Whilst congratulations to Chris Harris tonight absolutely gutted for Lewis but keep your chin up your day will come. True guts shown this week considering nasty injury..am I still going to cardiff - yes but not the same now Roll on 2010
Whilst congratulations to Chris Harris tonight absolutely gutted for Lewis but keep your chin up your day will come. True guts shown this week considering nasty injury..am I still going to cardiff - yes but not the same now Roll on 2010
Me too, just Nicki, Chris and Scott to chear for now though! I'm gutted for him too. One thing though I have picked up on this week with Lewis is that somebody needs to have a word about riding the inside line on the first bend sometimes. 3 times blasting straight to the outside has lost him races this week, it cost Eastbourne in heat 15 against Wolves and it cost him twice tonight at Poole. At a young age he still has things to learn and PK's experience told on Saturday to park it on the line and take the win, these are lessons which need to be learnt if you are to become the best. I'm not having a go at all as anybody who knows me knows how much I love watching Lewis ride but this is just one area which could make a difference to Lewis scoring 15 points in every meeting. _________________ Check out my Pic's site. Click on WWW below...
Lewis needs a mentor, someone that was of a world class standard like John Davis (Kennett and Rico's pits) or Michael Lee (Tai's pits). David Mason, no disrespect was never in that sort of class. Maybe someone like Loram?
Congrats to Bomber and Eddie. Will be cheering on Eddie at Cardiff.
Missed Lewis last night but big congratulations to him for reaching World U21 finals good luck for final will be cheering at home for you
Also congrats to winner Tai ... great for brits
Missed Lewis last night but big congratulations to him for reaching World U21 finals good luck for final will be cheering at home for you
Also congrats to winner Tai ... great for brits
I agree with your sentiments Travelator, but how we missed your scoring. _________________ Supporting the Eagles through the good times as well as the bad
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: From Eastbourne local newspaper the Gazette
Bridger faces Eagles ban By Mark Hines
Eastbourne Eagles star Lewis Bridger is facing a ban from furious team boss Trevor Geer for failing to turn up for the Monday night meeting with Belle Vue, which the Eagles narrowly lost 49-41.
Bridger chose to stay in Poland after racing in the Tobet World Cup for Great Britain and he is now facing a 28-day ban which will be imposed either by the Eagles or by the Elite Speedway League.
The Eagles were hit with a £300 fine for being understrength for the meet and Bridger himself was fined £300.
Bridger rode for Polish side Czestochowa at Bydgoszcz in the Polish Ekstraliga and scored three points the team.
Bridger had told the team he lost his passport and would not be able to return to Britain for the meeting in time.
Geer said, "Lewis was told not to stay out in Poland and now we will be sitting down and talking with him when he returns to England and he will be punished.
"There is a lot of pressure on him from the Polish team to ride for a lot of money but the Elite League takes precedence over anything else and he should have come home, and with him we would have won on Monday night.
"Other riders rejected the chance to stay and earn some money to come back to the Elite League and they will be angry with him.
"We were expecting to be replacing Davey Watt as he was ill the day before but he came back and rode for Eastbourne and rode very well.
It is frustrating because it was a very close meeting. It was a very good performance from the five and, with Bridger, we would have come home with some points _________________ click here for the latest front page news
According to Lewis' website he has been given a 2 match ban and substantial fine by the BSPA. Also in the news section there is a very honest view from the webmaster of his sit which kind of sums up the situation perfectly. _________________ Check out my Pic's site. Click on WWW below...
if what is stated by our team manager is true , and there is no reason to doubt it , bridger is entirely in the wrong and owes an apology to management and fans . as it seems he will be banned by bspa for 28 days , the 2 match one imposed by the club will therefore be of no consequence , but the fines will to bspa and the club . other riders returned from the world cup to fulfill their fixtures here . BD said at the beginning of the season that bridger and kennett both wanted to move on elsewhere . we all know about kennett , bridger we were told would stay for the season on a vastly improved package , but would be allowed to leave next year .
Eastbourne stayaway Lewis Bridger is facing a two-meeting Elite League ban and a hefty fine.
The Eagles No. 1 missed Monday’s agonising 49-41 defeat at Belle Vue and rode for Czestochowa in the Polish league on the same day.
Bridger said he left his passport in a restaurant on Sunday night and could not retrieve it until after his flight from Poland had departed.
British speedway chiefs studied his case amid speculation he faced a 28-day ban.
However The Argus understands he will miss Eagles’ next two meetings, at Ipswich tomorrow and at home to Lakeside on Saturday.
He will be fined £5,000 and also faces a suspension from meetings overseas of 14 or 28 days, putting his Polish ambitions on hold.
The punishment is likely to be confirmed today.
Bridger’s absence at Belle Vue almost certainly cost his five-man team at least a bonus point, which would have been theirs had they scored one more race point.
Team manager Trevor Geer, known as one of the most easy-going and patient characters in the sport, said: “I was livid with Lewis.
“He was fined £300 (by the SCB) for not turning up and we were fined £300 for tracking a weakened team but we were advised to pass that fine on to Lewis.
“We knew there was the meeting on in Poland on Monday and emails have been flying about trying to get riders to go out there.
“But people know they can’t do that if they have a meeting here.”
British clubs race on various nights of the week but Sundays are reserved for Poland while Tuesdays are kept clear for the Swedish top flight.
It was clear there could be problems when the delayed Bydgoszcz versus Czestochowa clash was re-arranged for Monday, the same night as three Elite League meetings.
Most top riders spent the weekend in Poland for the World Cup. As well as Bridger, Czestochowa’s squad also includes Lee Richardson and Tai Woffinden, who flew back to ride in England on Monday.
Their squad was further depleted by injury to Nicki Pedersen.
Bridger insists he always planned to return to England and was booked on a 5.50am flight out of Poland. To cap a miserable night he was excluded from his last two races for delaying the start.
Meanwhile his Eagles colleagues were running Belle Vue close, led by Davey Watt’s efforts to ride when under the weather and go unbeaten in his first five races.
Watt’s last place in heat 15 cost Eagles a bonus point, a day after he was part of the Australian squad cruelly denied World Cup gold.
the banning on matches for other clubs has a kick to it . so with next two matches and no guest allowed for bridger , already using r/r , do we ride with five again or be allowed to have a makeweight from lower divisions ?
the banning on matches for other clubs has a kick to it . so with next two matches and no guest allowed for bridger , already using r/r , do we ride with five again or be allowed to have a makeweight from lower divisions ?
How many more threads are you going to ask this question Ray _________________ A Founder Member of the Home Straight Lukas Dryml Appreciation Society!
Wednesday 22nd July '09: Due to his non-appearance for the Eastbourne Eagles at Belle Vue on Monday and subsequent appearance for Czestochowa in Poland, the BSPA have imposed a two match ban and substantial fine on Lewis with immediate effect.
Lewis, and all at Team LBR, would like to offer their sincere apologies to his Eagles team-mates, the promotion at Eastbourne Speedway, his sponsors and, most importantly, the paying public who we have let down.
Lewis's Dad and Grandad, Steve and Tony, are bitterly disappointed at the naive way Lewis was persuaded to race in Poland and are determined that steps are taken to prevent such things happening in future.
Another apology !
Tuesday 21st July '09: On the subject of Lewis's absence from the Eagles meeting at Belle Vue last night, and his delay in Poland, I, as webmaster, and a peripheral member of Team LBR, would like to make a personal statement:
"I would like to apologise on behalf of Team LBR for Lewis's absence at Belle Vue on Monday night. Whilst I have not been informed directly by Lewis, or any other member of Team LBR about the exact circumstances, and have only read the item on the un-official Eagles website, I consider it necessary to air my own views."
"Any lapses of professionalism made by Lewis not only affect Lewis himself, they also reflect badly on the whole of his support team. It is therefore necessary to consider whether we are fulfilling our roles adequately, or whether it would be more appropriate for changes to be made in order to ensure that there are people within the team than can make Lewis fully accept the responsibilities that come with being a professional speedway rider."
"My major remit has involved portraying Lewis and Team LBR in a professional way via the world wide web. I have therefore tried to ensure that the aesthetic appearance of the site has been reasonably professional, that it has been kept updated with frequent news items, and that the accuracy of those news items was reliable."
"Reliability is, in my opinion, one of the major things that one must guarantee when attempting to become professional. Trust, honesty and mutual respect are earned over a period of time providing that reliability is maintained. Equally, all can be lost in one brief moment of madness."
"Unfortunately, in each of the last couple of seasons, there has been at least one controversial episode that has brought in to question Lewis's attitude and professionalism and, as a team, we have been trying to eradicate these failings."
"Some things can be put down to youthful exuburence on Lewis's part. Others to lack of foresight and planning on the part of the team. However, for whatever reason, we have not been able to instill in Lewis the absolute necessity to remain absolutely focused on his goals at all times if he truly wishes to fulfill his ambitions."
"As someone who has previously always tried to defend Lewis when things have happened that may have been avoided, in this instance I cannot think of any reasonable excuse for a professional sports person making such a juvenile error as leaving their passport and jacket in a restaurant, and then not realising their mistake until it is too late to do anything about until the next day! I also find it hard to believe that Lewis could even contemplate racing for Czestochowa, as it would obviously compound the severity of Lewis's absence from Belle Vue with the BSPA."
"There is a limit to the number of times you can attribute youth and lack of experience to continuing failings, and Lewis must realise that he has let down not only himself, his team, and his sponsors, he has also let down the people who matter the most; the supporters. The fans of both Eastbourne and Belle Vue paid good money to watch two full teams race competitively for Elite League points. Lewis let them down.
"Should the BSPA impose a twenty-eight day ban on Lewis for his latest transgression fans from other clubs around the country are also going to be deprived of seeing him ride too."
"I sincerely hope that the BSPA take a kindly view, because I honestly do not believe that this was a deliberate, or pre-conceived action on Lewis's part, just another case of him not paying due care and attention to his responsibilites.
"Having now been involved with Team LBR for over four years, I seriously doubt whether it is in the best interest of Lewis, or Team LBR as a whole, for me to remain involved, as my hopes and ambitions for improving the professionalism of Lewis and Team LBR seem to be as far away now as they were when I came on board."
"Once again I find myself apologising for Lewis and, by association, Team LBR, and even though I am unable to watch Lewis ride very often, I feel as let down as any fan. What more can I say?" _________________ click here for the latest front page news
I hve to say thats a top post by the webmaster to LBR.Very straight and to the point,i just wish someone like him was with lewis in poland,then none of this would have happened.My final say on this matter is to lewis himself--"Lewis you have the world at your feet,time goes fast,dont reflect at 30 that you did nothing with your talent and you didnt listen to those closest to you" i know that sound kinda of a sicky comment but it becomes true in a lot of talented sportman who go down the wrong track.
agree with you totally SDB , so two match ban instead of 28 days . assume that is saturday at home and away to ipswich .wonder how management will cope after their c**k-up and ignorance at belle vue , they really don't deserve our confidence and trust . see details of their c**k-up on home v hammers and away at ippo threads .following david's explanation on aces site at last we know how and why decision was made . nuthin' to do with points as was previously stated. presumably if reason not known until after meeting, and complin had ridden ,any points he may have scored would have been deleted .bspa are sure to have some rule about that situation .this is worse than westminster .
so lewis ' top man has resigned , hope he moves to a truly reliable and trustworthy rider and project . lewis stands to pay in many ways.
agree with you totally SDB , so two match ban instead of 28 days . assume that is saturday at home and away to ipswich .wonder how management will cope after their c**k-up and ignorance at belle vue , they really don't deserve our confidence and trust . see details of their c**k-up on home v hammers and away at ippo threads .following david's explanation on aces site at last we know how and why decision was made . nuthin' to do with points as was previously stated. presumably if reason not known until after meeting, and complin had ridden ,any points he may have scored would have been deleted .bspa are sure to have some rule about that situation .this is worse than westminster .
so lewis ' top man has resigned , hope he moves to a truly reliable and trustworthy rider and project . lewis stands to pay in many ways.
I dont think we can blame the management for Mondays fiasco surely the responsibility falls squarely on Lewis's shoulders. He had notified the club he was unable to make the fixture for what ever reason, Trevor got IN a guest Lee Complin . Just prior to the start of the Belle Vue meeting it was found that Lewis had taken a ride in Poland,this made the use of a guest against the rules. Don't see how we can blame management on this issue
Good post speedy. _________________ A Founder Member of the Home Straight Lukas Dryml Appreciation Society!
so they have enough laid at their door you say .but if they expected bridger back from poland on thursday with other returning riders why was it all so late and when did bridger [ no longer referred to as lewis ] inform them and did he say he was unwell , later the passport version long after he was expected back ? so many versions . hope your mushrooms enjoy seeing a little daylight . but so little , so late
so they have enough laid at their door you say .but if they expected bridger back from poland on thursday with other returning riders why was it all so late and when did bridger [ no longer referred to as lewis ] inform them and did he say he was unwell , later the passport version long after he was expected back ? so many versions . hope your mushrooms enjoy seeing a little daylight . but so little , so late
In this instance Ray, Lewis Bridger is the sole perpetrator of this. Whatever story he first told Trevor whether unwell or Lost passport a replacement was found . When it transpired he rode in Poland the replacement facility was withdrawn. Whether Bob or Trevor told lewis to stay over there or not to bother to come back until the last minute I dont know but in this case it seems to most people including the BSPA Lewis was at fault not the management. That is unless you are turning into the Eagles version of Conspiracy theorist Michael Moores.
_________________ A Founder Member of the Home Straight Lukas Dryml Appreciation Society!
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Roll on 2010 
good luck for final will be cheering at home for you 
but how we missed your scoring. 
lewis stands to pay in many ways. 