GWC

Speedway as a family sport appears to be on the wain since the advent of computer games!

Play offs - when teams still have 3 or 4 meetings to run and the title is already concluded. It's a disaster of a business model for some clubs. Give teams back riders who they can be recognise with and not riding for 2 teams - so an amalgamation of the 2 leagues with some 'stars' attracted back and the best NL boys promoted.

Jason Edwards has been riding in the 250 cc competition up till now so it will be a big step up to go to a 500 in the NL.

Racing on 3 nights amalgamate the leagues and 3 brits per team.....please.

And the riders will come from where?

If as stated on here that M Ford doesn't attend the AGM then how the heck can he criticise any outcome voted by the committee. He seems to behave like a barrack room lawyer when it comes to these things and likes to sound off when things dont work in his favour.

I can't see many GP riders wanting to come to UK unless we have fixed days for racing.

Should have been thrown out of the meeting then maybe riders will get a strong message not to cheat!

All comes down to the quality of rider and the training received imo, GB have riders from different motorcycling backgrounds whereas all the other countries have brought their riders through established junior competitions that historically have produced world class riders. GB have ignored this for the past 20 years and simply left it to chance that a rider would emerge- Woffenden a prime example. Our current state of league racing and the need to produce home grown riders should now be making promoters think likewise but don't hold your breath , if more promotions had been like Len Silver and looked at UK riders first then maybe the quality would be there.

It was far from golden as the late 50's saw rapid decline when at one stage the National league was down to 9 tracks plus a few non league tracks operating in the south. Top riders didn't help or revive the sport it was the opening up of closed tracks under the Provincial league -a second division of sorts with riders pulled out of retirement and juniors. We have Mike Parker to thank for that who flew in the face of the 'establishment' and put on racing at rock bottom prices. No frills or stars of sorts but created them - Ivan Mauger Charlie Monk Eric Boocock Norman Hunter Ray Wilson and some more. I doubt we would have UK speedway now but for the introduction of this lower league and is something supporters should bear in mind that today we are again looking at the sports decline through a lack of new riders coming through.

Nothing changes I recall going to Rayleigh v Rochdale in 1971 (grief!) and Peter Collins and Alan Wilkinson both missed the match to ride for Belle Vue that night. Holder missing a BSPA blue ribbon event is why the book will be going in Peterborough's direction.

Pathetic comment and clearly struck a nerve Harris happens to Rye's number one -Stark r/r makes Poole stronger! I hope Kurtz and Holder are not on speaking terms with you cos I doubt they will be any longer. Quite how this sport allows a lower league team to have say over who rides where when Rye have every opertunity to reach the play offs is beyond belief.

Rye don't travel well so any talk of title win is at best optimistic. Last nights track conditions suited Rye but when up against Swindon and BV they will struggle. Great if they make the play offs but beyond that is a big ask as gating becomes so important.

For me Chris Harris has to score well and Barker too otherwise too much for the rest to carry. BV and Swindon by far the quickest teams to come to Rye this season and I think that will be the problem getting past one of them.

I'm thinking riding for KL might currently be a hindrance to his development!

Also sponsor touring car team in which the BMR (Rye House owners) team compete. Great family business who are now run by Adrian's son David.

As in football if you don't have a certain number of players the game can't be played so what constitutes a speedway team? Ref at fault and should be suspended.

Comparing this meeting to some of the racing we had last season I would say it's no better. Meetings need drama something lacking in today's gate and go world it seems.

Expecting 'exciting' signings and the riders to perform to their expectations are 2 very different things. As most will be performing in Poland and Sweden - if allowed then once again the UK will be a sideshow for riders not wanting to use best engines or indeed avoid injury and missing out on lucrative contracts.

The uprights performed pretty consistent on wet or dry tracks heavy or slick it's just lay downs generate so much more speed that they can be dangerous in inexperienced hands. Hence slicker tracks to compensate for the wheel spin that on a grippy track would throw a rider all over the place.

This really is hilarious stuff being spouted as I remember a certain N Klindt coming over and being lauded as the next Danish wonder kid!

Since the track alterations the outside line is the only racing line that seems to work. You now have riders with exceptional skill able to ride full pelt about a metre from the fence. Len Silvers track was narrower and moved the riders into inside plus of course they didn't have the skill to ride so wide. I would say that last nights meeting was probably the fastest (speed per heat) that there has ever been at Rye. No wonder there is little overtaking when riders are on rockets (no pun intended).

It was noticeable after seeing laydowns for the first time how riders sat forward almost hugging the fuel tank. The upright style was to sit back towards the rear wheel so the power must be far less.

For team spirit read 'extra incentive' so perhaps Ford's pockets are no longer deep enough!

Leicesters reserves swung the result their way and poor from Harris and KK who you would say should be the big hitters.