Bagpuss

Silly boy

Not unfathomable at all, the youngsters were picked for the good of the future. A plan which going by the averages of Kennett, Bridger and to a lesser extent King appears to have failed badly. Wasn't aiming it at you particularly ladyluck, apologies.

Yet many people still had the Aussies down as favourites and were berating the choice of track People can't have it both ways.

I can certainly see your point mate but for me the other factors I mentioned need fixing first to encourage teams up. I'd be interested to know how much input the BSPA / SCB have in which British track hosts SWC events.

Extra costs (especially in a recession) Foreign riders missing fixtures as they are riding in their own country Disjointed fixtures due to GP's, SWC, World Championship qualifiers Facilities handed out on a whim Lack of variety (which a few clubs moving up would obviously solve) Average fixing (allegedly) They would be my guess, The promoters at Lynn, Rye House, Brum, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Sheffield would give you better answers though I'm sure. I don't for one minute think the PL is perfect cos its not. I would love to see my team in the EL but there are obviously a good reasons why the EL has only been nine teams strong for nearly ten years now. And you're not telling me its because Rye, Sheffield and Lynn have hosted one FIM meeting each in that time?

Don't let orion hear you saying that

It may work the other way and encourage them to take the plunge.....Buster has already described last night as incredible on local radio and perhaps he might fancy a few more night like that in the EL in future? I respect your opinion and you obviously know your speedway but are you really so blind that you can't see why clubs are loathe to move up? If the EL got its house in order and made the step up more attractive you may well get your wish. Which I actually share....a much more stable EL product at Lynn every Wednesday would be great.

So will I salty King's Lynn, Sheffield and one or two others might step up if there was more incentive. Huge costs, disjointed fixture lists, foreigners taking the p*ss, average manipulation and lack of fixture variety (which could be solved by three or four clubs moving up of course) do not encourage PL clubs to make the step up. Especially during a recession. And I don't subscribe to the view that PL racing is lots better. To me its much of a muchness across the three leagues if the track is good and the teams are even.

Dear me. I'm not for a minute saying that the PL is perfect and I'm not really interested in starting an EL v PL debate (as you seem to be) but outside three or four clubs the EL is in a bit of a state. Once they sort it out one or two clubs may look to step up. Would like nothing more than for my club to do so, especially after last night. Why should a PL club not get a big meeting if they have a track and stadium superior to a lot of EL clubs? And for what its worth I thought last night wasn't very far behind last year's at at P'boro if it was at all.

The track was much slicker than a regular Wednesday night and for me had too much of an outside line early on. Once the dirt went very wide and riders were unsure of the quickest line the racing became very, very good summed up by a quite brilliant heat 22. I'd prefer to concentrate on the positives rather than trying to prove myself right all the time didn't think the crowd looked any smaller than last year at P'boro and the place was certainly packed out. And there was an amazing atmosphere, obviously helped by Team GB's win. Don't see the point on concentrating on who did or didn't ride for the opposition......thats not our problem. You can only beat what's put in front of you. The race that you said seemed like it was an exhibition race? Its very hard to take your opinion seriously when according to you everything about Poole is the best in the world. Ever I remember you running down Scunthorpe after the live meeting there last year.....that says it all really. As stated that slick compared to normal. A bit more material across the whole track would have made it better early on but I guess afternoon practice dictated preparation to an extent. Nail on head screamer lad. Thoroughly enjoyed that meeting. Don't ever understand why people comment on racing less than half way through a meeting on here, happens during most Sky matches. Best to see the whole meeting before giving an opinion. Big well done to all the riders involved and to Team GB for the win. Thought Freddie and Jonas D were the two stand out performers, just a shame for them that the rest of their team were poor. My one gripe for the evening was the fact that anyone on the first and second bends was 'penned in' during the four track grading intervals. The toilets are on both straights and it wasn't possible to get through past the pits on the first bend, or past the tractor gate on the second bend while the grading was going on, therefore lots of people had no access to a toilet at a time when most people will want to use them poor organisation and pretty unnecessary as access could have been allowed while the three tractors were on the track.

However if you'd been organised you could have got your ticket for fifteen quid before July 1st. Which for 25 SWC heats is very good value indeed, especially if you compare it to fifteen heats of league speedway in this country.

With the final outside the comforts of their own country I wouldn't be so sure

Lynn has staged British U21 and senior British semis over the past couple of years so they have had the 'rubbish' meetings as you put it. From what I have read on here the last two U21 finals have been boring because of the slickness of the track, which may explain why they were 'mind numbingly boring'. And it wasn't the Lynn fans who clubbed together and lobbied for the SWC, it was Buster who wants meetings like this. Several years ago, before the stadium improvements started, he talked of spending thousands on the run down old place and hosting major events and he has been true to his word. Maybe instead of encouraging mediocrity as one or two have mentioned Buster's success may encourage others with old stadia to improve facilities for their customers and be rewarded similarly? Even if PL tracks having big meetings does discourage others from 'bettering themselves' by going EL I'm sure there are many other more significant factors ie costs, rider availability through foreign leagues and world championship meetings, disrupted fixture lists, lack of variety etc (and before orion starts I don't think the PL is perfect either). I can't remember a queue of PL tracks wanting to move up before Rye and Lynn were given these big meetings. And I would also question how much say the BSPA, Rob Lyon or whoever has in the FIM / BSI's choice of venue. Buster was the one who applied for the meeting and was successful. Also were there similar complaints about the geography when it was held at the EoES last year? Lynn is only another half an hour down the road after all.

Indeed.....you never know, those missing riders may make a couple of the events closer and more exciting. Certainly makes the Lynn meeting more even on paper.

I meant the year we won at Coventry rather than the year we bombed out, sure it was 2007.

Coventry 2007

Dear me. Until the EL sorts itself out and is more than just a play thing for three or four teams do you really expect bigger clubs to leave the more secure waters of the PL just to lose money in the top flight? Buster & co have spent thousands on the stadium and have applied successfully to host a major event, they deserve it as much as anyone. Agree with the rest of your post though, it plays into the Aussie's hands.

Surely thats got to be a wind up? Fifteen quid (if you bought tickets before July 1st) for 25 SWC races is a bargain in my book. Its a fiver for over 60's!

Awesome :approve:

I'm quite surprised that you've gone for two PL riders over Ward & Schlein.

Loud and clear fella See you there in a fortnight?

I think it would be harsh to rule Stead out for one bad meeting. Barker certainly has something about him and I think he will be a big rider for GB in the future but I just feel that the five pretty much pick themselves this year. Kennett, Bridger, King and Barker haven't done enough over the season to oust any of those five for me.

All about opinions of course but I wouldn't consider Barker to be an NA specialist and Stead is averaging nearly two points more per meeting according to the BSPA site.

Nicholls, Bomber, Rico, Stead and Woffinden. No surprises really.

No Crump or Adams apparently......will surely be Watt, Holder, Batchelor, Schlein and Ward?