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Now you really will have to explain how it and the non announcement of the team maximises media exposure.

It's Robin's way of maximising media exposure.... which it does tbf..

I plan to listen to views and suggestions at Kent's sponsor and meet the rider evening Sunday. Not sure the format Of the meeting butcivam preparing an introduction to myself and history in the sport. I then plan to table my own suggestions briefly. Mainly being around transparency and openness. And the need for a supremo independent of any club to take overall control of decision making. Then onto and in far more detail the main 3 or 4 issues the Kent fans bring to me. For example, my personal opinion is the play offs are a necessary evil that makes clubs decent gates, and gives the fans the sense of occasion. But the feedback I am getting is that Kent fans would like them scrapped, so that is the stance I will take in the meeting. I believe the expenses not being covered is probably less about saving money, but more so to weed out the potential trouble makers. I earn little over Nat Min Wage, and assuming they put the meeting somewhere central like Brum that's gonna cost me a hundred quid plus in train fares. That's probably half my monthly desposible income so Kent fans can rest assured I am taking the whole thing very seriously. Sure it may well fall on death ears, or get ruined by gob rubbishes, BUT also it may just work and our voices do get heard. Whilst I am representing my fellow fans at kent, I fully welcome views from supporters of any club current or former.

if a few more of the chosen reps have the same attitude this could well be a very useful . however this is speedway and theres always going to be someone who wants to go against the grain . good luck with it though lets hope the BSPA finally listen to the bums on seats that keep speedway going .

There was a release that all rider's owed were paid out of the bond. Because the rider's were paid out of the bond they can no longer chase the promotion for outstanding debt. Some rumours were that Harris wage worked out more per point that Doyle's Somerset contract, if so, imo Harris was ripping off the Rye House owners and doesn't deserve any outstanding payment.

What a pity that the older (?) Duke of Edinburgh cannot do so well on the roads.

Beyond strange and a clear indication of a man who believes he is above everyone else and will always do things his way. There being NO other way to do things ( in his mind ). Nero fiddled as Rome burnt - quite a few similarities there it seems. Six months later it will be "Use it or lose it" and fans being blamed for losing interest.

Strange weird to be honest,Chapman has been the front of British speedway what for three years now??? i have seen no progress whatsoever.His communication skills are either poor or he does not grasp that supporters want to be filled in on any issue and quickly.Speedway has always had this reputation of a secret society a closed shop decision's being made and not being released.Look i am not knocking him for putting his money in but he can't sit behind that he has to be transparent on everything rules (etc).My best friend came down from Stoke on Trent and we were talking about the teams in the Prem King's Lynn was mentioned.I said they have not got a team yet he laughed he said how can you sell the club for a press day club start if you have not got a 1/7 in place.It is like going to new restaurant but not knowing what the prices and menu are ok look all the Lynn fans will know there full team by February but that does seem a strange business decision.

I keep forgetting we HAVE moved up Sue! I keep looking at our line up and thinking we’ve got a cracking Championship team and have a great chance of lifting silverware

We need to embrace social media and speedway could be groundbreaking going forward. Have a app for your mobile which you can use to fill your programme in. Still have all the editorial features and advertising. Then every race day you would be sent a reminder of the evenings fixture with all the team news. Regular updates for weather reports and even photos of the track so you can see if it is really dry !! i would have a camera person in the pits filming all through the meeting which can be streamed onto your app. Action from the pits and interviews could be watched while waiting for the next heat. You could have questions posed like guess the score of the next heat or who would you put in as a tactical ? Youngsters are not going to come in it’s present form as there are too many delays between races.

I am gutted with the situation at Workington.. I love my team very much. BUT I actually find myself not gutted for me as a fan but for the 7 lads who would have worn the big C with pride. It is a shame it ended this way for all concerned especially Laura & Jacko who bleed Workington speedway. As a loyal fan I will however endeavour in anyway I can along with my fellow die hards to keep the Comets memory alive in 2019 and we will do our best to help the Comets rise again however we can. #keepthefaith #Cometswillriseagain

So he (they) is correct in the way of doing things and all others haven't a clue? Bit of a nonsense tbf.

Totally agree with you. 15 minutes of action is not great value for money especially when you are now paying circa £20 plus plus a meeting. Will promoters listen...NO....I know speedway has many problems to solve...and the BSPA 'head in the sand' approach has made things much worse. I have supported speedway since the 1970's and seen many ups and downs but I have never known the sport to be in such a terminal mess....sad to say but the calibre and acumen of todays promoters is at an all time low and the current BSPA management i.e. Chapman, Godfrey & Co are frankly clueless.....they have been incapable of getting a grip on the real issues and consequently speedway is effectively bust and the BSPA are at fault and only have themselves to blame. Sadly 2019 will see more clubs going under more riders out of a job...more supporters loosing their clubs...I appreciate this may be seen by some as a doom and gloom scenario but look at the conclusive evidence...the BSPA are driving our sport over a cliff blindfolded...this is a realistic view of todays speedway.

This discussion seems to pop up every winter, personally I’m not bothered when riders are announced as long as we know by March but I can see the logic of revealing riders names one by one across several weeks in order to keep speedway in the news and in the minds of those people who don’t use forums and think about the sport 24/7. Everyone on here knows the team anyway so it’s really for the benefit of others. FWIW on paper I think we are going to be battling for 4th with two or three others but last season showed how inaccurate predictions can be

SOME good thoughts there. In my opinion one of the things that speedway needs to do to both attract and keep new fans especially is providing 'something to do' during the two hours when there isn't any actual racing. And proposals like those suggested above don't have to cost a fortune.

keep the faith perhaps buster will buy ryehouse for 2020

Not the only reason. There’s simply more on offer these days. There were only 3 TV channels in 1973, now there are hundreds, along with Netflix etc. Many kids would rather stay at home gaming.

Have Faith you Swindon fans, the three wise men will deliver your super new track and stadium. Has anyone seen that wheelbarrow?

****Sneaks in***** I like Chris Harris *****Sneaks out again**** Thinks better of it and sneaks back in again... I'm not sure what to think, I like Chris, he gave me one of the most exciting nights ever (now now, I mean his win at Cardiff!) but I am not sure the balance is quite right. However, there have been years where I have thought we would really get somewhere and didn't and other years where I thought we wouldn't and did so my track record is not exactly brilliant. Personally I think my brain is still stuck on the suddenness of the move up and it is struggling to see past that.

Hope Busters not in a Dreamlike with the Rolls Royce engines, as they are so bad they have to fly within a certain range of a landing strip, Buster and engines seem to have a bad relationship

To be honest if we don’t have NKI as back up to Robert I would be quite happy to see the following team at kings Lynn this year. 1 Robert Lambert 2 Lewis Kerr 3 Erik Riss 4 TJ 5 Ty Proctor 6 MPT 7 Kasper Andersen i think this team adds up to 42.42 and while we probably wouldn’t win the league we would be very competitive especially at home. In my opinion every rider has the potential to up their average and I would be supporting a team of kings Lynn riders not riders who are here this year and gone the next. The 1-7 I’ve quoted would definitely ride as a TEAM and do the stars proud this season.

Hi Chris , if you are interested I would be willing to pick you up from Peterborough train station and take you back there after meeting(s) at the showground . I don't want anything for this just trying to get you some speedway action , if you are interested please pm me and we can get something sorted.

You try reading Mason Campton article and tell me again that it's harder on the fans than the riders. I have full sympathy for the workington loyals. But I'm sorry, nothing compares to losing a job or in Campton case, a career.

Well if you want to win it you'l have to get passed us ..

Steady, you will soon be accused of moaning...… you know we aren't allowed to voice an adverse opinions....

Not sure I quite follow the logic here, presumably Harris would negotiate his own contract with the Rye House promotion so well done to him for getting a good contract. You might want to ask why the Rye house promotion were so daft to agree to a contract they weren't able to afford, presumably Nicholls, Kasprazak and co had equally lucrative contract, little wonder then that Rye House found themselves in the mess they did.

First improve the core product, so that 75% of it is not so boring. Riders not making any effort if they fail to make the gate. We know how difficult it is to pass nut that does not make it OK to not bother at all. People might criticise Chris Harris but at least he makes an effort 50% or more of the time, to turn a heat into a race.

Can Kings Lynn afford him though or would they sign him and realise afterwards that he was too expensive just like Buster has done at Peterborough with Harris, alienating fans and Ged Rathbone who is rumoured to be washing his hands of Panthers and walking away.

Isn't that because you have to pay to watch it on tv now.That could be the reason more money is being spent on watching live sport.

Surely this has always been the same through recent history, even when speedway was flourishing. 15 minutes of action ,nobody seems put off going to Cardiff for 23 minutes of action. People go to watch sport for the core action not the bells and whistles in between . How many fans watch the half time entertainment at Premier League football, during the Masters snooker final interval fans could stare at an empty table, it doesn't put people off going ,they go for the main event. The first port of call must be to attract supporters on the back of the core product.

any chance Scott Nicholls may turn up at Kings Lynn, I know he isn't the rider he was but well worth his current average, can't believe he hasn't got a ride in the premiership.

Solid looking to me ,experience to quick young guns ,time can only tell ✊

i'm afraid it's too late to turn back the clocks now , modern metalurgy and machining capability would mean ,not much effort to make a 2 valve just a revvy and fast , and just as expensive in parts to keep servicing

Surely that would make far too much sense. Why save a team from extinction when he can buy a team (Ipswich) that wasn't up for sale.

Why are you so convinced that a modern day two valve would be so much cheaper to maintain? The two extra valves, spring and seats aren't going to have a major impact on the cost and I just can't see the logic of your argument for 2v engines.

It's easy to go off topic, when talking about such great riders!

It was 1996 when the new track was laid.

There are none so blind as those that will not see.....

You obviously cant see or are not prepared to accept that responsibility may lay with Ged......

I don't think it's a horrendous team, yes on paper it does not look the strongest but I am happy to give them a chance before judging them. How many will up their average and how many will drop? Harris - Drop Lawson - Up King - Drop Pieszczek - Up Bellego - No Idea :) Heeps - Up Allen - Up

He ended up with a decent Premiership average (they don't lie) and his class will shine through ...have faith brotha he is a top class performer and i'm sure will give plenty of entertainment, but I guess you are a pint "half empty" kind of guy

Good call... I've said before, Speedway must pay out Millions to riders yet gets zero publicity to that effect..... The average Premiership club must pay a minimum £20k to riders for both meetings they have to pay out from their home match.. Thats on crowds of circa 1200-1500... Maybe advertise that £20k as prize money for an individual event with proper advertising and more than 1500 will attend? Throw in any current team sponsorship into the prize money to increase the prize fund.. Give all 16 riders an average of £1250 each and maybe they could be charged £250 to enter with the four finalists getting the £4K collected on a decreasing scale from the winner to fourth.. If you can generate a 3k crowd then double the prize fund which can only grow further interest.. Bottom line is. It cannot deliver a credible team sport currently so why bother keep flogging that dying horse? Maybe different promoters could also use the same track? Newcomers to Speedway doing one off meetings with fresh ideas? Less meetings maybe, but well marketed and credible, would be much more beneficial than what we have at present.. The racing can be great to watch, as good as in any era, so sell that...

Sadly that boat sailed many years ago..... The years of stagnation, caused to a large extent, by the leadership of self-serving intellectual pygmies whose sole interest has been the protection of their own business, rather than doing what's best for the sport, has left the patient in critical if not terminal care. I fear even if someone who has the composite wisdom and experience of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Larry Page were found to be a CEO, they would, in all probability, be "flogging a dead horse", and in any event wouldn't be listened to by the "we know best" attitude of the little businessman who apparently lead and direct the sport.

I would have rather stayed in the championship without the dictator being involved. BSPA chairman running 3 out of the 7 league teams , how can that be justified.

To me, one of the main reason the sport has lost the wide appeal it once enjoyed, is the stereo type rules implemented to eliminates the unexpected from happening. Does it matter if a lesser rider anticipates the start, it makes for better racing, Years ago we had riders pushing the tapes, we had riders trying to out think the ref, we had the ref doing his best to catch the riders moving back, it all added to the occasion. All we get now is stereo type races where riders are not allowed to move or show any initiatives. Only allowing for the best riders to win..... Once, every race had an angle to it , each could offer a surprise when an unexpected rider could win... Why do we need strict rules on gate positions, why not let the team choice who rides where, Where have all the character gone??? Once upon a time every team had a showman, a rider or manager who the fans cold relate with. Now we have nothing, just robotic riders going round and round, not even bothered if they win or not... They mustn't do this , they mustn't do that, its little wonder the sport is dying...

It is.If your happy fair enough,the dwindling crowds suggest not everybody seems to have the same view.

Main points from Fans Forum - very well attended by supporters, riders, sponsors and volunteers: Wightlink continue and expand sponsorship. Admission prices (including season tickets) held at 2018 levels Press and practice date to be advised once Eastbourne fixtures known. First meeting Thursday 11 April - Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy Second meeting Tuesday 16 April described as a ‘special’ meeting for which Thursday 18 April is reserved should the Tuesday be rained off. Details very soon. Wizards will continue in 2019 in the SDL. Plenty of other open discussion on various matters including the NL AGM outcome and implications, ongoing financial stability, award spin-off’s, sponsorship, My First Skid, social media and profile.

Actually,it was just Shawn,Kelly wasn't with us then.From what I read,Shawn did some excellent team riding that night ! Sheffield's American's in this time period were, Tommy Morley several meetings in mid 1979 Shawn late 1980/88 Kelly 86/88 Randy Green mid 1988 Dougie Wyer recommended the then Sheffield Management in the late 70's to give a young unknown American called Bruce Penhall a go,they didn't... Another rider linked for 1982 or 1983 was Keith Crisco,I think he was with Birmingham?

I think that if you had taken the time to follow, read fully, and digest what has been stated by the Save Coventry Group on this issue you would understand that they don't expect this to be easy. They aren't making any promises or bold statements , but anyone with common sense can see that they have their plan and they are working extremely hard to save the stadium from the developers. I'm sure they are fully aware of all the possible pitfalls yet continue to do their best to secure a future for speedway/stocks.