mikebv

If it had been watched by enough people Sky would have kept it going as the advertisers alone would have been happy for them to continue with it... And if tracks had some kind of covers to increase their chances of running, rather than calling off meetings on 'damp but raceable' ' nights, I am sure Sky would have been more inclined to keep the contract open. As it stood, it cost them a lot of money to take all their kit to a track, set up, and have nothing to broadcast.. Bottom line is UK Speedway had 'the cream of the crop' over here and each top league track got over £100k a year for a long, long time, (literally tens of millions was put into the sport), and when the contract ended UK Speedway wasn't any better at all for all that money they had received... And that is simply rank incompetence...

Sky paid millions to the then BSPA for the worlds best riders to all ride over here... That couldn't go wrong either I presume?

"In the interest of Speedway" is a five second plan...

Not the greatest season ever, tracks have been too poorly prepared too often (soaked through), for it to be a classic. Good tracks at that as well.. However, still plenty of top racing which highlights just how great this sport can be when properly presented and structured... Time for a few to drop out permanently now I would hope, Zagar and KK have given excellent value over the years but some younger blood now needs to be introduced.. Hopefully Lambert can get a WC as there are certainly a fair few examples this year where he has shown he is capable, and 10th in the world is a fair achievement... Hopefully the Polish track bias will reduce next year and a few more technical tracks join the circus... Great to see a brand new name to be added to the list of greats who have won the World Title..

Doubt it.... Russia not there.... More is the pity.. Zmarzlik using the "Zmarzlik corridor" again...

Woffy to let Artem get at least a third?

Then they need to cover the line he takes 100 times out of a 100 when he is behind.... Sit back on the mudguard, full throttle, head down arse up, fire!!!

Zmarzlik fires up the inside again... Are the other riders a bit thick....?

At least Fireman Phil has reduced the flooding tonight....

Well done lad,.... Gate one last race.....

Emil and his team seem very friendly with Zmarzlik..... Maybe they dont want Laguta to be the first Russian World Champ?

Laguta riding very defensive... Not a great idea... Hopefully he will now be forced to mix it on the first turn as he can't afford any thing less than four points from his last two I would think....

If it had been Peterborough they had gone to they could have had some of the riders as lots at the auction....

Very sad news..... R.I.P..... Condolences to his family and friends.....

It will have saved money I would think which probably was a key for it.. It would have been cheaper surely than flying over 4 point journeymen to ride at reserve, who would then drop their average because they were not good enough, but before their averages became official, they would be replaced by another 4 point journeyman... I mean... I am sure it is a well thought out, structured path of development, which doesnt make the sport appear Mickey Mouse by its contrived, manipulative nature of operation...

So do the poor averages of many of the RS's prove the lack of success of the concept? Many have gone before and done well riding in the 2nd Division without any RS moniker tagged to them.. And many have done poorly too...

In a couple of weeks we will be in to SON territory on the Saturday and Sunday so you would think that they would want to crack on as quickly as they can... Wouldnt be a good idea (even if they are allowed to which I am not sure they are), to run against that and you are then heading quickly into late October, which is never a pleasant part of the year weather wise...

It wasn't a perfect product for the top two leagues as it showed up all their own lack of perfection... A very reasonable entrance fee delivered value for money, watching riders willing to race on tracks less than 'spot on', who gave every race their all, with many just pleased to have the opportunity provided... And (no disrespect meant), given it was the 3rd Division, if it was a couple of contrived septets on display that you watched, it didn't really matter, as you weren't paying 'top dollar' to watch your Speedway.. And the development of the riders and the entertainment they produced was the key to your enjoyment... It was probably "too good" an overall packaged product, which the top two leagues (which are pretty much one and the same) couldn't compete with... Hence they took the steps they did...

Got to feel for Freddie....

Nige and Kelv blaming Berntzon for the Zupinski crash....

Great to see Tai starting well again... Pressure off maybe which will help, but as we go towards the SON it's good to see he has a bike he must be happy with...

He has definitely got many of them psychologically beaten before they race him.... And that is because he keeps getting away with that 'spearing the bike' at them as they move out and let him through... Nicki P would let his left leg dangle out, get hit, and slide serenely to the fence.... And lie there till Zmarzliks exclusion light came on.....

He only gave him a 1.0...

You can only get excluded in the 'shallow end'....

Amazing how many top riders basically 'crap' themselves when Zmarzlik aims his bike at them as they enter the bends.. Nicki P would have him excluded ten times out of ten...