mikebv

And what makes it so frustrating is that it will quite likely happen again... If the promoters themselves dont see their own competitions as being important enough to be ran properly, and to be therefore taken seriously, then what chance are they giving themselves of convincing fans, media and sponsors, that these competitions are worth attending, covering and sponsoring? As often will be said.. There needs to be a strong hand on the tiller which ensures so much 'self inflicted nonsense' (which can only undermine the sport), is eradicated.. Be that an independent person, or party, or someone within the BSP who gets given total authority to make decisions for the good of the sport, and has the power to impose consequences to those who fail to comply..

Best of luck to the Aces.. Could "make or break" their title challenge..

Sheffield Heat Leaders.. 18 off 14 rides in leg one.. 25 off 14 rides in leg two.. 43 off 28 rides in total.. And that includes a gifted 5 points in Heat Fifteen of leg two which was a dead rubber.. A collective average of 6.14 for the three Sheffield HL's.. And some still suggest it was 100% the refs fault that the Tigers lost...

You do sometimes get the impression that "new teams" are seen by some as a threat rather than what they should be seen as... ie another asset towards the growth of the sport... Maybe, if new teams come in they should start at NDL level and link up with a Premiership or Championship team, who don't run a second team of their own... One. To create a potential rider development path into the higher leagues, but also, at the same time, support the "new team" in their dealings with some of those who may not see their existence in such a positive light, as well as giving advice as to the way the day to day dealings are done... A relationship that could continue on, or not, depending on how the new team develop as they become established.... You do sometimes suspect that "safety in numbers" could be a key strengtn to have in British Speedway..

Because those who run the sport have no vision, nor have any consequence for their actions... Instead it is a private members club with everything ran along the lines of an expensive hobby, rather than bona fide professional sporting leagues...

So sad... Best wishes and prayers to Phil and his family...

And if Musielak had just fell on his own but it meant the race to be stopped, and then Kurtz's engine blew after the red light had come on, therefore meaning he didnt cross the line, the race would have been awarded to Brady as he was leading (under power) at the time of the stoppage... As with all awarded races... You dont have to cross the line to win it...

Not with those two teams... I would have hoped they'd both lose....

As Elsa from Frozen may have sang.. "Let it Go! Let it Go!....

You have forgotten "Hi Ho Silver Lining"....

Maybe paying for three meetings from one home leg is the issue? Especially for Glasgow as not many Poole or Leicester fans will be in attendance I would think.. Especially given the way the competition has been devalued by the way it has been allowed to drift on without the clear priority and focus any "Final" of a competition should have been given..

That would be his catalytic converter.... Smells like sulphur when it goes...

"Good, hard riding, just what we want to see"... Would have been the comment a few years ago...

Maybe THREE trophies could be given out...? The team that "wins the league" BEFORE the play offs gets one... The team that actually "wins the league" in the play offs obviously will get one.. And the team that "wins the league" AFTER the league has already been won (twice), gets one... Would make a great end to the season and mean potentially 50% of all the teams can become "Champions".. A 'Win/Win' if you like... Or a 'Win/Win/Win' in UK Speedways case. They could even run a special 3 way "Ultimate Champions" play off before November with a leg of the final held at each track... I am sure there wouldnt be an issue fitting the dates in as one team will obviously pull out, like seems to happen in 3 way finals....

Bloody Rules!!!..

The other side of the debate though is the crowd level that attended last night... Must have been 3000+ there and getting that many there for a non play off match, regardless of "winning the league that night" would be highly unlikely I would say.. Again. The counter augment to that is how many stay away in the weeks leading up to the play offs knowing your team are through? The play offs do provide for some teams the opportunity to keep their season going when, if the system wasnt used, you could have your season "over" by the end of June due to being miles behind the top team in the league.. I think for the theatre and publicity alone they are definitely worth doing, however, as has been said often on here, some recognition (like Super League do in RL), should be forthcoming for the team that tops the table.. Ideally, of course, the league being completed BEFORE the play offs...

I would like to see Max Fricke replace him...

Get Robert Lambert in...

Dont they have a "top of the table" clash with Sheffield... Winner decides the title I believe it has been said.....

Cough. Cough.. 3 changes when only allowed 2... Cough. Cough...

I would give it Robert...

For me... Kurtz quite rightly went for a clear gap, then it quickly closed. - Correct decision.. - Similar to Holder/Wright at the NSS.. When you watch Ellis in super slow mo, which the ref did, he locked up very slightly a couple of times to, I would imagine, try and stop him drifting over to Brennan, unfortunately on the second time he couldnt quite manger to avoid contact... The ref would have considered "could he have gone further left?" Thus avoiding Brennan. - A very tight 51/49 correct decision... As for Kurtz/Musielak - Kurtz defended the line brilliantly and Musielak must have thought he had "cleared him", given the angle they hit the bend.. I had a great view and if he had gone in a fraction nearer the kerb he would have block passed Kurtz and rode him up the race track.. As he came in about 2m from the kerb he caught Kurtz . - 60/40 for me in Kurtz's favour... Overall I thought the ref did well over the 2 meetings, and decisions like those made always will be contentious but always add to the atmosphere.. An atmosphere driven by having so many away fans there.. Surely clubs would benefit by either letting away fans in at a heavily discounted rate, or even for free? It would be easy to police to ensure no home fans get access to tickets.. As my lad said "Every meeting should be like this"...

As we walked past the pits on the way out from the fourth turn, several Aces fans did actually trip up over his bottom lip due to it protruding so far ...

What a great advert for the sport the Finals have been.. Never a great fan of Owlerton as it is too narrow for the speed and the angles the bikes hit the bends nowadays, to ever be a "great" track, but it served up some tremendously fast close racing... With riders literally knowing that one slight mistake whilst out in front would cost them points... (Evening Jack) There most have been around 500 Aces fans there tonight and they delivered a truly awesome atmosphere.. My lad said how great the sport could be if they could deliver away crowds every meeting to add some noise, and that "the pyro" must have made the sport look worth watching to those who may be less acquainted with the sport but watching on TV.. Incredible at the end to see what it meant to the Aces riders, and Matej in particular... We sometimes feel that these lads are mercenaries travelling the globe riding for all and sundry to earn money, and they never really develop an affinity with the club or fans... Well tonight Matej proved how much he loves riding for the Aces and what this meant to him tonight.. And my lad caught his sombrero when he threw it before Matej jumped into the crowd and celebrated with them..!! Charlie doing a "John Terry" was a nice touch too.. A fantastic nights Speedway both on and off the track, and one that will live long in the memory.. Although I did say to my lad... "It was very good, but it wasn't as good as '93 at Wolves"... Well Done to the Aces. Unlucky Tigers.. Both teams served up 30 heats of great sporting excellence and drama...

Yes... But the Aces' lawyers are on the case... Robert will be able to take two by around 7 o'clock..