Back in those days, bonus points were included in the Green Sheet Averages.   This made a huge difference to averages.  (remember there are on average 10 extra bonus points in a 15 heat match). Also then, matches were 13 heats so the top riders likely met only once in a meeting.  Nowadays with 15 heats including a nominated, top riders will meet at least twice.  And with the 4 top riders all meeting in heat 15, someone is going to finish with a zero and take a big dent on their average.   In the 70s, a top rider would go into every race with a reasonable expectataion of finishing second at worst. Also back then, leagues had 16 - 18 teams.  They met only once all year.  Nowadays with fewer teams and fewer riders, teams meet more often, so top riders clash more often.  If was also quite common to turn up on a Saturday night in the 70s to find Peter Collins isn't riding tonight or Ivan Mauger isn't riding, because they had a lucrative Grasstrack meeting in Germany on Sunday afternoon.    So riders might even miss their only league head-to-head of the entire season.  (with no internet. no one knew they were missing until they'd paid their money, and no one seemed bothered). With just one bike strapped to the back of a car, no lower end rider had the equipment to challenge a top rider who may have a workshop at the track. If you want closer racing with a more level playing field, and riders meeting more often, then the current day is for you. If you want a few top stars for publicity purposes with the top stars artificially inflated to appear more dominant than they are, then the 70s are for you.    

Kevin and Jan where at the .meeting and had a good time. Now heading back South. Fans made us very welcome. Thanks. Poole should more than cover the 2 points at home. Hopefully the ever improving Frazer returns soon.☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

I didn’t see him after the meeting. 6 races for the juniors and x2 times Scott Nichols came out to practice and that was it.

mark fryer wont do anything  nothing in it for him

Was waiting for somebody to come out with that, little surprise it was you. He's got round Ipswich, Plymouth, Leicester perfectly well and scored good points by not just 'twisting the throttle' - he's 16 and is entitled to some tricky meetings on trickier tracks as part of his development.

I've put this onto the Premiership section because i've given up trying to get my tech to get into a general speedway discussions area! It applies to Championship level as well. In the 1970's there were riders galore with averages over 9 points. Plenty over 10 and a small but significant contingent over 11. Maximums or nearly by Mauger, Olsen, Crump, Collins, Lee, Louis, Simmons etc were commonplace. Ah, those were the days! Or were they?? Today, more or less anybody can and does beat the "top dogs". No more dominance, at least at the Mauger and Olsen level. I'm sure the race format and gate position changes will have played a big part in this. So what's better? Domination by an elite group or riders, or greater unpredictability?