IainB

Isn't this just another example of British Speedway working in its own little world with the paying punters being shafted again because of it.

Good job nobody was all over social media demanding that this one be called off because of the unavailability of riders... just saying (tin hat donned)

Not since my dad died, for the last 6 years I've been a solo attendee

Just caught up with this last night and I've got to say what an absolutely brilliant advert for British Speedway! Two full teams, no R/R, no guests, great racing, all riders showing total commitment, a great race track, a bit of controversy, a close scoreline all night and beautiful summer weather. I hope it was good to watch live as it was on BSN. FWIW I thought Riss saw Brennan coming in the final heat and made an early turn to cut back up the inside of him as he would have gone wide but his leg was caught by Brennan so as a neutral I can see how it could have gone either way with the ambiguous "cause of the stoppage" rule. Pawlicki's attempt at team riding in heat 12 was also noteworthy, he seemed to want to push MPT into the path of Magic as he could see they were both going to be passed, I don't think MPT appreciated it though, clearly shaking his head after the incident! ... The trouble is though with this being a great advert for British Speedway, it was very much the exception to the rule. If more meetings followed this blue print I don't think the sport would have the problems it does, I know it's difficult with rider injuries etc but this is the standard of Speedway match that needs to be attained. When I attend a Speedway match and I see dust coming from the track in heat 1 my heart often sinks as I realise we're going to be in for a night of gate and go follow the leader Speedway... but for some reason not at Oxford, every time I've been since the re-opening (4 or 5 times) the track has always been like this and it's produced some great action. From what I've seen on my travels and watching on BSN it regularly produces the best action of the "British" style tracks.

Probably fair enough if it had been Johnny come lately... But Peter Oakes is probably the sport's best ever journalist. No need for that last paragraph imo, nothing that couldn't have been settled with a personal email or word. It was exactly that, an opinion piece

I was stood on the start/finish line and he did jump as did Howarth in his first ride, but for some reason he got away with that. It seems that if you're on gate 3 it's worth a punt

I think those days are long since gone, some will, Picko is a stand out for me, but you only have to listen to most riders when they speak just using words like they and them when talking about their own team.

Fair enough, maybe "going to war" was a bit OTT but... did the SCB really need to add the last paragraph to the statements? "The SCB are very disappointed that Mr Oakes went to print with this article without contacting either Workington or the SCB for any comments." seems very passive aggressive, it didn't need to be added imo. Peter Oakes has done more to promote the Sport in this country than any of the current crop and certainly any member of the SCB.

I know at Leicester we have a race in the memory of Roger Webster, who I think was quite a benefactor to the club and many young riders. not just at Leicester, I think the majority are for local businesses though, I'll pay closer attention in the future.

I've said it before, it's easier than ever to have fan involvement with the "free" technology we have these days yet many tracks do absolutely nothing or very little during a meeting. Tracks should have an online presenter during a meeting on Facebook live (or similar) giving rider interviews and coverage from the pits and other interaction with fan polls, competitions and opinion etc. At Leicester all we get is the offer of a signed programme board if we make an Insta post and that's more than most do! Until Speedway is brought dragging and kicking into the 2020's it'll continue to be "happy 90th birthday to Elsie" and centre green presenters having one way "conversations" with the crowd while the tractors are endlessly drone around the track.

Some good action last night and quite a comeback from the Lions, still can't get over Steady not picking Chris Holder for heat 15! There was some real harum-scarum stuff with riders seeming to have to go so wide to get any grip they'd often lose control, I don't know when Sheffield became like this. Lions may have snook this if Mr Cook had kept his Cookie Monster in his trousers ... but a draw seemed a fair result with Vuolas being and adequate replacement. On the drive in I saw a giant electric billboard advertising Sheffield Tigers, so kudos for that... Also, I don't really pay much attention to the heat sponsors when they're read out during a meeting but every time it registered with me last night the race was always in loving memory of somebody, it was like attending a memorial meeting!

Well, he certainly turned that around fair play to the lad. What on earth Steady was up to putting Picko in 15 is completely baffling though!

Looking at Fricke's record around Owlerton it's a bit feast or famine, so far tonight it looks like it's another famine!

Depends on whether they break them with the tips of their helmets!

He could have used Ride-her Replacement

Just listened to it! Unbelievable! What the actual flip are the management doing at Brum in between races? There's almost as many managers as riders and not one of them could think of informing the riders of the score situation!

I do wish these Speedway riders would time their intercourse better with their calendars

What's happened to Cook? I'm sure he was named on the website when I looked last night... the text above the line-up still states "But their initial job comes in South Yorkshire where manager Stewart Dickson names an unchanged team and riding order to face the Tigers."

He buggered off 7 years ago when the money dried up!

Big deal! Everybody wins at Birmingham!

If the doggies are back at Perry Barr the Speedway will also

It all seems a bit nicey nicey when you hear the brum management speak, it looks to me as if the Birmingham team need locking in the dressing room and somebody to start kicking some arses and get the paint peeling off of the walls! They're starting to rehash the same old excuses, setups, track conditions etc. Good news to hear the Brummies will be back next year, subject to the doggies... they should stick one on a bike, couldn't do any worse: https://x.com/UprightSpeedway/status/1815316673710145935?s=19

Belle Vue were involved in a boring match at Leicester and now at Birmingham... the common denominator?

No disrespect to Jake Mulford but Flint should not be getting done by him on his own 5h1t heap!

Is this the longest parade in Speedway history? Are they stalling for time?