wtf

We waited 30 minutes so people could race safely and you bitch and moan, but you do that about most things.

Says a man who has clearly never done it. If you think tear offs and roller systems provide beautiful clear vision, your wrong. If you also think 14 guys want to turn up at a track, spend costs on fuel, mechanics etc and then go back with zero income you're wrong. They'd just like a better than average chance of earning a living without dying for no good reason. Yes everyone has a different opinion of what's safe to ride in, but I'd tend to listen more to those who are doing it than those who are not. They do not want to go home unpaid believe me on that. Peterborough is a fast track, the usual racing line is not far from that lovely comfy air bag that they are bound to just bounce off like a bouncy castle. They want to ride, but riding and racing require different conditions.

Has he all of a sudden learned how to gate?

Visibility is so overrated. maybe you would prefer them to be blindfolded and sent out for your amusement. Drizzle is probably the worst kind of rain for visibility, worse than heavy rain as it doesn't bead up and run off the surface of your goggles readily. But please carry on with the expert opinions

You would like to think Anlas would be absorbing the costs, but then depends on how well you did you due diligence on the contract you signed. (I'll not answer how well scrutinised that would have been) It would be pretty disappointing and typical if the original tyre testing had been done at one of the tracks now needing 2 tyres by who knows? a couple of National League riders because they happened to be there and were free? I mean, you get a proper test like that rather than getting a half decent experienced top level (UK) rider to put them through their paces and give you some proper feedback. But hey, they might want the costs for their expertise and equipment use covered for the day. Whereas giving a couple of national league riders a bit of free track time will be just as good won't it. But this is just speculation Unfortunately speedway still is yet to learn that you get what you pay for. Peanuts and primates

Poland are using the Mitas and the 003 Anlas, the same tyre as we have here. Difference is obviously, yes each edge only does one race over there, same as they are now doing here with 2 tyres, bar heat 15

Believe me, they are very busy trying to swat it away and hide it under the carpet. Rumour has it there's now a special Anlas Lubricant that must be used on the inside of the tyre when fitting to make all the problems go away. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. If this lot had another brain cell they'd be a plant.

Try proving it. Someone is going to have to get a very expensive lawyer and some expert witnesses on board. They cost money, that some people won't want to spend This isn't formula 1

Richard Lawson recorded the highest temperature for a tyre in Heat 15 on Monday. They aren't getting any hotter on the surface temperature than the old Mitas Tyres. The problem is both the construction and compound. (pretty much the whole tyre then) Pressure rises were normal. tyres are losing big chunks after just one ride. They disintegrate at very inconsistent rates. Some lasting well, some not even 4 laps. The sidewall and bead construction appear to be of most concern at the moment, and the vulcanisation of the rubber to the carcass. The SCB are only involved because its a big safety issue and someone has signed a big commercial contract with a tyre that isn't fit for purpose. The problem will also be that those with all the data and testing aren't tyre experts themselves, don't really know what they are looking at, and certainly won't get an expert outside opinion from someone who is. The old Mitas tyre would wear at a predictable rate and when the knobbles were torn off the didn't expose the carcass underneath. In short, they wore out consistently. These things are going to get someone hurt if they aren't careful.

Name me one rider who's career moved forward on the Rob Painter Team Revolution Jawa sponsored programme. The idea of Lewis having the bikes looked after elsewhere and him just riding them was a good one. Just entirely the wrong bikes (Engines). It was like night and day when he got back on some decent kit

There will certainly be a number of riders who have decisions to make. Interesting one for me now will be whether the BSPA are clever enough to use and maximise the one draw and advantage they have over all the other speedway leagues. I bet they won't The advantage that Sweden and Denmark offer to any rider in Poland is that the travel is less, and you can do both leagues on one set of equipment. One van, one set of full time mechanics, one workshop, one set of bikes. You can even do the GPs with this same single set up. If you want to run in the UK, you have to have a complete other set up, and you pretty much cannot use it for anything else other than racing in the UK. That adds significant costs to riding in a country that doesn't pay great compared to the others, so what is the attraction of racing in the uk apart from the "technical tracks" ? Simple. No Squad System, and lots of meetings. You are not going to be asking any top riders about choosing the UK over Poland, it's how do you attract them away from Sweden or Denmark. Now would be the perfect time for the powers that be to announce that there can be no team changes in the top league other than to replace injuries, and that you want a full calender of racing, 2 home and 2 away plus playoffs with a guarantee of say 28 meetings. Ask any rider who has been frozen out because of a couple of poor meetings on the continent whether they would rather do that or run the risk of sitting on the side lines. Most top level riders like riding the uk as it starts early, so they can get dialled in for the season on the continent and it guarantees them lots of meetings and time on the bike. opportunities to show how they're going should they struggle overseas. They won't do it though, they are too stupid to understand the only real draw they have to attract the higher level riders and maximise it. Hence they've been talking about a squad system for the last few years. Poland will do what they want to do, over here you need to understand what strengths you have and how to make the most of them. Just watch our "genius's" miss an open goal

Speedway.......... The only motorsport I can think of that specifically uses a control tyre to reduce costs, even the playing field, and prevent a tyre war. And then allows the use of another alternative tyre. You couldn't make it up. Anlas have only been courted by various speedway bodies over the last few years as Mitas have been threatening to pull out for a while. So they allowed their use to keep them around, same as their encouragement with the Golden Tyre in the past. Can you imagine Ferrari turning up at the next F1 Grand Prix and saying, we want to use some other tyres because we don't like these Pirelli's and my best mate just took a kick back off of this other manufacturer. Speedway exists in spite of the clowns running it, not because of.

some riders that night didn't fancy it

I think it's ridiculous to criticise individual clubs or promotions for acting in the best interests of their businesses. As Blobby says above, why wouldn't a promotion look to try and unearth a "gem" rather than keep going back to an average brit hoping they come good and push on. There are many more who fall by the wayside than those who push on. Where the confusion comes I think is we all seem to think the BSPA should be pushing forward rules to help promote a healthy GB representation going forward. Whilst they act as a governing body so to speak, it's just a group of individual business people (and I use the term "Business people" very lightly) making stuff up to suit themselves. You could argue that a healthy Team GB helps their businesses, but I bet they would argue that a successful team helps them more. I would have thought Team GB and Rob Painter should be the ones lobbying the BSPA to make a structure that encourages development of GB riders and youngsters in particular. The PZM make the Polish rules to help develop their riders, the Swedes in the past did similar. Rob Painter should be trying the get the BSPA to do something to provide opportunities or advantages to British riders. I can't believe they didn't continue with something similar to the fast track set up they have. sure modify it, improve it, but use it to give opportunities to those British riders you think have the most potential. Other counties do it successfully, but maybe as a group they think they have nothing they can learn from other countries? At the same time, British riders really need to help themselves sometimes. Too many times when the going gets tough they "retire" and throw teddy in the corner. Understandable to a degree when since the age of 11 they've been told they are superstars. Sometimes blowing sunshine up kids backsides does skew their thinking. Too many times I've been talking to them and they say "no ones called me yet about a ride for next year" you ought to see the look on their faces when you ask if they have called anyone themselves. I'm generalising of course, there are some really good proactive riders out there and some really pig headed idiots too, the majority sit somewhere in between. Interesting what Arnieg says about Charles Wright. In 2010 as stated, Charles averaged under 4 at Redcar, he didn't have particularly successful periods in 2011 and 2012. The difference I guess is he didn't have a hissy fit and retire, he went away, considered his future, decided to change somethings and started to rebuild. A season in the NL rebuilding confidence and then taking at opportunity at Somerset when the time was right and he's built from there. the Fast Track helped him even though he decided to sit out the first year, and he progressed. You could say similar about the later progression of Jason Doyle. in 2011 there were plenty of Aussies who were considered more talented than him at the time, some of whom are sat back in Aussie now after themselves having hissy fits. (it's not just a british thing). There is an element of if you want it bad enough you'll make it and if you don't you won't. And in my experience too many young brits don't want it bad enough. Yes the system isn't perfect, Team GB should be making the BSPA do something to help, but these guys need to help themselves as well.

Very good of Simon Stead to fly out there for one meeting to hand out the race jackets and fill in a programme.

Yeah I guess he did ok last year against the champions on their own track? 16+2 and 7. He goes better round Swindon than most

Sam said he would like a big track as a home track now he has signed for Edinburgh so he has one of each type. However not sure he’ll like the pay rates at Peterborough and he lived close to wolves last year so who knows

Best try again because Adam Ellis will be at Swindon

I agree completely. Unfortunately we live in a world where all too often we see a short term me me me attitude to the detriment of the bigger long term picture. And that’s from both riders and promoters alike

Riders are worth whatever some fool is prepared to pay. I think a lot of riders think they’re worth more than they are but then again if someone pays it they are worth it to someone. If Peterborough hire Tungate again it tells you a lot about where they are after he couldn’t be bothered to turn up to 3 meetings last year and the management know it.

He actually spent all but the last month riding at 3 or 4 but did a lot of heat 15s which tends to lower your average a bit. He’s kicked on hugely in the last year or 2. Not unlike Jason Doyle who till his late 20s was “ bang average” so who knows what the future holds but he’s on an improving curve right now. Wouldn’t surprise me if by mid season he’s riding at number 5 for you.

Same one Buster used when Robert Lambert was 15

correct

Really sad news about Colin. RIP

Very True, Sam Masters might be looking for a bigger home track to go with Edinburgh as a small track. How does he get on with Lemo?