SouthernComet

I know the topic has been discussed to death, but I just wanted to get a proper grasp on what supporters would actually prefer? 1) The current league system. A much stronger Premiership with a few big star names. Fixed race nights. 26 League fixtures + KO Cup but with the potential to see the same opposition 3/4 times a season. 2) The ‘merged’ Premiership & Championship. Currently 15 sides so 28 fixtures at a standard around or slightly higher than the current Championship plus a KO Cup. Clubs riding on whatever night suits them. With more differentiation between in the opposition. My personal view keeps switching between the two. I’m not too interested to hear about ‘not enough riders’ or the ‘bring back uprights’ nonsense we usually get here, I just wanna see which version the paying public would prefer.

Both correct on Pjiper. I knew there was a name I was missing

Rumour is the Championship are going to reintroduce the rising star for next season? If so, I’d like to see a clear difference between the PL & CL rising stars For example: Premiership Kemp Rowe Flint Thompson Bailey Gilkes Championship: Thompson Harrison Trigger McGurk Hagon Mulford Ablitt Boughen Hodder Killeen

Thinking about it now (a week or so on), I believe it might’ve been Sam Masters being booed? Because of his hit/move on Lawson in Heat 11 where I don’t know how Lawson stayed up. Wasn’t anything major, and anyone making a big deal out of it needs their heads checking

I know it’s said every year, but the AGM for 2024 will define the future of the sport. If I was Phil Morris, I would forget about trying to make 2023 work and just focus on 2024. I cannot see any option than a merger of the Premiership and Championship, be that a North/South split or just one big league, but if there is to be league racing, then a 5 team top flight would be an embarrassment. I know we’ve had our fair share of rebrands, but Phil in his interviews has spoken of ‘uniformity’ across the top flight. Next season could be the chance to launch it fully. A top flight, at Championship standard (which I don’t see as a bad thing), with a professional image and branding. oh, and make 2 minute clocks mandatory

Are Cup competitions worth anything anymore? Being a Poole fan, the difference in crowds for KO cup matches was noticeable, final aside perhaps. I wouldn't be annoyed if they were scrapped. The league is always the pinnacle. I would've liked to have seen a bit more symmetry between the two leagues structure wise, which I think would've been easy to do if they could've convinced another side to take the jump upwards. Two divisions of 8. Twice home, twice away for 28 fixtures, top 4 into play offs. Plus Riders & Pairs Championship. Team building rules could've also have been the same. 42.50 including a rising star. Conversion rate of somewhere between 1.5 & 2. With the rising star, perhaps it could be easier to grade all the British U21 riders (4, 3, 2 & 1) and have one of them as a rising star. Saves any arguments on criteria for a RS as well. Just some thoughts

Is there any news on a possible return for the Wildcats? Watching Weymouth FC lose another game yesterday, one couldn't help spend a lot of time looking over at the empty space that is left where the 2003-2010 track was. Still believe it could be a nice little venue, even the track would be very small and narrow with an air fence etc. Thanks in advance

I see the argument for both sides. I enjoy the current system, I personally feel its one of the very few things the BSPA have got right over the last few years. However, having tried to explain it to newcomers to the sport, I can see why the BP system could also be a sensible suggestion.

People are always saying that clubs need to do more to make a meeting more of a 'show. Poole for example have fire cannons for when home riders win a race (be honest, they haven't been used a lot in the last couple of meetings), and also used a light show, steam and a LED walkway for the final against Glasgow last year. What would fans like to see in this respect? Should these sort of things be used at every meeting or just the big meetings such as finals? Be interesting to hear peoples thoughts

Firstly, congratulations must go to Plymouth on their fine win, sorry they didn't win did they.... In all seriousness, it would've been a comfortable away win if MPT hadn't had his accident. Although contact is minimal, if any at all, I don't have any real complaints about Lawson going. It is a hard move, not a dangerous move but a hard move that does cause MPT to come off. To those who are saying that its a disgraceful move from Lawson, then I don't believe this sport is for you... Track was poor in my eyes. Not enough water put down before or during the meeting with dust appearing right from the beginning. Also, Bowtell giving it the big one to the main stand after Heat 14, only to be given third was a personal highlight. Especially after Heat 8. Even if I do feel he got second ahead of Cook. Poole need changes I feel, I would have to do the maths and check the averages but a couple of changes such as Adam Ellis & Anders Rowe for Danny King & Nathan Ablitt wouldn't be the worst move in the world I feel. The Nathan experiment, whilst I understand why its being done, I feel would only work if every side in the league had a 2.00 at No 7. Both Ablitt & McGurk were comfortably behind on all occasions. Not miles off the pace but not really causing any problems. Onto Berwick next week, only Bomber to deal with....Looking forward to seeing Knudsen ride, if he doesn't have Danish commitments that is.

Good meeting on a very decent track. Potentially could've done with a bit more watering mid meeting, but I imagine the riders have a say on that as well. Masters looked a threat all night, very quick especially against Stevie Worrall. Jason Edwards was a superb choice of guest as there is no way on earth that James Sarjeant would score 10. Pickering showed glimpses but aside from that, the rest of the Monarchs struggled. Couple of unfortunate moments for the Pirates. Zach Cook's bike dying when on what seemed a nailed on 5-1 and Kemps crash. Surprised Kemp came out for his remaining rides as it seemed so awkward. Special shout out to Nathan Ablitt. A small error cost him a point against Edwards on bend four, lap four. It is still his apprenticeship year, and the rest of the side has been built to allow him to learn this year before hopefully kicking on. ROTN, easily Ben Cook. His part in the 5-1 over Masters & Pickering in Heat 9 was amazing and his overtakes for a well deserved win in Heat 14 were outstanding.

About the right scoreline in the end. Kemp having an off night seemed to show in the early stages of the meeting when the score was a bit closer but Birmingham's weakness showed in the end. Ellis rode as you'd expect, as with Nielsen round Poole to be fair, a very strong reserve to have. Ash Morris also showed what a good rider he can be on his day. Vissing as a number 1 was exceptionally poor, Shanes may as well as not have turned up whereas it would be unfair to be negative about a 16 year old on his first visit to Poole in Pearson, who put in a good overtake on Ablitt in heat 2. Both Cook brothers should how powerful they can be as a middle order at home tonight, whereas the big boys delivered as always. Agree with the above on the track, loads of dirt building up right up against the air fence but needed watering during the track grades. Far to slick around the inside with the dreaded blue groove starting to come through on bends 3 & 4

Was the track perfect? Not quite, but like it has been stated, was smooth with some dirt on it. Sadly it only seemed to produce one real racing line but it is still the best condition I have seen the Poole track in years. Oxford were very very poor. Nicholls being the only real serious threat to Poole. I think its fair to say Batch's last two Cheetahs meetings have mirrored his career perfectly, untouchable one minute, riding like a reserve the next. Great to see such a big crowd, looked around the 3k mark to my untrained eye, looked bigger than the Glasgow final did anyway. Fabulous to have the post heat 14 rendition of Sweet Caroline back as well. The addition of Karl West as DJ at Wimborne Road could be the best signing Poole have made in a few seasons, feels like theres a good atmosphere around the place all meeting long

To all those saying 1 fixed race night is the answer, would you be happy with only a 14 meeting season, so 7 home meetings?

If the Elite League did follow Poland & Sweden and start using a set race night, would fans like this? Having heard both sides of the argument i am split. The amount of fixtures would be cut in half, but we would see a higher caliber of rider. So I just wanted to hear others views, simply what would you prefer? A) A Fixed Race Night. 14 Meetings (7 Home & Away) - Top Riders The race night seems to be the only thing keeping all the top riders away, according to Jason Doyle, the money in GB is not much different to Poland or Sweden or Current EL. 28 Meetings (14 Home & Away) - Current Set of Riders More meetings, but lower quality