Aces51

If only they did. Testing something new to its limits and finding any faults before bringing it into service. Never mind the long history of disastrous decisions that weren't thought through they've managed to do the same this year with the only one over 8, that only applies in the PL so a CL team could have a stronger heat leader trio than a PL team, the reassessment of GP riders who didn't race here in 2017 but not other riders who didn't and the abandonment of the 2 British riders rule. They did introduce fixed nights, Swindon excepted, but cancelled out one of the major advantages by reassessing those GP riders.

Those of us in the superior stand were quite concerned when we first realised he had been visiting the hoi polloi in the cheap stand but assurances that he changes his clothes and washes his hands on the way back have put our minds at rest.

Some men might see that as a win win. A night away from the wife and being able to go to a proper race track.

I never understand this negativity. There's no reason to think that the team won't be competitive, has anyone from last year signed yet for anyone else in the UK. It's good for the future that they're waiting to see what money is going to be available. Better that than spend more than they can afford. As for crowds, the new promoters were pleased with the numbers last year as something to build on and say they have ideas to again improve the speedway experience this year. Can anyone say that losing Zagar, a GP rider, caused a drop in crowd levels last year, not that I saw. True supporters will go to the NSS for the brilliant racing and newbies haven't a clue who most of the stars are. They will come back if it's an enjoyable experience not because someone they've never heard of is riding. Anyway, if we do want to try to draw them in because of a GP rider I'm fairly sure we'll have Cookie.

My interpretation was that the club and rider had discussed a team place but couldn't agree terms. I can't imagine that they hadn't spoken.Lambert uses social media to let it be known he may not ride in the UK and KL realise they need to up their offer if they want him and decide to get back in touch. Sorry Star Lady you hadn't posted when I typed my post but great minds and all that.

Or refugees from the mainland

And we got Nectar points.

We may have our opinions about some of Starman's contributions to this forum but it is good to see that people rally round and offer support when one of us is in trouble. I can only echo what others have said and hope that Starman makes a full recovery and that he is back fit and well supporting his beloved Pirates next year.

I'm beginning to feel my age. I haven't got a clue what either of those things are.

Clubs have been losing money and seem at be last to be realising that they have to live within their means if they are going to survive. They are reducing their costs but to suggest they could reduce admission to £10 shows how unrealistic some fans are. To survive and hopefully, make a profit, admission charges will have to stay as they are. Particularly, with the loss of the TV revenue. The rider costs of a PL team is still going to be considerably more than that of a CL team. Many riders may operate in both leagues but a PL team has more of the better, more expensive riders because they are building to a significantly higher team building figure. Manchester isn't one of the more affluent areas of the country and yet more fans pay £20 to sit in the Grandstand than £17 to stand on the south side. If admission costs and value for money we such an issue I would expect the reverse to be true.

Just being selfish. I'd much rather have a league with 8 closely matched teams than one or two teams running away from the rest at the top of the league. Closely matched teams are also more likely to produce good racing and that's what it should be about.

Although I would like to see KK sign for the Aces on his current average I hope, in a way, that he signs for you because you signed him last year when he was dropped and because I think he will improve his average and help you build a very competitive team.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion and I would defend your right to express it but just last season alone you made numerous derogatory posts about him. I wasn't referring to just your last post, as I think I made clear.

I'm not convinced that KK is on his way to sign for the Aces, we shall see. However, he did a good job for us the last time he rode for us and I, for one, would welcome him back on his present average. I know some, well Stevebrum, seems obsessed with posting derogatory comments every time his name is mentioned but I don't see how he can fail to improve his average.

It's nothing to do with whether any particular rider who didn't race here in 2017 does better or worse than a pre 2017 average. It's a matter of principle, fairness and transparency that all riders are treated the same and to reassess GP riders who did not race here last year but not other riders who didn't is illogical and unfair.

It's what people do, not what they say, that gives fans the right to be sceptical. Maybe fans would be more forgiving if there was a full recognition of the many mistakes and a fulsome apology. You have to earn trust.

If my memory is right at Hyde Road in the 50's it was, Entrance Of The Gladiators, written in the 1890's, as the riders came out at the beginning of the meeting and So Long It's Been Good To Know You, sung by Vera Lynn as we were leaving. Who says the music hasn't moved on.

I wouldn't be too sure about 5 clubs supporting a change. The damage has already been done by the rule so far as Belle Vue are concerned because Bjerre has now signed for a Danish team.

There is no logic in reassessing GP riders who didn't race here in 2017 as 9 but not reassessing every other rider who did not race here last year. Assessing every GP rider the same is hardly accurate. There is a significant difference in quality between the riders finishing 1st and 15th. There doesn't need to be any controversy. A formula can be calculated for converting foreign league averages to a PL or CL average in exactly the same way as CL averages are converted to a PL average and vice versa. By doing that most would accept the conversion, it is transparent and fair and would reflect the most recent form of a rider.

Mine start in the late 50's through to the early 70's and cover every first division team. I can remember the time I saved when calculators became available and affordable. They're all recorded in notebooks which are now somewhere in the garage. I've not looked at them for years, just hope the mice haven't found them.

You could have said exactly what you've said about Auty about a certain Mr Doyle. Not many thought he was going to be anything more than a second division journeyman. The point is that you sometimes can but can't always tell who might gain from such opportunities and step up their performance to the next or an even higher level. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that the Poles regularly produce world class riders because they give them the opportunities before they are world class. Not every rider given those opportunities will become world class but many will benefit and become genuine first division riders and that is sufficient justification for giving them the chance to do so. Let's hope that there is a misunderstanding and that we are still going to have the two Brits rule.

The Poles must be really stupid insisting on the reserves and a fixed number of Polish riders in their teams. What's it ever achieved for them? Any move to reduce the opportunities for British riders to progress is a backward step and shows a complete lack of forward thinking.

Why can't the BSPA work out a relatively simple formula for converting foreign league average for riders wanting to race here. If done properly that would provide consistency and stop any accusations favouritism or unfairness.

I know. I was confirming what you said that he was signed by Newcastle after he was a permanent GP rider.

Matej first rode in the UK in 1998 for Belle Vue. He first rode in the GP in 2001.