Rob Dyer

Warriors named Community Club of the Year at last night’s WSRA annual awards. Massive achievement for everyone who work so hard under the guidance of Barry and Martin. Very well deserved.

Today’s Speedway Star has an article showing that Pirates co-promoter is to retire from British speedway and will also leave his position with the SCB. Cites travel from his home on the Isle of Man as being one reason as well as not wishing to be an obstruction to progress. I had a lot of time for Gordon and wish him well.

More likely the Bickley factor.

Big shake up for SPOTY this year with only 6 nominees. Names not being revealed until the programme goes live with public vote then open for approximately one hour.

May explain why the first leg was at The Oaktree.

Heat 2 troubles. Lewis looked to have a bike issue on bend one/two lap one that forced Alex into the fence. Lewis’ machinery problems were terminal and he withdrew immediately. Alex walked back to the pits but needed medical attention with the County Ambulance called to take him to hospital for a check up. Meeting delayed by about an hour unfortunately but in Warrior fashion we managed to create some activities to keep a good sized crowd engaged. Both sets of riders were generous with their time interacting with the supporters and helping to bridge the gap and John Carpenter & Barry Bishop were brilliant giving a public lesson on the mechanics of a speedway bike that was really well received.

When is the transfer deadline these days and what are the regulations relating to it? Did I read somewhere it was moved from 31 August to 31 July? If so, time running out for any team planning changes.

IOW Post Match Press Release Isle of Wight 48 Belle Vue Colts 42 Shale starved speedway fans were served up a feast of action and controversy as the Isle of Wight ‘Wightlink’ Warriors launched their season with a victory over the Belle Vue Colts at The Andrew Younie Smallbrook Stadium tonight. In a meeting that contained almost every incident imaginable, ring rusty Warriors were immediately on the back foot as first new boy Danno Verge and then Chris Widman incurred penalties for starting offences. This allowed the Colts to build a four point advantage but it didn’t take long for the home side to record 4-2 heat victories and by heat eight the match was tied at 24 all. In fact the Warriors were on their way to four 4-2 heat advantages in the space of five heats as they built a four point lead of their own by the interval. The last of those came when Colts Kyle Bickley took a crashing fall in heat 10 which stunned the good sized crowd in to silence, however, much to everyone’s relief the young man from Cumbria was able to get back to his feet and return to the pits unaided. Looking ahead to the final five races it was clear that Belle Vue had lined up their big hitters for the crucial closing races and with Danny Ayres as spectacular as ever and Georgie Wood always in the thick of the action, the visitors harboured hopes of an away victory but it was not to be. Heat 11 gave Ayres his third race win with partner Ben Woodhull in third and the Warriors lead was cut to two points. Bickley won heat 12 showing no ill effects from his crash with Scott Campos and Adam Portwood filling the minor places, then drama aplenty in heat 13 with Ayres passing Warriors Ben Hopwood just as Wood pulled out with a motor problem. Warriors Ben Morley (pictured) then broke a primary chain with a lap and a quarter to go and had to run over a lap pushing his bike to pick up the vital single point. He made it to the chequered flag with fifteen seconds to go roared home by fans and team mates alike. This pulsating meeting now took another twist when in heat 14, Warriors Chris Widman got slightly out of shape and collided with Colts Woodhull. The race was stopped and somewhat controversially the visitor was disqualified for causing the stoppage of the heat. The race result was awarded as a 3-3 and so to the final heat with Morley and Hopwood against Ayres and Bickley. From the gate both Warriors showed first with Ayres in red hot pursuit. A good pass moved him by Hopwood and to just metres behind Morley but then disaster struck the visiting number one who tried an outside surge to pass Morley but ran out of space exiting turn four and crashed to the track. Again the referee had to stop the heat and after a moments deliberation disqualified Ayres and awarded the race 5-1 to the Warriors. So ended a quite remarkable night of speedway in which fortunes ebbed and flowed and the rub of the green landed Warriors Way. After the meeting Ben Morley was quick to praise an all round team effort and went on to say “It was a great way to start my season with the Isle of Wight. I had one or two machinery niggles but have started to sort them out – one thing for sure, I don’t want to have to push the bike home for over a lap on a track this size again! “ Warriors: Ben Morley 12+1, Danno Verge 6+1, Scott Campos 7+1, Chris Widman 5, Ben Hopwood 11+1, Jamie Sealey 1+1, Adam Portwood 6+3. Colts: Danny Ayres 12, Paul Bowen 0, Kyle Bickley 8+1, Joe Lawlor 9+1, Georgie Wood 7, Kean Dicken 0, Ben Woodhull 6.

The atrocious weather has forced the postponement of The Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy scheduled for 5 April.

Regrettably a sodden track and poor forecast has put paid to the Warriors & Wizards press and practice day on Easter Saturday meaning that The Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy on Thursday 5 April will be the opening action of 2018.

Pirates trip to Wolves on 26 March postponed with Matt’s agreement. Bad weather in the Midlands has ruled out the Wolves P&P tomorrow and they have put it back a week. Sure that will draw a few comments.

If I had signed to ride for Lakeside in 2018, having seen this, I would be reading my contract very closely and ‘having a chat’ with the promoter NOW.

Christina Turnbull had a set at the Poole fans meeting last night. Neil Vatcher mentioned a few snippets. 1. The second starting line has been withdrawn and riders must remain astride their machines whilst ‘gardening’. 2. Rider eligibility for heat 15 is being expanded. 3. Of the six trainee referees who started in 2017 only three are going in to year 2. There are six new trainees starting out in 2018.

Condolences to the family. Bob was a very solid scorer and great team man. Often saw him hard at work in his garage adjacent to Bath Green Park station.

Press and Practice Day confirmed as Easter Saturday 31 March. Opening meeting on 5 April will be the Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy.

IOW have listed 5 April for first meeting in local press - Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy.

So sad. A truly determined rider and a very engaging man. Condolences to family and friends.

The Poole v Leicester commentary was mine. Do my best to call it as I see it. Always happy to receive feedback, good or bad. Helps me improve. Think there were four or five heats from the meeting that would have made equally good viewing.

If the track is as consistently bad as various riders say, surely match referees will be reporting this thus prompting an SCB inspection. Just looking at the fixtures Poole have no meetings at home for almost a month after 1 June so an ideal opportunity to sort things out.

Poole forum now reporting Josh Bates for Robbo - cue further debate!

Poole are due at Lakeside the following week so Adam Ellis will be getting some useful track time in readiness for 8 April.

Issue 1 of the list goes up to 31 March so a new one might be in place by the time the rearranged meeting takes place.

Does this unfortunate injury open the door for Kelsey Dugard?

As a Poole supporter I too cannot believe Starman's latest daft post. I'm very much looking forward to visiting the NSS at the end of March. Aces are a very good bet for honours in 2016 and I fully expect to see them and us in the Grand Final come September. What a time to be a speedway supporter in / around Manchester!

Have been told Mikkel Bech will be missing due to prior commitments............will post again if I can get confirmation.