Big Al

This is all a wind-up, isn't it? Surely nobody could be that stupid? Could they?

Maybe, but what if during the two years in the EL, he/Leicester have become as unpopular among fellow promoters as a fart in an astronaut's space-suit?

Two catastrophic mistakes.(probably many other mistakes but these are the worst) Design of the track, and going into the EL at the wrong time. From what I've heard and read, both could have been avoided if David Hemsley had listened to the wise advice being offered and followed it. But if things do fall apart, then he will be blaming everyone else for it, including Santa Claus and the Fairies in hiis garden.

If you think that came across as bitter, you should have heard him on the radio. That piece on speedwaygb might have been produced by Alan Jones as a media release on DH's behalf - so it will be the toned-down version

There is something quite disturbing in all of this, and that is the state of mind of David Hemsley himself. I'm now saying this primarily out of concern for the well-being of another human. But also the effect it is probably having on others, and the speedway club whose existence we all value at various levels and in different ways. His interview yesterday on RL was alarming in terms of how he came across and the possible underlying state of mind. I would have a bet that (and this is based on his various media outputs over the years and over-hearing him talking to other people) if he were to be assessed professionally, a clinician would identify strong delusional and narcissistic traits, maybe coupled with tendencies for paranoia and other conditions. There have been many examples of delusions, which could well be of a fixed nature from what is being stated elsewhere on this thread. Delusion (beginning to break) that because he has re-created Leicester Speedway (in his image?), and then taken it into the Elite League, he will be bestowed with all of the "just rewards" he thinks that he should be entitled to receive. Delusion (probably still intact) that his track produces entertaining racing. Delusion (now broken) that Jason Doyle would stay loyal to him despite what he had been told Delusion (broken now, I think) that the world's best riders are interested in coming to work for him I can't help but think that the other promoters have been well aware of this for some time. There must be serious concern among them, especially the EL ones, about Leicester's future as the truth starts to dawn. That in turn may put the league itself in jeopardy (but some would say that it needs to be killed-off anyway - maybe its now non-viable as a credible product even with only 7 teams such is the dearth of riders of suitable quality who are prepared to take part in it). When you see somebody's delusions start to become broken, is the time to start to get concerned about them. I just hope, for the guy's sake, that people who are close to him can provide the help that he might need and pick up any pieces if it becomes necessary.

Basically saying Doyle has betrayed him and that there was an" agreement" with Jason that he would do four years with Leicester after sorting out his visa issues. Generally having a go at disloyalty of riders (promoters are never disloyal to riders are they!!). I got the feeling he is not prepared to consider (and never has done) moving the race night to thursday. Mumbled about having to find riders but big problem with them not wanting to race in UK on Saturdays (no s**t, Einstein) so just sounded gloomy. Overall, it came across as "they've all got it in for me" and delusion that everything ought to revolve around Leicester speedway.

Easy come.......easy go.....

Basically, yes he does. Doesn't own the land though. That's owned by the City council, leased to another company DH owns although the speedway company seems to deal directly with the council.

So....harking back to the first post on this thread, has Buster Chapman's election as the new BSPA chief and other elections been developments which David Hemsley views positively or not in terms of what he was wanting (whatever that was). Chapmans has already been talking about the need to ensure the entertainment served up is good value for money, and to have fixed race nights in the future (2017 onwards) - which for sure won't be Saturdays in the Elite league. This is the same Buster Chapman whose track was openly criticised by David Hemsley last year, for not being a racing track!! M

Has any info been released about replacing the "draft/protected" riders when they get injured? Will any guest replacement be limited to the Tier 1, or will any guest now be allowed as long as the rider has the right average? I love riders who "get stuck in" -- but Auty's style of riding probably makes him more prone to injury than the average rider (including retribution dished out by other riders!). I sincerely hope Auty has a full season without injury, but i think the guest replacement system to be used could be vital for Leicester.

Now that it looks as if there's no limits on age and previous experience for the Fast Track eligibility, I hear Les Collins is being lined-up by Leicester to be named at No.6

Why am I getting a strong feeling this is all going to be a total dogs breakfast? I'd get some 13 year old to hack into the database and reveal these sacred "lists", but i think its more likely they've been scribbled down on the back on a couple of used envelopes.

Well they've had a couple of years in which to do some of that. It's not as if this is anything that's come out of the blue. The cynical side of me can't help thinking that (as well as the need to derive additional income) there are motives behind DH's "offer to talk" that are to do with attempts at horse-trading over more immediate issues, where he may be angling for a favour from Coventry in the shorter-term.

Is all of this talk about the EL having fixed race night/s becoming a bit like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, anyway? Time will tell over this winter, but when the daffodils start to bloom next year, how many EL teams will have struggled badly to put together a team worthy of the name "Elite"? The almost inevitable re-aligment/merging of the leagues will follow after the end of the 2016 season during which the EL will become less and less distinguishable from the PL.....so it may as well just get done and over with now....and make this issue about fixed race nights largely redundant.

Friday just seems to turn normally sane drivers into nutters. Two friends of mine have given up driving completely in the past year after separate accidents where they were victims of idiots driving with their brains switched onto something else. I try not to venture anywhere except very necessary local travel on Fridays now.....so that's my recommended plan D !!

Have you tried travelling around the country's motorways and A roads on Friday afternoons and early evenings recently??

And definitely not Gary Havelock

It was just an interesting co-incidence, nothing more!

And how very interesting that 8 (teams) x 3 (heatleaders per team) = 24 Rider no.24 is Edward Kennett, with an average just above the mooted 6.50 criteria for counting as heatleaders! However, with rider withdrawals and retirements certain among the 1-24, that group will need to be topped-up by the same number of new arrivals/returners, and/or lowering the heatleader threshold average?

Rubbish. All it needs is somebody to go over to Poland, visit all the speedway clubs, and tell them "now come on you chaps, play cricket and give us Brits a chance to compete properly at speedway. After all, when you need help defending yourselves against the Russkies, you'll need us on your side." Simple

....unless he attempts to justify it by saying that Leicester are being shafted by the rest of the EL and haven't been given a fair chance etc etc (maybe some truth in that actually), and that he's been rebuffed on changes he was wanting.......leaving Leicester with no option but to leave the EL and go back to the PL where there's a more level playing field..... I'm half expecting to read him saying things along those lines. Have another look at the first post on this thread, quoting his programme notes at the end of the season. Could you say that it's preparing the ground for what's to follow??

Racing on a Saturday will always make it difficult to build a competitive EL team, never mind GP riders! And then you have the problem of opposing teams with riders who don't want to be there (and ride like it) or find handy reasons to be absent. But maybe the Leicester promotion is happy to run with those factors, in the belief that a substandard product won't significantly affect income, and stuff the possibility of the team having any chance of winning anything. But i think it would take a total blockhead to carry on promoting in the EL under those circumstances as it can't be sustainable in the longer term (and maybe even in the short term!).

Anyone with the skill, nerve and judgement to regularly win races from the back at Leicester must be respected. His development as a rider in the past two years could be partly down to this factor,he just needs to develop his judgements and decision making in the GP's as he's done at Leicester. The second year in GP's should see that improvement as his familiarity with the tracks improve. I've said something positive about the Leicester track there. Must go have a lie down.

Don't think it's just about keeping Jason Doyle. It's about being able to build and maintain a competitive EL team, and having away teams/riders which are not reluctant to fulfil saturday fixtures.

For most Aussies travelling 200 miles for a home track meeting's no great shakes