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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.

There is an article re Rye House in this week's Star, confirming what has been stated by others on here. At least there seems to now be constructive dialogue between all parties

This book is excellent. It really is a fascinating read. Proves my point 100% as to why we closed in 1964 - it had nothing to do with the weather or attendances - the reasons given by the Promoters. There are a lot of very shady things went on when Sunderland opened in 1964. A lot has come out in this book that I never new about. A decent social history of Sunderland too. The Author is to be congratulated on some superb research.

I think a blind person could offer the Eurosport Speedway editor advice on which camera to show. Why show the rider 40 metres in the lead when you could "throw an Army blanket" over the other three Completely clueless.

There is no harm in ambition but the changes that have to paid for and you fans need to support the promotion and team before it’s to. Late imo

they are wanting to ride weekends in Championship 2024 all being good

BSPL site shows him to have had five meetings, though only four for the Tigers. Not sure how this is arrived at. His average is shown as 3.62 being 19 points from 21 rides, so 6 from one meeting and 4 in the rest would take him to a 4.00 figure, assuming four rides in each.

Jet ski racing!! They think you guys called it off to get the second leg hahahaha And apparently we should delay no matter how long it takes to get the second leg lol

Yes, it was discussed but I think going on my memory which is never a good thing!, that he didn't do enough meetings for that to count, so would be a 4.

Surprised anybody hung about... I was in the car park before I could hear them being announced over the PA. Why they don't come straight round after the final like in the GP's I will never understand

The presentation ceremony was a amateur looking effort with a kids football type cheap rostrum.

Ippo, Shef and Bv can spend

2nd place might be good for clubs like Lynn and Ipswich, but it's not for the Panthers. Tonight was a failure. Let's not celebrate failure.

100% Heat One.... We will see how it goes after that...

I am fairly sure he was told unequivocally not to do a fourth meeting, but ignored that advice.

Also less travelling.

No keep the Cooks together. Steve to 5.

Poole have no entitlement to the second leg so it wouldn’t matter if Glasgow rearranged at a date later than Wednesday

... and the ones that are currently used in the BL don't even last for a "single use"!

Yes and I do. Emil is not British so not comparable at all. Riders should support their home leagues, as nearly all do, if they have one, even more so if you are the world champion.