Fourentee

From my viewpoint Blackbird may have just clipped the kerb, straightening him up and into the Dudley rider. Just one of those things. I think the booing may have had more to do with the contrast in speed displayed by Blackbird when getting up after falls, depending on where his partner was in the race at the time.

Hugely impressive from Heeps but on a tiny point of order he has ridden the circuit before, having done a few post-match laps last season. Very different from competitive team racing, of course. Tipped by Ty Proctor last year as one to watch. A very good performance by Mildenhall last night, well done to them.

As mentioned by other posters, let's not get on the lad's back and expect too much, too soon. He's clearly a talent (Ty Proctor was raving about him last season when he came over for second-half rides) and is also very pleasant (as is his dad, who I spoke to last year and at Lynn the other week). But easy does it. Give him time.

Actually I was referring to Ipswich...

Ipswich v Dudley? Getting above themselves a bit?

Curiously, all the wheel moving by the starting marshall at Buxton yesterday (and my word, was there plenty of it) was to get riders further away from the tapes.

I blame Tom Perry (if he'd stopped on in heat 14, no last-heat decider and no stress!).

I wasn't at Belle Vue. There were two home falls at Buxton today, the first of which was Luke Priest's very nasty looking crash after clipping Jon Armstrong's back wheel. That was greeted with silence (it was clearly a heavy one) and a few shocked exclamations of "Oh!" followed by applause when Priest eventually got up. He was also applauded on the walk back to the pits, which took him past the Dudley fans who were gathered largely by or near the starting gate. The second fall, that of Jason Garrity in heat 15, was certainly cheered loudly. By way of explanation, though not of excuse, it didn't look initially anything like as dangerous as the Priest fall (although in the event Garrity was a long time getting up and clearly felt the impact), it confirmed the result of the meeting and tensions were by that time running very high. Garrity was also applauded on his way back to the pits. But, no, they should not have cheered it. I am merely attempting from a speedway fan's perspective to set the context. With regard to other posts alleging Ashley Morris hitting out at the starting marshall, I certainly saw nothing remotely resembling a blow or even an arm being raised. I watched the meeting one pace back from the fence (which many will know is very close to the track itself), perhaps a yard in advance of the starting gate. Morris was on gate four.

Four.

I like the way Ritchings has progressed this season, almost 'under the radar' with the exploits of Roynon, Morris, Armstrong and now Newman proving so eye-catching. He's a very tidy stylist who's surprising a few riders and even his fourth places seem on the pace. I take greyhoundp's comment about Hazelden, but at least Garrity goes to five for the Colts tomorrow!

Riding at number eight, Benedict Arnold...

That'll be twice on each bend, yes?

Good point. NL line-ups can be quite volatile; makes it a hard league to predict.

Ah, but doubtless Messrs Perry and Morris will be passing on their experience from last month's British U21 final.

Given that it's the main selling point of the DVD, yes it is a bit much to ask! Belting effort from both and a very responsible one from the much maligned (by me as much as anyone) Garrity. I like these hard races which end with handshakes and mutual appreciation, sentimental old buffer that I am.

Yep. Fence was in a hell of a mess but, hey, it did its job and both riders live to fight another day. For those who were not there it was one of those dreaded instant silence moments; it looked an absolutely awful smash. So pleased that both appeared to have got away more or less intact.

Well, if those are the rules then so be it. Shame for young Cameron, though; a pleasant young man and a definite prospect.

The letter of the law has clearly been checked out by Dudley but I don't believe the spirit of it has been offended either. Presumably the rule's intention is to stop EL veterans who may be on the slide picking up easy points in the bottom tier (although the pay scales would surely not be that attractive in any event) and occupying a team space in a league with a development brief. Here we have a promising young British rider picking up the occasional bonus of EL experience when the senior double-up rider (Hefenbrock) is not available. That can only be good news. The other aspect is that the PL fixtures split leaves a bit of a hole which Newman can plug with his Dudley commitments.

He'll be gutted, especially after turning up to watch the Buxton match. Ah well, back to the GPs!

Indeed. Danny Stoneman for Luke Chessell. http://www.dudleyheathens.co/news.php?extend.309

You're guessing wrong.

Updates on that link now; 10 heats gone.

There is that!

Unfortunately, the club chairman will have to look deep into the management committee's mind and say: WILL YOU LET US DO THIS?

One of the important factors for the Heathens in their quest for a new stadium is clearly building a big support with plenty of publicity, something they have managed spectacularly well so far. Their situation means that they need to be competitive, need to show big attendances (particularly at home) and need to rack up the column inches and broadcast coverage. So I guess they have to do whatever it takes to remain as competitive as possible. In many ways they started with an ideal NL line-up of an out and out star, a heavy points scoring "old sweat" and a pack of young riders with potential. But Roynon on (I believe) 7.70 is an impossible act to follow. Big problem. Better news is that Armo is back on Sunday at Brum, BTW.