foamfence

Whatever the reason for it, that is a team that is well short of top end fire-power. If Poole get their proposed line-up they'll thrash that lot on any track. Amazing the differences between some teams, when you consider that they are all assembled from the same averages. Definitely a 'just making up the numbers' team.

The trouble is that we have imported hundreds of thousands of such people and are now expected to stand aside while they convert this country into an odious mix of intolerance and exclusivity!....And no, I don't want to discuss it with you. This is a Speedway forum but since you decided to drag this out etc.

It's no different to what he'd face in Poland or Sweden, he's just getting his excuses in early.

That's nonsense! They'll be lucky to get five seats. They'll probably get my vote but they have no chance of winning my constituency. I'd love to be wrong by the way.

It would actually create a wider choice of more affordable riders.

They have a new format for this year, so maybe they ride against different riders to last year.

That's what I was wondering. He must have something else in the pipeline.

There are 40 and more riders hoping for MDL spots, they could replace NL riders who move up. You might notice the lower standard for a season but not after that. From the way some of the Aussies and particularly their manager talk, we OWE them a living and they are indispensable. Nobody is.

It's more than that, Ivan had 15.

I think it weakens the team and it will certainly be less exciting.

The two are entirely separate.

Wasn't that for a university project?

i always thought that an idea would be to have all overseas applicants directed to specific clubs to bolster them as needed, they would actually be employed by the speedway authorities and could be moved around as required, during the off season. As things are, overseas riders seem to indirectly control much of what goes on here, as fixtures and averages are manipulated to accommodate them, they should have to agree to fit in or be refused. You might get a reduction in team strengths at first but it would soon become unnoticeable. You are right about costs and it needs some brave (and even breakaway) moves to address that.

I tend to think that 'the British scene' has given great service to Kiwis, otherwise they would have got nowhere. I'm not a Johnson fan but he has been treated badly.

Only because they had little other option. It's unlikely that anyone could make a living just riding in Australia and it's also unlikely that any other countries would allow them in when in many cases they have a lot to learn and they haven't got the historical ties. The big stars are the exception of course. The Premier league as the intermediate level, should have a better plan for the development and promotion of British riders, the Elite league has shown the way and it will pay-off in coming seasons as some draft riders are already showing signs of being future stars.

I remember a very famous former rider and promoter telling me that whatever you did with bikes, the best riders would still win. Cheating might give you some advantage against riders of a similar ability to yourself, but it won't turn a poor rider into a top one. Having said that, I'm all for clamping down on any cheating and I hope Darcy is soon back, he's left a big gap in his absence.

There are only three complete teams, how can you predict anything.

Some of the big names would do OK but it's unlikely that the Poles and Swedes would allow a situation like here, where they come over and basically learn. Anyway Harkess seems to think it's all sorted now. This could actually be a good thing and co-operation between the two parties should now be improved (hopefully).

Even if he doesn't get a first choice spot, I hope he gets a few rides through the season, he needs to move on with things or he'll probably get bogged down like some others have.

Surely you mean Dean FELTON?

Riders are already disadvantaged here because they ride smaller and more grippy tracks. In long track and grass track you aren't quite comparing like with like. I should think you are right about adapting but getting that extra edge needed to be truly world class, might be a different thing. We all have theories on how we can credibly reduce running costs and until someone actually takes steps to do something, all we'll have are theories and lessening profit margins.

As things are, everyone follows the lead of the GPs and they don't seem likely to change to more economic equipment, having your riders use something different would seriously disadvantage them against those countries (Poland in particular) who chose to follow the GP regulations. An alternative would be to break away and have your own competition with your own regulations, you might eventually see some other countries decide to join you but then again you might not. You would have to initially accept a lowering of rider standards as most continental riders would stick with their own federation. That all isn't likely to happen though and the chase will continue to keep up with the wealthiest, the only real alternative that I can see is something like F2 running along side as an alternative, you never know, that might prove to be the more popular and eventually take over.

That's what I was actually saying. Yes fully agree!

I should imagine most of the riders do but they aren't served well by the promoters. You have to wonder if one (or a few) paramedic had a messed up application would that have lead to them ALL being blocked?

They are still Australian workers, I just thought it illustrated that not everyone faces the same problems as Speedway riders (most of whom are also "fully trained" and with places awaiting them).