Halifaxtiger

Jayne Moss put an excellent post on about NL clubs and assets a while ago and although I cannot remember it all she said that it is very much a double edge sword.

The problem with that is that it allows promotions to blame fans for not going no matter how bad the product is and do the same when they close. The fact is for an awful lot of fans bad speedway is not better than no speedway, because after being treated as fools, taken for granted, watching crap teams on dreadful tracks in filthy, decrepit stadiums and being subject to abuse and vicious criticism, they simply decide its not worth it any more and stop going. A significant percentage of the thousands that no longer attend fall into that category. I went to 74 meetings at 22 tracks last season and spent a huge amount of money watching the sport, but there's one track I refuse to go to because of the way I was treated there. If they close, I won't miss them and there's no way on earth I will stomach being blamed for that. I don't want to see any track close. The very real prospect of the loss of a track like Workington, where they put on a good show every week, is an awful prospect to contemplate. But there simply must be a duty on promotions out there to ensure that the product is as good as it can be (as you would in any business) and 'bad speedway is better than no speedway' allows them to cop out of that.

True, but that could apply to quite a few others. Great track, great racing, great people. Needs a bit more getting out there and spreading the word - the Lake District is as big a tourist area as anywhere - but otherwise they don't do a lot wrong.

There's no question that Workington had financial difficulties last season as they were well documented. On occasion, gates were disastrous and I (and I suspect many others) feared for 2018. Change of nights is a gamble but it isn't a big one. There are genuine - and reasonable - concerns that locals will stay in to watch Cook on a Saturday night rather than go to Derwent Park and there was a chance that gates might improve on a Friday. They - once or twice - couldn't have been much worse. As SCB has said, its difficult to see how Glasgow - who changed from Sunday to Saturday only last season - and Scunthorpe - who decided Friday's didn't work a couple of years ago - got priority over the Comets. The only good thing is my driver couldn't come up on a Friday so I retain my lift. Workington is one of my very favourite destinations

I wonder what the criteria are for change of night. Given that Glasgow changed last season and Workington have seniority over Scunthorpe, I'd say the Comets should have priority.

I very much hope I am wrong, but I suspect there maybe a doubt over Plymouth.

I think teams will have a choice of Monday or Wednesday to run their home meetings. Thursday-Sunday for the Championship. 7 home league meetings plus KO Cup ? Would that really be enough for the fans ? More importantly, (perhaps) would it be enough to pay the rent ?

Looks like the Comets are back. Fantastic news, more trips to Cumbria on a Saturday with the mad chauffeur

Somerset (along with Leicester & Rye House) will have to switch whether it is Wednesday or Thursday.

I think it is more likely to Monday & Wednesday for Premiership clubs. If it is Wednesday only Swindon and King's Lynn (who rode on Wednesday for years anyway) will need to change. If it is Thursday, Poole, Redcar, Sheffield & Ipswich will. Having said that, it will depend on stadium availability.

Its quite ironic that there are those who criticise British Speedway for owing riders money yet point to Polish Speedway as the way forward. They aren't that much different where that is concerned, nor are Sweden. The huge amount owed by Indianerna to the likes of Lindgren & Iversen from 2016 is a very good example.

I think there would be very little and what there was would overwhelmed by the pleasure of most seeing him back where he belongs. Chris Morton is (with Peter Collins) Belle Vue's greatest ever rider. He holds the club points and appearance records and was capped 128 times for England, captaining his country on many occasions. He was a world champion at pairs and team levels and a top rider in the world's best league for 15 seasons - a record matched by very few indeed. His service to the Aces doesn't end there. The NSS is a world class stadium with a world class racing track. Many on here were sceptical, cynical, critical and even abusive about whether it would ever be built - as were some at the highest levels of the sport - but it was, and its existence is largely down to Chris Morton (and David Gordon). Most (if not all) will recognise his contribution to the Aces and welcome him back.

Another excellent 'point of view' Phil. As I said before, lets have some more. As you rightly say, David Gordon is fully entitled to have the truth of the matter disclosed. Clearly, MCC don't want that and its not difficult to reason why. I particularly agreed with your view regarding Chris Morton - Belle Vue's all time highest points scorer and appearance maker, a World Champion at team and pairs level and a consistent top performer at the highest level for 15 years. I don't know the extent of how what happened has affected his private and personal circumstances but there should always be a role for him at NSS. Criticise Gordon & Morton as much as you like, their legacy for me is a fantastic purpose built speedway stadium with an equally fantastic racing track.

I don't think they are 'slagging off' Peter Collins so much as his view on this particular issue. As Orion has correctly said, just because someone is a legend in speedway doesn't mean that any remark that they make or view that they hold must be exempt from criticism. Phil Rising's excellent piece in speedway star clearly states his huge respect for Collins (and that's an understatement) but makes it clear that Collins is wrong on this issue. I suspect that almost all of us would agree with that position.

No question about who closed Coventry Stadium, and it wasn't Mick Horton. However Avtar Sandhu cannot, in anyway, be blamed for the truly appalling decision to charge a riders partner for entry to a presentation night, an act that is almost guaranteed to backfire. I agree with Woz, though. Harris' actions in boycotting do him absolutely no credit either.

I don't think you're cynical at all, just fed up with being taken for granted. Believe me, you're anything but alone. It just shows how a small act of customer care can make such a huge difference.

Definitely part time My low point was when Lakeside got a 3 point reduction in Paul Hurry's average. I can very much see your point, but that team was largely forced upon Redcar by circumstances. The Hurry average reduction was an appalling example of the arbitrary, vicious and uncontrolled corruption at the heart of our sport, motivated by jealousy, spite and self interest. I was absolutely delighted that Lakeside (and Plymouth) won nothing and that worthy teams like Belle Vue, Eastbourne and Mildenhall took the silverware.

I think you're right. Lights going out in the middle of a race causing a fatality or serious injury with evidence that similar failures have happened in the past would be extremely serious.

I doubt if there are many who haven't considered that. I did 74 meetings at 23 tracks last season and, on occasion, I did.

Other riders as well.

I was impressed with Campton last season. Increased his average by about a point and turned in one or two startling performances, particularly one at Sheffield. Proctor, Williamson, Campton, Bewley & Bickley and see what's left.

As well as Phil Rising's response, hidden away amongst the letters in this weeks Star is an excellent reply from Bert Harkins regarding the WSRA/BSPA agreement on entry for ex riders.

I was disappointed with them both. True, Proctor's average was up but he was nothing like the rider of a few seasons ago. Jorgensen was down. I don't think that an expectation that both would be around or over the 8 point mark would have been unreasonable at the start of the season but they never got near it. Williamson and Campton were the big improvers, with Williamson starting to cut it in the no 4 race jacket at the end of the season. I don't blame the promotion for a wait and we'll see attitude. Gates for the last third of the season were disastrous despite a decent team and some excellent racing, and Laura simply must have as much information as possible to hand before she makes a final decision.

A very fine piece indeed. Lets have some more of your 'points of view', Phil.

Precisely, but not just with their marketing. Thing is what they have done is neither rocket science nor costly. Its simply attracting people in the first place and giving them a good time so they come back. Little wonder they have been nominated for WSRA Community Club of the year and I'll be surprised if they don't win. Aside from the fact that there has always been a gulf between riders - I can recall Alan Mogridge in races with Dave Jessup and Bruce Penhall - you are spot on I must admit I thought that was daft. Use a points limit and maybe a salary cap but build how you want. Because maybe he had the right ideas that could be repeated now ? I certainly believe - along with others - that the promotion of the Super 7 events was better than anything I have seen since. And therein lies the real point about those who advocate the strengthening of teams and attracting top riders. It is, without a doubt, a massive financial risk and its very easy to propose such a strategy on the pages of this forum with other people's money, because one thing is certain : those who suggest it won't put a single penny of their own in.