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Very poorly worded insensitive post. A bit like posting "Happy Birthday to Fred West - For all his faults, he laid a nice patio"

Some really good shouts on here and I'd just like to add Tony Davey. Only started riding late 1970, had a handful of matches at the tail end of the season to average 3.38. On to 1971, he achieved in his first six matches scores of 15-5 (away), 15-5 (a) + track record, 12-4 (h) + T/R, paid 14-5(a), 15-5 (h) 9-4 (h) plus a fall. Ended the season on 9.93, with 9 full and three paid max, finishing 7th in the overall averages. What could have been but for the terrible hand injury the following year....

Apart from some rather dubious birth qualifications, they stick to their national side, rather than playing for all of them during the course of the season.

I visited his grave some years ago when pasing by and I have to say when standing over it I felt nothing but contempt for him.

...and then achieved an average of 9 plus in his debut year in Division One and qualified for that year's World Final.

Dean standing was a excellent heat leader for Ipswich in the national league in 89 and 90 and I think he was reluctant to go into the top league when Ipswich went upon 91. Ended up going to Stoke and had a torrid time before signing for Swindon and I think he retired. extremely stylish rider. Now living in Australia

Wasn't it part of the contract that Sky demanded that the "top riders" had to ride over here? Speaking to one now ex promoter at the time, a rather large portion of the "Sky money" pretty much got swallowed up by his "World Class" top rider.. So much money dripped through so many fingers, with the end result? The World Class riders 'effed off' to more lucrative pastures new, and the huge Sky investment left zero legacy for the sport from which to grow.. Amazingly ludicrous really....

Indeed. In John Berry's first book he stated how he rated Tony Davey higher than Peter Collins. The rules in 1971 apparently precluded Division 2 riders from partaking in Division 1 unless they had a tie-up with a Division 1 club. Of course, PC was at Belle Vue, John Louis at Newport, Malcolm Shakespeare at Leicester... the list was probably a little longer than that. When it came to the first match, JB said that Davey was a complete bundle of nerves never having ridden at that level before. Things didn't improve as both Olle Nygren and Alan Sage were excluded from the first heat for tape breaking. Then came Heat 2 and the awful crash... A classic case of 'What might have been'.

I like Jorgensen but he is not a 9 point man!! Aarnio and Auty are only going down not up... also not seeing the uplift from Palin others are seeing i dont think hes one of the strongest rising stars and think he will do well to average between 3.5-4.0

Did you mean the STANDARD of speedway has deteriorated :-) Supporter of New Cross, West Ham, Wimbledon, Hackney, Crayford, Canterbury, Arena Essex, Rye House speedway clubs. What's there to whinge about ??

Kelvin gets it right...

John Louis averaged 8.74 in his debut year, then up to 11.31 in his second.

I'm probably being thick, but I don't get what you are saying. Aside of what befell Kenny and Pam, he was still a great rider and sounds like, had he lived, he would be 60. Maybe not a celebration, but moreover, a fact.

The “boat” is defined in the speedway regulations. The 2020 regs - probably also the 2021 regs too - at 10.2.3c) say that a rider who has been or is eligible to ride in the NDL and has not represented an international body other than the ACU is eligible for a 2.5% reduction. So my reading is: Bunyan doesn’t count as he’s retired No to Wells, Campos and Schlein If BWD or Terry-Daley have ever ridden for Motorcycling New Zealand (or any governing body other than ACU) then they won’t get a discount.

Every track has some home track advantage although it clearly varies from track to track. Belle Vue is no different.

I think a lot of people are living under a cloud at the moment. When the sun breaks through, their mood will lighten. Hopefully a Covid free summer will bring some optimism back.

Its difficult to tell how far a rider can go. Rob was a useful reserve at Lakeside butfor some reason suffered a loss of form / confidence so gave speedway a miss for a while, and concentrated on continental grass tracks. Jon Cook then got him back to Lakeside as a British 3-pointer which seemed to be a steal because his average was down due to previous loss of form. However the comeback never really worked, he never really got back in the groove and retired for good. I think he could have dropped down to the lower league and done ok but last time I spoke to him he was doing happy enough doing continental grass tracks and apparently making it pay so had no real desire to return to speedway. The thing is Rob was never a full time speedway rider and always had another job laying gas pipes or something and its always hard to combine two jobs and still do well. I suppose on grass tracks he can do his day job then focus on his racing at weekends. If he was full time speedway I guess he could have been a useful top league second string or lower league heatleader but I wouldn't have thought international class, but who knows.

So pleased that they are holding this meeting. over sixty years ago when he came to Coventry he became my favourite rider from his very first meeting, he was unique, as I believe he was the first Polish rider in a UK team, he cheerfully signed an autograph for me, smiled at everybody and was a live wire on the track, and a brilliant rider. It was a sad day when he left the Bees but he has always been remembered. Thoughts will be with his family, friends and everybody in Poland today. Hopefully a Zyto style entertaining meeting as fitting tribute. A brilliant way to kick off the season

This forum is a hotbed for ex fans unfortunately .....

there certainly seems to be a shortage of optimists. Me, I think we're in for a good season and I'm pleased so many young Brits are getting a go.

KT and NP are employed by BSI to provide commentary on the world feed from the SGPs. Not by BT.

This suggests that he has withdrawn from his Swedish and Danish commitments to ride for Lynn and Brum; http://www.kingslynn-speedway.com/_mobile/news.php?extend.31057

With there having been a season hiatus I was thinking about which riders might make a massive improvement in average in 2021. Then got wondering about historically which rider has improved their starting average by the most by the end of the season. [excluding assessed starting averages] I recall Mark Thorpe almost doubling his average in c1991. He'd had two average seasons in admittedly average Diamonds teams, averaging about five and had even been dropped for one match iirc. By all accounts he was only handed a team place in 1991 because his average fit. Starting at reserve with Scott Lamb, I think, he was lightening out of the starts and never looked back, ending the season close to a ten average. Anyone else turned from reserve to #1 in the course of a season?

Fairly similar to his reported comments in the Speedway Star this week. I'm honestly not sure how or why Castagna thinks speedway is somehow exempt from the Wada ban; however, unlike the Ice Speedway World Final, it is hardly as if alternative venues do not exist, or alternatively the option of running one less GP.

Links for tomorrow in order of best at the top https://sport.tvp.pl/52992339/kryterium-asow-2021-zuzel-w-bydgoszczy-transmisja-na-zywo-online-live-stream http://spedway.ucoz.lv/ go full screen and then press the little square with the 3 lines in it- their other channels come up at the bottom and click on TVP Sport. http://www.drhtv.com.pl/drhtv-1.html http://www.maniak.tv/mk10

Regardless of his talents on a speedway bike, for Speedway GB’s press office to eulogise a man who murdered his wife, then orphaned his children by killing himself is, in my opinion, the height of bad taste. And what sort of “kind wishes” are they expressing?

I see what you mean. It hasn't been properly thought through. Definitely could have been better worded. Not sure it's disgusting or disgraceful, in my opinion.

Michael Lee maybe, who knows his stats? Ended up on 9.22 in 76 and 10.64 in 77 so Wikipedia tells me ....

Think Rob was one of the lads who came into Speedway with plenty of Grass track experience so in the lower leagues looked to be very talented immediately then as he moved up the levels it became harder to impress. Very decent rider but not that extra little bit that makes them into international stars in my opinion. Right little chav at 16 but now matured and been riding Flat track for a couple of years and a good lad to have around, wouldn't be surprised to see him in the top 3 of the British Championships over the next couple of years. Think he would get dispensation to ride a 600 if he returned to Speedway as he is carrying a fair bit of extra padding around these days

If that is the case then probably over 80% of riders in the Championship are entitled to a reduction.

Yes, if I recall Lee was a much heralded youngster who struggled for a couple of seasons but was given time and probably went from #7 to heat leader in a season in the 2nd tier. Going on to be a GP rider. An excellent example of the benefit of giving young riders time to develop. I always assume if I rider isn't doing a Peter Collins, Michael Lee or Kenny Carter in their first season then they won't make the International stage but it's just not the case. Of course Mauger himself. Was only ever top man around Newcastle but by all accounts was out of his depth as a youngster at Wimbledon. Not sure of the league configurations back then though.

I don’t disagree with the sentiment but for some context Riss is a club asset who rode the previous couple of seasons, plus as Daniel says every other team has signed a foreign rider who fills a Lawson size hole. Plus do we even know if he wants to do PL after being let go by Sheffield? So not the greatest comment from you in isolation really.

I think there has to be a correlation. Wasn't it around that time, mid 80's, when there was controversy about allowing British riders to drop down into the National League? That's drop down not double down! So the likes of Gordon Kennett, Dave Jessup and Les Collins could all join NL teams despite having been world finalists (podiums) not much earlier. Imagine that. Going off thread, but it's why I've always said foreign riders should never drop below their assessed average for team building. And that assessed average shouldn't ever be as low as four as it is now.

He did a few meetings at the tail end if 2008 in the NL and some individuals presumably when he turned 16 but his first full season was for Lynn in 2009 when he roughly doubled his average from 5 to 10.

Dean Standing increased his average from 1.21 in 1985 to 7.06 in 1986.

Whinging bunch of Muppets....... As Statler & Waldorf would say.. (quoting Dickens) ... Speedway: It sums up the best of times and the worst of times! For me, standing on the spectator side of the fence it's a sport. Go the other side and it's a business and sadly not the greatest of business models. It's like selling diesel cars, the car works well but it's future is less than bright

yes two pointers I guess. Then ending the season as eight pointers. That Poole era in the 2nd division was a convey belt for Australasians. plenty of examples of two point Aussies in the Diamonds ranks during the National League era. No need to develop local talent back then. Plenty went from assessed two to second string in their first season then heat leader in their third. Hunter and Bargh (and others) were just before my time and missed out on seeing Shane Bowes progress when the Diamonds closed.

I was aware that he'd lost his life but was never sure if it was speedway related. I remember seeing Boxall against the Gems and he looked like a huge talent. I think he ended up signing for the Diamonds as #1 which I think is where it all started to go wrong. Plenty of example around that time of talented kids who didn't get any guidance or have the resources to progress. Let's hope there's some assistance for the current crop.

If I recall the three Aussies were all allocated very low assessed averages when they started their British careers?

ah yes I recall Dugard, Havelock and Silver emerging at the same time. He was on a steep upward curve. World Finalist by 1990!!! 2nd season?? Remember seeing him at Brough in his first season. Scary but quick. Was always going to be a massive talent. yes. What about that group of Aussies. Wiltshire, Adams and Boyce all around the same time after a lean spell. All massive talents For some reason I don't ever recall seeing Mear ride live. Was he mostly top flight at Essex? Didn't he attempt a comeback at one point? Could he have gone on to have been international class?

It is true of a surprising number on this forum, but not all of us.

You would think that in a global pandemic that can still restrict travel, it would have been the more sensible option too...

Link for today - 2pm UK time

Darcy Ward in 2009.

IMO Leicester look by far the best side to me. I know its not done on paper but jesus compared to other clubs they look strong. Douglas, Morris, Howarth, Proctor and Bates is one hell of a top5.

One can't deny that the status of speedway in this country has deteriorated but there are plenty of manics on here. But I guess if speedway is all you've got to be depressed about you're probably not doing too bad.

It's a lot more justifiable than Jason Crumps average reduction this year.

Extract " ...missed the latter half of the campaign through injury and underwent surgery on his shoulder. Whilst racing in New Zealand he has still been struggling with the pain, although managed to retain his New Zealand Solo Title and the New Zealand Grand Prix championship" Doesn't seem to me he has missed a season and a half.... Rode in and retained his National title. So he made a successful return but subsequently decided to rest again. He has ridden since too No reduction of any amount is justifiable

The biggest missed opportunity British Speedway had was when Sky got involved in 1999. They had the perfect opportunity to put together a proper business plan to invest the money into a proper structure to give it a solid foundation to build on and take the sport forward. But sadly, self interest got in the way.

Who cares who wins or gets the wooden spoon. As long as we get a season and we see the back of this rotten virus ,we are all winners.