mikebv

But could get a winners medal.... And a runners up one too...

Maybe the plan is to go down to ten teams...? Meaning plenty of riders to even the teams up... There would also be a few on standby too.... Could be just what the sport needs.. Top 8 into the playoffs....

So sad... One of the very best promoters of the sport you could wish for... Condolences to his family and friends... He will be sorely missed and leaves a huge void to be filled... RIP....

Exactly... One or the other these days....

Presume "not their race night", with it being a Friday? Only six clubs would be easily out voted too if they wanted to run...

They are going to use "ex Rider Replacement" for him all season... One for the historians there....

Looks like both Allen and Etheridge are tonight making it very difficult for Lemon to decide who to keep... Maybe he will just decide neither....

But is a good way of dissuading supporters I would suggest... Even regulars..

All spot on 100%... The issue to prevent this though is that UK Speedway is now designed, as its key priority, to provide circa 30 to 35 riders with enough rides to make them a full time living... Which also means that promoters can then afford them as they dont pay all the riders wages but share the cost with the riders other team.. Hence we keep a guest system, regardless of the wider damage it does, as it is a nice little earner to top up the salaries, and an easy fix for the promoters to put a team out on the track.. Less riders of a certain level should, common sense would dictate, mean less riders per team, or less teams in a league... But it wont happen, as the current situation is now pretty much custom and practice... Riders wont ride for just one team given the money drop, and promoters of 2nd Div clubs wont want to only use riders of a "lesser standard" again, given they can use Div One riders now whilst delivering a second level product..

I am sure UK Speedway could find a way....

I was talking about putting them on standby for EVERY meeting... Not just Newcastle's....

A good idea, however... Something much simpler.... Just put Bomber, Scott and Ben Barker on standby for every meeting.... Oh hang on... I think that is already the plan. ..

It shouldn't need anyone guesting to make a meeting entertaining... If that was the case then why not have every meeting with 14 blank spaces in the programme and track specialists get selected to represent each team..? Mickey Mouse rules kill the sport, so using its biggest one just to provide entertainment can never be good... Other sports with no promotion and relegation have minimum standards to adhere to, as they know that collectively the "brand" suffers if they have significantly disparate levels between top and bottom. However these sports have money behind them so being bottom doesnt mean a risk to survival.. UK Speedway doesnt have that luxury so needs the team/teams at the bottom to at least have a fighting chance..

Put the top 3 in each team as a collective, rather than any individual figure.. Then the riders who run 9 or 10 point averages can still get places, and be probably the most important signing the ciub makes given their status.. There will be those I am sure though who think "tough", and that some clubs will just have to make do with what they have.. And if any of the titles in UK League Speedway carried any great kudos, or financial return, I would 100% agree.. But sadly due to the way the sport is operated, they dont, so the thing that sells the sport the most is the entertainment value on offer, or at least a close meeting score wise.. Having such disparate difference from top to bottom does no one any favours from a business perspective..

Young Kowalski looks very promising... Some big names struggled to beat him...

UK Speedway is unique in that you basically choose your own level to compete in... You get hardly any publicity for winning anything and there is no major financial reward for victory... In fact. Success can (and has), helped close tracks down... There is no promotion or relegation meaning that many meetings become pretty much 'dead rubbers' as we hit mid season, given it is often clear by then who will qualify for the play offs and who won't... And. Getting beat regularly at home can dissuade home fans from attending but similarly, hammering teams regularly at home can also have the same negative impact to crowd levels,, especially when play off positions are virtually assured months out, and weak opposition are in town... Therefore. Having close racing throughout a meeting, and keeping scores close enough to remain "interesting" has to be the major priority, and the only way to do that is equally share out those riders who make the main difference to both the racing standard and the score line, ie. The Heat Leaders.. And if that means a deadline in place of say December for each team to say they will run then so be it, and should they come to the table after that then they run NDL...

Proper marker thrown down by Wroclaw tonight.. Juniors look very strong too....

Looking from the head on camera, not sure Holder could see too well... Seemed to have quite dusty goggles and tear off....

Fair call, didn't touch him... Jack bailed out.... 50/50... Chuganuv lifted but controlled it and Holder still had room... Did a Nicki P... Majic showing his usual early season form... Best rider in the world till June every year....

Dan gating!!!!! What is going on?

Kowalski seems more than decent....

Good recovery from "Tai Bewley" there...

6-0 to GB in Ht 1... Two good races to start..

I know... Wheres the fun? My lad from U14 had photo registration on the FA website... It does though mean any transfers he has had move over at a click of a button... He now plays semi pro and got registered Friday and played the Monday after, earlier this season... No "guests" anymore....

Great ride from Holder... One man team unfortunately..