mikebv

Mystical powers me... Now for six numbers for tomorrow night... On a roll now.... In line with my mystical prediction that Bomber would be riding I now predict that tomorrow (which I predict will be called Tuesday), will start dark at 12am, then become light around 8am... Mystical powers ...

Lot of it about... I have a cough...

Is Bomber getting his bikes ready?

That will be it!!! Nail on the head... Run them in December then and stretch our glorious weather through to November...

Well climate change really has so much to answer for doesnt it? I remember when I was growing up, loads of hot dry days and lovely evenings in October with the barometer often reaching the mid thirties.. Off I went to Hyde Rd each Saturday in shorts, T shirts and flip flops, looking forward to a "Senor Whippy" ice cream... (Yum Yum)... With a Flake obviously... Sometimes I had a tub instead, but they cost a bit more... Raspberry sauce too, goes without saying... Nowadays, incredibly, the back end of October has almost become like "the start of winter" hasnt it? Cold, dark, damp nights with the threat of a huge downpour seemingly always imminent, and the temperature often getting into single figures... "All of a sudden", that appears to be the norm doesnt it? When did THAT happen?

Correct... Should have been 2-0....

Running the league play offs in September would be the perfect scenario.. Just after the summer hols and kids back at school so maximum possible adult attendance... And whilst the weather is still decent too... The Cups should take place in April and be done and dusted by mid May.. Again, hopefully in decent weather.. Spreading the competitions keeps publicity throughout the season and not just in one block when Speedway closes just afterwards.. Win a trophy in May, get some local publicity, then advertise yourself as "x" cup winners for the rest of the season.. Fans like to latch on to something successful... Run all the individual comps in October...

They should make a sport that is so reliant on the weather a summer sport.... Wonder if anyone has ever thought of that...?

Who will run the first leg? Very exciting isn't it?

Look At Me! Look At Me! Look At Me! Not Them! Me! Etc, etc, etc Ad Infinitum... Best of luck to Poole in the final... A victory for Poole will really be a "Victory for Speedway"... And resonate far and wide, bringing huge publicity for the sport.. The Dorchester Reporter could even do a half page spread just above the local Meat raffle results from the British Legion...

The only thing professional about UK Speedway is those riders who only ride Speedway for a living... The non riding aspect of the sport wouldnt even pass as semi professional... Even many amateur leagues in other sports would be offended to be measured against UK Speedway's operating model and rules and regulations' implementation...

If it goes back to the "Summer Cup" next year, would the amount of "sunny days" we get determine whether the finalists stay in the competion or not? Could be 50/50 if that's the case to be honest...

Let's hope that going forward the promoters think very, very carefully about naming their competitions after someone, or some event... Otherwise none of them may ever get completed again.......

I admire your optimism.....

The 31st of which month?

Liz Truss goes.... Glasgow pull out of the Jubilee Cup... It's just one huge surprise after another today isn't it?

Little boy sits on Santa's knee and gets asked what he wants for Xmas... "A real Dragon that flies and breathes fire" says the kid... Santa doesnt want the boy to feel let down, so remains calm, and instead diplomatically explains that not all things are always available to be given as Xmas presents... "If I cannot give you a Dragon what would you like instead young man?", Santa asks... The young lad thinks hard for a few seconds before answering.. "I love Speedway Santa so if I cannot get a Dragon as my Xmas present then I would like you to sort out British Speedway so it is ran properly, with integrity and credibility and with a fantastic marketing plan... This time it was Santa who thought hard for a few seconds before answering... "What colour Dragon do you want kid?"...

I am going to buy two and not read one of them....

I was going to suggest that....

Poland's biggest advantage is the fact they have seen how the UK has ran things from their own "halcyon days"... And therefore 1 million percent avoid doing the same.. Hence, for example, they ensure every team has to have a strong Polish presence... They may be training up the riders from other countries via the U23 league to ensure they have enough quality riders to maintain those high standards, but they haven't taken their eye off the ball to allow the national team to fall behind, because they know how important national success is to selling the domestic product... We decided in the late 70's and early 80's to spend the best part of the next four decades training up 'the world', with very much quantity rather than quality often being the key determinant of who came over... Unfortunately to the detriment of the UK riders, and it's media coverage, as the national team became also rans... Poland has lots of advantages because they seem to know what they are doing, and where they want to take their sport... Maybe one day the UK also could have a clear strategy for growth?

I think it is that those "involved" behind the scenes in some way, see it for what it is, ie mainly about riders making money, and sponsors having a hobby who maybe could get some reflected glory and/or satisfaction in helping riders.. And nothing more than that really.. For those who follow the sport it is often about frustration in seeing "what could be"... As I say, a shame given the on track raw material that the sport has to play with... You only have to look at Poland as to how exactly the same sport, featuring many of the same riders, has been developed to become "The place to be", and financially hugely successful for those who take the risks when they ride... I suppose though that the "make it up as you go along" operating model that the UK uses, is "good enough" for riders and personal and local company team sponsors to keep up their livelihoods and interest respectively... Which ultimately keeps the sport going in the UK at least...

100% get all that from the logistical angle... However... It is yet another situation where those who run the competitions completely devalue their own output... If anyone really took it seriously then Sheffield would not be happy that each other team had home advantage and they didn't... Instead we have another "make do and mend" which is absolutely fine, just as long as the promoters understand why many loyal fans of the sport then decide to give many meetings a season a miss... As. If those who organise competitions don't take them seriously, then why should the fans? Season on season the same nonsense is allowed to pervade... Which is a shame given the raw material to work with...

And if Sheffield (or any club with landlords) have issues with dates at any times of the season then surely they should have held their rounds when dates were available? If October was an issue then maybe they should have gone first? The Premiership Pairs which had the potential to be a good competition was heralded as "Giving fans what they want" via more variety... Maybe they should have added, "Giving fans what they want, but not necessarily at the tracks that they want it"... Eric Morecombe would have been proud...

Because Leicester isn't in the Premiership maybe? Using that logic. With Peterborough, KL and Ipswich in it maybe Mildenhall could have been used? Also.. The other five teams will have had home track advantage but Sheffield now wont.. Hardly making the competition a credible proposition really is it? And Sheffield fans who want to go and watch it now have to travel 'away' to another track to do so.. All season to plan in one of only three competitions, and one that needed just six nights over seven months, (with the added advantage of fixed race nights), to complete it... An amazing achievement...

Will Leicester enter with Morris and Howarth...? Or will they be needed for Wolves and Sheffield? All very confusing this UK Speedway isnt it?