stevebrum

The usual trotted out line that there are ‘plentiful riders from overseas’ who want a team spot here and there are plenty of riders in the NL who could make up team spots. firstly where are these plentiful riders then? Matt Ford has been turned down by many over the past 2 seasons and had to turn to journeymen to make do. Of those plentiful riders from overseas who apparently want to flock here quite a few of them are barely championship level. Most become and stay reserves for several seasons thus keeping the promising Brits out of a team place, but let’s skip over that for now. There aren’t plentiful overseas riders wanting to come over anymore, getting less as the seasons go on. The truth about the NL standard riders only a handful are really able to deal with a level above. If you watch NL racing (I do every week) you simply cannot say that just because a rider of NL has an average of 6 or over they can handle the next level. ill use 2 examples to demonstrate. Mitchell Davey has been a star at this level for a while now but always struggles at levels above. (I use his name with caution due to the serious injuries he received and as someone who was on the track and had to witness his struggle for life it is most definitely not meant in any way as a negative and I couldn’t be any more delighted to see he is now on the mend). Another is Kyle Hughes. A big name in the NL but has struggled at any other level. Then you have heat leaders like Jon Armstrong and Tony Atkin who are both riding for fun and in their late 40’s. So already this exhaustive list of 6 pointers is already growing thin. its fanciful at best to say there are enough riders of adequate quality to fill all team spots. And then when take out teams who have assets to call on to build a stronger team you are leaving some teams with having to pick up the dregs, great for the fans NOT! The facts you quote as I’ve demonstrated are clearly flawed.

You still haven’t said where I’ve been insensitive in a previous post. Which most definitely was not. sorry to hear you have been unwell however your reply was out of order and character.

I thought Cardiff was always on the smaller side?

Always been overhyped. Good on the continent, very average here.

Thanks WCR, likewise I usually find Rob’s post of interest and informative. I’m puzzled at the response in all honesty.

What an odd interpretation of what I said and meant, which you have 100% wrong. British speedway always comes first for me before club. IF Wolves had to move their race night I’d change my plans to suit. Maybe that wouldn’t suit everyone but again I’m only talking about myself. How is my comment on defunct tracks anyway “insensitive”? Lots of tracks have closed over many years - Wimbledon, Wembley, New Cross, Southampton, cradley as examples, as a result of several factors that aren’t the governing bodies fault directly. How is a statement of fact “insensitive”? It’s not so please don’t dramatise my meaning of the meaning of the post. if you have taken my post as meaning ‘my clubs ok so who cares about anyone else’ then you couldn’t be any further than the truth. where are all these ‘plenty of riders’ that would fill all teams in one big league?? If you count up the riders who ride for 2 sometimes 3 teams you will see just how many riders we have in use, of course you can add in a few more extra riders who might return (not the big names of course, they want LESS meetings or shared role) but I doubt there would be enough to fill all teams. Plus the imbalance of some teams would make those who are assembled weakly in grave danger of falling crowds and potential ruin. So is one big league the answer?? Unlikely without a completely different race format. im a big fan of British speedway, volunteer at Birmingham and take great pleasure in watching the great new talent that is emerging for a much brighter international future for GB. im a top flight snob, not ashamed to admit it in the slightest. I’d prefer the strongest top flight we can, it’s not going to happen tho. But to say I care only care about Wolves and s*d everyone else is a damn right insult. And yes I do take your reply as an insult to my intellect.

Completely agree however the reasons for a lot of the extensive clubs list is nothing to do with the way speedway is run today.

Clubs have struggled for years. Nothing new. Most come back to the tapes yearly. several clubs have made public their concerns in recent years. Peterborough, Workington, Berwick, Buxton just to name a few. Guess what, they are all still racing. I’m sure there are genuine concerns on crowd attendance. Every track wants more support through the turnstiles.

No one league please!! There just aren’t enough riders to fill all teams so it’s not going to happen. Thank god.

Precisely!

He hasn’t been a proper number one in years. It’s great that he is having a good season tho.

Josh Auty apparently is in good form although his top flight record is atrocious. An away point is always good enough. It’s the minimum you want from every away match.

Plus of course OFFICIAL greensheet averages has Howarth 8.44 and Auty 7.55 That good that top flight clubs are flocking to sign him. Case endeth.

Don’t ask me to quote the 2017/2016 top flight and 2nd tier averages for them both or I fear you might have to rest your case completely. Howarth is a level above Auty, although taking nothing away from Josh who is having a great season so far. There is a reason why Auty isn’t given top flight chances anymore....... so now I rest my case.

Same old KK tho. He has been doing that for years. How he ever got to be world number 2 once is beyond me.

Aces will progress thru unless they want to throw it away.

http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.34724

I think you only have to look at Tai and Lambert to see how to play your improving career, don’t put the UK first. And who can blame them? the BSPA should be doing everything possible to look after all their star Brits and ensure they make it easier NOT harder to ride here. for instance, why wouldn’t they seed Tai or Cook (as GP riders) direct to the British final. Haven’t they earned that right???

It’s not one leagues fault tho. We should have always had something in place that helps the next generation at BOTH levels. Primarily it’s the 2nd tier that’s at fault tho instead of filling the bottom end with rubbish low averaged non British riders. IMHO ALL non British riders should retain a minimum 5 point average throughout their British league career. The top flight is equally the blame for not retaining the compulsory Brit rider at number 7. The main issue with British speedway is it lurches from one season to the next with no long term plan or no goal setting and tries to rectify an issue from the previous season. It’s no wonder things get voted in and out with such regularity when you have the self interest of promoters voting every season. We have some great talent coming thru in part with thanks to Neil Vatcher and no doubt both leagues will want to exploit that next season as they should. My issue is it should be part of both leagues every seasonal not just when it suits. As we all saw at the British Final the younger generation are taking over. Plus with the likes of Drew Kemp, Leon Flint and the Thompson Twins ready to explode next season the future looks bright. It’s the league structure that could mess up their careers.

Not really sure that’s true. The lower leagues rely on riders doubling down just as much as the top flight do. There simply isn’t enough riders to go around. Wether we like it or not it’s a necessary evil. It’s also one of the reasons why one big league wouldn’t work under its current format.

What a moronic thing to do to throw a steel shoe anywhere!

I’d say he is the biggest problem yes.

Disappointing result in the end. What is it with Wolves starting so strong away from home and fading away? We have done so well up till now but we can’t keep wasting opportunities like this. im sure the management are eyeing up options as we speak. the expected issue of Jacob at number one isn’t the issue however.

He had shoulder surgery just 2 weeks ago.

I’m surprised you haven’t commented on how well your boy did in the British Final STR. As expected, Howarth was a level above.