Bagpuss

Agree that you get poor meetings at all tracks but I bet over the last three or four years the proportion of bad meetings at those tracks is lower than at Lynn. I agree that the surface is vital, several people on here argue that the dirt used at Lynn now doesn't help matters and I think whatever is used now is both cheaper and better for stock cars. I don't think the shale used at Lynn is going to change so perhaps a widening and therefore shortening of the circuit would help the racing, I can't imagine it would do any harm to trhe standard of the stocks and bangers either. One thing is for sure, if people are to continue forking out the best part of twenty quid to watch speedway at Lynn (or anywhere) it needs to be entertaining.

Was just about to raise that Skidder, you beat me to it by seconds. Stevebrum, I'm not saying the shape NEEDS changing, just that it would certainly help. In my mind, probably in conjunction with the machinery issues of recent years, the long straights at Lynn mean riders quickly get spread out and the shale used doesn't help either. Several issues coming together have meant far less entertaining racing, in fact I'd say 2011 was the last time we had regular good racing and overtaking.

Very much so. Tracks like Somerset, Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Plymouth & Mildenhall are all fairly circular and provide excellent racing.

The rounder and wider, the better I'd say. Shorter straights would certainly help improve the racing.

Really? Kurtz is a fantastic talent who will improve as the season progresses, I wouldn't take too much notice of what goes on in Oz..

Don't agree, you can't change the rules this late. Not fair on teams and riders who have already been signed.You are right though, the league looks like it is going to be more lopsided than ever before and all too predictable.

Kenni Larsen has been my hope for the remaining top five spot but it seems he is keen to ride over here so if it was him I'd have thought it would have been signed, sealed and delivered by now. Heard Rob on Radio Norfolk this morning, didn't say anything we didn't already know. I think the problems some teams are having in completing their sides are due to a points limit which is a little too high, there don't seem to be the riders to go round who want to race over here under the current conditions but I don't think allowing shared positions this late in the teambuilding day would be fair on those who have completed their sides. Buster didn't oversee the AGM this year as his reign as chairman didn't begin until after all the decisions were made but hopefully he will be able to encourage something a bit more workable next year.

I guess Watt & North are the two who jump out as missing after Holder, Doyle & Batchelor. People criticise the British Final line up most years but this one looks as bad if not worse.

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.....