Halifaxtiger

As you say, it does depend on whether it is sanctioned, But, if it is, (and it has been published on the BSPA website) based upon Hurry's last EL average, calculating that up to be a PL one and then doubling it he should be around the 8.7 mark. That means he can't go into the team and the only way he can is by a crooked ruling that contradicts what has happened elsewhere. As to jumping to conclusions, the biggest one will be Lakeside saying that he is in the team if they have not received agreement to it. Taking into account the BSPA website statement, I suspect they have although it maybe subject to protest by other clubs. One of the reasons why those who have an axe to grind gain credibility is the lack of explanation and openness. After all, we still haven't heard why Harland Cook was refused a 3.5 average when the likes of Luke Clifton and David Wallinger were given it.

The suggestions of average fixing in this case are, in my book, complete nonsense. You're absolutely right about the BSPA, but that doesn't change the fact that (if allowed) this is almost certainly completely crooked. Hurry's average should be around the 8.7 mark, and let's not forget there are no reductions this season (as per the Harland Cook decision). Based upon Lakeside's present averages, he doesn't fit. More nonsense. What people are concerned about actually really has nothing do with Lakeside at all. They are sick to death of bent rulings made to suit the needs of individual promoters, be that to allow a rider to fit in or to stop that being the case.

For the same reason why no-one publicly explained why Cook couldn't come in on a 3.00 (or 3.50) when a precedent had been set the previous season. Its bent.

If he's anything like he was at Plymouth, I'd avoid him at all costs. He wasn't that good on track and, by all accounts, he was bloody awful off it. He didn't want to be there and made sure everyone knew it.

I have no issue with that. I do have an issue with averages.

Looking at my updates, only three races were from the gate and I thought there was some excellent racing, with both King and Howarth going from third to first. I don't think the quality has deteriorated at all. If you found it boring, try Sheffield instead. Friday's were better but I fully understand Rob Godfrey's decision to move to Sunday. Having said that, the best meeting I saw anywhere last season was Scunthorpe v Edinburgh and that was a 3.00pm start. About 400 I thought but that's about par and reflects Scunthorpe's poor home form. I shudder to think how many would be there if the racing were rubbish. Problem is he is simply not cutting it and doesn't look like beating opposition heat leaders. That's what he's there for. In truth, I thought Scunthorpe should have won. Had they not thrown away points on tapes exclusions and engine failures they probably would have. PS Rob was good in the box yesterday but he's better on the centre green. If you need a box man, try and recruit Belle Vue's Neil Drummond because he's one of the best there is.

Enjoyed that Bit slow starting but a couple of decent races half way through, particularly Smith trying to pass Wajtknecht in heat 12. Always nip and tuck, though. Very important point from Bewley when he passed Williamson in heat 11. Morris was unlucky. Got bumped in heat 9 by Sedgmen and then went out of it and dropped a chain in heat 15. Very good to hear the enthusiasm from Robin Southwell over the mic, and looked a decent attendance to me. One downer : get rid of that clown on the centre green. Amongst some pretty stiff opposition, he's just about the worst presenter in the land. Its made all the worse by the fact that Neil Drummond is rapidly becoming one of the best box men in the game - understated, knowledgeable and hitting the comments bang on.

Too right. That pass of Halsey is the best ride I have seen at Arlington in a very long time.

I doubt if there are many making money at this level and even fewer who are making more than a little. Most (if not all) riders in the NL are either learning their trade or riding simply because they enjoy it. The latter category can be scorned by some but without them the NL wouldn't exist or would be shy of several teams. It probably also wouldn't be competitive enough to attract the gates that clubs need to survive. Buxton are suffering because Ellis Perks isn't riding for them (whatever the reason for that might be). That's more an unfortunate exception than the way the league and other teams are run.

They did a lot of work in the winter and its much improved.

Not the best meeting I have seen at Workington but OK enough. Big performances from Campton, Proctor and especially Williamson. Morris was excellent for the Bandits but they didn't have much else. I didn't realise Comet Dan was that much into baking

Harsh. Belle Vue are a good team but on their home track they are very good indeed. Ask Mildenhall about that.

The problem with your view is that it looks at speedway solely through the eyes of a football fan. You can't do that and have to judge each sport on its own merits and make a decision as to whether the rules it has are reasonable given the conditions that exist. Imagine having a rule in speedway where certain riders were only allowed on certain parts of the track and dependent on where the opposition were. That would be bloody ridiculous; in football its called offside. My real point is that you simply can't make a judgement about speedway's regulations based upon football and vice versa. They are so totally different any attempt to do so would be ludicrous. A football fan might find guests, rider replacement and tactical rides bizarre, but that is because the concept is totally alien to them. There are sound reasons why speedway has all three and has had them for half a century. You're right about the away goals rule and I also think your comparison is correct. The fact is, though, is that football has a regulation by which one goal counts as two. Put the ball in the net once but it counts as two goals ? I think we can both agree (as a speedway fan looking at football), that is just stupid.

I think value for money, certainly, is a factor for all of us. I, too, didn't go to Sheffield as much as usual last season because of the crap racing and the early season reports that it was just about the same mean that I haven't been yet. A good friend of mine had 6 meetings pencilled in at Owlerton but after attending the opener it went down to 2. I am, however, most reliably informed that last week it was pretty good, so maybe its time for another try. Riders have been doubling up for decades - not to the same extent, admittedly, but they have. I don't really have an issue with it per se but its all got out of hand. I would say, though, that the fact that a rider might ride for someone else wouldn't affect the way I view him. The thing with rules is you simply can't compare them with other sports. Try turning it round and looking at football through a speedway fans eyes. Offside ? Really ? A football fan might laugh at double points, but they have a system where one goal counts as two and while that occurs only infrequently, its exactly the same.

I view the NL as a development league but it should never be forgotten that most of the clubs are still as much a business as those in the top two tiers. They depend on attendances and sponsorship to exist in exactly the same way, so they shouldn't be treated any differently at all. If Connor Mountain wanted to ride for Swindon the move would be blocked, so in those circumstances a young riders chances of riding at a higher level would be refused in the interests of the clubs concerned. I really don't see the difference and its not that Greaves is being stopped from riding in the Championship, just being stopped from riding for a Thursday club. I think what is most infuriating is that it is yet another broken precedent and what's worse is that this is the second time the Isle of Wight have suffered that this season, following the disgraceful Harland Cook ruling. That's bad enough for any team, but for a promotion with the attitude and enthusiasm of those on the Island its even harder to bear. They could probably fit Harland Cook in as well. If it comes off, my suspicion is the Warriors will be stronger for it.

Certainly wasn't knocking your post, simply pointing out what the view of the VP of the BSPA was last season - a view that apparently counts for sod all now. What's worse is that this is the second time this season Isle of Wight have had the crap end of a broken precedent, the appalling Harland Cook average decision being the first. It would be bad for any club but given that I rate their promotion as by far the best in the country it is all the more insulting. Worse than that because its breaking a precedent. You either have that rule or you don't and the fact that the NL is involved is absolutely irrelevant.

Rob Godfrey, 16/05/16: 'You simply cannot sign a rider when he already rides for a club on your race night'. It seems that a riders development might be stopped if this were a matter of Premiership/Championship clubs, but not Championship/NL ones.

A rider might want to progress from the Championship to the Premiership for exactly the same reason. Under the ruling made in respect of Craig Cook last season, that would be refused. I really don't see the difference.

Craig Cook was refused permission to do this last season. It seems that the NL is being treated as the poor relation again. EDIT: Rob Godfrey, 16/05/16: 'You simply cannot sign a rider when he already rides for a club on your racenight'.

To be fair, neither did I. Then again I was with some friends I hadn't seen for a while. I agree about intervals, though. I have never met a fan that likes them and have met many, many that don't and consider they are the worst case of unnecessary delay in speedway. To a degree. I thought Barbara Horley's handling of the meeting at Peterborough yesterday was rubbish. It shouldn't be the case that the riders are on track and riding round before the 2 minute warning comes on almost every time and, on one occasion, 3 were at the tapes when it did.

Two hours isn't excessive. A little longer than normal but not unacceptable. I did think, though, that the interval was longer than necessary.

The crash was absolutely awful. He picked up grip coming out of the 4th bend, reared up and hit an unprotected part of the fence at speed. Fortunately (and whether by accident or design) he let go of the bike so things could, conceivably, have been worse. The unnerving part was that the air ambulance was called because they did not want him to be jolted and bumped over the roads around the stadium. Wishing Danny a speedy recovery.

Absolutely horrible. Picked up grip coming off the 4th bend and hit an unprotected part of the fence at speed.

I thought Powell was harshly excluded but I also thought Luke Ruddick was - in fact, it was a bloody ridiculous decision. I'd have put Brennan in heat 15. He'd ridden brilliantly up to that point. Highlight was a stunning last bend heat 15 pass by Baseby. As good as you will see anywhere. Dugard still needs to grow up. Starting on Jenkins was pathetic.

About 300 at IOW, I thought. That's below break even but there are two positives : its probably double what it was last year at this time and speedway at Smallbrook has always been very seasonal. Yes, I'd say so. Close, though. Completely agree. The only thing I would say is that if Scunthorpe's racing wasn't so good they would have closed down. I'd have a guess and say that a big chunk of the crowd just go there for the quality of the speedway.