Wee Eck

And yet, I do.....

I would define “pay” as meaning covering the costs rather than just contributing to them. You wouldn’t say that Monster pays for the GPs but, like Visit Wales, their sponsorship contributes to the costs.

I doubt the Welsh Government pay for the GP to be held there. They are one of the sponsors, for sure, but that’s not the same thing

I don’t know, tbh. But looking at Google Earth, I think most, but not all, of the spectators would stay dry, but, if you could fit one in, and if the FA permitted its use (neither of which seems likely to me) then the track would be completely uncovered. It surprised me that Wembley didn’t include a roof especially as it cost nearly £800m. By way of contrast, Cardif “only” cost £121m including the roof.

In my view, Cardiff succeeds for several reasons like it has a roof, it has a very large capacity, it’s in a city centre so is accessible by public transport as well as having plentiful accommodation (at an inflated price). Is there any other stadium in UK that does all of that?

That would be good! One or more a double header? BSI say 11 GPs, and Togliatti has to be nailed on, hence my 5 x 2 guess. So maybe same as 2020, Prague, Gorzow, Wroclaw, Toruń x 2 each plus Malilla, Vojens and Togliatti, starting at the end of July?

If NSS had the capacity and if PZM allowed their riders to travel and if UK granted the riders visas and allowed them in without having to quarantine, then maybe. But too many ifs for me. I think we are looking at 5 x 2 Polish GPs plus Togliatti which has strong local political backing. Toruń, Gorzow and Wroclaw seem definites, plus maybe Bydgoszcz and one other

That’s very sad. Did you at least get your lollipop for being brave?

I agree with much of what you say. He certainly was box office but as much for his whining and moaning as his on track performances, which were legendary. His achievements were substantial, twice BLRC winner, twice British Champion, World Pairs Champion and all by the time he was 25. But away tracks booed him because they bored of his histrionics. Remembering and acknowledging his performances is a given. Still referring to him as “#kingkenny” is not and I’m pleased the tweet has now been removed.

Regardless of his talents on a speedway bike, for Speedway GB’s press office to eulogise a man who murdered his wife, then orphaned his children by killing himself is, in my opinion, the height of bad taste. And what sort of “kind wishes” are they expressing?

If I could have reproduced the tweet - I couldn’t get it to copy over - perhaps you’d understand. I’ll try again

I was trying to post a tweet from the speedway press office saying “Remembering Kenny Carter on his 60th birthday” and saying “We remember him and extend our kind wishes to Kenny and Pam’s family today” I don’t get offended, but I do get disgusted. And this tweet is, in my view, disgraceful

The “boat” is defined in the speedway regulations. The 2020 regs - probably also the 2021 regs too - at 10.2.3c) say that a rider who has been or is eligible to ride in the NDL and has not represented an international body other than the ACU is eligible for a 2.5% reduction. So my reading is: Bunyan doesn’t count as he’s retired No to Wells, Campos and Schlein If BWD or Terry-Daley have ever ridden for Motorcycling New Zealand (or any governing body other than ACU) then they won’t get a discount.

I have my doubts above BV lacking home track advantage. If my research is correct (probably not!) the two play off finals were 2015 and 2016. 2015 was at Kirky Lane which definitely had home track advantage. 2016 was the first year at the NSS and BV topped the league perhaps because of home track advantage? Whatever the reason, I would still say that Peter Adams can outfox Mark Lemon. For now......

Fair enough. But flying in and out of WA? Or the QLD mines? It’s a long old haul to get to Kalgoorlie

Wrong side of the country I think. Josh G lives in Queensland and has been riding at North Brisbane. Due to race there on 17 April. It’s Steve Johnson who works in the copper, not gold, mines in Western Australia.

Can I change my mind?! Sheffield still remain an expensive team but I doubt it’ll now buy them the league. Still top four, but only just. I still like the look of Ipswich but can’t decide on second and third. Both teams have an element of home track advantage, Wolves slightly more than BV. Also, if you had to pick between Peter Adams and Mark Lemon as the “better” manager, then Peter wins that one. So, Ipswich vs Wolves final for me.....but then, getting it right would be a first for me

What is a surprise to me is the press release completely ignoring the fact that the two Scottish teams have been awarded grants, whereas English teams have been told that they might possibly perhaps get something or they might get nothing and it might be a grant or it might be a loan.....yippee!

Has to be 2021 only. Too rider of the year. I’d forgotten about Ryan Douglas tbh. Strong showing in Aussie over the winter so could be a good outside bet

I read a comment recently that someone thought that Charles Wright is the league’s number one, but is he a better rider than Craig Cook? And, if not either of them, which rider do people think will top the averages? Crump? Masters? Someone else?

My error - apologies. My knowledge does not go back that far. Was it 2002/03? And who was the promoter? I know Peter Toogood had wanted to move BSPA out of the ACU offices, but I think he wanted to buy an office on the same street, rather than wanting to shift everything to Brandon.

What money from Sky? Brandon closed in 2016, the last year of the Sky deal, although they bought themselves out at the end of that year. BSPA paid BT Sport to broadcast speedway in 2017, covering the cost with some of the buy out money. After doing that and having to support clubs who’d suddenly seen their tv money lost, how much do you reckon was left? My guess is low hundreds of thousands. Now, how much do you reckon the property developer owner sold Brandon for? My recollection is it was somewhere between £4m and £7m. Where was BSPA going to find that sort of money?

I don’t think Belle Vue look at all strong. The way to success is for riders to increase their averages but other than Dan and maybe Jye, who else will? Sheffield look nailed on for the title but it’s a very expensive team Batchelor, Holder, Ellis, Howarth and, erm, their rising star won’t come cheap. Wolves need their two Americans to score well if they’re going anywhere. Peterborough should pick up the “best endeavour” prize. Kings Lynn have some much rumoured team building problems but Buster will find a way through them. Which leaves Ipswich. My guess is that, like in 2019, they’ll surprise a few. Crumple has certainly been serious about his racing and Klindt is racing well. Add the experience of King and Heeps and the enthusiasm of Stewart, Rowe and Kemp - especially Rowe, and you have a team that might repeat their 2019 position. So, my order: 1. Sheffield, 2. Ipswich, 3/4. Belle Vue/Wolves, 5.Kings Lynn 6. Peterborough

Most definitely. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires, Bradford. It has a ring to it

So much for equality. There are some crazily strong teams there like Eastbourne and Leicester and some shockers like Poole and Kent. Expect some major changes long before we get to May