Steve0

Wolves should be wooden Spoonists

No problem with that logic except you have POOLE in the top 4 and they are in the same position!! I think your flaw is that you are making assumptions - best to wait until the team is announced.

Broke my heart watching the video and makes you realise what riders are putting in the line every time they get on a bike. It will be a long road to recovery but he is making progress and I wish him all the very best in his rehabilitation and hope people dig deep for him.

It says a lot about British Speedway when Chris Harris rides at reserve in Sweden!

It's not about the winning but apparently winning teams are better supported (didn't happen for Swindon since their title winning season or Brummies who finished top of the pile last year). For me, it's about value for money primarily. Also having guests or RR and an inconsistent meeting schedule means that people have found better things to do with their money on speedway night. The FTR was the final nail in the coffin for me. There are many that eel the same as I do (and many who don't) but at the end of the day what have promoters done to get people back or new people in??

The main announcer is better than the other one they use - he seems to have knowledge of speedway whereas the other guy made the gaff of the year a while back when he said a rider's hand was hurting when he was asking the ref for the green light Don't get me started about Ermolenko - soooo annoying! How many times does he get Kylmakorpi wrong by referring to him as Makorpi - so many more gaffs it's really annoying!!

If I wanted to see NL riders I would go along to a NL match. I have absolutely no interest in seeing NL riders riding in in the NL and even less interest in seeing them in the EL. That's my opinion - a couple of times you have mentioned that I am looking to see top quality riders - I haven't said that - what I have said is that I have no interest in seeing NL riders!

You can't have a fair draft system if you keep riders back - so yes - rigged! (whatever the justification is)

I think we will need to agree to disagree on this one because we seem to live on different planets. To answer some of your points: 1. I didn't mention anything about competing with other speedway nations. What I mentioned was the dilution of the product and value for money. Where does it all end - 7 NL riders per team in the EL because that is all they can afford? That is where they are heading unless they address the value for money issue. I think supporters realise this and that is why they are voting with their feet and staying away! 2. I agree the biggest issue is finance but they should be looking at ways of reducing costs to riders and the other costs will have to follow suit - not expect their customers to pay through the nose for an inferior product. 3. Regarding quality of entertainment - so you enjoy watching Team Lewis beating most of the opposition - some of which are half a lap behind? Of course you do because you have two strong reserves - the bigger picture is that it is an unfair system that was "rigged" from the outset (and I'm not getting at KL or any other team - who all played within the rules). How can that be better entertainment? 4. I don't think I was actually moaning about the number of meetings with guests and RR - I was merely supporting my view that this adds to the less value for money. However, when you say that we have no choice - you might not, but I certainly do - if I don't like it, I won't settle for less. It is that attitude of the diehard fans (who are dwindling in numbers) that any speedway is better than none that encourages speedway promoters to continue to dilute the product and at some point you just have to say "enough is enough" and the FTR has done that for me. I have been attending speedway for well on 30+ years but for all the reasons I previously listed (which I won't list again for fear of being accused of moaning!) I have found other ways to keep me busy on a Thursday night which is good value for money!

You are entitled to your opinion but with respect, it is fans like yourself that the BSPA want to keep. How can you say that the product has not been diluted with FTR riders (apart from the fact that you probably have the best reserve pairing in the league). In the real world (where we do look past the end of our noses), the product is not Elite - it has been diluted year on year even past the 3 year period they said they needed, the entertainment is poor value for money , there is no continuity of meetings and there is hardly a meeting now without guests and RR - and so many meetings with many guests. On top of that teams now have 2 riders, who apart from a small number have definitely diluted the product to an all time low - and all for the same price! As a paying customer - that is unacceptable. That is my view and for each of our viewpoints there are people that will agree and those that will disagree. Whichever camp you are in the fact is the fan base is reducing! If speedway dies (where it is certainly heading) then the problem lies squarely with the promoters and not the fans who choose to exercise their right to spend their money how they want to. Wake up and smell the coffee - if the fan base keeps shrinking there will be no teams to support so this is a real problem that needs dealing with!M

Nobody said they wanted the big boys back (although that would be nice). What we should have is value for money, regular racing, teams without guests and RR, affordable prices, ENTERTAINMENT. Sadly I don't think the BSPA have the solution to dwindling crowds as their latest ideas haven't exactly improved the value for money need and is nothing but more cost cutting!

I can't believe this is still being discussed - time to move on...

Up until last season I thought Tai was an ok rider but had reached his level and as he admitted was on the brink of giving up and going in a different direction. What he did instead was change his fitness regime and some other things and really upped his game. He rode through the pain barrier several times and showed superhuman determination to succeed - and he did it - and deserved it! Since becoming world champion, he has a high media profile - I haven't really seen this by other world champions. He also does a serious amount for charity. He doesn't come across as big headed as some have said but a lad who is at the top of his game - for which you need the right mindset. He comes across as a thoroughly decent person. He deserves his success and I don't begrudge him his success one bit. What a transformation - in more ways than one. The only minor issue I have are his tattoos - I'm not a fan of ink but that is his choice and not mine. I wish success for many years to come so he can retire back to Oz and enjoy the fruits of his labours!

Can I join them too?

He did win fairly

Well done Tai Wish I had my sunglasses on with those white teeth of his - talk about the Colgate smile

Great ride from Tai in heat 17

Heat 15 - Darcy showing how great he is on a speedway bike - fantastic

Nice ride by Batch - another poor ride from Tai

2 rides and 2 lasts? He's even behind Bomber at this point. He may go out and get 3 wins (and I hope he does) but not looking likely

Looking like Tai was a one season wonder - shame really! He needs to up his game

Congratulations to Smoli - who would have predicted that - and not just hugging the white line too'

Sounds like this lad is another Lewis Bridger - time will tell I suppose

No - he wasn't riding for the Rebels - as you well know that is what people meant!

What a disgrace Somerset are by first releasing Nick, then dumping Ty without him turning a wheel for them and replacing him with Morris - disgraceful!!!