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Castagna is really really bad for the sport. He is misleading it in a totally wrong direction. Speedway is such a special sport - a team Sport first adn foremost - and as such is absolutey different to any other from of motorsport. That's why I am a speedway fan and couldn't care less about road racing or motocross. They ususally only have one long distance race and have to award championship points for that. Speedway has 20+ heat races, plus semi and final, were the riders EARN their points. Perfectly easy to understand. And the winner of the last race in a Gradn Prix (the final heat 23) is the winner of that particular SGP, regardless of the points total scored in all of his races during this meeting. By the way, the winner of that final race DOES actually get the most points (in that race, that is) - three points , compared to two points for second and one for the third. So what, if the rider who wins the final, has not scored the most points on aggregate from all of the races he has ridden that night, nothing wrong with that. It's perfectly fair that he does not automatically get the most points, when he has got beaten more often than another rider/riders. There is absolutely no need to award artificial points in Speedway. I hate this stupid stupid decision by the FIM. Castagna has to go. First they abandoned the hugely popular SWC and gave us a "Speedway of Nations" to fall in line with the "Motocross of Nations", "Flat Track of Nations" and "Enduro of Nations", and now they spoil the SGP by changing from a perfectly fair points scoring system to a totally unfair and unwanted artificial one. I'm fed up. What's Your next idea, Mr Castagna? Do us all a favour and please, please resign from Your position !!!

A thoughtful parent who has createdfurther opportunities for his child which will been entitled to dual nationality/freedom of movement between AUS & the UK yeah those true colours are disgusting.......sometimes there is a whole lot more to life than speedway.

I heard someone say that they thought the chicken was not free range.

Could the new points system lead to cheating ? If points from heats 1-20 dont count toward the Championship could a rider who is safe for the semi let a team sponsor mate win a race so that he also reaches the semi. It will happen.

You said that on 4th October

Castagna comes out with a load of rubbish. And a lot of poor developments for the sport under his watch

Castanga says “The main thinking for us is to harmonise our championship scoring system with other big sports events so that the winner always comes away with the most points, which will help attract and retain a wider audience for our sport.” I can't think of any other World Championship series that has 2 semis and a final, although no doubt somebody will correct me. So if you want to harmonise with "other big sports" (and that's a whole different argument as to whether Speedway is a "big sport") then award the points after 20 heats... other wise leave well alone

Yes i see that but sacking NBJ and getting Wells in!

so they have to change the scoring for SoN too then regarding qualifying, i definitely feel for Mikkelsen, with the extra wildcards it just gives more scope for riders in the World Championship to be chosen around a desk, depending on what country they are from. i love the GPs, but we need unbiased qualifying. After the final GP of the season have the challenge how they started to do it years ago, bottom 8 from GP and 8 qualifiers, top 7 going through

No rumours on potential signings yet but this is how you should treat your sponsors. http://www.leicesterspeedway.com/_mobile/news.php?extend.31567.1‬&fbclid=IwAR0Id9tOlE40LD37y1W4EqXuZFnYd1qvsaCYnoDovwigISfCmZJcdPO7Ebw

They were, because that is how they were affiliated into the world of speedway back then. New Zealanders and Australians, as much as it seems strange now had no other way of getting into the World Championships etc

Personally I wouldn't have Schlein within a hundred thousand miles of our younger riders but there you go.

Don't get me wrong, Matt certainly took his eye off the ball for a time but the decision not to replace Richie sooner was purely down to averages, availability and finance!!

Not at Poole then ?

i suppose he will now become an aussie and ditch his uk meal ticket . just . think , no more aussies in the British championship and you can water the track as much as you like .

Bet Phillip Rising doesn't agree with you ?

Quite right, nothing to do with the Scots, this is a world final we are talking about!

The Scots can’t win a referendum never mind a World Cup.

Not particularly relevant as it was seven years ago, completely different rider now.

Prices need to be dropped to compensate for the drop in standard. it’s no good dropping the standard every year and hiking up the prices. It’s all about value for money. I’d never buy a program but assume most do, so on average say it’s £20 admission for an adult. For what? To stand around for two hours watching 15 minutes of racing. The rest of the time is filled with tractor racing, an out of touch presenter waffling on about scores from the week previous which 99 percent of fans will know anyway. Music from the 70s. It’s just not the in thing anymore. speedway, in the UK at least, is a 10 pound sport at best. A lot of people value 20 quid a week and is a lot of money to them. That’s before they’ve bought a few pints, a burger, the kids drink and food etc. There is absolutely no value for money in speedway in the UK 9.9 times out of 10.

Good point, well made. Quite the charmer.

I find it quite sad when you see all the clubs having end of season events and our club don't have anything not even a rider of the year award .just shows how the interest has faded over the last couple of years

My first post here as only recently discovered speedway even though I'm in my late 40s. Coming at it from a newcomer I can see the point of concentrating on the target audience of the middle aged. However I would assume the majority of these people discovered the sport as kids so I still think kids should be targeted more. I have been going for last 3 months with my two daughters (13 and 9) and they absolutely love it. They dont understand or would be bothered that most races finish as they start from the gate. They love the smell, the roar of the engines and interacting with the riders afterwards. By the time they are older and are more aware of the politics behind the sport they will already be hooked. To a child this sport is still very exciting...as long as they know about it. I asked my eldest to bring her friend to the last meeting and they were instantly hooked too even though the races were poor.

You are 100% right. The GP series, when it was introduced, had one feature which countered the "how can a rider who has one good meeting, be considered WC?" effect. Well, what better way to prove that the WC is the most consistent rider across the season that to make every race and every point count? A 3rd in your opening ride should not be considered a bit of a slip, to be caught up later. It's 2 lost points, lost for good. And what about "I've qualified for the semis, so why try hard to win further races" under the new system? We want riders making every race meaningful don't we? Pushing for every point, not making judgements about their likelihood about their qualification for the later stages of the meeting. This is a fundamental mistake and ignores simple psychology. Think on. At Torun this year, we were following the destiny of the championship from race 1 and throughout the meeting race by race.

Was Anders Rowe ready? Was Leon Flint ready? If they're good enough, they're old enough.

I say this tongue-in-cheek! but had Chris Harris not already been signed for Brum would he have been awarded the Rebel of the season award? Very poor P.R. when you publicly sign other teams riders BEFORE the current season has officially finished.

Just after those days when Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs were "British" too?

Sure, but they could and should have retained the SWC for the major nations (let's say the top 8 or 9 countries) every other year, alternating with the SoN pairs event, which could have included all of the other minor speedway nations (maybe 15 or even more). This would have addedd much more variety to teh international speedway calendar and would surely have been much more acceptable, compared to replacing the popular SWC with not quite as popular SoN.

I’m sure you’re right but it’s marginal gains, lots of little things which would be really simple to put right could sway somebody the right way if they were umming and ahhing about weather to go. Of course the main factors are VFM, ie quality of racing, atmosphere and price.

everybody has there own opinion what is happening at Wimborne road and that how it should be . this is a forum for debate

If only the Town were as good as the Robins.

Apparently his last season in Britain before he returns to live in Australia

Just think Schlein helps out doing the no limit training schools as well doesn’t he? So he’ll be passing on his awful attitude to the younger riders.

Absolutely nothing lol! Looks like I responded to the wrong comment, I meant to respond to one asking why anyone would buy Poole Speedway! Haven't been on the forum in a while must be rusty!

Thought it was April 1st ,when I read this new scoring system.

The Thompson twins case is an interesting one as others have said they don’t 16 until late April so which clubs sign them will have to go with other 3pt riders to start the season. Also both of the twins are very intelligent with one wanting to be a Vet at some point in his life. The family are keen for them to get good formal qualifications at school so ideally they were looking at doing NL only in 2020 until exams were over in June but with the future of that league in doubt this may not be an option. Both Joe & Dan are very skilful motorcyclists and can have a good future in Speedway and I know Tai is going to help them further later in the winter once he is back and is keen to get them out to Poland at Wroclaw practising once 16 to practice with the Wroclaw juniors

No champagne, fireworks or hot showers either. Not like it’s the first time either.

What smell is that ?

They finally get the scoring system right after years of tinkering and then go and balls it up again.

My comment has nothing to do with the racing just see it as a negative step ps yes i know its his money but we give it to him in the first place

Win all your heats, finish last in your semi-final, take home 10 points...

How would we be in any way able to help, not knowing the person, nor how the hell he came to the conclusion the track was that size? This needs clarification

Ian Paterson will be opening his fabulous From Cinder To Shale private collection of speedway bikes and memorabilia on Sunday 17th November 9am-4pm at Edgefield Road, Loanhead, Edinburgh. EH20 9TB Tel: 01314400864 This collection is considered by many to be the best in the world and not to be missed.

A quick reminder for anyone who has never been to see this collection. It is well worth the visit and you won't be disappointed!

You couldn’t run a bath so stop talking out of your arse.

What you will note is, although those things have regained popularity, it isn't branded or marketed in the same way as when it was popular previously. Gin has regained popularity by targeting young drinkers, selling itself as a premium drink and coupled with exotic mixers. This is the problem with speedway. The world has moved on but the sport hasn't. Promoters idea of marketing hasn't changed since the 70s and still involves going into schools and down the local village fete. The other problem speedway faces is that is it a premium price for a spit and sawdust product. That is a hard sell in anyone's book. I think too many promoters are sitting around thinking "speedway will be next" - however, they've been doing that for the last twenty years.

Issue 94 of our retro magazine crammed with nostalgia from the 70s and 80s includes . . . GARY GUGLIELMI – exclusive interview Almost 35 years after his racing career was abruptly ended by a harsh ban and he was sentenced to prison in his native Sydney, former Australia, Coventry and Boston star Gary Guglielmi bears his heart and soul in a riveting new eight-page interview with TONY McDONALD. For the first time, we're bringing you the Full Gaz . . . 'Googy' on . . . * His ill-fated plan to smuggle drugs concealed in his speedway bike * Serving nine months in prison * Billy Sanders, his World Pairs partner * 21 years' of marriage to Judy Sanders * The massive impact and guilt of a double family suicide * Finding solace in faith and religion * Ole Olsen * Fighting Kelvin Mullarkey * His 'Gary Williams' nom de plume at Coatbridge * Finding new love * Exclusive never before seen family pictures * Plus much more . . . BIG NIGHTS: Golden Hammer Continuing his six-page review of some of the most popular domestic individual meetings, PHIL CHARD heads for Cradley Heath to reminisce about the Golden Hammer, the annual classic that was the 1977 brainchild of go-ahead Heathens boss Dan McCormick. Previous winners include Ole Olsen, Scott Autrey, Chris Morton, Kenny Carter, Hans Nielsen, Sam Ermolenko, plus home favourites Bobby Schwartz, Lance King, Erik Gundersen, Alan Grahame, Simon Cross. RIVALS: Ipswich v King's Lynn Continuing our new series revisiting club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY reviews classic matches between fierce East Anglian top flight opponents Ipswich and King's Lynn, featuring legendary skippers John Louis and Terry Betts, plus Billy Sanders, Tony Davey, Kevin Jolly, Dennis Sigalos, Michael Lee, Dave Jessup, Richard Hellsen, Mel Taylor and many others. SON OF MY FATHER: NEIL & KEN MIDDLEDITCH The Middleditches are part of the rich fabric of Poole Speedway. RICHARD BOTT catches up with 50s legend Ken Middleditch – but first a new interview with his son Neil, who has done and seen it all in a riding and management career spanning almost six decades at Wimborne Road. BACKCHAT with MARTIN ROGERS The column where readers fire questions at our lead columnist. As one of the most respected promoters and administrators of the Backtrack era, no-one is better qualified to respond to the burning issues of the 70s and 80s, This time Martin responds to John Berry's suitability as the BSPA's Director of Operations, discusses the merits of various referees, and considers whether promoters have been negligent in their contractual dealings with riders. SCOTT LAMB – exclusive interview A wholehearted trier, modest Scott Lamb admits to ANDREW SKEELS that he probably partied too much in his racing days with Edinburgh, Newcastle and Berwick and never set out to become World Champion. GLASGOW: 50 Memorable Moments DOUG NICOLSON navigates through his local club's turbulent history and multiple homes. There are honourable mentions for Tigers legends Tommy Miller, Charlie Monk, Jim McMillan, the Beatons, Steve Lawson, Kenny McKinna, Robert Nagy, etc. STOKE CHOKER Stoke's Loomer Road is the latest in a long line of speedway venues to fall victim to developers. We list all 89 British league tracks lost to the sport over the past 70 years. Plus: Obits on Clive Featherby and Ian MacDonald. Remember, we no longer sell single editions, so please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

Can't say i'm really that ar$ed about changing the scoring system. The people in charge need to concentrate on the racing. Far too many tracks provide lousy racing this year. That's the bigger issue that needs to be resolved

The Argentinian round is the only way for you brits to get a second entry to SGP! Could place a small bet that no Finnish rider ever has competed in Argentina.

If Gustix and star man agree on something I'd be very tempted to bet the house on the opposite.