Prynne 3-3 (36-30) 51.53 Ht 12 Bates, Bergvist, Charles, Woods 4-2 (40-32) 52.19 Ht 13 Nedermark, Glanz, Simmonds, Messing 3-3 (43-35) 52.31 Ht 14 Prynne, Stephens, Stoneman, Woods 5-1 (48-36) 54.88 Ht 15 Glanz, Nedermark, Andersen, Pickard 3-3 (51-39) 51.90 Any errors are entirely my own

Hi Bob, sorry I didn't get to see you for a chat last night. As ever, a balanced and fair appraisal of events last night. To be honest it was a relief once it was all over I would like to say, in the defence of the referee, that the loss of the starting gate is not something that ANY ref would look forwards to with any great anticipation. Have to say that Newport chose their guest rather well. His PL machinery and experience was evident for all to see.

And whatever the answer might be, would any of us seriously expect a response? I, for one, am not holding my breath

I suspect that no matter what is published, it won't happen. Welcome to the NL, Britmet

Buxton: Morris Branson Dudley: Anderson Dyer Newport: Kurtz Jones Unless someone else knows different?

So, no sour grapes at all then 'Taking down Aaron Baseby' involved eating a ton of shale himself. 'Stuffing Jerran in the fence in Heat 15' similarly implies intent, does it not? From the angle that I viewed the incident I cannot comment; however the incident took place right in front of the referee's box and I don't recall any warnings or fines handed out for dangerous riding. Don't know where you were standing, but my view of the Heat 15 incident from Bend 1/2 was that there was minimal contact and that while the referee might have considered all 4 back, Jerran did himself no favours by making absolutely no attempt to clear the track and was presumably exclu.. sorry 'disqualified' for that. Yes, we also wondered about Mark's foray onto the track after his earlier engine failure. I assume the referee fined him an appropriate sum. I would like to thank both teams for a great evening's entertainment with never more than 4 points between the teams until after Heat 15

Shame, we were flogging our way through the weekend traffic (M5 was awful!) only to learn of the rain off. At least we hadn't travelled the whole way, though. Just hope my grandson gets another chance to meet the great man. Does anyone please know if Ivan has a planned itinerary or was this a one-off?