cowboy cookie returns?

Louis does put a lot of effort into attracting sponsorship. He has one new backer this year who I believe are very impressed with how Louis goes about things.

Doubling up was a great idea when it was first introduced. It allowed a second tier rider to share a reserve spot with a top flight team. It’s now gotten massively out of hand and needs to revert to what it was a couple of lower league riders sharing one position in the next league up. long term the sport here needs to become a mix of amateur, semi pro & pro riders. Developing enough riders so that teams can have a type of squad system. using the structure we currently have. MDL solely for amateur riders who ride in the uk using standard cheaper equipment so opening the sport up to more participants. The top MDL riders could hold squad positions in the second tier but no more than 2 per second tier club & only 1 can be used at any time. The second tier a mixture of amateur & semi pro riders with controls on equipment costs to allow riders to compete & not have to pack up because of costs. Again the top riders can hold a squad position in the top league a maximum of 2 per top flight side & only 1 can be used at a time. The top flight a pro league along the lines of what it is now. As a rider if you wish to be a full time pro then you need to have the ability & desire to progress through the ranks to a point where you can support yourself as a pro. However before you can expand & develop your rider base we will need to do some sort of merging of the league to stabilise the sport for the next 2 or 3 years . My thoughts require a long term commitment to a strategy that will hopefully begin to grow the sport.

Totally agree. Ive said elsewhere that it’s the rules & lack of credibility that does more harm to the sport than the racing. The racing is just as good now as I’ve witnessed in the last 35 years however it is much faster. I’ve also watched plenty of highlights on you tube from the golden years of the 70s & 80s & it certainly wasn’t any better. As with any sport if you have a competition that people want to watch so atmosphere is generated & businesses are willing to invest the actual visual product plays second fiddle.

The play offs are wide open Semi final 1 Sheffield v Belle Vue Semi final 2 Ipswich v Leicester

It’s not fair to be put in the position of having to ride a pointless meeting after the play off cut off. That’s the shambles that is uk speedway.

Did you really expect anything else in a totally pointless meeting?

If it’s one league, Nicholls back at Ipswich for a fair well season?

If the structure of the sport allows for his return then it’s done to what Emil & Ipswich want to do. If they both then want it to happen I can’t see the visa being an issue. I can only see Emil riding in the UK for Ipswich but I can’t see the structure allowing it to happen.

I don’t think Emil will be riding the uk next year. I’ve not heard any rumours it’s just a hunch, especially if Ipswich win the play offs as he will achieved what he set out to 3 years ago.

I don’t think Emil will be riding the uk next year. I’ve not heard any rumours it’s just a hunch, especially if Ipswich win the play offs as he will achieved what he set out to 3 years ago.

There are 24 weeks from the beginning of April to the end of August to fit in 12 home fixtures. We have just come through a record breaking dry hot summer so no reason that fixtures should be pencilled in so close to cut of date. Especially with the SPON taking place this weekend & not the height of summer as normally happens. I am not blaming Sheffield for the weather but the club/fixture planners need to take ownership for the reason we are running league after the play off final teams have been confirmed.

Top hat is in the ring

Maybe Sheffield should have completed their home matches before the cut off date, plenty of opportunity to do so. Also had they completed them & done Ipswich in both round 2 matches they would have finished top & taken on Belle Vue in the semi. I can’t see them banning Emil for not riding in a meeting that by their own rules should have been completed before the play offs started. It’s just another example of the piss poor state this sport is in.

As sad as that will be I think you’re right. I doubt The league structure will allow Ipswich to use Doyle & Emil in the same team, so Emil will be the one to go. I doubt we’ll see him line elsewhere in the uk.

No need to put to much effort in & risk anything.