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How about maybe just being pleased that someone involved in your sport has been recognised by the wider motorsport world?

Like you making a sandwich.

What on earth are you talking about?

Me! Thankyou so much to all who voted, genuinely shocked to have won.

I believe Kenneth Bjerre will lead the Pirates in 2019

Send him upto Newcastle Please.

I hope Danyon gets sorted out and has an injury free year If he ends up on the sidelines then there really is something wrong with the structure of British Speedway

How can you quantify development potential. Let's not forget he is younger then a top 8 gp star. He had never ridden a lay down engine until the Laurels. So I am Looking forward to watching him develop.

Yes but Wells is better.

Maybe needed both to happen to sort out finances.

Decent team

Think Dan will be named but then it’ll be a temp replacement til he is fit to ride, whenever that may be?? As ya say, if he comes back and struggles like Worrall did this year, it’s essential we get Bjerre as to have Dan & Worrall at heat leaders coming off 2 horrendous injuries would be too much of an ask.

No, but the fans shop will be open there for a couple of days before Xmas so no doubt visitors to that may report on status.

Swap then.... no hang on... Hmmmm arghhhhh but that means we get Holder... but no Tungate. Dunno what's worse/ better

One major problem was the fixture list last year or rather the lack of weekly fixtures. we also raced on Sundsays, Tuesday night and even a Saturday afternoon as well as our preferred Fridays. The crowds for some meetings were good and then it seemed to be weeks before we raced again as a team. I think a lot of momentum was lost and with Cooks injury, racing at short notice and on off nights plus the weather, the crowd did seem to drop of. Hopefully the meetings will be held on a weekly basis and on the same day - presumably Fridays?

Interesting? I spent a day with the late Mark McCormack and we talked about tennis, the Sony rankings and other sports which he had "taken over" as a lawyer he was able to draw up player and media contracts, as an agent he could double, treble and multiply more players incomes as his representation was international. The rankings in particular allowed players all over the world to be benchmarked and of course maintain the ambition to move up. This of course created more matched international competition and in turn more international media interest, particularly television. For those who have never heard of Mark he was the founder and chairman of IMG - the International Media Group who coincidentally own BSI Speedway. Google him, his has a fascinating life story. Mark was a strategist who had medium and long term goals and whilst Barry Hearn is hugely successful the buck wouldn't turn fast enough or big enough for him to invest in British Speedway. If you look at the tv rolling credits at the end of many tv sports broadcasts you will see "An IMG Production" regardless of continent or country. The interesting element for me is the global company already has Speedway in it's portfolio and the riders certainly don't dictate yet everyone's perception is that Barry Hearn could save Speedway with his "take no truck, in your face" style (It's not unusual for Barry to Bollock household names big style) and I think we're past that to the point where nobody inside the sport gives a sh!t any more. The egos are bigger than the sport and until those egos exit we're stuffed, the money clubs are chucking it all over riders again and the skint clubs are doing the same ffs! Wait until the "we'll have to go national League" Bears announce their full team and what about; the fastest trapping, tape breaking second string nailed on with a great deal at a near local club but within 48 hours welches for a 500 mile round trip North of The Border and Mr Midlands based Maori nailed on for a 40 mile round trip at a local Midlands club only to swap that for a 500 mile round trip a couple of days later! I do believe that control and discipline set off on the slippery slope when the ACU/RAC removed the traditional Control Board replacing it with a Bureau and then changing the format of the committee to include BSPA members allowing club/personal interest into that forum too. In the past if you got a letter inviting you to the RAC Club in Pall Mall to discuss your behaviour you absolutely crapped yourself all the way there and carried embarrassment and shame all the way back, today even the FIM doesn't stir up those emotions it seems there's no mutual respect at all.

I was just using Kemp/Smith as examples.There was 23 riders on over an 8 average last year.These I class as the better standard of riders.The riders I want to see. Not riders on a 5 who have been about for years who aren't going to go anywhere. As for what Kemp would gain from riding NL. He's 16 years old and has had 1 season riding in a league. I suspect any experience racing in a league will do him the power of good

He is right though. They've completely cocked up the NL. Wish they'd realise lowering the limit simply doesn't work. They did this a couple of years ago and you end up with riders on inflated averages. The limit will now need to be raised again next year to compensate this. Really can't see the benefit of lowering it. The sport is on its arse right now. Lowering the limit forces out the better standard of riders,which as a fan I want to see at this level. You're now left with riders who have been in the league for years,averaging the same every year instead of the likes of Kemp and Smith for example who are the future. We are now presented with a poorer product. The BSPA don't do themselves any favour with regards to "advertising" with crap decisions like this

Becker, North American champion. Beat Novratil & Wells in a run off.

Agree totally about the differences and wasnt really suggesting a Hearn type figure could run speedway It was more the reference to player control causing issues and a more centrally controlled set up being able to regenerate the sport

Unfortunately speedway fans, promoters and most people within the sport rarely see the long term. If it isn't working straight away, ideas are binned.

Not really to be honest... The problem is no one is in control of Speedway.. The riders dictate due to the average system making ordinary ones more needed so overall salaries rise. And the riders need to ride 'everywhere' means they dictate when meetings take place regardless of crowd pulling potential or the credibility of it.. The Promoters then compound the issues by having no clear vision for the Sport and often run it as a "look at me" self indulgent hobby, so allow such nonsense to pervade... Far too easy to carry on making it up as they go along than ever have a clear plan for the future which may include some difficult choices.. Barry Hearn delivers clear direction, clear standards, clear returns for investors, sponsors and players, and clear direct leadership.. A million miles away sadly from British Speedways operating model..

....or indeed a television?

Well the news is out... Good team bar Gappmaier tbh, only people who rate him are the ones who just go to home meetings because he is god awful at 95% of tracks and he’s experienced enough now to be better than that, hopefully he’ll prove me wrong, fingers crossed. Interesting that they’ve given Flinty the managers job when his son is in the team?? Conflict of interests that could hurt the team/club? Happy overall and the season ticket looks very good value for money!

He's been told a few times!

More like my price range!!

Just to correct you on the avatar that Mr Shovlar was using...It was indeed the “Magnificent Seven” but it was the Seven riders voted for by Poole supporters as the best Seven riders to wear the Skull and Crossbones in their 70 year history and was nothing to do with the Pirates 2018 starting line-up. Hope that helps.

I'd rather have Holder than Tungate (just going on rider ability of course) Team spirit is a diff matter!

He said mid December on the forum a few weeks ago. Not long to wait.

Truth of the matter is. If lidsey is a 4 then bjerre is in. If he's a 5. Then we will go strength in depth with good reserves and bewley and Worrall as HL So we all need to pray that lidsey is a 4

No you dont, you need to be careful, anymore lies and Santa wont be visiting you. So thats a dictionary going spare for someone.

That is indeed a team that should do well. Strong in all positions so wouldn’t bet against them cleaning up.

They have always done this, I remember doing it myself upwards of seventy years ago!

With Rory at Wolves this may well mean one of Thorsell or Wells is available - dont think they can fit in both

My thoughts are the same as yours,he is not going to be dictated too by certain players.He knows how to run a show like him or not.

Very much doubt it..

This could be our team 1. Tungate 2. Lawson 3. King 4.bellego 5. Nicholls 6. Heeps 7. New euro rider. No wonder I feel worried

Not to be confused with the US Open (champion Aaron Fox), the AMA American Championship (won by Billy Janniro) or the US National Championship (also held by Billy Janniro) !!!

Too much of an individual for my liking , definitely not my idea for team racing.

It's has not been publicly announced, I think the announcement about that and other various "tweeks" to the rules is due in January. But I have had it from the horses mouth, ie Promoters and Managers of 3 different clubs that the rule is in effect.

I thought the coloured insert was the size of the engine, green 500, black 580, red 600+

Ha ha what a clown you are and i am being polite

Even a club that charges a food unit a site rent on a speedway night will not receive anything, just make more profit/trade for the food unit.

Some do it when they are (supposed to be) with an adult.

Its no surprise that Isle of Wight do that and have done for several seasons (although I don't think the child needs the paying adult).

Very pleased to see Luke Ruddick get a chance. I have been a fan since his early days at Mildenhall and he's improved season on season in the NL, with a near 1.5 jump last year. Its a massive leap from the NL to the Championship but there's no doubt he'll give it everything he's got.

Scorpians team looking good , a strong team throughout, can see the number 1 changing by first av shuffle

I`d be surprised if NB Jacobsen wasnt confirmed quite soon for return to Berwick in 2019, just a guess though. On a different subject how encouraging is it to see the continuing improvement in Ricky Ashworth. Possible para Olympian.

What is the need for doubling up to be removed now with Monday and Thursdays being used in the PL and no teams racing in the Championship on a Thursday? Surely the only problem before was riders missing matches. Now that won't be a problem, surely more meetings for riders meaning they could afford to take less of a wage per match can only be good for teams and more riders being available can only be good for teams. It's such an ill thought out idea YET AGAIN from the BSPA!

Good Idea robin les = No it would be simple to pool all the semi-final & final income & divide on a % basis between the 3 teams. What about this ??? ...................................................( don,t laugh) Top 3 to play-offs. week 1 P/O match 1 1st place team versus 3rd place team week 2 P/O match 2 2nd place team versus 3rd place team week 3 P/O match 3 1st place team versus 2nd place team Usual points awarded as in the league. So the 1st placed team gets 2 home matches,2nd gets 1 home match and the 3rd place gets a chance to get some real glory !!! 3 weeks on BT, i think it would be good to watch with teams trying to get the extra point ! I AGREE 4 teams in the play offs is Naff,and also the play offs would be like the standard league match with T Subs (got to standardise Speedway rules) the league does not use aggregate scores in the regular season. Again don,t laugh !!