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Your girlfriend wishes you would come second

Hi SJA, This is not true. We at BSN work around the club and their own grading schedules. We don’t and never have dictated anything in regards to the running of a meeting - we are simply there to document it. We interview to fill time because there is a track grade or interval, not the opposite. Regards, Ben Duffill (BSN)

I don’t understand why the tractors are out for so long It’s everywhere you go. Clubs want fans to turn up and support the clubs yet they treat them with total disregard. It’s suppose to be a family sport yet the meeting is dragged out over nearly 3 hours for 23 mins of racing. The tractors were on track longer than the bikes. People have got work next day and kids got school so why drag the meeting out for so long. No wonder the sport is all but dead.

Evening Daniel, This is on top of gate receipts, sponsorship and TV money - so I can assure you the budget was considerably over £150,000 per annum. All the best

I wish I had a quid for every time I've seen this posted

Tomorrow we have the first meeting on the brand new speedway track in Veenoord. Photo's of the new track: https://www.facebook.com/speedway.veenoord/posts/pfbid029PNzTvsfTZhDShyznFnhUszAkiJzEZwz71ibkzQ9Zspoq22ZzRQnEdWQU2ewc6SUl Live updates: https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/722/dutch-open-speedway-veenoord.html

There is a lot of truth in your last paragraph. I've had this conversation with my mate, and if one of us doesn't go, the other probably won't unless we know there is going to be another of our dwindling group going. Little niggles, like tractor racing, not being able to hear the tannoy after being fobbed off for literally years , consistently making the track inconsistent for the first few heats, seeing the same away team 2 weeks on the trot, getting thrashed home and away,all these and more are sucking the fun out of going,to the point where I am starting to pick snd choose and I've been going to speedway since the early 70's.

Attending meetings just "for the racing" definitely delivers for me too.. The only downside is that any team sport desperately needs their followers to believe in the teams from an emotional angle.. Which hopefully then encourages plenty of repeat visits, rather than the "occasional ones" that you and I (and countless others "generic fans"), currently do.. The actual racing is as good as anything i have seen in over 50 years of following it.. If they could ever add credibility to the quality of racing then they could be on to a winner.. Hopefully one day, it may sink in, and they give it a go...

But from what I'm reading Birmingham are struggling to get a crowd and lost money last year who is gonna pay for a 7.5 rider ?? The team was built to a budget to survive, now due to fans not supporting the team, now appears some supporters want to break the bank again !!

Please can you refrain from talking sense on this forum

Watched the stream. Really good meeting with some close racing. Probably one of the best I've seen this year. Hope Drew Kemp is OK. Hoping to get over to Scunny this year if the racing is this good!

VK links here for Lublin v Gorzow: https://vk.com/video-81427162_456239540 https://vk.com/video-53550004_456241354

Because most of the tractor drivers are arrogant people who dont give a flying fig about the paying public and jsut enjoy their own little bit of glory driving thier tractors round and round and round. In the days when there was dirt on the tracks , one lap after each was deemed sufficient. Nowadays lap after lap polishing the turd every 4 heats (sometimes less) ifs somehow required. Fits in withe DELAY culture now prevalent in 21st century speedway.

You're very welcome. I am a nerd. I'm happy to own up to that well known fact. But my interest is during the meeting itself rather than preserving some sort of historic record. I like to get some view of a winning race time to assess later clashes in the meeting. It adds to my enjoyment but I don't expect everyone (anyone?) to share my view. This extends to other features such as gate stats. Last night's meeting was a particular case in point. The race wins and points scored from each gate is of interest to me and last night this played a significant part in the latter heats. Given that teams were permitted to swap gates between their allotted gates, and two gates were statistically were advantageous (3&4) both the pair of gate chosen and who started in which was of some importance. If you're really interested I can tell you who started in which gate in all races. And there speaks a proud nerd! P.S. it's "dawn", the time of day, not "Dawn", the girl's name. Sorry, I'm a pedant as well

VK link https://vk.com/video-53550004_456241353?fbclid=IwAR2T1tIDh-xVTClmqnZorbJQM4SxgqCle11wjyhfPZ0ZMIfpLQQ3y1nN5ew

Sorry, didn't mean to offend you, but the same applies for your boyfriend.

When I have been to Birmingham, it was noticeable how large a percentage of the crowd "wore the club shop".. Not large crowds in total, granted.. But it does suggest that a losing team could impact attendances quite a bit % wise if those fans in particular became disillusioned.... Many tracks have a fair % of fans who can just go along to watch the racing which can help them during a poor run of performances, as they turn up anyway.. It was also noticeable the age demographic of those in attendance proudly wearing their yellow and red, and, sadly, there will be other reasons as to their less regular visits too I would think as the years have gone by and continue to do so.. Certainly the "oldest" crowd I have seen at Speedway... Although a few will run them close.... It does certainly seem like it has been a "hard sell" for all Birmingham Promoters after the "honeymoon period" ended after a few years of their return.. You cannot knock those currently in charge for their efforts though can you?

Because they don’t get chance too. Meetings are called off on weather forecasts sometimes days before the meeting. I have been at ‘rain affected’ meetings where the main match took place, all 15 heats without issues only for the ref to decide it was too ‘dangerous’ for the second half riders to go out despite the fact all of them wanted too ! The youth of today do not get an opportunity to ride in non perfect conditions because they only get to ride on slick , bone dry tracks like they are presented with 95% of the time as that’s what’s produced for them, particularly at the one track open to them every weekend. You may have seen one very keen youth travel from Plymouth to Redcar four weeks running to hire a track with dirt on it , for private tuition on a championship standard prepared track, and it’s showing in his results, give the youth chance to ride in ALL conditions on ALL tracks. Run u-19 , U-21 ,U-24 British GP rounds at as many tracks that will host them, not one off events on one track.

I am aware that my view and experience will contrast with others but I have enjoyed my speedway visits since I started going again in 2021 ish - this year I have attended 3 meetings - 2 at Foxhall crowds were Ok about 2000 ish (maybe more) is my guess and at Sheffield last week. In all 3 the away side has won - crowds fairly decent I reckon there was 2000 maybe more at Owlerton last week too. There has been some decent racing in all particulalry when riders like Doyle Holder and Emil have been involved. There have also been some dull heats FTG as they say but that's speedway. I tend to try and ignore all the shennanigans - if you constantly look for problems you will find them - most other sports wing it and run on a whim of owners / the money men as well. I try to be a glass half full rather then empty type. Ultimnately I want to go to the meeting pay my money and go home afterwards feeling I enjoyed it - which for now I do. I remember once attending a football match at Hillsborough - the guy behind me spent all game moaning about how SH*t3 Wednesday were, the ref was bent, and everyone was an idiot, anyhoo he left with 5 minutes to go the game was 2-2 - the Owls scored a last minute penalty to win which he missed - given the above why had he bothered going if it was causing so much stress!!!

Paul called if off!! The power he has!

I must be honest Ben I think your coverage is superior to Eurosport

I rarely have any problems on the M6 from Cannock to Altrincham (A556 junction) getting to or from Belle Vue. The M6 through Walsall & Birmingham is just awful, permanently, even on a Sunday when we often go to Coventry Blaze it can be awful. The biggest problem getting home from Belle Vue on a night is if the meeting ends 21:45 or later because the M56 is often shut at 22:00 and A roads to Altrincham are not fun. There was an awful lot of tractoring, before the semi I think the entire stadium erupted when the tractor finally left the track. Track was certainly not as good as when the Aces visited a few weeks ago.

I don't think he deals very well with logic...

Read the Star today - interview with Alex Brady - but also KL suggesting they brought in Hoggard as TM so Buster can focus more on Peterborough! Don't shoot the messenger!

Many supporters talk sense, but the clowns in charge just Bury their heads in the sand and wonder why the sport is dying on its ar#e

It's about time the young kids got protection from being dropped all the time, then bringing in older journey men who have not made the grade all these seasons!! How about having a rising star at No 7 all year, and a under 24 brit at 6, and another under 24 brit in the team, bit similar to what Poland do

Charles Wright and the 3 who pick themselves... We have 3 of the worlds top 10, with two of them being absolutely top notch around their home track of Wroclaw at times this season.. Worrall would be my choice if at Vojens.. And Ellis seems to be having an injury impacted campaign... So why Wright? Wroclaw and the NSS are pretty similar in shape as both built around American Football pitches with wide, sweeping bends... And Charles does have that bit of "devil" in him when it all becomes "too close for comfort", he wont take any prisoners in those "clutch" moments of races... And you won't be passing him without having to take a risk or two. He will make sure of that. And if behind won't be scared of doing the odd "Bartek" across any of the apexes, and riding his opponent up the track... For me, it is a great opportunity to win in Poland's "backyard"... As long as we get "No 4" correct...

Also let's not forget that he was heavily involved in turning the Great Britain Speedway from also-rans to consitent medalists and World Champions!

Only way to improve is racing better riders.

how will that improve them, its no challenge at all riding against the same riders all night. If you have the best reserves at the beginning of the season that is a 20-4 point swing every meeting and the meeting is already won.

The only way NDL riders are going to improve is by bringing a heat change formula for the reserves. I'd suggest that the four reserves only race against each other in 4 heats with one start from each gate.

Yes

Another top class meeting, shame the stream kept on cutting out.

Great, thanks. Link below if anyone else is interested. https://rs.dmusport.dk/loeb/6223

Yes in this weeks Speedway Star. Things looking a lot more positive

61.03, 60.19, 60.35, 60.19, 60.91, 60.69, 60.65, 61.15, 60.85, 60.99, 61.62, 62.40, 62.31, 61.44, 61.84, 61.91, 62.43, 62.43, 62.37, 61.87, 62.19, 61.81, 62.22

Only needs to ride 6 matches (3 home, 3 away) to gain an average.

Very good points, can't wait for his reply

Can't see why they would look to replace Dan, he's hardly ridden a match for Birmingham, so not had much of a chance to prove himself.

No but support your team. They did well tonight.. Slag them off like the rest and it gives the wrong impression

He's already dragged our club down to an all time low

Absolutely! Always remember one of his interviews where he said after a World Cup and the whole gb squad were eating kebabs while he had his own food haha. That just shows had bad and unprofessional we actually were.

I just feel that if you expose any rider who doesn't ride in Poland currently and /or hasn't done much in the past they will get absolutely devoured at Wroclaw, a track where there is absolutely nowhere to hide. Ellis has been a regular on the continent for years and Brennan has quite a bit of Polish experience as well as riding BV every week. As good as the averages for Lawson, Worrall, Wright etc are in the UK I think they would be put to the slaughter. Bomber is the only other option really but I just don't see him having the speed unless he can sneak a longtrack bike in

2014 we ended up with Sneddon and Fox at reserve. From memory, I think Fox finished on 3.50. 2015 we had Clegg and Branford at reserve all year. Both were well in excess of their starting averages (Clegg 3.48, Branford 3.40). As you say, not exactly 'trump cards' but they certainly did a steady job throughout. In 2014, Steve Worrall (3.00!) and Sedgy (4.something) started at reserve. Sneddon (5.5ish) and Fox (5.00) started in the top 5 but were, unsurprisingly, overtaken.

I'm not sure it would have done any good. He'd be riding against some of the best youth riders. If anything it could knock his confidence more. Think we know what he's capable of but it's up to the professionals to figure out how to get it out of him.

It's been the rule for a little while now that a non speedway injury/illness results in a 7 day suspension

At home I'd go for r/r to cover MPT, away from home try & find a track expert. Doesn't matter greatly this week, even if they lose to Oxford still 96% sure they'd make the play-offs

As a first time visitor to the new Workington I struggled to find anything to be negative about. The layout is GREAT , elevated viewing for all spectators, a couple of seated stands , plenty of space and more than acceptable facilities for a brand new track although my wife would suggest the toilets need to be the next area for improvement. As I was ‘ involved ‘ in the after match racing I can say that the pits are enormous, plenty of room not just for the main teams but second halfers / juniors too. The staff were all keen, enthusiastic and very welcoming , from the security man at the main gate right through to the BBQ staff afterwards , although they were very overworked ! Good atmosphere and good crowd helped by sensible pricing , brilliant weather, yes, a little dusty but it’s SPEEDWAY after all. I highly recommend a visit and I will be going again. Massive congratulations to Mr. Bain, Lawson and ALL the volunteers who made this happen.

Exactly Berwick is what it is. Track was widened in 2020 we have seen some decent racing especially last season with Bomber, and we have had meetings that were not so decent but that is how it goes. Redcar & Scunthorpe are probably 2 of the tracks where you expect passing week in and out.

And this....... !!!