Conkers in Gravy

Premier League football is a perfect example of the same thing. People are prepared to pay up to £60 for a ticket if it's something they really want to see. People on this forum talk about presentation, music, interviews and so on, but the bottom line is that the sport itself has to stand on its own two feet as an event. It doesn't matter how cheap the tickets are one week, what music you play, how many sweets you give the kids, how many furry mascots are dancing on the centre green, how many chubby 16-year-old girls are on the start line or how much inane babble comes from the bloke with the mic - if the racing isn't any good or if there isn't enough of it people are not going to part with enough cash to make the whole exercise worthwhile.

Massively disappointing. The promotion has a lot of questions to answer. They have admitted they knew they were in trouble last year, but went ahead with building a PL squad and selling season tickets anyway.

That's the arms of the Duke of Marlborough who put down the rebellion, although at the time he was just John Churchill. He gained his dukedom ironically for his part in deposing James a couple of years later.

Putting the politics to one side, maybe Somerset would change their logo to something more relevant to a team in the south west of England. Using the Confederate battle flag is pretty naff and actually quite lazy. Why not use the coat of arms of the Duke of Monmouth who led an army of Somerset rebels in an attempt to overthrow King James II in 1685? This is a simplified version of the coat of arms -it sort of puts me in mind of an old Canterbury race jacket. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=duke+of+monmouth+arms&client=tablet-android-samsung&biw=1280&bih=800&prmd=ismvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVt9W1187KAhWL7RQKHTdhB44Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=RZTDnAiPQGDP5M%3A The uprising ended in defeat at Sedgemoor, which may put folk off, but the American Civil War didn't exactly end well for the Confederacy either.

I'm not sure if the suggestion of a share with Wolves was a serious one or not, but it's a non-starter anyway with Ladbrokes firm that they want only one speedway night a week, so unless either Wolves or Cradley move on there'so chance. Besides which, who in their right mind would want to tangle with the motorways around Birmingham to get to home matches?

I wonder if all the people who insist Woffinden "feels Australian" have ever bothered to ask him. The only one on here I'm certain will have spoken to him is Phil Rising and he has said a couple of times that Tai has said he is happy to be British and proud to represent Britain.

Gareth Bale doesn't play for a Welsh club, but who has done more for the success of Welsh football recently? I don't think anyone in Wales is having a pop at him because he doesn't turn out for Newport County - most Welsh folk I know think it's fantastic one of their own is a galactico. We often say "only in speedway" and it must be "only in speedway" that we produce an exciting double world champion and a minority start whining about it - with fans like that who needs enemies? There's a very good reason Woffinden doesn't ride in Britain, the Elite League is a badly-organised shambles. Why should he flog himself to death flying in and out of Stansted, having to find the capital or sponsorship for another set of machinery, maybe pay another mechanic, van, workshop for a league that can't organise a coherent fixture list. I know Iversen and some others do it, but many others don't and frankly I don't blame them.

I never thought I'd see being born in a country (the prime qualification for international sport) being described as a technicality. Which part of "born in Scunthorpe" is so hard to understand? It doesn't matter whether he bares his backside during the anthem - he's British and entitled to race for Great Britain if he wants to. There's the persistent suggestion from a minority on here that he is "using" British speedway for his own ends. So what? He's entitled to as he qualifies to come through our system because he was BORN IN SCUNTHORPE. Even if he is "using" the system, the deal is a good one. He gains a career in the sport and we get a double world champion in return. I'll settle for that.

I'm not too bothered which of the tac sub and double points rules are the more or less fair statistically. I prefer the old rule which gave the impression that the team manager was doing his job, organising his resources. It was similar to a cricket captain changing the bowler or the batting order, or a football manager sending on a sub. It was part of a familiar sporting culture. The only thing you can compare the double points rule with is It's a Knockout. Double points wouldn't put me off going to speedway, I just think it's Mickey Mouse. I think it's fair to say DU has got out of hand, but you're never going to crack that nut until there's an acceptance that speedway is a sport which can support full-time riders only at the highest levels. Riders and promoters need to look at the terraces and have a reality check. Costs also have to be driven down to allow young riders easier access to the sport and to make it affordable for them to stay in the sport. I don't expect to see any of that happen soon.

If you're curious as to why many people in the USA find the Confederate flag offensive, then watch this footage of the Ku Klux Klan confronting black activisits. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2015/jul/19/ku-klux-klan-black-activist-group-south-carolina-video Whether the flag is offensive in Britain is arguable, given that it played little part in our history, so there's no real reason why Somerset shouldn't use the symbol other than it has absolutely nothing to do with Somerset. It's not like the speedway team is using it to suppress black people in Bridgwater. Having said that, there's a difference between giving offence and promoting the supremacy of one group over another because of skin colour. A bit of self-awareness never hurt anyone and the original question is one that's worth asking, given that the flag has become a symbol of some seriously bad people and their racist views. There's no reason why they shouldn't use the flag, but there may be a reason why they wouldn't want to.

Has anyone thought to ask Somerset Speedway what they're rebelling against?

I disagree. Slavery was the prime issue separating the northern states from the south from the early 1850s. There were other issues for sure, but slavery and the right to maintain state laws governing slavery were the prime causes of the war. I notice you earlier said Antietam was a Union victory which is highly contentious. The north had the better of the fighting, but failed to press home their advantage largely through poor generalship. The flag has undoubtedly become a racist symbol in the USA, but has less relevance here although I'd prefer it wasn't used. I always assumed Somerset were the Rebels because of the unhappy Duke of Monmouth rebellion against James II/VII which ended at Sedgemoor nearby. Perhaps a better logo would be a hangman's noose or a prison ship leaving Bristol for the colonies. You kind of said it yourself "slavery was behind the issue". I would argue "no slavery, no war". You probably disagree!

http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.28498 Work to start in ten weeks and "definitely" racing there in 2016. Terrific news for Swindon and for the sport.

It's a typically cautious seven from CVS - after all these years what should we expect? I know grumbling at local sports teams is the chief pastime in the Wolverhampton area, but I think it's a bit unfair to write them off four weeks before a wheel has turned. Looking at the line-ups in what is a truly dreadful Elite League this season, only two or three teams are definitely better than Wolves. Of course, they are going to be relying on Thorsell kicking on to become a proper heat leader, Musielak settling in right away, PK recovering a little of his old sparkle, Wells moving out of what CVS described as his "comfort zone" and Freddie being the Freddie of three years ago. It's a lot to ask, I know, but it might happen and at this stage in the year, I choose to be an optimist.

I think that's fair - it was a surprise he was picked and an even bigger surprise he thrived. What some seem to be suggesting is that his decision to commit to Britain was all a sinister, long-term plot to get a free ride into the GPs. He got lucky in 2013 and made the most of it - I find it strange some people in this country want to moan about it.