Bagpuss

Its not just the GP's which keep riders busy on Saturdays, there are SGP qualifiers, U21's, Euros, SWC qualifiers etc etc. The days of top flight speedway on Saturdays are long gone. We are very much at a crossroads, either a big effort is needed to get the world's top riders over here again or we need to forget about them. Either way something needs sorting with the PL to avoid the endless fixture clashes for double uppers.

Has there ever been a weaker Aussie Champs field?

Seems strange that a promotion as sharp as Edinburgh's would leave it so late to name a number seven and thus leave any candidates holding all the aces. That said I appreciate the logistics on a Friday night for any rider who isn't based in the vicinity.

Most of the top riders have ridden over here fairly recently so the points money is obviously not an issue, give them less meetings on regular nights and many will come back.

Was the first edition of this the challenge match against Zlena Gora in 2014?

Its all about confidence with KB.....given an injury free run and a good start he could well average 10 in the PL. However if things don't go to plan he could really struggle, shutting the throttle off and backing out of tight spots means no points whatever league it is.

I think any track with a unique shape and/or surface and which proves challenging for away riders to score points on has a strong home advantage. As Dekker has mentioned somewhere recently, possibly on this thread, it requires a unique bike set up which puts many away riders at a disadvantage straight away. Attitude comes into it too and as you say some riders are beaten before they start. We had something very similar at Lynn 2004-2009, you just knew that quite a few matches would be 60+ wins because riders couldn't cope with the grip and speed. I think James Grieves even admitted once that for one match at Lynn per season it wasn't worth getting a bike done especially . Of course you also need a good team and like Lynn in the noughties Edinburgh build one more often than not, but they will always fair better than other good sides who ride on circuits which are easier for away riders to compete on.

I have to say I don't think there is too much wrong with the AFA as a stadium that tarmacing the large car park wouldn't fix. I think the toilets are perfectly acceptable and a world away from what was in place before Buster's renovations. I don't think covered seating is necessarily a requirement for a summer sport's venue (most cricket stadia are open aired)and I don't think you can realistically compare any Premiership football ground (a multi million pound competition) with stadia of a minority sport like speedway. For me I think in terms of a venue for an outdoor night out, a speedway stadium which has a non muddy car park, clean toilets, a bar and food outlets with decent choice and reasonably prompt service and clean terraces to stand on is perfectly acceptable.

Perhaps because Poole look a fair bit weaker than last year?

I've always found it crazy that any rider trying to improve and get as far as they can in speedway should miss matches for their higher level team to ride for their lower side. Hopefully next year we will have a lot less fixture clashes. EL & PL really need to be on different nights entirely.

Really? Belle Vue look at least as good, if not better.

He won't change his mind anyway so its immaterial.

In realistic terms I'd like Kenni Larsen & Carl Wilkinson to be the final two riders, assuming Wilko is on the list. Roynon otherwise.

Seems daft to turn down regular meetings as a number 7 to be a number 8 instead.....

Except its not. Putting aside SCB's methods for a minute, which have divided opinion and unfortunately clouded the actual issue, he is unhappy at Jon Cook for calling some speedway supporters thick. Really not the best way to address a dwindling group of customers.

All in all not the best day for dontforgetthefueltapsbruv to like that post

I think you were written off this time last year.....

Glasgow Edinburgh Workington Somerset Plymouth Sheffield Ipswich Peterborough Newcastle Scunthorpe Berwick Rye House Redcar

Just what we need, another EL v PL argument. Marvellous.

I can understand the desire for brief social media updates during the close season but I would be cautious about being flooded with too much news saying very little during the winter.....as a big Norwich City fan I actually stop reading news reports during the summer as they say virtually nothing and that is the danger of bombarding your customers with empty stories is that they will switch off. I'd agree though that during the season the PR could be much, much better.

In which case they both need to grow up.

Is Drury's press release serious or a wind up?

Think they are based on preparation rather than quality of racing as Leicester got third in the EL!

I'm not convinced a rider's award would give particularly accurate results either, riders will often prefer a track which gives a smooth ride rather than providing great racing.

I assume the awards are based on preparation rather than shape/racing quality? No qualms at all with Wolves winning it but Leicester being third and the absence of several decent tracks from the PL top three is a head scratcher if not.