mikebv

Damn those fixture planners... Dont think even Bomber could get up and down the M6 between his races...

Truly is baffling how he cannot control a ride around the kerb at pace...

They cannot get their rider graphics correct. ... But can show some random race watchers from the pits instead of the racing......

Wow... What a race....

You have to be very, very, special to keep repeating the same mistakes though, year on year.... To be fair though the year we had no racing due to Covid it was pretty well organised .. Ironic that when we finally get Grand Prix riders back we then plan meetings to prevent them from riding..... Amazing...

Just ten league meetings to fit in and over six months in which to do it...? With the FIM meetings scheduled in advance...? And fixed race nights of Monday and Thursday so no clashes...? And yet they still plan a meeting whereby the likelihood would be "top level" riders may be elsewhere ? And on a TV night too? I bet Eurosport must be mightily impressed at such capability from their partners...

Job for Bomber maybe...? If he isnt doing anything else obviously...

Maybe have less teams in the league then? Would stop so many "haves and have nots" too, making it far more competitive than it currently is... And would mean NDL could be stand alone being given the "main stage" and not a "support act", and also nean the riders riding on tracks that are not bereft of shale, thus increasing both their experience of such tracks which will help their development, and the entertainment value on offer.. Less teams would not only mean plenty of dates freed up, but also would mean more riders of a certain level to stand in for injuries from a pool of talent that isnt contracted to any of the teams in the league.. Eg a "live example" would be if Complin was riding for Neecastle in the NDL he could be Berwck's No8, thus keeping the integrity and credibility of the sport intact...

???? Re "taking risks".. I was replying to someone who said the top tier should strengthen up rather than the 2nd Div reduce its strength.. I was merely pointing out that if they did that (and they would be mad to do so given the small potential impact to their crowds), that many of the current HL's would be jettisoned and have only Div 2 earnings to fall back on.. I presume Poole and the other Div 2 teams desperate to win, would like to subsidise any riders that happens to by paying them two wages worth of cash? No? Thought not... Therefore the best scenario for Div 2 is to maintain the 'as is'... Bottom line is the top tier cannot afford the top names and the 2nd tier cannot afford to pay the money on their own that jettisoned Div 1 HL's would need, so what we have is what we will always have, hence enjoy the racing for what it is and dont worry about the results.. Because it still can be a great night out when done well.. And as for Sweden and Denmark? No idea what trouble (if any) they have... I was just pointing out that they run a lesser level than Poland but still keep credibility within their leagues.. Sweden do though have a large international company sponsoring their league, so it appears they are doing something that at least one big company sees advantageous to them by being associated with the sport.. Even though when you watch Swedish Speedway the demographic of the crowd appears to be exactly the same as the UK... Yet. The UK seem to struggle badly with getting any of their leagues sponsored, and have done so for decades, even with multiple hours of prime time TV coverage... Makes you wonder how the Swedes can get a sponsor and the UK cannot.. (?).

Considering the meetings are live on TV, there has been some very decent crowds this season... Certainly a lot more than their UK counterparts seem to get when going out live.. Presume It must be the standard of rider which helps? Having Bauhaus as league sponsor must help pay the bills I would think given the amount of Polish top league riders who play their trade in Sweden...

"Brady Kurtz looking like a completely different rider in his last ride.." Indeed he did.. Because he was Rasmus Jensen...

Ambition to win something hardly anyone bothers about? And that is the top division never mind the 2nd tier... And should the top tier ever "take the risks" and bring top level riders over then lads who need to double up/down will get replaced by these riders thus meaning they wont earn enough to keep going.. That will hardly help Div 2....

Cut your cloth accordingly then... Have clear demarcation within the leagues... And run at the level your pockets dictate, not your ego... Bottom line is... You will never grow the sport using the current free for all of using whoever you want, whenever you want, and competing at a level you personally decide to compete at, rather than one your actual performances and infrastructure dictates... It won't ever change though given so many different agendas are involved.. Therefore, best not to take it seriously and enjoy, what still can be, a cracking night out...

Indeed... There is a reason Poland don't follow the operating model of UK Speedway... And that is they would lose all credibility, and with it, the fans, the major TV and other media coverage, and (critically), the big ticket sponsors.. The UK could very easily run a similar operating model "Poland Lite", (like Sweden and Denmark do), but steadfastly seem to refuse to do so.. A few teams trying to win the 2nd Division, using Division One Heat Leaders, is obviously more important than the sport itself becoming popular it would appear...

It isnt really two tiers though is it? More like 1.25..... The glaring issue (continually unresolved) is that if you want to run without relegation and promotion (like some other sports do so its not unique), then you need to ensure every team is competitive, and that they only compete in the league which suits there true level.... Otherwise it becomes brand damaging..

The well being of your home town club is more assured (and probably cheaper and easier to deliver), by employing a No1 you will never use and instead use every other teams' riders... Seems to work well.... Personally, the cost could be prohibitive for those who are not interested in the NDL, but for those who are it could be real VFM... For me, 30 heats of Speedway do often drag and the tracks are often "bald" early into the second meeting, meaning the racing isnt great, hence the double headers dont engage me.. But, as I say, for the die hard devoted "club before sport fan", it could offer real value...

Great idea... Elton John as a guest if Ed cannot make it.....

You pretty much always get your money's worth with Bomber, so the more he is in action, the more the entertainment value.. However, in a broader context.. It does render the competitions somewhat "Mickey Mouse", which must be extremely hard to sell to a wider fan base, sponsors, and media... Since Rory retired, and Scott seems to have reduced his activity to focus on his media career (within which he is doing a great job for me), it has left only Bomber from the regular go to "Three Guestketeers" of the past few seasons.. Meaning that out of the three, only "Harramis" is left...

Of course they do... Perfectly normal and acceptable I would imagine in their eyes.. The same outlook as every promote I would imagine as they seem to all do it.. Not sure every fan shares the same view though... But that isnt important is it? Just like the tournaments they run due to using the operating model they do... One day they may get it... (What am I saying, of course they wont).. Personally can't believe Bomber wont be there given so many guests are needed.. What a disgrace that they arranged it for a night he cannot be there so he misses out...

No chance it's that many... Reality being stretched too far.... They should give him a camera and he could do a travel vlog around GB... Get the Tourist Board involved...

So are loads of other football teams... But they are still not the box office (nor ever will be) that United are... Hated, Adored, But Never Ignored...

Granted it is a very small pond, but some still take it seriously enough (and collude with promoters that it means something), to bother... For some I think, given the comments now and again on here, Poole seened to have ruined their life...

Of course.... Must be a whole couple of nights since Bomber rode... We must be close to his "Platinum Jubilee" meeting of the season .... Bomber...

Jealousy... Success brings a lot of that from opposition fans and promoters... Every sport needs a "Manchester United" though as it means as many loath them that love them.. So it's good for business having a "pantomime villian"... And I always believe that if you cant beat another team then dont moan about them.. Instead, find a way to beat them at their own game... When Poole were at the NSS and Kirky Lane, I would go, with it sometimes being my only visit of the season.. Good for Speedways brand are Poole, let's hope they can still be around for a good few seasons yet...

One of the main issues facing the sport is that the Championship is too strong... For example. Too many Div One HL's means it is too big a jump for Div 3 riders... Which means they will have to find a way to reduce the standard, or run the same standard but with less teams... There is zero point in running a match featuring a team with three Div One Heat Leaders against a team with none, as no one "wins", (especially the brand)... The biggest challenge will be though how to reduce the level to make everyone competitive, whilst still giving Div One HL level riders plenty of rides in the Championship, whilst also charging circa twenty quid at Tier 2 level for the privilege to watch... However that is the challenge that was obviously coming from the moment the double up/down floodgates were allowed to be opened, and a challenge that has so far been steadfastly avoided to be taken up... Ironically the "lack of variety" Premiership is the one league of the top two that actually is competitive, so a reduction in teams in Div 2, (say eight?), maybe would deliver the same? With the rest forming a "decent level" 3rd Tier... Less teams per league means more riders available to cover injuries and fixture clashes without using guests from the same league, which can only be a good thing to give the currently lacking in kudos leagues some real credibility.. Personally those teams that have taken advantage of the rules by upgrading at home, and also dont bother getting in guests away from home, deserve some credit for taking the advantage given by such a ridiculous situation of such an uncompetitive league being allowed to happen, especially when it was crystal clear the season would unfold exactly as it has..