stevebrum

It isn't a mindless argument in the slightest. There are 36 riders who have either retired or are not riding here or in either league this season. Feel free to name me your 24 and I will happily add the other 12. Anyway to take it up a level I'm not saying that IF the leagues combine that those in authority won't come up with a suitable structure to ensure all teams that enter will have an ability to fill those places. Like you say it isn't impossible that riders like Ulamek, Korneliussen, Walasek, even Bjarne might be tempted back or even riders who fancy more meetings in one big league. I thought the whole idea was to water the structure down to make one big league? Surely then there is no way the likes of Kildemand, Smolinski, MJJ etc would A) want more meetings or the lower level teams would want the cost implications. I can see the logic to those that argue that it's what our leagues need right now and it makes some sense if you are looking at it from cutting out the expense and preserving what we have. I can see it without having to agree with it. But cutting out the expense means losing more riders (top end foreigners) and we need more not less to make it work. For me there is no credibility to one big league and there is little chance that the next generation will progress to possibly represent us at the World table. I keep going back to this list you mention, if it's that easy why don't the BSPA say no more doubling up and riders can only ride for one team and one league??? The answer is simple, neither league is viable to make a living for the vast majority of riders. I can see quite a few riders retiring due to being forced to earn less. In principle it's ideal to have one rider one team in the UK, that would be ideal. But I fail to see how it can be implemented successfully or fairly.

Yes I recall that too and thought it odd at the time as well!

The list you quoted has at least 36 riders who either have retired or chosen not to ride here including riders who are very much part time users of the top flight league. We need doubling up riders to fill spots due to lack of quality riders wanting to ride here. I will repeat, if it's that's easy to fill team spots with an abundance of riders why then do double up riders dominate both leagues?? It's very easy to quote a list and say this is the proof. A careful examination of the list shows up the flaw in the list itself. God forbid one big league ever happens again you can take off several more big names who are unlikely to want to ride in it or clubs have the money or budget or points limit to include the likes of Holder, Doyle, Lindgren etc. Even Less riders to choose from this list which is already outdated.

Makes you wonder why teams struggle to fill places without double uppers which has littered teams for several seasons then if it's apparently that easy. If it was as easy as you suggested then why on earth do we need double up riders?? The truth is within the quality of riders on the BSPA list, what is stupid is suggesting it's so simple to divide the riders on the list out to make one rider teams. If it was possible they would already be doing it. There aren't enough top quality riders available to make the team strengths even and meaningful. The riders will say they can't make it pay by doing one league in the UK. I can see several riders quiting because they won't be able to make it pay.

The indications are that it's going that way but I believe the promoters are keen to keep the leagues separate.

There aren't enough riders to fill both the premiership and championship teams this season, or are you telling me I'm wrong? ?The NL wouldn't be part of one big league so I'm only using the teams we currently have in those leagues. We might gain more teams like Birmingham and Eastbourne which might help but how on earth is it possible to fill all the teams currently in both the top 2 leagues with one club only riders when we can't do that now?? so no, I don't reckon there are enough riders to fill all the teams positions. We have 3 riders out of work at present yet how many are sharing roles in the top 2 leagues? I make it 21. so where are these other 18 riders coming from??? The NL (18 riders won't be of reserve standard imho). so, where are these riders coming from?? still think it's stupid?

There aren't enough riders to fill out one big league hence why doubling up is part of the game. Thank god because one big league would be the last nail in the coffin of British speedway.

Time will tell i guess if it's likely. It's pointless having an asset if you can't have first call on his services.

King if he signed would give the Stars priority if he is their asset. Asset is first priority on the list.

Whilst it's criminal that some British riders are left without a club at all, it would be the wrong thing to allow these riders to replace much lower standard riders because they have 3 clubs. What this will do will give an advantage to those clubs who have the riders mentioned and that cannot be right. Every season you get one or two riders missing out and this has become more apparent due to the poor handling of the Coventry situation. Chapman has at least admitted in this week's speedway star that they should have pulled Coventry back in November and whether this would have had an impact on those named riders missing out on team places is still very much open to discussion. One less team means 7 less places so someone would have missed out. The most criminal thing however is that these riders who are still developing and improving have no team places in the 2nd tier. This league if anything is more guilty.

Irrelevant, Sandhu bought the stadium to sell. It was only a matter of time before he closed the place down. Nothing was going to change that.

Of course, a catalogue of events none can come out with much credit from. My only main point is that without the sale of the stadium then Brandon Estates wouldn't be holding all the cards and none of these events would be an issue!

Only one person bought the stadium to sell and close the club down. And guess what???? It's happened!!! Horton may not be innocent but he isn't the main guilty party here.

Hasn't been confirmed anywhere.

Must admit I can't find anything. It's no clearer from the SCB rules on averages either.

On checking it was in the week before that mentioned he was a 7. Soon as the BSPA clarify the team order and averages the better then!

have seen no proof that sky are dropping speedway. Councilor Stokes would be my bet.

And? Speedway fans attend from all over the UK and worldwide for the Cardiff GP, one would assume supporting their favourite rider. Funny how Britain's number one gets the biggest cheer tho isn't it. There is hype about Cardiff because it's the biggest speedway event in the UK. If he was that unpopular he wouldn't get cheers as big as he does. Nicki P is loved and hated in equal amounts and the only time I have heard him get any decent reception is in Denmark. You don't hear boos for Tai in other countries, because he is universally liked.

Source?

It was clear he was a talent when he signed his Wolves contract when he first came back to his birth country however I don't think anyone believed he would have achieved what he has so far. And all that thru professionalism, determination and hard work and may i also add single mindedness. No one has to like the guy or like how he looks but to suggest he isn't a British talent to be proud of is just plain crazy! It's easy to see why kids in the sport look up to him as to what you can achieve. I'd love him to buy the rights to team GB. It's the only way we are ever likely to even match 2nd place again in a very long time without him and his vision. I find it laughable that some think it's arrogant he wants his birth country to win gold and he can help achieve it. Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.

so only the opinion of the tiny minority of speedway fans on here count? People don't have to be TOLD how great he is. The evidence proves he is! Are you actually trying to say he ISNT a great rider??? A percentage of people on here don't like him and a vast percentage of people who attend Cardiff have probably never read the BSF. If they cheer him (and they will) they do so because they support him and like him and dare I say recognise that he is one if the greatest British riders of all time. Facts I'm afraid. He IS a great role model for kids. You only have to look at the umpteen posts and pictures of kids and families with Tai during the British GP and world cup to see he is by far the most respected. As I've said people at Cardiff will blow your theory apart. As I've said Tai has his haters, however In the scheme of things it's still a small minority. I assume you feel the same way about Scott Nicholls and Lee Richardson who wouldn't ride for GB for exactly the same reason then???

We had 9 teams, we now have 8 so no issue.

I disagree with all your comment of course! But the waster part is the most pertinent. Funny how I don't hear people slating the likes of Beckham et al for having loads of tattoos etc because talent and ability is the most important thing. You won't tell names because you make things up. You failed to mention I was Tai's biggest critic when he choose Europe over racing here in 2015, and I said he was wrong to not ride for GB. As usual only pick things that suit you. And yes he is a great role model for kids as to what they can achieve with dedication and hard work. Thankfully not everyone agrees with you either. I'm aware he has lost some fans due to his GB withdrawal however you know and I know that Tai will get the biggest cheer at Cardiff this year, which tells everyone all we need to know about his popularity.

Well said. Whilst I applaud the BSPA for bringing the draft system in but it's many years too late. I have mentioned this issue to CVS on and off for the past 10 years and it was always the same answer, they couldn't because it was against EU law. Yet miraculously when it suits them they introduce it to cut costs, and we were still in the EU. It's going to take a long time to see enough Brits being able to demand a team space in both leagues, unless of course they go down the one big league route again which will do more damage than good IMHO.

A waster????? I think it's the majority of British riders who lack the ambition to better themselves on the World stage that qualify for that description. But a 2 times Work Champion it certainly doesn't describe. Name these so called British riders then and I will ask them to confirm your quote. I'd assume you can back up that claim tho.