#rico

Sometimes everything you think is important pales into insignificance and this week is one of those times. Friends have asked me a lot what's it like covering speedway? The answer to that is it can be the best and the worst job in the world. I've covered football for over 20 years now and can't say I've ever really got close to any of the players or managers I've met along the way. Some of them have got injured pulled hamstrings even broken bones but really the only feeling has been that's a shame he'll miss a few games the rest of the season etc. With speedway though its different every time a rider has a spill its not the No11 you had a quick interview with its someone whose numbers I have in my mobile who I chat to after meetings who I share tweets and facebook messages with and suddenly it becomes personal. That's the tough part of the job these aren't just sportsmen they're people I'm proud to call friends and somehow I have to remain objective when I'm feeling anything but. I can't begin to imagine what Lee Richardson's family and friends are really going through at the moment. I have faced the sudden death of loved ones but every occasional is different. Whilst I never met Lee I still feel it as part of speedways family. Whatever you say about the sport the promoters, stupid rules, self interest, manipulating averages etc its heartening to see at times like this that all disappears as we have a common interest brought together by the sport we love. On Saturday night we'll have a minutes silence at Rye House and after that I'll have to commentate on 15 Heats of speedway like nothing has happened. Personally that's going to be a tough assignment it is though the only way. As much as I feel at the moment that I don't want to go through it I know it would not be paying proper respect to one of a bunch of the bravest sportsmen anywhere who gave up his life doing what he loved. RIP Rico.

Is That Ark Finished Yet?

Don't know about 40 days and 40 nights but I know its been ages since we had a dry day. At one stage my pond was threatening to burst its banks and my lawn was looking like a paddyfield! My next door neighbour has spent a lot of time out in his garden banging about with bits of wood he says its a shed but I think its an ark.
Its all added up to a nightmare as far as speedway is concerned. The latest story doing the rounds is that The Admiral will be back from Oz with a shiny new Visa in October just in time for the start of the Premier League season!
27 heats over Bank Holiday was at least something I suppose. Apart from the fact that its now official that you can't do a practice start facing the wrong way and of course we won Saturday only produced a couple of memorable moments. Talking to Jason Bunyan afterwards I think even he was surprised with what he achieved in Heat 12. Looked a definite fag paper job from the commentary box or Film Suite as Craig is calling it these days. Must also say hats off to young Norman (Jason Garrity; come on that flat cap only needs a prat fall and Len dressed up as Mr Grimsdale) how he accepted the seasons strangest exclusion I saw him deep in conversation with Dave Robinson afterwards and both were laughing which was nice.
Unfortunately Monday turned into a damp squib not only because of the result. When race times are around the 64second mark you know somethings up. Fair play to all the lads for giving it a go though.
So this Saturday we pray for sun as the prodigal Robbo returns. Hopefully he'll have a good safe night and we'll go away with 3 points. As someone said as I was leaving on Monday "you can't believe there's anything left up there." I think I'll reserve judgement on that one until 10 o'clock on Saturday!
Up the Rockets!
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Three Berwicks Below Freezing!

Does everyone have a sporting event that sticks in the mind so much that it becomes the measure that all events are judged against in future or is it just me? In my mind the boring nature of all football matches is measured in comparison with Watford 0 Bury 0 Saturday 20th March 1999 quite simply the worst game I have ever attended. An old radio mate of mine used to regularly come out with the phrase "and my wife thinks I'm out enjoying myself!" On that occasion he was dead right both teams could have gone on until Christmas and they wouldn't have scored. Now when it comes to speedway and more precisely the temperature everything gets measured against Rye House Rockets v Berwick 3rd May 2010. It might have been May but those of you who braved it might remember seeing a few Polar Bears wandering along the river that day. A 59-33 win and paid 14 for Linus did nothing to raise the temperature in the Video Suite (as Craig now calls it!) with both cameraman and commentator freezing our whatsits off. I've played the DVD back a few times and I swear I can hear my teeth chattering. So when Len appealed to the crowd last Saturday after the unfortunate Dylan Black had been taken away in the ambulance (with thankfully not a broken arm as feared) it was fairly obvious what the answer would be. The weather had thrown us a half Berwick and lets face it despite their best efforts the Americans were hardly at the races for most of the night. Quite why that is I'm not sure as they seemed to have no trouble in turning over Buxton the following day. Still Ritchie and Jason got some track time which hopefully they will both put to good use on Saturday when the Plymouth "Top Heavy" Devils are in town. Messrs Barker and Fisher will no doubt prove a handful Cory Gathercole will be exciting to watch but I'm not sure about the rest of the line-up. Hopefully though after last weekend the gloves will stay in the bag and we won't be measuring the temperature in Berwicks!

An Old Speedway Coat Will Never Let You Down

Easter Sunday weather forecast for the first double header of the season would have Noah worried so there's nothing else to do but clear out the cupboard under the stairs. Under a pile of coats of various styles there I found it, it was like rediscovering an old friend, memories came flooding back. Razza's Grand Slam win at Oxford in 1988, the optimism of a KO Cup Final trip to the East of England Showground in 1992 (it was good while it lasted: until Heat 1 if I remember rightly!) and the tears shed at the final meeting in 1993. Complete with National League Speedway emblem and Rye House Rockets patch it was my old speedway coat purchased at the track in 1987. "How old is that?" said the daughter "Older than you" replied Dad "Please tell me you're not going to wear it." "Why not?" "Do I really have to tell you?" So it looks a bit retro but there's no way you can replace class. The Mrs reckons it will come up a treat if I fork out £10 to get it dry cleaned. I think it's time for a comeback so if the Rockets make the play offs I'll be turning back the years giving my old friend another airing. It may not compete with Steve Webb's Union Jack trousers but what does? Up The Rockets

I Know I'll Regret This But......

OK so how many times have I fallen foul of the curse of the commentator "Nelson certainly seems to have added some solidity to his early season promise" cue Aussie teenager careering through fourth bend fence when out in front by a mile, you know the sort of thing. So after Saturday's very entertaining challenge against the Panthers I really don't know whether I should keep my thoughts to myself after all in 2005 and 2007 my Speedway Star predictions both had the Rockets finishing second in case I put a jinx on two line ups I really thought would win the title. Any way here goes if things disappear in a its all gone pear shaped direction over the next few months feel free to hurl some abuse but I think with Charlie Gjedde and Anders Mellgren on board we have half a chance of a push for the play offs. Now it could be considered a rash prediction as with Jason Bunyan on his way back from New Zealand and Anders only just put pen to paper we haven't seen our new line up in action yet. The case for my optimism though is as follows: In Charlie we have an out and out number one rider and a thoroughly nice guy as I found on my first interview with him on Saturday, in the two Jason's we have an excellent reserve pairing and lets face it anyone who pays tribute to the great Norman Wisdom with his choice of headgear as young Mr Garrity does deserves respect. I also think the Bowen 747 is looking as sharp as ever his win in Heat 8 on Saturday was a special one and as he commented to me in the pits afterwards "Nobody told me that Michael Jepsen Jesen rides in the Polish Extraleague!" Anders Mellgren looks a good prospect to me and one who was responsible for our demise against Newport last season now one meeting doesn't make a star but I think a lot of us have followed his progress since that performance for the Wasps. So that leaves Jordan who in his own words on Saturday just needs "a bloody bike that will get out of the start!" and Ritchie who has yet got to grips with his new engine. I think both will be fine after a few more meetings hence my glass half full attitude. On another note it was great to see the skipper around on Saturday night Chris is a thoroughly top bloke and I'm hoping when he's a bit more mobile he'll be able to do some co-commentary with us at T2TV.

Charlie Signs Tigers Tamed Earth Back on its Axis!

Well that was quite a couple of days. Must admit my productivity was down on Friday as I sat waiting for news on our new signing. All sorts were going through my mind Chris Schramm good rider not a number one, Robin Aspergen plenty of promise but likewise, Steve Boxall nooooooooo! don't go back there again, then finally a flashing red light on the Blackberry and its Charlie Gejedde yes!!! Class rider who if he applies himself could yet turn us into a force to be reckoned with. Fair play to Uncle Len for pulling that one off. So Saturday was approached with renewed confidence Sheffield have gone for what Neil Machin calls "strength in depth" well that was his story anyway. Looking at the Tigers line up I was up for a 10 point win provided Joe Haines didn't return to something like his best. In the end in the words of an ex football pundit we won it with a cigar on. Hopefully one day I'll get my wish and Josh Auty will become a permanent Rocket there's no doubting our adopted Yorkshire son is class and bound to cause us a problem when Scunthorpe come down later in the season. Sad to see Leigh Lanham go top rider and thoroughly nice bloke to boot as he said though never say never and I can still see him wearing blue and yellow sometime in the future. Must admit when we were 28-8 in front after 6 heats I was thumbing through the record books to find our biggest win over Sheffield was 69-23 in the second leg of the play off final in 2007. In the end I didn't need that bit of trivia but it was still a convincing way to start the league campaign and one that saw the glint returning to Uncle Len's eye in the pits afterwards. It appears Jordan may well be back for the Panther Challenge on Saturday although to be honest I'd rather he gave it another week and didn't risk things in what after all will be a pleasant night, an old boys reunion, but in the end a meaningless meeting. Jason Bunyan back from New Zealand Charlie making his competitive debut and Jordan back in the line-up for the visit to Leicester on Easter Saturday now that would be worth looking forward to. All we want now is someone to sort out Tyson's visa application...anyone got a rubber stamp? Up The Rockets!

Black Cats Broken Mirrors and Ladders

Its that time at the beginning of the season when fans form an opinion on the 7 brave lads their promoter has put together. Whatever your thoughts on the proposed Rockets septet for 2012 and as most people know mine were pretty positive you can't help feeling sorry for Uncle Len who's had more medical drama than a Casualty box set over the last week. To lose you're number one rider is unlucky to lose your number two is catastrophic and then to lose your best reserve??? Well if the Fast Show made a comeback move over Paul Whitehouse there's only one man in line for the role of Unlucky Alf! Quite whether a bunch of Black Cats were crushed a score of ladders were walked under or every mirror Chez Silver smashed there is no explanation for so much bad luck.
So we are left to soldier on with a team held together by elastoplast until scaphoids and ankle ligaments heal and a new number one arrives on a dashing white charger. So fair play to the lads that remain for the win against an equally jinxed Ipswich. Leigh looks class Luke's latest injuries didn't hold him back and Little Ben lifted the mood by beating Kevin Doolan. I'm sure young Jason will have better days and it certainly won't get him down. As Steve Webb said to me afterwards he's the biggest character we've had here since Kelvin Mullarky.
The weekend brings a trip to Plymouth now minus the errant Steve Boxall, no real surprise there and plus the occasionally brilliant Corey Gathercole. A tough one there I think. Then its back home with our adopted Yorkshire son Josh Auty coming up against his old mates. The lads made so many guest appearances over the years surely he deserves at least a caravan in the car park.
Fingers crossed there are no more trips to casualty perhaps Uncle Len will be out there rounding up black cats chopping up ladders and making sure he doesn't look in another mirror until November just to be on the safe side!
Up The Rockets!

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Press Practice and Webby's New Hat!

It was good to be back on Friday for Speedway Star and Herts Mercury day as predicted we were the only media that bothered to turn up. I despair of local radio having spent 20 years as a freelance it would only of taken a phone call to get me to provide some audio but as usual they couldn't be bothered. A couple of years ago I quizzed BBC Essex as to their complete lack of Rye House Coverage to be told "strictly its just outside our area" yes by about 400m and if Auntie is so territorial why do BBC London cover Watford FC?? Anyway that moaning aside it was a good afternoon with all the Rockets on show as well as a few of the Raiders. Everyone seemed in relaxed mood unlike a year ago and I got a real feeling of optimism around the place. Off the track the highlight for me was our sartorially elegant Pit Marshall Steve Webb sporting a very natty panama style hat. Known for his Union Jack trousers its good to see Webby shows no sign of toning things down for the new campaign. It is though to be hoped he's learned his lesson from last year attempting to feed the ducks he ended up joining them in the river! I've just finished the annual pin the tail on the Premier League exercise trying to put together my prediction for the final league table that means we'll be in for another round of pundits what do they know come October. For what its worth I had the Rockets finishing sixth edging into the final play off place. Thursday will give us a guide as to how things might pan out as I think The Witches are as strong as anyone particularly if their highly rated Aussies catch fire as predicted. I think we'll give them a good run for their money though particularly with the two Jason's at reserve. As the skipper said on Friday they scare the hell out of me so I don't know what they'll do to the opposition! Bring it on!

Here We Go Again!

Three days until Press and Practice Day. Well actually I should rephrase that three days until Speedway Star and Herts Mercury day as that's normally the only people who turn up! Anyway I thought it an appropriate stage for Where's Vesprini to leap back into life. I'm not one to carry things on over the winter and post plenty of idle speculation and as Uncle Len usually has his name ready to roll before the bubbly at the AGM has gone flat there's not much point. I've just been looking at the BSF predictions and it doesn't seem the boys in yellow and blue come out too well. According to them 9th is the best we can hope for but whilst I agree we could be stronger I'm actually quite optimistic about the next 9 months. Even the latest early season Nelson saga (thankfully only a visa this time) hasn't proved too much of a dampener. Mr Lanham is a more than adequate replacement and news that messrs Garrity and Bunyan could soon be full time Rockets is an unexpected bonus. Hopefully I'll be able to relay some stories from the inside and share a few laughs over the coming season. I was gobsmacked last season when a couple of people actually mentioned they'd read the blog posts which means I should really treat my ramblings more seriously in 2012. So onwards and upwards a sneak preview of my Speedway Star predictions or the annual unveiling of the blindfold and pin as I prefer to call it will have the Rockets in the play offs with a 6th placed finish. Obviously if you want the full table you'll have to wait for The Stars bumper addition. Well a guys got to make a living after all. Come on You Rockets ! Pete

Commentary on One Leg!

Now some people might question the dedication of speedway riders but they certainly weren't where I was on Sunday afternoon. Yes joining me as T2TV co commentator was none other than the Bowen 747 fresh from being released from Harlow Hospital with bruised ribs and broken foot. Well getting up the stairs with one good leg is one thing but standing through 15 Heats that's real dedication. Must admit I was very aware for the first couple of heats that if I made one false move I might catapult Luke crutches and all back down the stairs. Silver be moans Bowen Commentary Box Fiasco was not a headline I wanted in the Speedway Star! But it was a cracking afternoon and I think Luke did really well putting yourself behind a microphone isn't everyones cup of tea but he's a natural bringing a real riders perspective. The Kelvin to my Nigel? No I wouldn't say that I thought we were better!
Welcome back to the skipper with a typically classy display. He reckons the track record might still go this year and after 55.7 in Heat 1 who's to say he won't be right. Couldn't help but feel sorry for Jordan what are the chances of your bike throwing a wobbler on the same piece of track in 2 consecutive heats?
Crowd was down again and it had nothing to do with the X Factor. Might just be more to do with the fact that the fans don't want League fixtures after all. Come on hands up who'd rather be looking at the chance of Young Shield or Premier Trophy silverware rather than 15 heats against Berwick on Sunday week?
At least next week its a local(ish) derby so be sure to watch out for the tractors in the car park!
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Hurricane Irene Jet Lag and the Admiral!

Yes its been a while and to those few loyal souls who admit they actually read this stuff I issue a humble apology. My Blogging report definitely reads 4 out of 10 could do better at the moment. As you can see from the title there have been a few mitigating circumstances. My planned trip to New York at the end of August to watch my other great love tennis being interrupted by what we Brits would call a "bit of dodgy weather". As the subsequent wrangle with Expedia and an insurance company that want written confirmation from BA that my flight was cancelled due to a hurricane (were they living in a sealed bunker with no communication with the outside world at the time!!) have nothing to do with speedway I'll spare you any more of the gory details. So back to the track and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the NLRC although I was that jet lagged I'm sure Ken had to point me in the direction of the starting gate on more than one occasion as the eyelids started to droop. Top stuff from young Garrity though so come on Len get a contract out!! The Hackney experiment came to a predictable end east London ain't what it used to be and plonking it in the middle of Hertfordshire was hardly going to get much support so its a warm welcome back to The Raiders next year and a chance to cheer 7 lads who are truly ours. Talking of lads well The Admiral's 16 points on Saturday definitely deserves a mention. was it me or was he looking quick? Bodes well for next season talking to him afterwards he's certainly raring to go. With the X Factor again on Len's mind its Sundays from here on in, I'm a bit confused by that one because its a moot point if anyone watching Gary Barlow and his cronies should really be allowed anything sharp like a pen to fill out their programme so quite why we're worried about the competition is anyone's guess. Maybe Uncle Len fancies himself as a judge I could just see him slotting in between the one I've never heard of and the annoying American woman. Now I'd even contemplate missing my speedway for that!

Wow! Sensational Speedway!

Much over used words on Sky Sports but I must admit even I went a bit "Nigel Pearson" on Saturday night. Leaving it to the last heat is bad enough for the blood pressure leaving it to the last lap that's heart attack material. Had we had a bit of luck earlier on it would surely have not required the skippers last gasp heroics. The ref might want another look at the start of Heat 11 having pulled back two rollers he should of made it a hattrick well that's the way I saw it from the commentary box. As for The Admiral well it really was one of those nights to be fair he couldn't help his chain going first time out and that seemed to affect the rest of his evening. Hats off to Richie for the pass of the night in Heat 12 we need some more of the same in the coming weeks. Fair play also to Stewart Dickson who showed how a good team manager can make a big difference.
Am I the only one who wonders what this new interval lark is all about? Last night we seemed to sprint through the opening 9 heats like Linford Christie and suddenly everything stopped for tea or coffee as it says in the programme. Is Uncle Len going for a Starbucks franchise in the future? Fish and Chips with Curry Sauce and a Skinny Late' anyone?
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Race of The Week

This weeks offering is a cracker involving Stevie Boxall and the Admiral Nelson http://tinyurl.com/3e49qef

Who stole the Black and White Hat?

Come on I can't be the only one wondering what Mr Havelock snr was up to last night? Being thumped after 6 heats why on earth didn't he send the lad out for a tactical? Good job he didn't as the 8-1 they should have got might just have changed the meeting. To be honest I was up in the commentary box thinking I'd been whisked back to the 80's and Norman Kingsbury was back! Fair play to the lads for a solid performance with The Admiral providing a couple of cracking moments. Andrew Silver seems to be doing an excellent job with the boy who's beginning to look the real deal.

Spoke to a bit of a glum Jordan after the meeting just get the feeling he's wondering if its all worthwhile at the moment. Hopefully its only a temporary thing as we need all the exciting riders we can get. The crowd was well down and had Uncle Len moaning about that *#!*# Russian who was racing at Lakeside. Surely Mr Sayfutinov remembers where he first appeared in the UK?
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Isn't Technology Wonderful

If this works I should be able to blog from anywhere in future!
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Rain Rain and.....

Yes I admit its been a while. No excuses although my other sporting love Tennis did get in the way for a couple of weeks. So what's been happening? A lot of frustration really, points dropped at Berwick and rain falling in Hertfordshire just about sums it up. One Saturday watching the rain fall at 6:50pm from the commentary box is one thing doing it twice in two weeks is just not funny! Another thing that wasn't funny was the stream of abuse from the Glasgow man (I refuse to use the word fan!) standing on the terrace. We'd all had better evenings and yes you had a long journey but that was no excuse for the Rab C Nesbitt routine. Far from feeling sorry I found myself hoping it rained all the way back to Glasgow. So we've still not completed our 10 home and away fixtures that the second half will be based on. A look at the league table at the moment should certainly give Uncle Len something to think about stop things now and the second half will bring trips to Glasgow, Workington, Edinburgh, Berwick, Newcastle and Plymouth that's a cool 2,037 miles. better hope we're in for a couple of months of drought!

If It Ain't Broke

There was I thinking it was only me that thought doing away with the Premier Trophy and the Young Shield was a daft idea. It now seems everyone agrees well Ritchie Hawkins, Chris Neath and John Sampford anyway. At the time I couldn't really see the argument that the fans only want league racing. Whoever put that one forward was obviously absent in 2005 when we beat Workington in the final of the Premier Trophy and must have also missed the Comets returning the compliment two years running in the Young Shield. Put yourself in the place of the fans now instead of giving you 4 chances of actually winning something we're going to take two away and leave you facing 38 matches of an incomprehensible league format that has already condemned you to mid table mediocrity now which one would you rather watch? Another case of speedway kicking itself in the kevlars. The way the league is composed at the moment The Rockets could end up with a second half consisting of visits from Workington, Somerset, Sheffield,Scunthorpe, Newcastle and Newport hardly a lineup to set Len's bank balance jangling is it. If things go really pear shaped we could end in the other half with Berwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh I'm sure they'll love that as much as we do! Hopefully sense will prevail and it will be a one season wonder but then again speedway and sense the only thing they have in common is you can find them under S in the dictionary!

The Prodigal Returns

It had been a funny old week as Arkwright said in Open All Hours. Tales of gloom and despondency on the BSF Uncle Len losing his patience with the punters and young Mitchell saving himself at the last minute from a meeting with the back straight fence. So after all that everything appeared to be set for the Rebel army to ride into town and take a win away from creaking fortress Hoddesdon for the first time. Well how wrong can you be? Two Heat wins yes TWO is all the league leaders managed as The Rockets showed they might yet turn the season around to at least a respectable level. A cracking paid maximum from the skipper who went within half a second of the track record Jordan back to form after the Byker nightmare and Nelson at last giving a glimpse of what he can do. To cap it all Heat 4 (now up for viewing at http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Sport/Speedway/Beaming-Boxall-sends-Rebels-packing-23052011.htm ) marked the return of Steve Boxall looking as good as when he left with a Championship Medal in 2007. The Boxmeister reeled off 2 more wins and was unlucky to get the rough end of a clash with Cory Gathercole in Heat 13 which robbed him of a perfect comeback.

Time I feel to put whatever went on before Press & Practice Day firmly behind us and move on. Its a long time since I've seen a broader smile in the pits afterwards to say the lad is up for it is a massive understatement. As usual it wasn't all plain sailing with Luke injuring an elbow in a horrible looking crash that took out most of the second bend fence once again Mr Gathercole was involved. Hopefully unlike quite a few 747's at the moment our one will be flying shortly as there's a busy weekend coming.

KO'd By The Toon

Hmm an interesting night on Saturday to say the least! Plenty of action before the meeting with Uncle Len receiving a decidedly mixed reaction from the terrace when he tried to explain the nature of Jason Doyle's departure. One thing is for sure though, fighting back in public rarely wins any friends. If the arrangement was as stated and nothing else was on then fair enough but in these days of Facebook Twitter etc its important to get that message out to start with and not leave fans days to speculate and make up their own stories. Its a long way from 1971 when you could rely on the fact that Speedway Star and the local paper only came out once a week so you had plenty of time to get your story straight. Now if you decide one night to have a sausage instead of your traditional fish and chips it can be on twitter before the chips have come out of the oil!

A KO'ing by The Toon was fairly predictable after the 39-39 at home which once again saw our reserves let us down. Little Ben is a lovely lad who is polite enough to shake your hand every time you interview him but for his own sake the time has come for him to take time out. It can't do your confidence any good constantly coming away with less than a handful of points and we must have reached the stage that if its allowed to continue he may never achieve what we hope he is capable of. As for Nelson well in the words of Forest Gump "you never know what you're going to get". Unfortunately for the lad though the poor performances are outweighing the promising ones about 4 to 1 at the moment. On Saturday he looked totally bemused when he fell on the first bend and the crowd yelled at him to get off the track as Luke was leading Stuart Robson. On the subject of the 747 he may have his critics but you can't fault the lad for effort and personally I'm glad to see him back in form.

Predictably someone has snapped up Jason Doyle, Newport's gain will almost certainly be our loss, all we can do is wish him good luck and say thanks for getting us out of an almighty hole at the start of the season. Who knows what we'll get from the returning Steve Boxall Sunday's performance looked promising but he'll have to get back to his 2007 form pretty quick to calm down the fans I've not seen an atmosphere like Saturday's since the last days of the Russell Empire!

The Good The Bad and The Ugly

First the good news 4 points from two meetings with Ipswich shouldn't be sniffed at, quite why we had to have two meetings on the same day though escapes me. Didn't make it to Foxhall but heard the crowd was massive but certainly think the attendance at Rye was down on what it would have been on a normal Saturday night. Lets face it who can afford to shell out over £30 on admission money plus petrol plus food etc all in a day.

Now the bad yet another injury to the Rockets answer to Frank Spencer it seems in the words of a wise old blues man who's name I've forgotten "if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all". Quite how many more injuries Luke can take is anyone's guess but we wish the lad well and hope he's back soon.then to Heat 13 on Monday night and Jason Doyle's dislocated shoulder. Must say he managed to get off the track swiftly in what must have been agony but looking at John Sampford's face in the pits afterwards told the story. Finally we have a top rider who for me was just running into form and suddenly its back to pouring through the averages to try to find a guest. On that note hats off to James Holder who was sunning himself in Poole on Monday afternoon when he got the call from Mr S and unlike some others who'll remain nameless volunteered to drive up and take his guest rides.

Finally the ugly and that had to be Morten Risager's crunching meeting with the fourth bend fence. Commentating on racing is great but there is a real downside when you have to talk through an incident like that, my mind immediately flashed back to a similar one in the late 80's involving Hackney's Andy Galvin. Thankfully Morten walked away with just a finger injury, a pretty severe one I'll admit but it could have been so much worse.

So its off to Berwick and Glasgow with half a team...... wait a minute that's the phone ringing and its John Sampford surely he's not sunk that low down the averages!!