nigelb

I think that was clear from the 'Promoter's' response the day after the takeover was announced...very sad that someone who has done so much for the sport has become a caricature. It would be sad if the new owners don't succeed as where would that leave Rye House? not much of a legacy to leave...

you can say that again, rather a large number of 'foreign' PL reserves in the current team line-ups who have had 2,3,4 seasons and still have a CMA below 4...would the top end NL riders be better given the time (and the same financial support?), would they be any worse? be interesting to track the development of reserves in teams with one UK and one 'foreign' reserve in PL...

so if Batch makes top 8 will we see 4 Aussies in next year's GP series??

disappointing that the article can't state that Gary was killed in 1975, saying 'the 1970s' feels pretty disrespectful for the local paper, even if it may seem a long time ago! seems a very lazy piece of writing; instead of reducing his memory to a one-off race what about a real retro fours in his memory next year based on a 'seniors' type event with riders who did ride for each of those clubs, mixed in with up and coming riders, (allowing the older guys - in their 40s/50s to have a breather between races - except for Greg!) be interesting to see the response...who would you choose from that age bracket (just for fun as realise most would probably say no - although some are still actively riding): realise some could ride for more than one team; a few thoughts for starters, and some wishful thinking Wolves - Sam, Ronnie C, PK, M.Max (Hans) Cradley - Greg, Jan O, Billy Hamill, Oxford - Hans, Todd W, TRick (very tenuous I know but quite a crowd-puller)! B'ham - Jason Lyons, Johnno, (Hans!)

Danny Bird - 2 year ban springs to mind as an old racers fan (and most previous riders got at least 12 months), be interesting to see how Dudek is treated...

isn't Benji a hairdresser as well? Anyway I have given up with ever being surprised or horrified at what goes on in our favourite sport - but I hear that Sky is moving S'way slot to SS4 to fit in with some of the other real 'sports' - and perhaps that's the way forward, I mean look at how many folks watch that 'wrestling' stuff - we already have the panto villains in place on and off the track, and storylines full of skullduggery that fit just right in, perhaps we could then get more action on the tracks! Like so many over the decades (!!) I used to despair at the various shenanigans in speedway and like so many I have gone from being a 50+ meetings a year, one time sponsor taking a couple of carloads of friends and family, to a handful of meetings at most this year (perhaps if we went the way of wrestling we would get entertainment on every track, at every meeting that would make us and new fans want to come back again and again?)

So no Craig Cook as one of GB nominees? King, Barker, Harris and Worrall - and Rosco made the choice?? did Cook drop out? seems very strange if he didn't, all the same old faces bar one

just out of curiosity when was the last time stadia UK actually followed up with promise of a new stadium - with speedway - and built it? not bitter at all about Reading!

I saw this title and the first rider who came to mind - Finn Jensen, being a Wolves fan all those years ago we never knew what to expect! Another intriguing one - when he came to Wolves he came at the end of one season averaged about 2.6, then the following season in about 6-8 challenge matches he was averaging nearly 7, the league matches started and he went straight back down to 2.76! Even riding against the same teams he scored loads of points against in the challenge meetings!

or you can just say sorry, it's not that difficult

You never know the Lambert named might be a smokescreen for the other Lambert, depending on the rules concerning EL reserves and fixture clashes/can an EL reserve double down/up in PL?? - if so then 5/4/14 would be a good date for first Rye meeting

Well, if correct then that means conveniently there are 12 riders with averages above 7.5, if Holder comes back, and Hancock and Lindgren are no shows, so not really a surprise if you want to spread around the 'top' (!!) riders around; and perhaps squeeze out all the journeyman foreign riders who never seem to get above a high 5 average. Probably get a 10% 'British' rider average reduction - dependent on which of the 'influential' clubs have already got brits signed or ready to sign If this is the best that does eventually come out tomorrow, then nothing really changes, and takes us backwards. If you're going to water it down get more teams in. Curious as to whether this would lead to any PL changes

So do any of the 'in the know' peeps have any insights from either of the 2 pre-AGM meetings/Sky negotiations? Perhaps a promoter or two might like to float a couple of ideas to the paying fans now before the upcoming AGM or even take some proper soundings from supporters? it's not too difficult to set up a survey monkey to get some decent supporter feedback on the BSPA website (assuming they are too nervous to run it through this forum, which in itself is self-selecting, but better than no insight); just a thought (instead of the drip-feed 'rumours' of dubious sources)

90k - and still losing money??? makes one wonder what some riders are being paid in the 'EL', and how much is spent on airfares...one league seems a good idea, but how many PL teams would want to join in?? Rye has the makings of a top PL team for next year but one league, hmmm

Went to the meeting last night as I happened to be in Wolverhampton - my old home town - and was looking forward to seeing Robert in competitive action. However, I think I must be his jinx! When I saw him at Rye he fell off doing a few laps on his own and last night everything went wrong for him. I can see from youtube and his scores in the NL he is a major talent - BUT no way should he go to EL next season, and perhaps he can take a learning from his encounter last week and check out the following: Chris Holder - PL - EL - World Champ; Tai - NL - PL - EL - hopefully the next World Champ; Michael Lee - NNL - BL - World Champ; Darcy - NL - PL - EL - major GP star; and finally Lewis B: NL - EL.......greater experience of tight first bends, variety of track sizes will do him greater good for the future; hopefully last night will wake him and his advisors to this as he has plenty of time on his side (oh, and can he come and ride for Rye when he is 16!)