Halifaxtiger

Its not my view that Redcar can't stage the meeting or indeed make a reasonable success of it - I just don't think that the facilities at STMP match EOES in any way at all. To me, the last two seasons Fours have been a fantastic advert for speedway so I simply wouldn't have changed it and would have gone a long way to ensuring that this years event was staged at Peterborough. It seems rather pathetic to me - and indicative (apparently) of the way that certain members of the BSPA put their own private grievances above the wishes of the paying fan - that it is not. I have seen some good racing at Redcar - indeed, it used to be one of my favourite tracks until Havelock got hold of it. Things improved in 2017 but the quality of the speedway there is still light years away from that at Peterborough. My own view is that shared events should be allocated on the basis of all round success, nothing more. That is about both the financial rewards off track and feedback from fans about the meeting itself. Do a good job, get it back. Don't and lose it.

Literally everything. I am struggling to think of one single aspect of STMP that makes it a better stadium to hold a national event than EOES. This isn't a criticism of Redcar because it is a most unfair comparison - there are few that can match Peterborough. Speaking personally, what counts is the quality of the racing. I stand to be corrected, but what I have seen at Redcar over the last few seasons leads me to believe that it is likely that this years Fours won't hold a candle to the superb speedway seen in 2016 & 2017.

I am surprised but I am also naïve. If an event is a huge success on and off track you'd think you would do everything not to change it. No disrespect to Redcar, but in almost every aspect it is inferior to Peterborough for holding an event of this nature.

As good as Peterborough ? Not in my recent experience. Redcar have something serious to match here. The Fours meetings over the last two seasons at the Showground have been nothing less than brilliant and I am genuinely surprised that this meeting has been moved.

Of course they should. To me, its a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

If you buy a day ticket for the main racing only, its £28 (or £34 on the gate). That's not quite so good. You're right, though - just because something isn't comparatively expensive doesn't mean it is value for money and, in many cases, speedway does fall down there. I went to the Belle Vue/Wolverhampton TV match last season and, basically, everything was just bang on. A reasonably close result, some fantastic racing, an Aces win - we even had Chase the Ace doing a 'Staying Alive' dance. I paid £10 but even at the usual £17 it would easily have been worth every penny. All too often, though, we have crap tracks, ridiculous, unnecessary delays, poor presentation and riders who can't be bothered. All that has to be addressed, and soon.

According to the Office for National Statistics, that's not true. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/bulletins/nowcastinghouseholdincomeintheuk/financialyearending2017 They say that the median retired household's income is £22,400, that of a non retired household is £29,300 (the equivalent mean is £26,347 and £34,363). That's about 30% lower. Having said that, the gap in the last 10 years has narrowed significantly. While non retired household incomes have remained the same, retired households have increased by almost 25% . To me, that means you have a point and don't deserve the abuse thrown in your direction simply for raising this issue. Until, however, those two figures match each other then I think the case for the discount is justified, quite aside from the fact that certainly some of my retired friends would stop going if speedway did away with that reduction and that's regardless of the income they receive. There are a lot of retired people that go to speedway - although the proportion is nothing like what you have made it out to be - and the sport simply can't afford to risk losing them.

At Belle Vue he will see at least 4 of the World's top riders, including the World Champion. I suppose he could go to Crewe Alexandra instead to watch league 2 football. £9.50 entrance. Speedway isn't expensive compared to other sports.

I really don't see why it can't be an extreme sport and a family one. The two aren't incompatible. I see no reason why a family wouldn't go to something 'mad, bad and dangerous' (brilliant description, by the way). I might be the odd one out but other motor sport leaves me cold.

I agree. Yes, he's complained a bit but its hardly new and probably represents what most riders think. Its hardly damning stuff.

When Belle Vue dropped the piece to £10 for the TV match against Wolverhampton last year they got one of their biggest attendance of the season - the grandstand was packed. However, that doesn't mean it would happen every week and experience suggests that you are absolutely right - the price drop isn't compensated for by the increase in attendances.

Aces High is about bang on. Bickley is very smooth - looks like he's riding an armchair. Bewley looks less controlled, more bull in a china shop.

The trick in beating the points limit is getting a team of riders who can improve their averages. With the possible exception of Klindt, I can see the entire Workington team doing that. Having seen him ride many times last season and knowing just how good he is I suspect the biggest improvement will come from Bickley.

Of course we do can something about them. Whether they need work permits or not, no club is forced to sign them instead of a British rider. Cameron Heeps requires a work permit and does not have British parents. The only reason he got a 3.00 average was one of the NL's notorious bent deals involving the BSPA, Mildenhall, Ipswich & Rye House. I completely agree about putting British lads first. The question is why is it the case that so many clubs do not do that (and I genuinely don't know the answer) ? I can see why Workington are keeping Campton this season but if you had asked me at the beginning of 2017 you might have got a very different answer.

Indeed he did, and many others besides. The point being made was that in a race that he was unlikely to beat Schlein or King, yet he did it. What you're looking at is last (or previous) seasons performances. To me, building a side is all about potential and that Workington team has a lot. Even Klindt, on his day, can beat anyone. Besides which, having seen him attack the NSS track I can't wait to see Bewley on those big bends.

It isn't just about Aussies, though, is it ? Its 'foreign dross' , not 'Aussie dross'. If you count up the numbers, I think there are about a dozen others who have been here for a couple of seasons at least and are still under 7 - Cameron Heeps, for example, will be starting his 8th consecutive season in British Speedway in 2018 and he's still under 7.00. Yes, that's what he has said - although whether its a reasonable expectation for a rider of Jacobs age and ability to get a doubling up role is questionable. Perhaps Perks would be a better example. He can't get a place anywhere.

I'm not a Workington supporter but I think that's good team, simply because it has a huge amount of potential. Klindt aside, the whole of that Workington team can improve their averages, with Bickley, Bewley & Proctor looking most likely. By the way, Proctor beat both King & Schlein at Derwent Park last season.

No, they haven't. Personally, I think your arguments in favour of employing British riders are more persuasive - and this isn't just about Mason Campton. To me, the problem is less about the asset system and more about doubling up. Restrict the number of riders that can do so and its likely that both Jacobs and Ellis Perks would have found at least one team place. Speaking of Campton , having watched him last season of the Workington riders that finished 2017 he was the first one I would have named in the team this year. His average increased by over a point in 2017 and he looked a far better rider both home and away.

While I very much see your point here, you have to ask why 'foreign dross' is preferred to British riders.

It isn't, but you could do it in the interval (if you have one) instead. Personally, I loathe intervals but if there is some form of attraction it makes them slightly more tolerable. Isle of Wight have a kids bike race. All lined up at the tapes with their helmets on to rocket round, and they even have handicaps for some of the older competitors. I still would prefer to get on with the meeting but I have no reason to doubt Barry Bishop when he told me that that is why some of the youngsters are actually there, the speedway coming a distant second. Better that than standing around in the freezing cold for 20 minutes as I did at Birmingham a couple of seasons back.

I did a week on the Isle of Wight last year. Seeing the youngsters at the My First Skid sessions, watching their faces as Barry Bishop & I staged a mock race on stationary machines with them on the saddle at a show and seeing them line up at the tapes with their push bikes to do a lap of the track at the interval suggests to me you might just be wrong there. Two adults and as many children as you like is £24 on the Island. Not sure you could do the cinema or the theatre for the same. Your experience as a 7 year old (and I had the same) can most definitely be repeated today. Motor bikes will always have an attraction for children, its just a question of gearing everything up to give the nippers the best night out they can have. Its worth a try, surely, for your children to have that sense of excitement that you had ? Beats swimming, doesn't it ?

I think you might be wrong about Jensen & Bach. They're better than those averages. As to the other 4, I think you are right. Cutting back on fixtures this season but have just spoken to my chauffeur about our 2018 journeys to the Wild West. Wouldn't be the same without a few trips up to Dodge City.

Things don't change. In 1948 there were 28 stand alone tracks. In 1968, 28. In 1988, 27. In 2018, 28.

He succeeded

It would be extremely surprising if Workington were paying out more money than Glasgow could afford.