Vince

The asset system is a nonsense that needs to disappear as soon as possible anyway in my opinion. They are owned by EL clubs in name only, youngsters whose head was turned by the opportunity to sign for a big name club which will do well if the rider does and not care if he doesn't.

I would think that a few quid getting somebody in to at least clean the toilets very thoroughly before and keep them that way during a meeting would be a good investment. You can get away with sub standard facilities if they are very clean.

If the Poole EL team was bottom of the table and the PL team top there would very likely be more support for the PL fixtures. That's not a dig at Poole as it would apply to most places. However if it was a once a season opportunity to see Holder and Anderson against, say, Woffinden and Lindgren then perhaps that alone would keep the numbers up.

I actually like the thinking behind the suggestion. I think your hardcore PL level support could be boosted by a few very high level meetings giving limited opportunities to see the worlds best riders in UK team racing. I do think that Speedway loses the pulling power of many it's top riders because fans can see them in action every week. Then get as many local riders as possible in the lower level teams and try to retain riders as much as possible year on year (with a team building average bonus for retained riders if need be) and you have a very good outline for the future. The more I consider the idea the more I like it.

I knew a track man who mixed some old oil in with the shale and when he did it a little at a time got good results and it wasn't obvious what was going on. However when he got a bit carried away every time he watered it looked like the Amoco Cadiz had sunk on the track and became clear to everybody what was going on

I've been to amateur meetings where there has been an old JAP running unsilenced (and noticed the same at men in black demos) and the difference in noise is nowhere near what you expect. A lot to do with modern bikes revving a lot harder I imagine and they are still pretty loud in comparison to most things. All that oil dripping out the bottom of the bikes used to do wonders for binding the shale together on the track as well.

I've seen a NL rider fined for removing his cutout from his wrist after a race, however it is common practice in the EL and GP's and is seen on the TV all the time! Presumably it's because the NL rider can afford to be fined. Also saw Karlis Ezergailis fined for having the wrong shade of yellow helmet cover at the same NL meeting as the referee told the machine examiner to measure the eco mats but when a rider punched another following a collision it wasn't mentioned Then again it was Ms Vardy so not like a real referee.

The first meeting I can remember going to was, I think, in 1967. Taken by my Grandfather and father I spent a lot of time hearing how the riders, tracks and bikes used to be so much better than this modern stuff. Those horrible 2v Jawa things were way too easy to ride unlike the good old JAP and real men had ridden Douglas DT's. Ask any fast old timer how often they used to do their JAP motors and a modern one looks a model of reliability in comparison. I was guilty of much the same when I took my own kids, thinking that slick tracks took the skill out of riding and telling them how much better it was in my day, whenever that was! Some years later a (very slow and very erratic) few rides on a modern bike made me realise that the grip level on a slick track isn't very different to my old 2V on a deeper surface. Now I've the utmost respect for modern riders, they ride very very hard the majority of the time and have to react so quickly to what the bike is doing. You see mostly processional racing with a couple of good races thrown in and the occasional great race that makes all the rest worthwhile, just like it always was. It's not the sports fault that we only remember the great races but it is it's biggest problem. In the early 80's I worked for Jim Squibb who had a very long and quite successful Speedway career, I think from just after the war to the mid 70's but that's without looking it up. We spent hours and hours just chatting about Speedway and he said that the skill level of the riders was continually rising and that Penhall was amazing on a bike and could do things that the past greats could only have dreamed of. Personally I think you could take a top rider from any era and he would adapt to any other but that was Jim's opinion and he was in a position to know.

My idea, such as it is was posted on the previous page Shorter season I'd agree with. Speedway for me as a kid started on good Friday and finished with the world final which was about this time of year. More chance of success with the weather but maybe more difficult to justify to a landlord.

Sounds great, except it's proven not to work! Speedway was in decline when these things were in place, crowds were much better than now but in my opinion just carrying on would have seen a continued decline to much the same place. KO Cup, national qualifiers, regional championships all disappeared because they didn't pay, not enough people wanted to watch them. The GP has caused problems within British Speedway but I'm far from convinced they have been more than slightly detrimental. At the moment they are one of the only things in Speedway actually working (depending on your definition of success admittedly). Impossible to know but it seems likely that more people have visited Speedway after watching the GP's than after watching the league meetings. Although I did speak to somebody only this morning who enjoyed the multi meeting coverage so much the other night that he is going to live Speedway for the first time in 30 years, therefore proving that like everybody else I'm only guessing! Luckily if I get it wrong it costs me nothing unlike the much maligned promoters.

Difficult to imagine it being the best and most consistent way to gate so if the front wheel isn't moving it's good enough in my view.

It's easy to look at BSB and think they have it well sorted because it looks so professional with big name sponsors, good TV coverage and bumper crowds. Depends what you are actually wanting though, very few BSB riders are paid and the crowds only have to turn up about 12 times a year on a weekend. Run the same meetings several times a week and it wouldn't be near as attractive. I can't see how any changes to the format, bikes or tracks is going to bring significant changes in numbers attending Speedway. The entire image of the sport needs a makeover in the mad, bad and dangerous way that SCB mentioned. Then there are still way too many meetings for it to be viable as a professional sport for so many clubs. Perhaps there needs to be a slightly bigger Elite league that charges spectators and pays at something like the current PL rates. Then everybody else running at a sort of NL level charging a low entry fee and paying expenses. I can't see any way for tracks to all run at weekends which would help the cause. In all honesty I think a big dose of realism about what can be expected of the sport is needed by fans, rose tinted nostalgic glasses are it's biggest downfall by far!

Unfortunately because the weather forecast is so poor for tomorrow this meeting has had to be cancelled.

This Saturday sees the final round of the Maxxis National Flat track Championship at Rye House Speedway. There is a new race format designed to increase the appeal to spectators. Heat races for all groups except Pro's starts at noon. Then starting at 6pm are the Pro heats with the finals for the other groups in between blocks. Should make for some good racing for spectators in a shorter time than a complete meeting. Groups racing will be, Youth Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Minibikes, Rookie (novice), Restricted (Intermediate) Thunderbike and Pro. Spectators go free so if you're in the area it will be worth a look and say hi to Pro number 95.

1963, apparently I did go there but having been under 2 at the time I don't remember it! Replaced by an Ice rink and night club with the Speedway guaranteed to be re-opened elsewhere is what I was always told, sounds familiar. The Ice rink and club was in return replaced by housing and due to be re-opened elsewhere and that never happened either.

I'd assume that somebody on coke or speed would be a bit braver/ more reckless than normal. Rumour has it that somebody was riding grasstrack on speed and his results improved dramatically but once it was noticed stopped riding. A quick Google search shows that both drugs are detectable for only 2 or 3 days with a urine test.

I think many things have changed in the past 6 years since the introduction of the silencers including super short stroke engines and slicker tracks to suit them none of which is going to suit a rider who likes to blast around the outside in the deep dirt to make up for his poor gating. But I read that statement as a rider being critical of himself for not adapting to suit the changes over time. He also recognises that some others have adapted very well while others have struggled for consistency. Can't see how he is blaming anything but himself and saying when he thought his problems began and why.

Personally I think if you are going to further control engines then it has to start with the rev limiter. Further on you could introduce a minimum stroke which would be easily policed. I'd like to see a minimum flywheel weight alongside that but not sure how you would police that. Certainly you would have an easier to ride bike that should be less susceptible to track conditions and changes. However it would mean a big outlay for riders at a time the majority are struggling to afford their racing anyway.

Proof of how exciting Speedway is in comparison to other sports. Even Witcher and Sid can't fall out over something as boring as Tennis

For me the racing is almost everything, I've no real interest in the rules (apart from the ones about machinery), don't care much about teams, actually prefer individual meetings and never fill in a programme. Was a bit different when I was a kid in that I had a team but now although I usually want one team to win more than the other I'd prefer good racing to the right team winning every time. The only reason it's almost and not all is that I also have an interest in the machinery and the way it's set up. 4 blokes with big balls on a good track is unbeatable entertainment in my view.

Personally I think that Sayfutdinov is a brilliant rider and still has the potential to be World Champion. However I'm not going to suggest that somebody lacks knowledge of the sport because they happen to have a different opinion. Until he rides in the GP's again it's all opinion and absolutely nothing to do with facts or Speedway knowledge.

The Friday night racing is now on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ObAgHApQ7Y

The next round of the British Flat track Championship from Kings Lynn will be available on a Live Stream from 5.30pm on Friday 15/7/16. Racing starts at 6pm and there are over 100 bikes racing in different classes so plenty of racing with 3 races each plus finals. http://www.dirttrackriders.co.uk/ and the link will be live from 5.30.

Presumably tomorrow as part of the dirt quake event as I didn't see him tonight. That's not being streamed as far as I know

I don't agree with that at all. How is it that I can't think swearing in front of your best customers and on live TV is wrong without being labelled a Tai hater? I'm a fan of his riding and most of what he does but that's the second time he's done this on TV and personally I don't think it's acceptable. That's not hating him but hating something he did.