Poole Pirates Vs Edinburgh Monarchs play off Semi 1st Leg 16th September

[LisaColette]

2 minutes ago, DJC said:

Has at least one of the owners not been on said management board for at least the last 5 years?

By my count, at least 6 clubs gone in that time, yes Northampton have come in (at a huge, forced, financial gamble) but the quality, participation, engagement, crowds, riders have all disappeared due to being so disillusioned with the sport.  

So yeah, pull the ladder up jack, we're winning meetings on our tarmac track and getting some decent crowds. That's all well and good but they won't have many teams left to race soon enough.

Sure Danny left that a couple of years ago? @SteveLyric2 will know the exact timescale! 

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, marko said:

Slick tracks and grippy tracks are part and parcel for the sport, BUT dust should never be accepted, maybe when its a day meeting and the temp is high 20's early 30's fair enough, but not evening meetings in September.

All this dust people are breathing in, I bet that will do wonders for your health in years to come.

This is not a post aimed at stopping Poole winning at home,  or any track having a home advantage but there is no excuse, no excuse whatsoever why a track cant be prepared so that you do not have to wash your car and have a shower after a night out.

The amount of proper tracks that have plenty of dirt are far and few between, we might as well race on tarmac because then you can have it dry as ducks back and there will not be any dust.

People go on about it be great if speedway was on ITV, no it would not, it would kill the sports reputation once and for all.

Peter Oakes said this about dust in a recent interview on 360 speedway, and here is a man that has forgotten more about speedway than most will ever know.

Everyone knows the riders don’t want dirt on the track due to modern machinery.The shape and size of tracks in Uk lead to processional racing in GB whereas in Poland track prep is different the tracks look slick but the size and shape produces decent racing.

[DJC]

10 minutes ago, LisaColette said:

Sure Danny left that a couple of years ago? @SteveLyric2 will know the exact timescale! 

Companies house says early this year -2021- 2006 is still 5 years in my maths and Matt was there the year before him. 

Was Matt not on there before you dropped down as well? 

 

[Bitza]

26 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Everyone knows the riders don’t want dirt on the track due to modern machinery.The shape and size of tracks in Uk lead to processional racing in GB whereas in Poland track prep is different the tracks look slick but the size and shape produces decent racing.

I happened across a drone shot view of the Eastbourne track, what was the racing like there? It was very egg shaped sure, but the most noticeable feature was how wide the turns were, exaggerated by having the inside of the entrances & exits shaved away, making the apex very tight. 

[SteveLyric2]

1 hour ago, LisaColette said:

Sure Danny left that a couple of years ago? @SteveLyric2 will know the exact timescale! 

Matt Ford stepped away from the BSPL Board when he moved to France to renovate the chateau. Danny Ford took his place but notified his intention to resign at the end of the 2025 season and eventually resigned at the delayed AGM in January 2026.(It was taking up too much of his time when he was newly married, planning to start a family, and as the youngest promoter at the time was doubtlessly not being listened to!!!)

The BSPL board now is mainly Premiership promoters, Bates, Lemon, Lyon ( + Morris) plus Godfrey and Campbell.

Matt Ford did have a spell as Chair of the old BSPA back in the day.

Edited 7 hours ago by SteveLyric2

[marko]

The Eastbourne riders had it dialled in, I remember that, especially on that first and second bend so most of the passing was done by the home riders, if you could ride Eastbourne you could ride anywhere, very technical track indeed, even back in the day it tended to be slick because you often had to back the bike in, but there was grip too, they had riders like Andrew Silver and Adam Shields, neither were riders who would stick it on the kerb.

[SteveLyric2]

4 minutes ago, marko said:

The Eastbourne riders had it dialled in, I remember that, especially on that first and second bend so most of the passing was done by the home riders, if you could ride Eastbourne you could ride anywhere, very technical track indeed, even back in the day it tended to be slick because you often had to back the bike in, but there was grip too, they had riders like Andrew Silver and Adam Shields, neither were riders who would stick it on the kerb.

Not forgetting a promoter who was famous (notorious??) for preparing the track for his home riders!!

Edited 7 hours ago by SteveLyric2

[Wee Eck]

21 minutes ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Matt Ford stepped away from the BSPL Board when he moved to France to renovate the chateau. Danny Ford took his place but notified his intention to resign at the end of the 2025 season and eventually resigned at the delayed AGM in January 2026.(It was taking up too much of his time when he was newly married, planning to start a family, and as the youngest promoter at the time was doubtlessly not being listened to!!!)

The BSPL board now is mainly Premiership promoters, Bates, Lemon, Lyon ( + Morris) plus Godfrey and Campbell.

Matt Ford did have a spell as Chair of the old BSPA back in the day.

I don’t think ever Chairman. He was vice-chairman for a while but stepped down in 2011 (?)

Too far back to have any relevance nowadays. 

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Not forgetting a promoter who was famous (notorious??) for preparing the track for his home riders!!

Don’t see much wrong preparing track for home riders.Its a Professional Sport ,riders should be able to suss it out after a ride plus they  visit the same tracks every season should what to expect and bike set up. Set ups are the Modern day excuse.!!!, throttle jockeys are the modern day rider though.

[marko]

I think people are getting confused about the nexus of the issue, it’s not about tracks being slick, it’s not about tracks having home advantage, it’s about the practice of clubs allowing the track to be a dust bowl which does not do anyone less the sport any favours.

[Fromafar]

28 minutes ago, marko said:

I think people are getting confused about the nexus of the issue, it’s not about tracks being slick, it’s not about tracks having home advantage, it’s about the practice of clubs allowing the track to be a dust bowl which does not do anyone less the sport any favours.

Your first post isn’t all that clear,but since it is about dry dusty tracks I’m sure Poole are not the only one that is dust bowl.Again it is the riders preference.IMO

[Gavan]

Purposely didn’t buy the stream as we knew the racing would be garbage 

Cant blame the Poole fans for going though as I go to Ipswich when I can but wouldn’t expect a neutral fan to buy a meeting from Foxhall 

Trouble is Poole fans are just in their own bubble …can’t criticise the track can they 

Poole only want to win we have seen that over the years and they will do it any cost …. The fans are notoriously fickle as proved in the early 90’s when they couldn’t get anyone through the gates 

As for riders these days they wag the tail they are happy for slick tracks with no passing set the bike up to gate and game over 

Riders back in the day were far more skilled than the current crop you had natural motorcyclists who could ride anywhere not just the big fast tracks

Joe Screen….Mark Loram and latterly Darcy Ward…. These guys could ride anywhere … the only one close to them is Bewley 

I always remember seeing an interview with Todd Wiltshire a few years ago saying the best rides he had seen were Mark Loram Darcy Ward and Andrew Silver at Arena Essex and the skill involved….and then seeing Loram race the boards at Exeter 

Poole used to be good …. Find the race between Havvy Loram Hancock and Hamill on you tube or the World Cup at Poole 

The fact is Poole is run as a business now and it wasn’t back then … to keep the Poole fans coming they have to win which means making the track crap to suit the likes of gaters like Lawson and Kerr

Poole look after their riders no question but it would do Cooper the world of good to have a better home track

[LisaColette]

15 minutes ago, Gavan said:

Purposely didn’t buy the stream as we knew the racing would be garbage 

Cant blame the Poole fans for going though as I go to Ipswich when I can but wouldn’t expect a neutral fan to buy a meeting from Foxhall 

Trouble is Poole fans are just in their own bubble …can’t criticise the track can they 

Poole only want to win we have seen that over the years and they will do it any cost …. The fans are notoriously fickle as proved in the early 90’s when they couldn’t get anyone through the gates 

As for riders these days they wag the tail they are happy for slick tracks with no passing set the bike up to gate and game over 

Riders back in the day were far more skilled than the current crop you had natural motorcyclists who could ride anywhere not just the big fast tracks

Joe Screen….Mark Loram and latterly Darcy Ward…. These guys could ride anywhere … the only one close to them is Bewley 

I always remember seeing an interview with Todd Wiltshire a few years ago saying the best rides he had seen were Mark Loram Darcy Ward and Andrew Silver at Arena Essex and the skill involved….and then seeing Loram race the boards at Exeter 

Poole used to be good …. Find the race between Havvy Loram Hancock and Hamill on you tube or the World Cup at Poole 

The fact is Poole is run as a business now and it wasn’t back then … to keep the Poole fans coming they have to win which means making the track crap to suit the likes of gaters like Lawson and Kerr

Poole look after their riders no question but it would do Cooper the world of good to have a better home track

Fair post from you Gavan. Although about the world cup, i would say plenty of people moaned about the track at the time. But i guess that is just comparative to how tracks were prepared then. 

Although Poole was dusty last night (what can be done if riders don't want it watered) it wasn't deemed unfit like tonight at Northampton and bet no one moans about that! 

[Arthur54]

18 minutes ago, Gavan said:

Purposely didn’t buy the stream as we knew the racing would be garbage 

Cant blame the Poole fans for going though as I go to Ipswich when I can but wouldn’t expect a neutral fan to buy a meeting from Foxhall 

Trouble is Poole fans are just in their own bubble …can’t criticise the track can they 

Poole only want to win we have seen that over the years and they will do it any cost …. The fans are notoriously fickle as proved in the early 90’s when they couldn’t get anyone through the gates 

As for riders these days they wag the tail they are happy for slick tracks with no passing set the bike up to gate and game over 

Riders back in the day were far more skilled than the current crop you had natural motorcyclists who could ride anywhere not just the big fast tracks

Joe Screen….Mark Loram and latterly Darcy Ward…. These guys could ride anywhere … the only one close to them is Bewley 

I always remember seeing an interview with Todd Wiltshire a few years ago saying the best rides he had seen were Mark Loram Darcy Ward and Andrew Silver at Arena Essex and the skill involved….and then seeing Loram race the boards at Exeter 

Poole used to be good …. Find the race between Havvy Loram Hancock and Hamill on you tube or the World Cup at Poole 

The fact is Poole is run as a business now and it wasn’t back then … to keep the Poole fans coming they have to win which means making the track crap to suit the likes of gaters like Lawson and Kerr

Poole look after their riders no question but it would do Cooper the world of good to have a better home track

I wonder which track Richard Lawson would rather have as his home track, Poole or Ipswich 

[foreverblue]

7 minutes ago, Arthur54 said:

I wonder which track Richard Lawson would rather have as his home track, Poole or Ipswich 

I would guess Poole! He doesn't get much credit at Ipswich.

[foreverblue]

19 minutes ago, LisaColette said:

Fair post from you Gavan. Although about the world cup, i would say plenty of people moaned about the track at the time. But i guess that is just comparative to how tracks were prepared then. 

Although Poole was dusty last night (what can be done if riders don't want it watered) it wasn't deemed unfit like tonight at Northampton and bet no one moans about that! 

The gp challenge was the worst meeting I have been to, it was awful but thankfully the track is a lot smoother now.  The world cup is often mentioned as a great meeting but it was a completely different class of rider,  the best riders in the world rode in that meeting. When we rode against Somerset in 2018 semi when Harris guested for us and beat Doyle in heat 15 with a last lap pass, the track was pretty dusty and a bit bumpy. Harris has moaned that when riding for Glasgow the Poole track is not what it used to be but the other problem is Harris is not the rider he used to be. When people talk about great meetings in the past, they are talking about top riders of the time.

Edited 1 hour ago by foreverblue

[Pirates Of Poole]

Weather for tomorrow in Scotland not looking great.

[marko]

Slick does not mean it has to be bone dry, Arena Essex was always slick, sometimes one of the slickest tracks around but you seldom saw dust billowing up all over the place. that's not to say it never happened on a Good Friday afternoon though.

Rye House always raced Sunday afternoons, I cant recall coming away from there covered in dust many times if ever.

People want to enjoy their evening and hopefully see their team win, no one seriously wants to get covered in or get all that muck in their lungs and those on the outside are not going to go to speedway if the narrative is they are going to get covered in dust.

And although this is a Poole thread its not just them, Oxford is probably far and away the worst, a few other tracks are up there too, and there is only three of four tracks where i would be confident you will 1. not see any dust and 2. likely to have an entertaining meeting.

Which is why after this season i will be giving up BSN because they can only show whats in front of them, and all too often its rubbish.

 

[Fromafar]

8 minutes ago, marko said:

Slick does not mean it has to be bone dry, Arena Essex was always slick, sometimes one of the slickest tracks around but you seldom saw dust billowing up all over the place. that's not to say it never happened on a Good Friday afternoon though.

Rye House always raced Sunday afternoons, I cant recall coming away from there covered in dust many times if ever.

People want to enjoy their evening and hopefully see their team win, no one seriously wants to get covered in or get all that muck in their lungs and those on the outside are not going to go to speedway if the narrative is they are going to get covered in dust.

And although this is a Poole thread its not just them, Oxford is probably far and away the worst, a few other tracks are up there too, and there is only three of four tracks where i would be confident you will 1. not see any dust and 2. likely to have an entertaining meeting.

Which is why after this season i will be giving up BSN because they can only show whats in front of them, and all too often its rubbish.

 

Any streaming service can only show what’s in front of them though,so moaning is about Speedway in General.Hope the Club streams at 3 times the price are better.!!!

[crescent girl]

23 minutes ago, marko said:

Rye House always raced Sunday afternoons, I cant recall coming away from there covered in dust many times if ever.

That's a joke, right?       Rye House was an absolute Sahara, with billowing dust, on every Sunday I visited it over forty seasons.

Not that I won't back every effort by the die-hards to get it back for speedway.