SPEEDY69

I think the Q boxes remain owned by Sky, similar to the Virgin deal - maybe it depends on if replacing your older box or starting new with them. I have had a few friends whose Virgin boxes have developed faults though which is really annoying when all your recordings are irrecoverable so free or not, that would be the biggest concern for me. Has anyone used the BT sport app? I've been offered this for £2.50 a month and it can be cast to the TV - seems a good deal to me.

Yeah, I'm sure they're really disappointed to now have a Premiership No.1 in their side instead.

What about steam engines as an alternative - plenty of noise then and the fuel can be 'green' as well.

I know that, but that's the stupid bit, many aren't even riding for the same teams. Riders are only employed for the season, not future ones, so legacy from one year to the next should not apply. Anyway, what's this got to do with electric speedway

The stupid bit was allowing 8/9 other riders with higher averages to double down in the Championship

I agree. Those two you tube clips were cringeworthy - no power in those machines at all and it looked like they had bald tyres as well to make then try to slide easier. No thanks.

If they ever proposed electric bikes and the sport was still going, it would only work in my view if the tracks had four grooves carved into them. Those who went too fast would crash out but could if fit remount into their groove. Call it speedextric.

Yeah and the irony in signing in a PL number 1 when they weren't allowed to sign lower standard riders initially.

That would have been a better way to do it. Doesn't matter what the rule is as long as it applies to all riders/clubs, that's what fair means.

It's Raymond Thomas Nicholls, known to everyone as Tommy and he runs RTN Racing - see what he did there?

This is what is causing the problem. Allowing Morris, Harris and another 7 riders to ride in the CL creates the problem - if all PL riders with an average over 6 were banned then there'd be no discrimination.

No. The Equality Act covers those who gain a contract for which they are personally paid to do a job. This applies for a CL contract as much as a PL one and they are not considered one employment.

If that is true then yes, this is wholly covered by the Equality Act 2010 and an employment tribunal would be the vehicle to use - they're now fee free as well.

Because it's discrimination. Harris and Morris aren't even riding for the same CL sides as last year and were openly traded. I've seen favouritism for Harris before from the BSPA but not Morris. If all riders over 6 PL average were banned I could see that at least it would be fair.

But he could if he wanted to.

Transparent and completely discriminatory. In no other line of work would this be accepted. A GP rider can double up but not a British rider at a much lower level. They make the rules, regularly revise the rules and I hope this is not left to rest and taken further.

Good idea, must mention it to CL

Apparently the end game is to turn Foxhall into Mildenhall!

It has. The 'new' Castrol R is not the same stuff that was used in the 70s/80s. Methanol engines require an oil that is suitable for them and the high heat of speedway engines makes Castor based oil the most suitable but the oils have been developed a lot.

Ah, but if that is the case it won't be the old Castrol R that most riders used in the 70s/80s. There's no way PJR would recommend the old Castrol R40 - he was astounded I used old style castor in the 90s. The name lives on but the product will be different.

Modern synthetic oils give out less odour than the old mineral oils and total loss systems. Castrol R has not been used by pros for 20 years or more. Shame.

As with every other season, more so in recent years, it's not how you start it's how you finish. Speedway isn't raced on paper or expectation.

This is about fairness. There is no rule about 6+PL riders being barred from the Championship, Cook, Morris & Harris are three examples. The rule is unfair because it makes an arbitrary decision on whether you rode in that league the previous season. All riders are out of contract at the end of one season and start again with finding clubs - if the points limit is set to make it fair for all teams then the eligibility should be the same for the riders. I don't think the rule was made to penalise certain riders but it's clear that that is how it has turned out. A Premiership No.1 and also a GP rider can rider CL but Kennett, for example, cannot. It's simply favouritism and positive discrimination for those who can. Effectively, we're progressing to one league and as some have pointed out, as a CL side could actually have stronger heat leaders than a PL one!

A rather childish attitude and in any case, there is nothing wrong with using old equipment, as long as it's maintained. So whose job is it to secure backing from sponsors? Maybe they like someone who has a positive outlook and the vision to look forward, plenty of heavily sponsored riders in the past who have only been moderately successful but have gone out and worked for the backing.

Riders do sometimes whinge about being owed money and I know it happens but even the rabble in BSPA HQ wouldn't let a promoter open at a new track without paying their debts off surely - maybe the debts are disputed. I think this is great news, another team to join speedway at any level is good. Although Cradley are not fully participating this year they have shown that operating at other tracks can work. Many people always seem to be so pessimistic/negative, but I think that's a British trait.