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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..

Seeing as the other thread isn't really a team topic now. Mildenhall tonight announced Danny Ayres as the 1st signing for the new season.Great start

Are they announcing the school holidays for next year.!

surely somebody won the league let me think ?

Mick, you should post on here more often. Like Jonathan Chapman, you talk a lot of sense, & would be on my list if their was ever an independent ruling body.

Seems Leon Flint has also signed up with the Bandits for 2019. Gutted....!!!!

Well they haven't really otherwise there would be an age limit? Anyway.Welcome back Danny

You won the play/ off not the league.

A £2 rise for admission be it adult or concession will prove hard to find for some I fear.

I think that is a valid quote he has made AND what many many supporters have been saying on various speedway forums and pages for years.

I think i added the word "normally" to my answer Edit 2018 fixtures 18th December 2017 2017 fixtures 13th December 2016

Hard to call at the moment with only Wolves and Swindon taking any sort of shape. Maybe someone like NKI will be heading your way...

Let's wait until we see all teams line ups.

What would Nicki Pedersens average be in the Championship

Can’t wait to see the fans reaction if the team is similar to this!!!!!! And riding on a Monday night, ouch!! Could be playing games of spot the spectator!!!!!!!

Might be someone connected with the guy who had an extra leg

If that were the case for everyone, the stadiums would be empty. This forum's main occupation - often, most reasonably - is BSPA bashing. Given the ludicrous points limit that has almost certainly been forced on NL promotions against their will - Mark Phillips has made it clear that they wanted an increase in the limit, not a reduction - I suspect that many in charge of tracks at that level and their supporters will agree with some - if not most - of what Kevin Jolly said.

Correct only 2 x 2pt riders permitted per team

OMG I hope not

A hope the tell wi,,, they say he left under a big black cloud, maybe he stole an umbrella ?

If it says Championship no.1, surely it means Championship and not Premier Dave I can only think of Summers, Riss, Lawson, N Morris, Bach, Wright, Barker,MPT and yuor mate TJ (Tomas Jorgenson, not THJ or TJHughes) Dave

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

As far as I am aware, Jake Allen is a Somerset asset. After signing for us at the tail end of 2017, he was approached by a club to sign for them in '18 but he said that Scunthorpe gave him a chance in the PL so wanted to stay in 2018. After a great season in '18, he was, again, approached to sign for a club in '19 on which he again said no to stay at Scunthorpe. The dates of when he was approached, I do not know, but he was approached as will most riders. As regarding the asset system, I have seen it here & in the SS where a riders parent club, ie the one owning his registration, has 1st choice. It then goes to his last club he rode for & if they don't need him he then becomes open to offers but a club approaching him has to ask his parent club & last club before directly talking to the rider. But, as have known before, not just last year but previous years, rules are broken or manipulated.

Is it not all just all a bit pathetic to introduce this rule,just opens a can of worms.Woffy will be looking for Team now.If that’s the best they can can up with it show how pathetic the sport is run IMO.Your are negating the benefit it is meant to help young riders but letting riders who have been riding for 20 + years have a reduction NOW.

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

Much better that than having Championship clubs outvoting the Premiership at every opportunity!!

Belle Vue apparently aren't. The problem is that riders today view speedway as a full time occupation when in fact it never - apart from the very top boys - has been. Its why they all want to double up. It occasionally seems to me that promoters - and Glasgow spring very much to mind - take to the press to state how the club's existence is in jeopardy and how they are losing huge amounts of money and then go out and agree fantastic deals with riders ( I heard a couple last night that made me shake my head with disbelief). You are absolutely right about 'the same mess' , and rider demands are one reason why that is the case.

In a word no............... The biggest issue was the fact the people running the sport allowed the final to be a farce by letting an illegal rider ride. And yes it was Lynn's fault for suggesting it and an absolute face that the powers that be agreed to it

I actually quite like that. I would have it as total points scored in the 3 meetings qualify for the final. Really do like that, the team that finishes top doesn't lose out on revenue and can still run the risk of not making the Grand Final. from me