mikebv

I think the landscape will change again next year post Covid lockdowns... Poland will be more than happy to keep the 'one club plus us' rule and Sweden will be back playing in front of crowds again and paying more than the UK per meeting... Might not need a "No1" if that is the case... Lets be honest, only Jack Holder and Dan Bewley would be classed as anything like a "No1" rider level this year anyway, and both may at the end of this year see taking the Woffinden and Lambert route of just testing themselves against the best (rather than dropping back levels each week) as best for their development and ambition... Maybe get Batch back?

I once used one of those tourist info things in London that had several buttons under a map of all the tourist areas... You basically pressed a button with a description eg Buckingham Palace, and its location lit up on the map so you could then plot your way to the destination ... The spooky thing was on the map was an arrow pointing to a place on the map with the words "You are here"... How did they know?. I wouldn't use one again....

I think a fair few (ie five others), may use Anders now it's a "free for all".. Maybe he could ride for both the Tigers AND the Aces when the B fixture takes place..? Obviously not in the same races though.. As that would be just silly wouldnt it?

Given how close the standards are now between reserves and second strings you could just run, for a number six, two rides for the lowest average second string and two for the number seven.. For a number seven missing there are two options.. Bring in an adhoc "Number 8" from the league below who becomes that teams' official replacement rider for all season when he represents them, or.. More proactive, each team to have three reserves in their squad at the start of the year, two included in the starting septet and one (a lower average rider who doubles up), on stand by for absence /loss of form replacement... In fact, you could have the one seven slot covered by two 'rising stars' to assist with development..? If that was the case then no need for RR for a number 7..

I presume it's more for loan deals.. A magic merry go round most years isnt it? Can't remember the last "big transfer" to be honest.. However.. Given Poland can dictate if "your rider" rides for you or not, I wouldnt think paying out any transfer money would be worth it anyway..

In the 'days of yore'.. Number one riders in a 13 heat match would run a minimum 9 point average with the top ten running 10 and 11 plus... Often meaning (particularly away from home) the likes of Mauger, Olsen Collins, et al would score 13 to 15 a night (with a TAC sub 'gimme' against a second string and reserve included).. And every team had a 'proper No1... As you only needed to score 39 to get s draw it meant that the "Number Ones" were vital and 100% integral to the teams success, with, even on a bad night, a double figure score of just 10 was often more than 25% of a teams' total... Meaning that if they were missing then, so fundamental were they, that a replacement of a similar standard was needed.. Now teams have seven point men at No1, with five point men as second strings... If ever Speedway (in the UK) was going to dispense with the guest system (and with it remember, it can never hope to succeed), it should have been now, given the closeness in standard of the riders in each team.. Last week for example, Ipswich at Sheffield should have been allowed to have Cook and King take all Crumps rides up to a max seven each (if that was what the manager wanted).. Meaning the meeting (and competition) kept its credibility, the Ipswich riders (not non Ipswich riders), got to earn more money, and the team ethos and spirit was protected.. Not to mention the guest themselves don't get accused of trying too hard which penalises his own team or throwing the meeting to protect his own team... Imagine if the sport did get major coverage explaining either of those scenarios post meeting to a watching audience...?

Pretty sure you are 100% right... i seem to remember reading a couple of years ago that the BSP want teams to have assets so as they have someone to sell should they close, which then can help pay the creditors..... I think it may have mentioned that this had replaced the 'bond' (not sure if just for some or all), given tracks didn't always have the money to front up...

If this was a boxing match the ref would step in..

Last night with Anders Rowe being there to represent Sheffield it left the meeting devoid of credibility when aligned with the sport being a supposed professional team sport.. However, on the other hand.... Last night with Anders Rowe being there to represent Sheffield it certainly added much to the overall entertainment value on offer... Personally I will always believe that a truly fit for purpose RR facility would do away with guests completely, (never more so than now given the closeness in rider capability from 1 to 5 in particular), however as that is seemingly beyond the wit of man to deliver then they will be forever here to stay... Which obviously means the leagues will never have any value in winning them, but at least each meeting should stay at least competitive and watchable.... Unfortunately though the sport can't have it both ways... No one can ever complain about a lack of major sponsorship when that company/those companies will be associated with something 'pretty much contrived'.... And I can't think of one major company that would choose to back something ran that way.... 14 riders of a decent level can still deliver a good nights entertainment regardless of who 'wins'.... Which is ultimately what each track should be trying to achieve..

Thus bringing the sport in the UK both Credibility AND Integrity? Hmmm.. Interesting concept.. However. . Maybe we should just try and get regular manned flights to Mars first before we attempt this type of thing...

To be honest if I was a rider I would be the most frustrated of all 'stakeholders' in the sport.... They should be earning fortunes and plying their considerable talents in front of thousands every night... 'Lions led by donkeys' would be most apt .... And good to see Adam racing over here again... Once again tonight, easily one of the best 3 riders on show....

To be fair having one of your own highest potential future stars scoring points for another team, which could ultimately end your own teams' season early, won't exactly have many of 'the masses' beating down the gates to get in either... Having Anders there tonight though certainly improved the spectacle and entertainment value which is really all that matters... And a fair proportion of British lads too in both teams which can never be a bad thing to hopefully help the sport grow...

Enjoyed that tonight.. Most races pretty processional but close, with enough "last ditch" efforts to make most races interesting to the end.. The Ipswich Tiger proved to be the match winner with a couple of excellent passes to prevent the Aces scoring more... (How do you feel about that Mr Louis?) The tapes exclusion for Etheridge and R Worrall falling off meant the Aces were a little bit undone by themselves, but Batch gifting them a 5-1 in heat 13 balanced it up somewhat.. Plenty in too, considering the 'restrictions' and pay at the gate (in cash?). £36 for me and the lad to get in, £2 car park, (never bother with a prog), and circa £20 petrol (due to a huge 50 mile detour because of road closures), meant not staggering VFM but you certainly wouldn't feel short changed... Considering the crowd size, and a local derby as such, the atmosphere was definitely 'un Poland like' and pretty flat in all honesty.. Maybe on nights like this they should have a home and away section? Must have easily been a good couple of hundred Aces fans there which if together (like Poland do), I am sure the atmosphere would have been ramped up several notches and given the meeting some real edge... (Like a proper team sport if you will).... And whilst on that subject.... When Anders next goes back with Ipswich does he ride for both teams? Given his efforts tonight, it would be a real shame for the kid to knock himself out of the play offs..

A "two hour advert" that advertises itself as a sport that hardly any crowd attends.. A Great plan... Those watching wont for one moment think the stadiums are virtually empty due to the TV cameras being there.. They will just think it's because "that is normal" and, being sheep like, wont get encouraged to attend something so apparently poorly followed.. I suppose Nigel and Kelvin could currently say all the gaps are due to social distancing rules and a restricted attendance..? Might struggle with that after lockdown fully ends though..

Imagine if Poland ran with this? I am sure Betard would be delighted for Woffy to top score for Gorzow to help knock Wroclaw out of a play off slot.. I am sure that they would also be both eager and delighted to sign off their several hundred thousand euro sponsorship deals for both team and individual again for next year... Whilst such nonsense exists, the sport can never move forward.. No matter what else they try and do to improve its following.. "Being taken seriously" and "Having credibility" are two simple and very, very, basic fundamentals if you want to attract investment or just basic custom...

Good call... Kings Lynn could maybe do the same...? They could line up like this.. B E S I X T H

Yes/No/Maybe/Possibly/Probably/Definitely/Definitely not/It's in the interests of Speedway/It doesn't really matter * * Delete as applicable...

And a reduction in income tax...

To be honest, having Rowe there improves the entertainment from my perspective.. It's £36 for me and the lad tomorrow and having him there instead of Bates should mean a closer match and racing.. However.. I can dispassionately "couldn't care less" who wins, but maybe those that still see league racing in the UK as "real" may not... And that unfortunately is the ultimate downfall of the way the sport is ran.. Eventually you pee the die hards off (your biggest, most loyal fans), so much that they then lose their enthusiasm and (more importantly), their attendance.. Finally.. Is Jack there or have Torun got a meeting Friday?

"Morning Mickey".. "Morning Minnie".. "Just had to give another ruling for a Speedway meeting". "In the UK?".. "Of course" ..

Since around the mid eighties... Screen, Loram, Cox, Cross, Wigg, Havelock, Tatum, Smith, Dugard, Knight, Thorpe, Doncaster, Harris, Nicholls, Cook, Louis, Woffinden, King, Lambert, Bewley.... And probably more I have missed... All have competed at the very top World or European level, with many of them winning or reaching the rostrum at that level.. Which shows that producing top class English/GB riders who can compete at the very highest level hasn't really been a problem since the sport began... The issue since circa 1985 is that most teams stopped using loads of English/GB lads below that level to fill up their teams with, and instead used riders of a similar level from around the globe, (journeymen without being disrespectful), to fill these slots... These youngsters coming through are not necessarily the 'next gen' of World Champions, (some may reach the level of the riders mentioned), but hopefully most will go on to provide a constant stream of 'mid level' riders with which to fill teams with and, hopefully have enough 'top level' lads to get "Team GB" back up consistently at, or near, the top of the rostrums of the various FIM events.. And, as having a consistently victorious 'national team' is is the only way the sport can get the mainstream media and major company sponsorship involvment it needs to grow the domestic leagues, then lets hope the plan to get these lads plenty of racing opportunities and development works.. When at least five out of seven riders in every team is British, and there is a clear demarcation between all the leagues, (be they two or three), then the domestic product may once again start to attract more interest...

Might be there a bit early Kirky...? You should get a good spot to watch from though.. No social distancing problems either...

Best of luck to everyone down there.. Hope it is a success.. Lots of fans in the UK certainly admire and respect what you all do down there..

I know Kevin..

I work for a major UK and Global retailer and I do absolutely loads supporting the shops around me as without them the High St suffers and my trade dips.. I am also involved in the local Chamber of Commerce and Trading Associations.. As we will stand or fall together in the Community where my store is.. As an example I have hundreds of car parking spaces that are often empty, therefore the local hairdressers, take away's etc, and even the local Saturday food market inform all their customers that I allow them to use it for up to two hours.. Guess what? Many also then come in to shop with me when they go back to their car.. Very, very basic business acumen.. New promoters dont even get to vote on their own future in Speedway let alone get fully supported by the wider organisation in their infancy.. An utterly ludicrous way of running an ever shrinking enterprise..