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Not all will agree with your last comment AO as some won't believe 'true fans' would ever miss a chance to see their team in action, but it is definitely true, as I do it now.. 'Iffy' weather has a huge bearing as you know deep in your heart that attending on a 'dodgy track' will often see you short changed from either the racing quality or simply the amount of races you get to see, (thirty times bitten, thirty one times shy). I find though at present that I miss more BV meetings to stay in and watch another match on TV, when the BV match has zero credibility due to it being another 'guestfest'... The irony is the match on TV has probably as much credibility as the one at the NSS however the difference is I am not forking out £30 for two people to attend it, instead paying BT £5.00 a month... Add in the fact that every meeting is now just a play off qualifier and for me it's not the TV being there that reduces the crowds (as proof, play off crowds are usually the best crowds of the year) it's the fact that what is served up doesn't justify paying out money to watch it when you can get your 'speedway fix' from the comfort of your armchair... Invariably now most matches are made up of an eclectic mix of competitors, from various random teams, cobbled together for 'one night only', so when you are prepared to take that for what it is, and are quite content to watch 'anyone' in the red, blue, white and yellow helmets go round, then you might as well do it in front of your TV, cold beverage in hand, snug in your own comfy armchair.... Simply, it's not TV coverage that reduces crowds, it's the way the Sport is ran...

Said by the same 'Poole' fans every season. Hence why we have laughed so hard the last few seasons.

Exposure on TV can help to remind the public that speedway exists and hopefully make them want to go and watch it live. Whether these are new or lapsed fans is immaterial, as long as they attend. Equally whether a viewer is a regular attendee at matches or just watches on TV is immaterial. They contribute to the viewing figures that keep the sport being televised. You could apply the above equally to sponsors. TV coverage to me is a superb bonus that allows me to watch matches that I could not otherwise attend and also maintains and feeds my love of the sport. I suspect I'm not alone. Are speedway supporters really only capable of watching one match a week? Only speedway with its limited, negative thinking, which does so very much to stifle it and destroys the opportunities I mentioned above, could blow it so consistently year in year out. All sports need TV, which is why they clamour for coverage. Well, all but one, it seems.

Phillips has proven that he can be amongst the points in the Championship, whereas the other 2 haven’t. Surely it’s a no brainer?!

Still don’t understand why the GSA issued regularly cannot show an average (assessed or amended if needed) for both leagues so enabling team managers, officials, referees and supporters easy access to one reference point.

The vast majority of professional football clubs in this Country run at a loss and that includes the big clubs! Iconic sports venues like Coventry speedway should have preservation orders put on them preventing them being demolished! The fact that their are parties who would take on the stadium and reopen it regardless of profit or loss margins speaks for itself. Anyway, has the Stadium been a burden on the Local or National tax payers? I'd suggest that the stadium has increased the local economy and gave a few jobs to locals! While I've got nothing against Mick Horton and appreciate that running a British speedway track in modern times isn't easy, Chris Harris' pretty damning assessment of him in this weeks speedway star says as much as you need to know about him!

Morris on a point less than Nicholls sounds like a pretty decent Plan B to me.

But you've got to be around to try. After the winter we've had I'm just happy we're still here. Team was clearly built on a) not knowing whether we'd have to pay the fine and b ) not attending the AGM and thus letting the others have a head start on team planning. Let's ride this year out & regroup next year. Also let's not forget the season we just had too, many other teams would have loved to have won one trophy let alone two.

to be fair restrictions on du/dd should be announced now for next season

You are definitely on the mend and the wind-up again. I am not jealous at all thanks very much, if you cant see that you have 4 riders on "false" averages then there is no hope for you. Yes - Matt has done his homework, yes it is within the rules but no - it doesn't make it right!

The whole world is fed up with BSPA

Swift action ? The AGM finished on 20th November 2017 . The SCB resolved the matter on 23rd Feb 2018. You seriously call that swift action? I'd call it appalling incompetence.

But it complies with the law. Were you also proposing that Nick Morris, Chris Harris, Danny King, Steve Worrall, Rory Schlein, Richard Lawson, Kyle Howarth and Charles Wright, all with PL averages >6 be stopped from riding CL, because that would at least have been fair? Yep, the discrimination was disgusting, hence the swift action from the SCB. In years gone by 1st Div averages were doubled when riders went to the 2nd division (halved if going the other way) and therefore it was impossible to go above 6 as that would make it over 12 in the 2nd div. The fact that riders who now ride in both demonstrate a much lower conversion is the reality says a lot about the strength of the leagues. Not long before an amalgamation I think as Mon/Weds will be financial ruin for some of the top division clubs.

The rider was signed before the news came about the sponsor

You really don't know a lot about Speedway do you.

...but not 'blindingly obvious' to those running the sport evidently!

Quite simply week after week it was broadcast in front of a minimal, atmosphere-less crowd.

Not if you end up with Peter York though

Ain't going on no plane

The lack of an answer to TV screening from either BT or BSPA suggests to me that negotiations are still ongoing. Personally I can't see the previous big money ever happening from either BT or Sky, if they ever do it again it will be vastly reduced to reflect the decline of our sport. I also think speedway is at such a low point the BSPA will grab any amount on offer in their desperation to survive. There are so many negatives surrounding speedway which urgently need addressing, and it will only begin to improve when Promoters actually start to promote again. Reducing the number of meetings will save money short term but will have a more detrimental effect when the hard core (lifeblood) supporters turn away. I really fail to understand why speedway is difficult to 'sell' - it's a fast, dangerous, colourful, noisy, and exciting team game which is family friendly and has all the ingredients to attract new faces. It's almost like a best kept secret and that doesn't help it survive - neither will increased entrance fees.

Normally when things go against them, where possible they make no comment at all.

Give them a little credit. Their press release after a total reversal of one of their policies is almost up to political party standard.

If only they meant what they are saying BSPA must be sucking lemons now.

Ged 3 - BSPA 0

Which is exactly what i said weeks ago, only to be shot down in flames by certain 'know all keyboard warriors' on here. Just proves that the people who tried to implement these 'rules' are incompetent...

Think it's more the case that Panthers don't make much money out of the fours, & Ged is fed up with the BSPA.

Yeah Kennett when he gets sacked

...used to get great atmospheres when the likes of Swindon, Reading, Coventry & Cradley visited Cowley but even in my time following 'The Cheetahs' travelling support was diminishing and local derbies no longer guaranteed a good all round feel as they once did.

Kurtz has a higher average which means he was the better rider last season in England and in my opinion more room for improvement. Whether either can be a regular GP rider is very much open to question.

Fricke has represented more clubs in Europe than Kurtz (Rybnik , Rospiggarna) Won Australian U21 title 4 times World U21 champion 2016 . I like Brady Kurtz, one of my favorite riders but in my opinion Max is the better prospect

Fricke hasn't 'been around' 2 years more than Kurtz ? , and who says he's rated higher than Max in Europe ? Poole supporters ?

And it is blindingly obvious the reasons why. Nothing to do with 'on track action' either.

The powers that be have been very efficient with the one over 8 and GP rider rule, so it shows they can do it, though their motives seem highly suspicious. Saying it’s within the rules doesn’t cut it in our “sport” anymore due to their fluid nature. If/when Poole are allowed a 20 point head start I would still see fans saying it’s ok due to the rules. Its ironic that after years of rule breaking and dodgy deals, Ford is now feeling the pinch. You reap what you sow eh? Shame he’s taking everyone down with him but they can’t say they weren’t warned. Matt Ford. Self confessed cheat. Copyright Ouch 2004.

Have I really read such a ridiculous reply about who watches it etc ? The same could be said for football, rugby etc etc etc Not everyone can travel to either away matches of their own team, or to any matches not involving their team, but love watching Let alone the sponsorship money Then there is the piece about ANY otential for someone to be converted and go tot follow their local team At WHAT part is ANY of this not a good idea ??

as I have previously posted I used goldvod.tv streaming service during 2017 and had no issues whatsoever. excellent full definition picture on my television with no buffering. I have subscribed for this season and the live stream for nSport, Eleven sport and PolSat sport is excellent. I downloaded the gold.vod add on onto Kodi and having entered my user name and password after receiving the relevant codes the list of Polish TV channels become available. the picture I receive is as good as any Sky HD. at about £5.83 a month to view live Polish Speedway is a reasonable deal.......at least 2 Extra League matches (nSport) on a Sunday afternoon with at least one First League match (Polsat sport or Eleven sport) as well. one of the channels will also show other meetings including Polish individual rounds for the various competitions. all the channels also do repeat programmes in the week following the live match so if you miss Sunday you can view later that week. Eleven Sport also show live Swedish League on a Tuesday which is an added bonus. it appears at the moment that the schedule for nSport on the opening weekend during April will be 4 live Extra League matches......one Friday evening, one Saturday and two on Sunday which will cover all the teams in that league. the other channels Eleven Sport and PolSat Sport intend to show at least two lower league matches that weekend but at times not to conflict with nSport. stewmac it was a pleasure to be able to point you in the direction of goldvod.tv and as you say the stream/picture is excellent.

No - you fool

How can it be that Morris is on a point less than Nicholls in the CL (for which Nicholls had no average) when Morris has a (much) better PL average. The rules continue to be a joke!!

Think you;re wrong there Sidney, Poole have this year assembled an exceptional side built on the back of 'out of date' Averages. If a team can acquire 1 ringer on a low average they are doing well, but to get 3 takes it to another level . All the teams were built to a max of 42.5 , But had Woryna, Schpank and Sundstrom been accredited with upto date figures, their team strength would have been nearer 46 Pts. Many are missing the point here where the advantages compound the differences. After the first set of figures , all the Poole riders, along with all the rest will be accredited with a new average, so any replacements needed will be proportionate to the average of the missing rider. so they will have better replacements whenever the need arise. Every year we have this same problem , and every year they do nothing to stop it. Its so annoying the BSPA cant see further than the end of their big noses.... So sorry Sidney, I cant agree with your views. The league will be a walk in the park for Poole losing only but a few matches, the only hope our sport has, is if another team meets them on a bad day.. Some hope.,,.

Apparently in the interests of furthering his career the Boro promotion have now agreed that Scot can ride only for Rye House ...... in return for an appropriate payment of course.

Your problem Rodders is that you don't fully appreciate the complex issues facing promoters at this moment in time or what a very delicate issue this was, not withstanding the top level talks required to mutually agree interpretation of new 2018 regulations/guidelines.

HAS been for weeks! Still some bickering going on but will happen.

Its not so much whether the rule is right or wrong or good or bad , more the fact that less than a month before the start of the season the SCB/BSPA have only just sorted out what the rule is, and we apparently still don't have a rulebook, more than 3 months after the AGM.

A good idea to get info, but wouldn't telling estate agents "not going ahead with the purchase due to the stadium" give more ammo to the developers? Just a thought.

AGREEMENT REACHED OVER NEW RULES BRITISH Speedway bosses have held top level talks to mutually agree interpretation of new 2018 regulations. Members of both the British Speedway Promoters’ Association Management Committee (BSPA) and Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) have worked together to ensure more opportunities for home grown riders are available. In simple terms this means the high profile case of Scott Nicholls has now reached a satisfactory conclusion for all parties and this fine servant to British Speedway is now eligible to race in the middle tier, the SGB Championship. After deliberation an agreement was reached allowing further opportunities for the use of "home grown" riders ensuring that in particular Championship teams will all have the opportunity to commence the season on competitive terms. Riders who have previously been eligible for the old Conference League, or the current National Development League, are now eligible for the Championship. A BSPA spokesman said: "We are pleased to be working alongside the SCB to clarify and reach agreement over this very delicate issue and it is now time for us all to look ahead to the new season with much enthusiasm." An SCB spokesman said: "The members of the Bureau fully appreciate the complex issues facing promoters at this moment in time. "We are fully committed to assisting them to re-establish a firm foundation for the sport from which to move forward."

Will they be the same as the 69th anniversary bibs? Found only in third and fourth and covered in Swindon shale?

Can see that it's under construction. Can't find any link or previous announcement about it - happy to be corrected though if you'd like to tell me where I can find it. Perfectly acceptable and reasonable to modernise and update things - although I'm not sure the internet address of "formaniteagles" is going to trip off the tongue easily or indeed find any new punters. If you are trying to attract new people it surely makes sense to keep the location in the headline address. Only those already in the know are aware of the team sponsors. Away supporters looking for details of Eastbourne Speedway won't Google "Formaniteagles". In this instance, I think the sponsors are coming cross as bigger than the team - I know they are vital, but to headline them as the internet address is daft in my opinion - of course we hope the sponsorship is a long term affair but by it's nature it can be transient, so are we going to have a new website whenever the main sponsor changes ? Surely there is opportunity to incorporate all the branding and sponsorship details, merchandise etc within the current website? When I wanted to find out details of other clubs, I just Googled, "Kent Speedway", "Stoke Speedway", "Plymouth Speedway" etc and immediately got to the club website.

That is certainly one thing that does get my back up. I thought / hoped that mechanics coming out etc etc and causing delays could very simply be dealt with, IF the sport is committed to it.

Apparently riders can move at the start without being penalised and races will only be called back if a rider touches or breaks the tapes.

Newcastle, surely 29.10 with 13.40 remaining.