Vince

My idea, such as it is was posted on the previous page Shorter season I'd agree with. Speedway for me as a kid started on good Friday and finished with the world final which was about this time of year. More chance of success with the weather but maybe more difficult to justify to a landlord.

Sounds great, except it's proven not to work! Speedway was in decline when these things were in place, crowds were much better than now but in my opinion just carrying on would have seen a continued decline to much the same place. KO Cup, national qualifiers, regional championships all disappeared because they didn't pay, not enough people wanted to watch them. The GP has caused problems within British Speedway but I'm far from convinced they have been more than slightly detrimental. At the moment they are one of the only things in Speedway actually working (depending on your definition of success admittedly). Impossible to know but it seems likely that more people have visited Speedway after watching the GP's than after watching the league meetings. Although I did speak to somebody only this morning who enjoyed the multi meeting coverage so much the other night that he is going to live Speedway for the first time in 30 years, therefore proving that like everybody else I'm only guessing! Luckily if I get it wrong it costs me nothing unlike the much maligned promoters.

Difficult to imagine it being the best and most consistent way to gate so if the front wheel isn't moving it's good enough in my view.

It's easy to look at BSB and think they have it well sorted because it looks so professional with big name sponsors, good TV coverage and bumper crowds. Depends what you are actually wanting though, very few BSB riders are paid and the crowds only have to turn up about 12 times a year on a weekend. Run the same meetings several times a week and it wouldn't be near as attractive. I can't see how any changes to the format, bikes or tracks is going to bring significant changes in numbers attending Speedway. The entire image of the sport needs a makeover in the mad, bad and dangerous way that SCB mentioned. Then there are still way too many meetings for it to be viable as a professional sport for so many clubs. Perhaps there needs to be a slightly bigger Elite league that charges spectators and pays at something like the current PL rates. Then everybody else running at a sort of NL level charging a low entry fee and paying expenses. I can't see any way for tracks to all run at weekends which would help the cause. In all honesty I think a big dose of realism about what can be expected of the sport is needed by fans, rose tinted nostalgic glasses are it's biggest downfall by far!

Unfortunately because the weather forecast is so poor for tomorrow this meeting has had to be cancelled.

This Saturday sees the final round of the Maxxis National Flat track Championship at Rye House Speedway. There is a new race format designed to increase the appeal to spectators. Heat races for all groups except Pro's starts at noon. Then starting at 6pm are the Pro heats with the finals for the other groups in between blocks. Should make for some good racing for spectators in a shorter time than a complete meeting. Groups racing will be, Youth Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Minibikes, Rookie (novice), Restricted (Intermediate) Thunderbike and Pro. Spectators go free so if you're in the area it will be worth a look and say hi to Pro number 95.

1963, apparently I did go there but having been under 2 at the time I don't remember it! Replaced by an Ice rink and night club with the Speedway guaranteed to be re-opened elsewhere is what I was always told, sounds familiar. The Ice rink and club was in return replaced by housing and due to be re-opened elsewhere and that never happened either.

I'd assume that somebody on coke or speed would be a bit braver/ more reckless than normal. Rumour has it that somebody was riding grasstrack on speed and his results improved dramatically but once it was noticed stopped riding. A quick Google search shows that both drugs are detectable for only 2 or 3 days with a urine test.

I think many things have changed in the past 6 years since the introduction of the silencers including super short stroke engines and slicker tracks to suit them none of which is going to suit a rider who likes to blast around the outside in the deep dirt to make up for his poor gating. But I read that statement as a rider being critical of himself for not adapting to suit the changes over time. He also recognises that some others have adapted very well while others have struggled for consistency. Can't see how he is blaming anything but himself and saying when he thought his problems began and why.

Personally I think if you are going to further control engines then it has to start with the rev limiter. Further on you could introduce a minimum stroke which would be easily policed. I'd like to see a minimum flywheel weight alongside that but not sure how you would police that. Certainly you would have an easier to ride bike that should be less susceptible to track conditions and changes. However it would mean a big outlay for riders at a time the majority are struggling to afford their racing anyway.

Proof of how exciting Speedway is in comparison to other sports. Even Witcher and Sid can't fall out over something as boring as Tennis

For me the racing is almost everything, I've no real interest in the rules (apart from the ones about machinery), don't care much about teams, actually prefer individual meetings and never fill in a programme. Was a bit different when I was a kid in that I had a team but now although I usually want one team to win more than the other I'd prefer good racing to the right team winning every time. The only reason it's almost and not all is that I also have an interest in the machinery and the way it's set up. 4 blokes with big balls on a good track is unbeatable entertainment in my view.

Personally I think that Sayfutdinov is a brilliant rider and still has the potential to be World Champion. However I'm not going to suggest that somebody lacks knowledge of the sport because they happen to have a different opinion. Until he rides in the GP's again it's all opinion and absolutely nothing to do with facts or Speedway knowledge.

The Friday night racing is now on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ObAgHApQ7Y

Presumably tomorrow as part of the dirt quake event as I didn't see him tonight. That's not being streamed as far as I know

The next round of the British Flat track Championship from Kings Lynn will be available on a Live Stream from 5.30pm on Friday 15/7/16. Racing starts at 6pm and there are over 100 bikes racing in different classes so plenty of racing with 3 races each plus finals. http://www.dirttrackriders.co.uk/ and the link will be live from 5.30.

I don't agree with that at all. How is it that I can't think swearing in front of your best customers and on live TV is wrong without being labelled a Tai hater? I'm a fan of his riding and most of what he does but that's the second time he's done this on TV and personally I don't think it's acceptable. That's not hating him but hating something he did.

I have defended Tai on the other thread but there was no excuse for what he did on Saturday. On the TV you could clearly see that he thought he was being clever by swearing. Like some 12 year old in the playground it was completely unnecessary and brings our sport down to the level many of it's detractors expect. Tai's sponsors may accept it but many others will not want to be associated with a sport where that might happen at it's biggest event. He has the opportunity to be an all time great, fantastic rider but needs to find some maturity from somewhere as he should be many years past that stage by now.

It's the sort of big overhaul that most have been saying the sport needs. It is being properly planned and trialled, not bought in on a whim as many say is usually the case. I applaud the effort and hope it succeeds. Now if they can just promote the sport as mad, bad and dangerous we might see a revival

Rather than them being a mainstream part of the sport where the noise is an important factor (although I'd disagree that Speedway bikes are anything like quiet with the current regulations) I could see them having a really important place in training riders. Do away with the noise aspect and surely there is nothing to stop youngsters using tracks anywhere at almost anytime for training. The one thing British lads lack in comparison to other nations is seat time and electric Speedway bikes could resolve that overnight.

Don't the riders contracted to ride in Poland have good equipment based there to take part in the matches the day after GP's?

Seems a bit harsh that this signing is blocked for a team that has no older riders passing on their experience. If there was already an old hand in place it would make sense but this doesn't seem logical.

If it is so important that a British World Champion rides in the British Final then he should have been seeded direct and even if not the semi's should have been scheduled with an eye on the GP's. Nobody ever became World Champion without being single minded and dedicated to that aim above all others but now he's supposed to put that aside to compete in a meeting to keep those fans who accuse him of not being British happy.

For team speedway I would really like whichever team is behind given the choice of gates 1 & 3 or 2 & 4. Then do away with tactical rides, tax subs or anything on those lines. Obviously tax subs are like tac subs but for Eu riders!!

Draw a picture of an infield start and see how tight the first corner is going to be, then consider where the big pile of dirt will be when they come around for lap 2.