mikebv

When I go to other sporting events all round the world I never see cars adjacent to the playing surface.. In football for example clubs have to designate a certain % of the overall crowd level for disabled customers but that doesn't entail them parking on 'the doorstep' from the section they are allocated... All disabled bays are 'as near as possible' to the entrances but don't grant instant access. (With the sheer size of stadia logistically preventing that from happening).. The law states 'reasonable adjustments' must be made to cater equally for all, which covers access.. Having cars in areas with pedestrians would be classed as very high risk I would imagine (especially as by definition those who are disabled will be less agile and mobile to avoid any issues that may occur), and any H+S risk assessment will clearly not allow that... As someone whose work life is directed by risk assessments covering 'moving vehicles in public spaces' I was always surprised Stoke and Buxton for example, could allows cars to pass within yards of pedestrians in a 'shared space'.. 'Reasonable adjustment' is very subjective obviously but in this situation parking bays as near as possible (and enough of them), would be a minimum requirement you would think (eg like supermarkets do)... You could argue that maybe having wheelchairs available to be used might be another adjustment but the counter argument would be that if someone cannot walk a 'reasonable' distance then they should probably provide their own transportation as they would need this assistance every day of their life not just for the Speedway. It is always more difficult when something is 'taken away' as you become used to having it and relying on it. And when emotions are involved it resonates even more.. As has been mentioned previously contacting the Showground for the definitive answer will be the best course of action.. Bottom line though is that they will have to follow all H+S and Discrimination laws like any other entity so will no doubt have covered off all angles legally if they are a professional organisation..

Maybe they have only ran with the Premiership because you could end up with several riders riding for four different teams if they get dropped by their two current teams in both leagues.. ?.. Might look a bit daft given so few teams overall..?

I would suggest that Scott will be in pole position for the first change made across all teams, if he doesn't start the season with a place.. Especially if the change will be at reserve.. If it is at reserve he would be in a strong bargaining position I would think when it comes to terms as well..

Maybe the local councillors can visit the NSS..? The back straight stand certainly does its job as a noise barrier... The houses that back on to the place must be no more than 75 yards from the actual track yet you can walk behind the stand during a meeting and not hear either the racing nor the sound system.. Unfortunately 'noise pollution' laws don't recognise 'who was there first', it is simply measured as being either noise pollution or it isn't when investigated.... However, I am sure if there was a will, the decibel levels hitting the estate could be kept well under control..

Correct... A positive, well ran, entertaining Speedway experience, which gives riders opportunity for track time and to make money, and makes money for whoever is putting on the show can never be a bad thing surely? Shouldn't that be the aim for every track?

Why run two National Comps together in the same weekend? They have done the same in the past with League play offs and cups, cramming them all in at the end of the season... Which, if you are successful, results in people picking and choosing what finals to attend due to cost.. Spread out the National finals through the year.. It maintains interest across the season and will help the punters affordability... And also means teams who start the season well but then maybe have injuries and tail off, or teams that invest and make changes mid season can still be in the running for some success..

As strong as an ox.. And as mad as a box of frogs... Fear less and Box office... RIP Roman..

And Cradley rode at Stoke in the top league... And Coventry rode at Leicester in the NL It does take itself very seriously doesn't it? Pity it's operating model doesn't do the same.. Lets face it, loads of meetings will take place next year with 'select' sides, particularly at NL level as the higher leagues get priority, so does it really matter what the body colour says? Letting developing riders have more rides has to be nothing but a good thing surely? And if you can keep an old name in the public eye then so much the better for anyone's future quest in trying to find a permanent home you would think..

Put it in a black bin bag and take the bag to the local tip with all the others you have once a month.. First World problems eh?

A volleyball player won it last year so football fans can hardly moan that a Speedway World Champ wins it.. Hammer throwers, Canoeists, and a Cross Country Skier have all won over the past ten years with a footballer (Lewandowski) winning once.. Footballers don't seem to win the UK one very often either... I would imagine the Polish Speedway authorities will use this award well to push their sport even higher. .

Wow.. Sometimes I do believe those within the 'inner sanctum' see this sort of thing as 'perfectly normal'.. Whilst those who pay the wages (the fans) also known as 'those who really matter'... Think.. "What a load of bollox"....

If the British Championship was held over seven rounds at every track in the Premiership, I would suggest Cook would win it by some margin... Had a higher away average than both Lambert and Bewley And a home track he had ridden regularly for less than one season suggests he could improve this in 2020 now more dialled in..

As I say, It doesn't really matter, but interesting sometimes to know some of the inner workings of how clubs operate.. And also may help fans understand some of the various costs they have to asborb.. Which may go some way also in lowering their expectations of what their team can deliver and provide more understanding of what promoters go through.. But, quite rightly, if they want to keep certain things amongst themselves then no drama... It is only a very tiny minority sport after all so won't impact too many what the promoters do or don't..

Not at all, seem to remember someone coming on here with the calculation a while back.. If it isn't correct not an issue.. Not that important in the grand scheme of things.. Maybe those who do know should just inform the fans? Does sometimes seem to have its own omertà Speedway... But then again, being 'in the know' you probably know that... NB I also once got told it was £1000 a point per average but that did seem a little too much for me as paying out £5k a year for a five point man seemed ludicrous given how little money most teams have, and how many use many loan signings in their team.. Still, a bit of conjecture passes the winter months...

I seem to remember it was a % of the average converted into £'s.. (Think I once saw 20% mentioned?). eg if it was 20% then an 8 points rider would get the club who owns his contract £1600..

100%.. Many of the very top echelon of riders all have a similar career path.. One part of which is that after around three years of riding in the top league they become the best rider in their respective teams, or a close second best if that team has an out an out world level rider like Doyle, (someone who ironically didn't follow this usual glide path).. If Dan is to attain the level of world class, which several appear to think he can, then by the end of this season he should be aspiring to reach No1 at the Aces (especially given the level of the league nowadays), and the following year be looking for a regular heat leader level Polish ride.. Very quickly in Speedway you can stagnate at a 'reasonable' level and before you know it, several of your rivals in your age group have gone past you. And the next age group are then suddenly upon you.. Robert Lambert is already at that 'tipping point' I would suggest. Will he now 'level off' as a No1 heat leader in the UK and a solid 2nd Division rider in Poland, or will he move on to being a regular Polish top three rider for a team? Smarzlik for example isn't going anywhere soon given how young he is, and the likes of Smektala, Drabik, Kubera etc are already further ahead in their careers than both Bewley and Lambert.. With 'who knows next' coming from the Polish conveyer belt of talent.. The next two years in particular will be very crucial for both Bewley and Lambert I would suggest, and by the end of that time we will have a clear picture as to what level their career paths are heading to...

And that's one of the key challenges the sport faces.. ie Does the competitions standing itself, and the riders on show, encourage fans to go? Or.. Is it the quality and closeness of racing, regardless of who is doing it, that gets them there? The NSS has terrific racing pretty much every week, with the majority of races having at least one pass through the field and the vast majority of races having the final positions still in doubt to the last bend.. And that can be said for the Colts as well as the Aces.. However, one is £10 in total for me and my 16 year old lad, and the other is £26.. £16 difference to actually see very little difference in racing quality from what I have seen over the past few years.. Therefore, I attend the Colts much, much more as I can get my 'Speedway fix' much cheaper, and as I have zero belief that winning a Team Speedway title in the UK has any credibility, then it more than ticks the boxes I want from the sport.. However, the Aces get probably double the crowds of the Colts which suggests the riders on view are a greater pull for many.. For me, the sport, in the UK, has to decide if it's actually a truly bona fide sport, with winning titles having some real kudos through having credible rules and teams.. Or.. It becomes sports entertainment, whereby the racing itself is the main draw... The fans seem to want both which, in fairness to the Promoters and their various circuits, given the wide ranging challenges they face, probably isn't anywhere near attainable....

To be fair.... You could say the same thing about most teams.. A great many of the riders in the Premiership will be Championship riders also.. (Many as heat leaders in both Leagues for their respective teams).. With Doyle looking like he will be the only 'top 15' in the world rider to compete over here.. I do think the Premiership have to keep prices 'high' in the hope it gives the message of being clearly the top league.. The reality is that in many ways, the level of the reserves in both leagues make the ultimate biggest impact to the standard differential....

Stockport centre is less than a fifteen min taxi ride away.. Might be worth a look for rooms..

But the Poole thread(s) are where everyone from every other team in the league(s) goes to aren't they?

Been watching a lot of racing from ten or so years ago on YouTube and Berwick have plenty of matches on there... Some of the racing is fantastic, especially when the track was 'damp' and a bit heavy. . Lee Complin seemed to pass riders for fun.. Lots of very good racing from others too as they went up the banking and rounded their opponents... Seen a lot worse racing in lots of places. .

??? Flint was great to watch at the NSS.. Young kid learning his trade often blasting around the boards.. Exactly what the NL should be about..

One big difference in Poland is that they haven't fallen down the trap of training up every other nations best riders to the detriment of their own... They have learned I would suggest from what the BSPA did and now protect places in teams for Polish lads only.. They know that a strong national team delivers TV coverage, mainstream media coverage and blue chip sponsors.. The BSPA had all that once and threw it away training up American, Danish and Swedish riders.. A few of which were 'world class', but many of which were 'journeymen' seen as a short term fix, but ultimately blocked the potential progress of many a young GB rider.. And the rest, as they say, is history..

It seems some Promotions are starting to do some 'out of the box' thinking.. Maybe some actually do come on here after all and we should charge a consultation fee? The next stage for me is a loyalty ticket for those who attend 'now and again'.. Say attend five matches and you get the sixth half price? Five more and you get the next free? Something tangible that you feel rewards you.. "Keep 'em coming regularly" has to be the output of any promotional venture... And when you have punters attending events through habit you are a long way down the road of being successful.. My team have, I would suggest, circa 3000 fans who attend over a season with various degrees of attendance levels, ranging from the die hards to the Easter Bank Holiday one offs, resulting in a huge disparate number from their best attendance to their worst.. Enticing those who attend once or twice to attend five or six times, and those who attend five or six times to attend ten or eleven is the key to overall success.. And easier to get them to do that I would suggest than get 'newbies' to become regulars..

But there are over 20 Premiership riders from last year riding in the Championship.. Same riders, therefore same standard, therefore similar price surely? It could be seen as your getting a bargain...