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Matt needs to put away the archive book of averages and the calculator and look after the riders he’s got. With a bit of faith, loyalty and encouragement they should come good. Why wouldn’t you want to keep Kurtz, Grajczonek & Woryna and tell them you’ll build your team around them for the next three years? Batchelor, Tungate, Newman, Kennett, Howarth, Shanes, Starke, Klindt, Andersen and even Chris Holder should all have been treated better. With all due respect to them it never makes sense to keep bringing in stop gap, foreign based riders like Szzzzzpaniak, Lindback, Gomolski, Sundstrom, Jepsen Jensen & Jonasson, who aren’t committed to the UK and never stick around at any club for very long.

But how are the staff supposed to make it pay? Do you know the cost of a uniform and the bus fare to the cinema for the staff, if you want the best staff at the cinema you need to charge £20 per film and only show it on a Monday and Wednesday as of a weekend the staff work in sainsbury’s, also the camera can be very very dangerous so the staff risk their life everytime they show you a film

One of the frustrations of being a Poole Supporter (by the way for many years) based near Chelmsford - Essex is that I don't get a chance to see them so much. A 3.5 hour drive is a bit of a ball breaker. Thankfully I didnt attempt it this week as would have seen my backside ;-) However that does not dampen my love for the Pirates or my enthusiasm for the sport. Having been pressing home my comments/thoughts re using these young N/L riders and having a combo of 2 of these under 20 in each side - add existing established young riders and top off with the experienced guys. (Not all these ultra expensive top/top riders based abroad). Well tonight I am more than happy to spend my £17 entrance fee for a meeting at Lakeside only 23 miles from where I live, where I will see the kind of Speedway I am trying to advocate partly. Firstly I get too see our returning asset N.Klindt - Hopefully will have a gating day at Lakeside as we know not an easy track - Also get to see another asset in Newman who dont expect too much from these days to be honest. Add into the mix experience such as Lawson/Proctor/Bach/Campton - add established young talent such as Morris/Ellis/Jensen and also exciting youngsters such as Bewley/Wajtknecht and topped up by youngsters who have been in N/L such as Mountain (Lakeside guest) - Bickley - Bowtell. Now that is certainly a well spent £17 entrance fee - Ok add £3 for the program but I dont give a damn as this is the mix of talent i want to see. A mixture of Experienced/Established good young riders/Young talent coming through. Maybe throw in a snack from the burger/hot dog/chippie van and a pint and its speedway utopia Who needs GP riders and it cost the promotors a fraction of the cost. Its nights like hopefully tonight that you think there's hope for the sport yet. Also no rain planned and I checked both BBC and Met office. Fingers crossed.

The only rumours u should listen too is fleetwood mac!

Speedway doesn't fix things that are broken, but fixes something that isn't broken - the World Cup. In my opinion, APART FROM THE JOKER RULE, the format for the WC was finally perfected after years of fiddling around with it. Four nations, one rider from each in every race and wearing the same helmet colour throughout. Dead simple. Easy to understand for casual or new viewers tuning in and that's how it should be. Forget about team riding, new viewers won't understand or care less about it. This new competition is taking us backwards to a confusing, audience alienating format.

Lucky we've got a few anoraks left that follow the sport in this country that care about the shambolic way it's presented and the disgusting state of the stadiums we're watching it in eh? Applying the rules is a basic necessity of any serious sport surely? Hope some of these riders that don't make a fortune riding on the continent have other qualifications to fall back on because speedway will be semi pro at best in the UK in a few years.

As a speedway fan really feel for the Bears at the minute nothing is going there wsy at the minute , hoping Ben and JPB are back on a bike soon we as supporters don’t realise the sacrifices the riders put in for our entertainment , get well soon you two

The agreement with the FIM is that we have priority on Monday and Thursday and Denmark has priority on Wednesday. The fact that the BSPA decide to run on Wednesday, Swindon excepted, doesn't change that agreement. Denmark still has priority on a Wednesday and we have it on Thursday.

After the criticism yesterday it's good to see that Rob Painter from GB Speedway Team took the time and trouble to travel up to Cumbria today to see Craig Cook. That's the proper and professional way to deal with things.

Although teams can name a U21 rider, who can be used at anytime it is not mandatory to have one. With this in place many heats in both race off`s will end up with only 3 riders. USA, Ukraine, Finland and Italy have only 2 named riders. With no back up they will undoubtedly all at some stage be reduced to 1 rider heat representation. Not value for money and an ill conceived format and ridiculous rules. No need to drop the World Cup for this farcical event.

come in numbers 1 and 5 . your time is up @ D.P.

Funny, that's what Hancock said when he needs an excuse because he couldn't be Ars#d a couple of years ago.

Just put an announcement out on the PA during the interval about the roadworks? Not hard is it?! Anyway, I got back from working in London just to get in before heat 1 and was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was. The back car park was almost full. Why such a big crowd? Must have been the draw of the World Champion being in town and the prospect of our very own Robert Lambert beating him. It couldn't have been the crazy half term offer!?? "The King’s Lynn Tru Plant Stars £36 Family ticket gives you all a fun packed evening this Wednesday 30th May. A Family ticket gives you entry for 2 x adults and as many children U16 as you like for just £36. Parking is free." It's £18 to get in for adults and kids go in free anyhow? Looking forward to the next crazy value promotion - 1 coffee for £1.50 or a special offer of 3 for £.4.50?!? It made me laugh anyhow : )

I don't think the number of riders choosing Poland would be anything like the numbers some are suggesting. For many of the current riders, who race mainly for Polish league 1 and 2 teams, a guaranteed 30 plus meetings in the UK in one big league would be more attractive than being part of a Polish league 1 squad with no guarantee of being a regular pick. They may not like having their opportunity to race abroad curtailed but I think many would accept it. The UK has got to find a way to operate that initially makes the sport here sustainable and then able to grow. Staying as we are is not an option.

Oh dear!! Thats horrendous

That profile pic of yours is very wrong!

I'm not sure if Robert Lambert will be eligible to take a reserve ride, even if required. He's 48 years old according to the GP website! http://www.speedwaygp.com/rider/robert-lambert

Omg, there is plenty of choice, could be singing that chant for hours on end.

Could speedway cope with 'Jack Holder what a ₩@#£€& , what a ₩@#£€&'

Probably something to do when the football left the stadium ?

i see concretors covering an area of around 1200m2 with plastic on a regular basis in australia to stop any potential rain ruining their surface.... the next day they come in after a huge downpour and their concrete has a perfect finish on it. I am sure someone could come up with a proper system to cover tracks. Maybe covering the actual track in it first then use Najjers idea of clipping another layer from the fence down to the centre green? all it would take someone with a “well sort it attitude” rather than someone who gives up at the first hurdle.

Not forgetting Justin Elkins who was a great for Swindon and went off the boil when he went to Poole

Ridiculous! We have started the season in BL2/NL/PL/Championship in April since 1969 (1968 was a late start due to the lack of teams in the initial year). I don't remember the second tier having gaps like this. Perhaps the problem lies in having the shortest league schedule since 1968? 10 home league matches is a disgraceful offer to the public, even allowing for the limited additional Championship Shield meetings that in the south add a paltry two extra fixtures making a grand total of 12! So, just what ARE we supposed to do? Start the season in June then move on to the play-offs in September? Trying to defend this year's schedule is ridiculous. The second tier has foolishly followed the top tier into a fragmented season and will pay the same price if it's not careful. Perhaps the promoters can only afford top stage a dozen meetings? If so the least they could do is be honest and inform their remaining fans.

I think after your win last night your post was proved correct looking at it how many away wins have there been away not many.Also Swindon are a very strong side at home a terrific top five with great backing from Zach.I do think Somerset are in the mix for fourth spot with Lynn,Poole, all to play for.

By the time Workington go to Lakeside tomorrow they'll have had 8 away and only 3 matches at home. Bearing in mind the home ties are supposed to generate the revenue to pay the riders (home and away) the promotion are to be lauded for being able to fund these eight away fixtures in the hope that revenue from home matches will in the end balance the books. Heaven forbid the weather's bad on Saturday then we could be looking at 10/3 away-home nigh on unsustainable. Fingers crossed for Saturdays weather and a good crowd to go with it.

I think Rebel supporters had "Rose Tinted Glasses" at Kings Lynn last night Note to all Rebels supporters "Get Some Rose Tinted Glasses"

Newcastle lineup definitely not right. Arnio is only 5 th in the adverages so can't be at no. 1 Lindgren is still top so will be at 1. Would suggest R/R is at 2. Covatti 3. Morris 4. and Tero at 5. Only a guess based on past line-ups.

loads of people think it, Ian, but no one has the balls to do anything about it, Colin

Kyle's an asset to any club he rides for, doing great at lakeside, wish he was still with us tbh. Connor has a liking for this track, so should go well. Enjoy your "proper" speedway meeting

A normal night at championship club speedway then Steve.

Matej Zagar used to get one of them when he rode for Reading!!!

BTW - if you get the impression all is not well in Glasgow, I can confirm: 1) we have one of the best tracks in the league. The racing has been excellent. Last Sunday was exceptionally hot and windy. 2) The crowds are extremely healthy

It doesn't look that cool. If it did, youngsters would be flocking to Tracks to watch Speedway - and they aren't doing that. So - as I say - these bloody suits cannot be that 'cool'.

We can turn it around, Matt Ford has said heads will roll so he isn't giving up just yet.

DUST what dust ?

Surely that song would be sung about all the holder clan. Oh and don't forget one for Jason Doyle

Wow talked about patched up ! The Bears really having a tough time of it of late

Actually, yes some do. From memory, James Tredwell was playing one day cricket for Kent and was allowed to play championship cricket for Sussex at the same time. The ECB are about to launch a new competition that will take place during the county season and will include the top 25% of county pros playing for another arbitrary team in addition to their counties.

Prob wasn't as serious as before but there was definitely petitions at the turnstile and passed through the stands. The council wasn't massively keen on speedway like it is now.

The club nearly closed in mid 90's too, about 95ish time. I remember signing the petition to try and keep it open. It was not long after Long Eaton closed down I think.

Flwg on from Skidders reply to yr question Me personally yes but my situation is not tight like some others. To me whether it is £18 or £15 doesnt matter. Perhaps for some it does. If I can get a decent fix with half decent riders i will pay for it. I would pay the same if i could get a chance to regularly see some of this young N/L talent coming through in conjunction with some of the other talent like the young Kurtz/Holder/Lambert/Woryna to name a few and in conjunction with some of the Champ riders, many themselves up and coming talent like Zach W - Adam Ellis (who also ride Prem). I still think we need to harness the young talent but also not totally lose those who have given us enjoyment over the years like Harris/Nicholls and others. I dont hold all the answers just giving my views. The future of British Speedway for me short term isnt these BIG stars. We cant in the main afford them and we can get plenty of exposure to them weekly on Youtube etc or if you want your big night out book Cardiff GP. Don't worry if these POL teams see a UK talent they will be on to it just like Rybnik have in a tie up with Bewley even if not in the team yet. They are advanced enough to know a good potential rider coming through. I still think there must be a way we can harness what talent we do have and present it in a way that we the speedway public benefit and also get exciting racing. Lets be honest the likes of Holder Jr/Kurtz/Woryna and many other young riders will still have their bloopers as they learn their trade with or without the Doyles/Holder Srs/Vaculiks/KK and others you may want to name. Hence why i keep banging on about taking the N/L talent (let them keep there N/L teams but work around it to get a couple into each Prem/Champ team) add these established young rider and a mix it in also with established riders in the Prem/Champ (Many who double up anyway). If not I really fear for our sport.

We can get enough blank weeks with rain offs.Weve had some dry Thursday's with no fixtures as was expected.If the meetings don't get rained off till late in season we are still going to get a mass scramble to get them in.Thats speedway.I would rather have double the fixtures and risk some rain offs but that's just my opinion.The more meetings the better rather than the lack of fixtures we have now.June and July we have 2 home league matches in each.

I started supporting Speedway back in 1964. 54 years ago. I am 100% with moxy63 on this one. If I thought that race suits had brought anything positive to the Sport I would agree with najjer. To my mind it hasn't, what it has done is remove a sense of colour from the Sport. There is no 'Little Boy Blue', 'The White Ghost', The' Red Devil' these days - they all look the bloody same. Change to suits has done nothing but remove a sense of identification with Riders. It has sanitised the Sport in a way that has removed any sense of individuality. You ask why there are no characters in Speedway like there was in the past - I am not saying that Race Suits caused lack of characters, but they are a contributory factor. The Riders are no longer allowed to show any individuality. Individuality was how the Characters emerged. By the way - Speedway WAS better in our day and that is without rose tinted spectacles.

Comets are a good side and could well provide the Hammers stiffest test so far this season. Klindts a strange one. Very up and down, bu t he has had some good meetings at L:akeside . From memory I think the last time he came was few years ago when he guested for Lakeside against Swindon in the Elite League and if I recall correctly scored about 9 or 10 points . I don't think Rene Bach has been there since he was about 19, so its difficult to assess. Weather permitting , it should be a good match

But what are the rules. Uk Prem Speedway supposed to have prioirty on Mon/Thur - DK on Wed - Swe on Tue and the Poles get the rest (or kind of). Those were agreed prior to this season start. I was the poster who observed this on the Poole site (my team) when I saw the fixture and thought what about NKI and RL who both ride for diff DK teams. I noticed NKI's team were not riding on that night but RL's team were. My observations were COULD NKI be absent due to his injury treatment (or was it an Op for his problem shoulder injury from last season), and cld RL be absent as his DK team should in theory get prioirty as the Speedway powers that be determined DK get priority on a Wed. I don't know if that rule only applies to Danes BUT if it doesnt then as said his DK team in theory should have priority, although I know like the Swedes the Danes have a squad system so maybe can cover from elsewhere. But arguably why should they if the powers deemed the good old UK should be flwg what was set. Not a problem for my team as they did not have riders who had DK clashes as Poole kept to their Wed race night. Having said that Klidnt jut signed but it cld be he is wiling to swap a much smaller less financially lucrative DK arrangement for more meetings in UK where he is also based despite being a Dane. Maybe there will also be some nights when Poole are not racing and DK are so he can juggle both. Anyway just for clarity but would hope for KL supporters if there was some form of notice if he is riding or not, rather than than day before when these things tend to get released by clubs.

I pay £17 at Swindon, didn't realise Poole was £18. I'm unsure why you've decided to be an arse to me, haven't done so to you or been rude, I'll put it down to a bad day.

I would say it gives Najjer plenty of knowledge. 2000 is nearly 20 years ago, and the points he makes are very valid. Yes, speedway was more succesful in the 1970s, but it was a different time. Were speedway the same now as it was in the 1970s it would look so dated that it would attract even lower crowds than it does now. Team suits are one of the positives of this faltering modern era. The 70s hsve long gone, as have the trends of that time. Life moves on and speedway needs to move with it.

I can't wait to see Kane in a green shirt at the World Cup, Dele Ali in a yellow one and Lingard in a blue one... with an England bib over the top. We'd be a laughing stock. All I see here after reading this thread is people who watched speedway in the 70s and 80s "it was better in our day". Marketing is massive nowadays and it makes sense that it is better to market something that looks more professional than a multicoloured jigsaw puzzle.

May get shot down but Freddie Lindgren did nothing wrong in the final. Just hard riding. He was leading Tai and shut the door. It will happen back to Fred at some stage of the season.

The idea is to get regular speedway, not gaps for weeks on end or three fixtures in three weeks and then nothing for a further three weeks. If you read the comments on this forum, it is repeated many, many times that the haphazard pattern of fixtures puts people off attending - and you have pointed to that. The trophy campaign is little more than a warm up, so start running that fortnightly - along with maybe an open meeting - the middle/end of March. Then bang the league fixtures/KO Cup in from the beginning of June to the end of August (a period of 13 weeks that allows for the odd rain off). Playoffs at the beginning of September. I am sure its not as simple as that, but its got to be better than weeks missing and playoffs in October.