IainB

I think maybe Dan would probably be toddling along doing his own thing cleaning up at the NSS if DJ Woffy hadn't have got involved in his career. Dan is a once in a generation talent... can't see that in Hagon

He'd be progressive massively until he got to a technical track... Maybe he should have signed to ride for the Cubs also to get a better handle on the Leicester track. He'd develop a far better rider on the technical Leicester track than throttle jockeying it around Belle Vue every other week

What makes you think that? Have you seen something I've missed? Other than his rather against the odds British U21 victory I've seen nothing to suggest that he won't be anything other than a Drew Kemp type. Hagon's got no real pedigree, his father wasn't particularly successful as a rider all I see is a rider being bank rolled by his dad with Martin Dugard spannering for him. At least with somebody like Boughen you can see flashes of brilliance from him and he's beaten some very big name riders very convincingly, yes he's going through a bit of a tough patch at the moment but I fully expect him to ride through this. Time will tell I suppose.

Me too.

Having said that... I do think a lot more could be done in the way of reduced admission via promotional activities etc. Last year at Leicester I remember we had a load of weeks where different local yoof sports clubs were in attendance and it appeared to be quite successful, I can't remember seeing any this year

Yes we could argue the toss about the numbers until the cows come home... for me though, just comparing it to other forms of entertainment 20-23 odd quid feels about right

This uses GDP deflator: https://spice-spotlight.scot/real-terms-calculator/ £2.50 in 83/84 = £8.50 in 23/24 ... it is Scottish money though 😂

I agree there's nothing in it but at least Thompson is a club asset Averages Guest appearances and appearances in meetings abandoned before the completion of heat 10 are ignored. Sam Hagon http://www.gbspeedway.com/2024/ukflag.gif M R Pts BP Tot Av inc BP Av no BP All 19 71 35 10 45 2.54 1.97 Home 8 29 17 6 23 3.17 2.34 Away 11 42 18 4 22 2.10 1.71 Average by riding number Riding No. M R Pts BP Tot Av inc BP Av no BP 7 All 19 71 35 10 45 2.54 1.97 Home 8 29 17 6 23 3.17 2.34 Away 11 42 18 4 22 2.10 1.71 Joe Thompson http://www.gbspeedway.com/2024/ukflag.gif M R Pts BP Tot Av inc BP Av no BP All 8 27 13 1 14 2.07 1.93 Home 6 21 8 0 8 1.52 1.52 Away 2 6 5 1 6 4.00 3.33 Average by riding number Riding No. M R Pts BP Tot Av inc BP Av no BP 7 All 8 27 13 1 14 2.07 1.93 Home 6 21 8 0 8 1.52 1.52 Away 2 6 5 1 6 4.00 3.33

According to the Bank of England inflation calculator £2.50 in 1977 is worth £14.27 today . I also think £2.50 is a bit steep for 1977... There's a picture here, must be from around 1983/1984: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/history/gallery/great-old-photos-chart-history-2674737 Showing £2.50, in today's money that's £8.25

It has made their league system sustainable though which is ideally, imo, what it should all be about. They're not "reliant" on foreign imports and double up/downers... Rising Star is perhaps not the name for the system, there are many ingredients that go into making a rider a "Star" many of which can't be taught and they won't find trailing around adrift at the back of every race... it should be Rising Journeyman as these types are the life blood of any sport. Stars for bums on seats, journeyman to keep the sport sustainable.

What's the point in having a successful national team if you're not going to use that for the betterment of the sport in your own country? The way things stand at the moment with the non appearance of Team GB... in GB, are that they are just entries in the history books.

His 1.77 average from 14 matches tells you all you need to know.

I really I hope you're right but I've seen absolutely nothing from Hagon to make me think he'll be any different next season. Don't know if you've seen him at Leicester but generally you wouldn't have known he was at the meeting

Trouble is British Speedway has been stripped down to its absolute bare bones and with the national team being "subbed out" there's clearly no appetite to stage home meetings so we just have to read about GB's appearances on the continent via social media... what a terrible state of affairs for the world "team" champions!

We're not bothered either... we've left the lower league behind now and progressed to race with the big boys 🦾