Big Al

Brilliant news about Andre Compton. But what a dull, boring racetrack it is at Owlerton. Limited racing lines, riders having to scrub the speed off.......I'm surprised anyone would pay good money for that dross. Take a trip 60 miles down the M1

Sadly, I think you are right, but possibly more of an Elite League problem than Premier and National Leagues? This is impossible to ascertain, as it of course depends on what the actual overheads are, including any loan repayments and rental costs. As Leicester Speedway Ltd is registered a a small business with exemption from having to make detailed financial accounts returns, there is really only one person who would know the true answer to any of these questions - and i don't see him being willing to divulge anything, do you!!??

Watched the match recently after being away. And read through the comments made on here. One or two posts have mentioned track prep. OK, track shape is the main underyling factor, but that's also a fixed factor while the current promoter is in control and I think the overwhelming view has been well and truly made. I've got a theory about this match! 1. Sky were cacking their pants because they knew, in "normal" circumstances, the entertainment was going to be poor. Knew they had to cover Leicester at some point, but how were they going to handle it? 2. Choose a date where the meeting is "buried" among others. In this case, just after Somerset pairs and British GP, even a Swedish match the next day. 3. Ensure the track is prepared in a way that increases the chances of incidents, to compensate for the low entertainment likely otherwise. My immediate thought, before the match started, was that more material seemed to have been put down than is usual at Leicester, especially from mid-track outwards. This was kind of confirmed by the comments of young Mr Louis, before the start. I can recall past comments on this forum from Glyn Taylor on the subject of how much depth the BP track can safely have (taking into account the dimensions/speeds), and from those posts it's clear there's a fine line between good (safe) and not good (not so safe). I think he's said that beyond a certain depth of material, riders struggle to turn their machines - and i suppose that extends to more chance of two-wheeling, pulling lockers, hitting the deck. I'm not completely sure about this, but when matches are televised by Sky, I think that track prep is, to some extent, taken away from the home club? If anybody has more definite info, please comment! This match certainly had quite a lot of incidents caused by riders getting into trouble, and it was due to the surface. When Iversen set his track records a few weeks ago, he was riding on a billiards table, compared to the track for this match. After Michelsen's accident, I noticed the tractor was out, this time pulling the row of tyres - which i think is normally used to pack the material down. After this, i did think the track was easier to rider, and riders had more confidence to go a bit wider and enter the bends with more speed. Could it be that Michelsen's accident was the "final straw" for the riders, who acted to get the material packed down and therefore make the track safe to ride. In my view, the track in heats 1-10 was possibly unsafe/dangerous. Is an increased possibility of serious injury something that Sky (and speedway promoters, BSPA, and their customers) are prepared to accept, in order to satisfy commercial needs? On the evidence of this match, and the notorious Belle Vue v Poole match in 2013, it looks that way to me. Or am i talking a load of cr#p??

And costs a packet from having to miss matches because of injury! He's 16, didn't do anything illegal, and hopefully learned from it. Isn't that what this FTD thing's all about!?

I think the Lions have a decent team now, and don't get into slagging off riders. But i have to agree with LionsBearsTigers. For me the thrill has gone, as BB King sang. If there are people who still get a kick out of what's provided at Leicester, good for them. But to me, it's speedway, but not as we know it, Jim. I like my speedway to give me a faster pulse, make me jump up and down and shout. That's why i always stood rather than sat down. Surely that's what speedway should be about, not just waiting to fill in the programme and only get excited by the numbers against riders' names. Jeez, the closest we got to excitement at times last year was looking at the programme as seeing 5 3's against Magnus' name. If that's what turns you on that's fine, but i need more than that!!

Nothing better than team riding - but only applies when there is a real threat from the rider/s behind. Otherwise they may as well be team riding for a 5-0! Seem to recall Kauko and Magnus last heat heroics a couple of times in 2011 when they team rode very well, and I think Kev Doolan did his best last year. However, the limited racing lines (OK - one racing line) makes team riding mostly un-necessary except for the first half lap. In that case, best if they don't go anywhere near Scunthorpe, Peterboro, Mildenhall, Plymouth or Somerset. The matches would have to be abandoned due to ambulances having to take them to hospital after collapsing with shock

In which case, it is his pride/ego stopping him from acting? Or possibly hoping that, by continuing with the denial, it will somehow improve any possible sale price he aspires to achieve?

In yer dreams!!

I think you'll find that the planning permission for the stand was granted back in 2010, along with all sorts of other proviso's agreed-on between Leicester City Council and Beaumont Sports Complex Ltd as part of the latter being granted the leasehold on the land. So to claim that planning permission for the stand has just been approved, is being somewhat economical with the truth! The recent planning permission, is in part a retrospective adjustment to the 2010 permission, and partly the Council giving "fresh impetus" to the extensive development work (of which the stand is just a part), a lot of which has not taken place, and which is going to cost a fair bit of money to carry out. This isn't speculation by the way, it comes from public documents. So I'd be wary of drinking-in what David Hemsley says in the media, he is probably putting a large spin on things and naturally is not going to divulge the full extent of matters. There have been many cases of businesses talking themselves up, and drawing attention to how things appear on the surface, whilst what lies underneath is less than healthy! It also means that the necessary cost of remedying the terrible track, is probably beyond the current means of Leicester Speedway Ltd or Beaumont Sports Complex Ltd. Another reason that DH insists publicly, that the racing is great.

......which in the long history of business failures, is a major failing point. A good business doesn't wait around until things get so bad that changes have to be made (deckchairs, Titanic etc). A good business senses a decline, even a small one, and makes changes well in advance of any melt-down point.

Yes, makes sense but Friday UK meetings are being affected by riders being required to attend practice for Saturday FIM events

Steve, agree with you up to a point. But isn't it a question of how many are happy to pay over £16 for a visit to the speedway in order to fulfill mainly social needs, and for the speedway to be more or less some moving wallpaper in the background. As against how many are looking for more than that, when it comes to the track action. I'd guess that for the majority, the word "enjoyment" consists of various things, but if you're going to something called "speedway", call me old-fashioned but I'd be expecting the racing to supply a large aspect of my enjoyment. Otherwise you may as well just go to the pub/club!

But it appears there are still sufficient numbers that he is fooling and getting away with it. Some people are so gullible, or blind, or both, that they really can have the wool pulled over their eyes and believe what they are being told as the truth. I predict he will be trying to sell, towards the end of the season.

The 2 matches last night went ahead with several guests used by all 4 teams - that's the EL for you, and as others have rightly said you can take it or leave it. From what I've seen, the issue with this match is the accusation by Swindon of sharp practice on Leicester's part. Maybe Swindon will not be as helpful to Leicester in future when it comes to lending out their riders. Things have a way of coming back to bite.

And some stunning sunsets with views of Bradgate Park and Old John silhouetted against the rosy pink sky. I remember last season Len Silver filming it from the gantry in the pits - he seemed more interested in taking in the views even though his Rye House team was winning the match (and Leicester throwing away their playoff place) !

Wait for his Mercury column next Wednesday - he's bound to have a rant at Kasabian for scheduling their gig for the same night

We are humbled to be in such exalted company

DH says in his weekly message to the plebs, that there will be "something special" organised for the live Sky match. Ooooooh!! Can't wait! Is he going to have a giant screen installed at BP, so people can watch highlights from each heat whilst Sky do their inane rider interviews/ad breaks??

The real Leicester Lions were badly wounded 30 years ago, but were then killed-off during 2011. Complete travesty that what now exists, uses the name Lions

If effective change is to be made, a governing body shouldn't be formed from among the promoters, it should be independent and above and free from promoters' own vested and often conflicting interests. The current Leicester/Swindon situation could have been quickly arbitrated upon, which would have been a binding decision, compulsorily accepted by both parties and no dummy-spitting.

Not just this meeting - claiming that what is being done is "speedway" week after week has been disreputable for over 3 years now

Are there any Leicester season ticket holders out there with a view on this? (that's if there are any such people anyway!)

Buzz hasn't been exactly racing a lot so far this year and his results have been a bit so-so, so the Polish authorities maybe think he's better off by riding on some Saturdays rather than practicing. He averaged about 9.45 for Panthers at the EOS last season, but 5.50 away. To state the blinding obvious BP and EOS are very different!! Hope he gets his gating gloves on, as Mads seems to have done, he's going to need them.

That means anyone under 60, then

GP qualifiers and others, too (SEC for one). No race night in UK is immune, but Saturdays are a nightmare and no sane promoter would try and establish a new EL side with a Saturday race night. Eastbourne just about get away with it because they've operated for some time and have a reasonably settled team.