Soundbites: 7th August 2006

Thorp	Dickson

"It was a superb team performance - we just keep on winning. I am certain now we can go on and beat Stoke over the two legs and I think we will end up beating Scunthorpe in the final."
Plymouth chairman Mike Bowden - Optimistic after they defeated Buxton in the Conference Trophy

"While I will personally benefit from Tony's retirement by contesting the four remaining rounds of the World Championship, it is always disappointing when one of the true greats calls it a day. Tony has long been one of my heroes and winning six world titles is an amazing feat. Most people would be happy with one, so to have half-a-dozen of them in the trophy cabinet highlights just what a classy rider he has been."
Hans Andersen pays tribute to the retiring Tony Rickardsson

"A minority of so-called speedway supporters felt it necessary to abuse us to our face on Wednesday. I have never actually felt so hurt in my 13 years in the sport at Lynn. It's not easy being a promoter, but the best will of the club is at heart, and I would have thought everybody would have known that by now. If anybody does that again then I simply won't put up with it as I deserve as much respect back as I give to others, and you might find me deciding I've had enough and put the club up for sale."
Buster Chapman after Stars meeting with Workington had to be abandoned on Wednesday

"Jason Lyons and Danny King have been star performers for us recently while the rest of the team have not been quite up to scratch. We have one of the better-paid squads in the Premier League and I want to give us every chance of making the play-offs. That was our target before the season and it remains so."
Mildenhall boss Mick Horton

"They have been the better team over the two legs which were completed and deserved to get through to the final. The track suited them this time and they showed what a good team they have. Our lads gave it their best shot but weren't good enough on this occasion."
Graham Drury after the Stars knocked the Comets out of the Premier Trophy

"In eight years of promoting, I have never moaned or complained about a referee. But while one big mistake could be considered an accident, two from the same referee is not acceptable. When referees make decisions like this, they clearly have no regard for my business's profitability and well-being. The calls he made at Coventry and Oxford have almost ensured we will fail to reach the play-offs this year."
Poole's Matt Ford is not a fan of referee Chris Durno

"I'm really pleased to be joining Stoke again after such a long time and I'd like to think I can bring a lot of qualities to the team. It's very much a case of going back to my roots. I've generally had a good rapport with the older supporters who remember me from my time here previously."
Paul Thorp on his return to the Potteries

"Unfortunately, looking at the performances over a period, Alan's scores and average has dipped alarmingly and I had no choice other than to act quickly. He has been a terrific servant over the years and I'm sure we would have all preferred that he finished his last season on a more upbeat note. But the facts are there in black and white and I can't allow sentiment to jeopardise any of the hard work put in by the club and its sponsors."
Dave Tattum explains why he's introduced Thorp to replace Alan Mogridge

"Given the circumstances, I feel that it was a remarkable win for us and shows the fighting spirit we have here when we are faced with adversity. I couldn't be more proud of our riders than I am tonight."
Martin Newnham on the Islanders' win over Edinburgh

"What a debut for Tomasz Chrzanowski, paid 14 that was fantastic, you could not ask for more. We mean business with the team now proving their potential that is why we formed it in the winter. Hopefully Tomasz will be the icing on the cake but I am not going to say too much but I am confident we will now reach the play-offs."
Alun Rossiter - Delighted with his latest capture

"Our team was built in such a way that the reserves were going to be crucial and Martin (Smolinksi) in particular is an awfully big miss - but every team gets injuries at some time or other and it's how you cope with them that matters."
Coventry co-manager Peter Oakes

"Jason really is head and shoulders above the rest in world speedway. Denmark's Hans Andersen is the next best, yet Jason passed him in the final in Italy. One of the most impressive aspects of his riding is that he can get so close to other riders. He has the skill to keep riders under pressure in close combat while others make a challenge and then fall back if they don't get through. World titles don't come to you, they are there for anyone with the guts and ability to go out and take them. We saw him at his very best in Lonigo last week."
Peter Collins on Jason Crump

"I really enjoy racing at Armadale. It's a hard and technical track. But every time I come here I feel more comfortable. It is very important to get out of the gate first, because it is a very short run to the first corner. You must also keep a good line. Any mistake and you will get passed."
Scottish Open Champion Stanislaw Burza

"Things are starting to click. Danny and Shane were always expected to score but Kauko's points-scoring has been a real bonus. We're taking nothing for granted though, there is still a long way to go and anything could happen."
Glasgow manager Stewart Dickson - The Tigers currently top the league

"All my riders agreed it was far too wet and dangerous for the first attempt at heat 12. Their safety mattered to us much more at that point than the battle for the bonus point."
Berwick manager Tom Graham - Their meeting at Newcastle was interrupted for 30 minutes by rain

"I'm absolutely over the moon. We were dead and buried at heat nine and I thought we were out of it. I didn't think we were going to do it. But the lads proved me wrong and pulled it out of the bag. Our aim now has to be staying in the top four because it gives us home advantage in the play-offs."
Brian Havelock on Redcar's win at Newport yesterday

"The result flattered Coventry. Although we could have lost in the last heat it was really a meeting where every single bit of good fortune went the way of Coventry. Their team manager said to me before heat 15 how he hated the tactical rider rule and how we should have never been in that situation. He was very honest."
Jon Cook on Eastbourne's narrow home win over Coventry

"We are in danger of becoming a one-man team at the moment and Hans Andersen cannot win the Elite League on his own. Hans has been scoring huge amounts of points for the last few matches and the rest of the boys haven't been contributing in the way they should. The average of every other rider has dropped compared to what it was earlier in the season. They have to show some character and get back to banging in the points."
Peterborough boss Trevor Swales

"The way Berwick have been riding recently, we had no chance, so it was no surprise we got beaten. It was disappointing that we only had two riders who really did anything - but that's the way our season has been going. We were not good enough, simple as that."
John Campbell on the Monarchs' defeat at Berwick

This article was first published on 7th August 2006