Aces51

I have already explained it is not a question of doing nothing but I agree with your second paragraph.

Who said do nothing, there are other options already mentioned on various threads. Squads, not really viable if we are talking about GP riders because of the cost but teams consisting only of riders prepared to commit to the UK, action to reduce costs for promoters, riders and fans and an emphasis on producing and nurturing home grown talent. Possibly, a new combined British League, as in 1965. Team strengths were lowered for the then first division sides and riders allocated to strengthen the second division sides. I know we had most of the world's best riders then but new heroes quickly developed from the second division like Ivan Mauger and Ivor Brown. The concept of seeing clubs not seen before and the chance of only seeing a visiting No.1 once a season resulted in the one of the most successful period in speedway's history.

I wonder how many of those calling for racing on one/two nights to attract back the GP riders feel sufficiently confident it will increase crowds to cover the cost. Would they remortgage their own homes to do it because that is the sort of risk they are expecting the promoters to take. We are all concerned about falling crowds at some tracks and the general state of the sport. However, it has to be realised that if it were done and the crowds didn't flock back it could result in the demise of a lot of clubs.

Swindon can put up a decent show at Kirky Lane and Aces asset Steve Worrall could get double figures. However, the Aces are strong at home and should get all 3 points.

It's about 45%, including the fast track riders who make up 28% of that overall total. That in no way detracts from my point that the EL is the league to prefer if you enjoy watching the superior skills of the likes of Ward, Pawlicki x 2, Kildemand, Doyle, Zagar, Nicholls, Wofinden, Iversen, Bjerre, Andersen etc. Added to that is that even with the double up riders you are watching the cream of the PL.

As I have said before, I had given up hope that the track could be prepared to provide the good racing we used to see in the early 90's. A number of different curators had all tried and failed so even more credit to Colin Meredith and his team who have now produced a consistently good racing strip. I was enjoying the racing too much on Monday to give any real attention to the size of the crowd but my impression is that it was a good turnout. I know it is difficult to assess crowd numbers but they seem to me to be up this year.

I'm sure you are right about that. The problem with going to one or two nights is not only whether all EL clubs who are tenants could do it and whether it would work for them, moving away from their traditional race night but also whether there would be a sufficient increase in crowds to pay for these returning stars. Similar financial considerations also apply to squads.

I agree entirely with what you say about riders who give up. The paying fans are entitled to expect 100% effort. It is all relative and you have to take into account the current EL standard but I disagree about him not being a genuine number 1. This year he is effectively third in the EL averages despite having ridden many more away than home matches. If Zagar isn't a number one then, Kings Lynn and Poole apart, no-one has a genuine number 1. All of that apart the real winner last night was speedway. Good weather, a decent crowd and some excellent racing.

Anyone watching last night would have seen that in his first two races he was unfortunate to get pushed out wide on the first bend. In his second ride he rode well to catch and pass Morris. His third and fourth rides were fine and then in his last ride he was off the graveyard gate 3. With Kildemand and Batchelor covering the racing lines and Scottie chasing hard there was no realistic chance of him getting into a scoring position but he shouldn't have coasted round. This year, like most heat leaders, he hasn't been quite as good as last year but we have still seen some brilliant racing from him. It's always the way that after a loss fans look for a scapegoat but last night in his first two races Zagar was just unlucky to be in the wrong place on the first bend.

Congratulations to the Robins on a deserved win. Clearly the better team on the night. Yet another entertaining match at Kirky Lane. The highlights for me were Scott Nicholls pass of Kildermand and Batchelor down the home straight in heat 6, watching Kildermand riding on the edge and beyond and Palm-Toft giving his usual 100%. Anyone who didn't think that match was worth the entrance fee is watching the wrong sport.

It doesn't matter how much you try to hype it the fact is that many of the fans with an EL team would regard their BL team as their second/reserve team and would not attend. The best riders will not return unless they can negotiate pay rates they consider worthwhile and I just cannot see that bringing them back is going to increase gate receipts sufficiently to pay for them. Crowds were falling long before they left. I know all about speculate to accumulate but there is a significant risk that many clubs would fold if crowds did not increase dramatically. In my opinion the risk is too big to take. I prefer building teams only with riders willing to commit to the UK. Trying to get back to teams that have a core of the same riders year after year, so that fans can identify with them and build some sort of long term loyalty and doing everything possible to reduce costs for riders and fans. It really is time to go back to basics and rebuild hopefully, with more British riders local to their team and to keep costs affordable for promoters, riders and fans. In due course we could be back at the top table

Not too sure about that Phil. I think we have some of the most loyal fans in the country. Not many teams with our poor record over the last 20 years would still be drawing decent crowds (by current standards).

Is it correct that Tai has no further matches in Sweden or Poland before the SWC? If so, the argument that he rode one last meeting for each of his clubs is not persuasive. A very entertaining match last night. Pawlick apart, a very poor Wolves side but they made the gate often enough to give the Aces the opportunity to chase and often pass them. Pawlicki deserved more points than he got and really is going to be a top rider. For the Aces, excellent performances all round with particular mentions for Zagar for some brilliant passes and for Lee Payne for his first EL win.

What doesn't add up is that if he wanted to try to carry on racing the obvious decision was to give Sweden a miss, have a day off and do the far less grueling meeting tonight. Going to Sweden in the state he tweeted shows where his priorities lie. Harris makes Wolves stronger tonight with Woffinden's current EL form but should be an Aces win.

Now that sadly the Birmingham results have had to be removed and taking account of points lost at home against points won away the current league table is; Kings Lynn +16 Coventry. + 6 Poole. + 4 Belle Vue. + 1 Eastbourne - 1 Lakeside - 1 Swindon. - 2 Wolverhampton - 7 Leicester. -12

Time you made a visit to Kirky Lane. The last two seasons the racing has been good. As someone brought up on racing at Hyde Road I certainly know what good racing is and Leicester has been dire on the three visits I have made.

Latest news. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/birmingham-brummies-face-d-day-over-7406378 Let's hope it's good news today.

Reg. 17.7.5 prevents Poole using Wright as he guested for Belle Vue last Monday so can't guest at the same track within 8 days. Beat me to it John.😁

No, he was signed.

Charles Weight for Nielsen and Jason Garrity replaces Auty.

You have to feel for all those loyal Brummie supporters and especially Brian Buck, after all the work he did to get speedway back in Birmingham. I sincerely hope that someone does come forward to save the club.

Thank you. Good to know the memory hasn't completely gone. 😀

Think it was Peter Craven. Excellent programme. Tai came across well and it gave a good insight into the life of a top rider.

Speedway referees are no different than referees in any other sport. By the nature of what the referee is there to do fans will always disagree with their decisions. Being human referees in all sports will make mistakes but football referees send players off and I see no reason why speedway referees should not do the same and exclude a rider from the remainder of a match for a blatantly dangerous move. Being excluded from a match twice in a season could result in a longer ban. Fortunately, such blatantly dangerous moves are rare. I witness very very few during a typical season. Those who defend Pedersen and cite incidents involving other riders forget the most important point. Pedersen has a long and continuing history of involvement in such incidents. No other modern day rider gets even close to matching him.

A quick rough and ready calculation shows Bridger is averaging about 5.3 in Polish League 1. I suspect that Cook is hoping to be as professional as he can in his preparation and equipment in order to give himself the best chance to do well.