mikebv

In Kelvin Tatum's book he mentioned the 'demographic change' in the East End of London that he felt meant the crowds were never going to be enough to keep the sport going at Hackney... Since then, the demographic make up of the whole of Greater London has become even more hugely diverse... Similar to a great many city centres in 'Speedway places' such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and Wolverhampton for example.. And 'ex Speedway places' like Bradford.. Getting those ethnic minority communities who now live practically on the 'doorstep' of several tracks (some actually being the majority ethnicity in that area around the track), to take interest in the sport has to be a huge opportunity for UK Speedway.... We have a shop in Bradford that has 20,000 customers a week with over 90% of them who class themselves as 'Asian'... Guess what? We target them by offering a large range of goods that they want, and also provide offers on their 'staple purchases'... Speedway should try and engage these communities as a key part of their strategy in certain places...

And on it goes... "Please take us seriously"... I would think that given some clubs were saying that they wanted to keep their same riders from 2020 it would be inevitable that some 'carving up' needed to be done to ensure everyone got what they wanted...

As with so much of what the "powers that be" so unfairly get criticised for regularly on here.. A complete "coincidence" I am sure that he meets the exact required criteria on so many levels.....

I do like to think that part of the plan to bring on the UK lads is to try and ensure their availability allows more meetings to take place going forward in the future at the 'best' times. (ie weekend and BH's).... Brexit, Polands dictatorship of World Speedway, and the gradual erosion of Greyhound racing, are big threats, so having a good many domestic competitors has to be something that helps defend the sport over here against the first two threats in particular... Finding new homes as Greyhound tracks close is going to be a major threat, however there are plenty of examples currently of tracks which started out 'rustic' and developed from there so a blueprint does exist... To move forward though, it has to be in charge of its own destiny... And they will only have that when they can decide who races, where they race, and what time and day of the week they race on...

Really? British Speedway? Surely not?

In all sports the "youth team" rarely become "first team" regulars at the place they learned their craft, with the vast majority never actually "making it" at all in their sport.. And often, the best of them will be sent out on loan to other teams to enhance their experience of the wider world.. A good move for both Tom and Jordan I would say...

It really wouldn't be UK Speedway without a rule already in situ, and it not being followed, would it? I presume there must have been some glaring example(s) where certain teams couldn't then get certain riders if they followed the conversion rules? So they didn't... In the interest of Speedway obviously

I actually think the No1 being missing now has less impact than ever given the make up of the teams so a chance to try something different.. When the No1's ran 10 and 11 point plus averages, they made a huge difference to a team so invariably had to get replaced by a similar calibre rider... Now some will be seven or eight point men it means the 'top five' at most teams will not be too many points apart.. And as it's basically a "free hit" this year, maybe they could test the water and see if something 'different' works?.. Ome thing is certain you will never get any major company sponsorship of the teams by running with guests, as they wouldnt be too pleased financing the success of other teams to the detriment of their own I would think..

Fair call. .. The fundamental reality is that without a national mainstream recognition of the sport by 'the layperson' then it will never move forwards.. At least this now seems to have been recognised with attempts finally being made to put the National Team first by bringing through UK lads to hopefully develop to top level, rather than train up the rest of the world, which has been the plan in the past.. A highly successful plan too wasn't it? It must have been because it went on for decades... Get the National Team dominating the sport, and getting the wider level of publicity that comes with it, and you may then start to get some bigger companies involved in sponsoring it... A long, long way off though, and still maybe just too late? Hide the shovel just in case...

No1 missing? Then 2nd and 3rd Heat Leaders can take all his rides if the Manager wants to do so.. No2 Missing? No1 takes one ride and the rest take as many rides as the manager wants.... No3 rider missing then No2 and No4 can take two each (again if the manager wants to do that).. The same applies to No4, No5 and No6, ie if the manager wants to, then the riders directly above and below can take two each.. If a No7 missing then the No6 can take three rides and a No8 takes one.. All riders can have a maximum seven rides.. If more than one rider is missing for any team then simply dont run the meeting until they have at least six each. If another injury happens during a meeting where RR is used then some other regs can be implemented, however, injuries do happen during sports events, sometimes meaning that teams are 'unlucky'... That's Sport.. Thw capability gap from the rider at No1 to the rider at No5 in the averages in particular, will never have been so close as it is nowadays so a perfect opportunity to do something different..

Some say guests are a 'necessary evil'... They are not, it's simply become the 'easy, lazy way out' rather than try and not use them.. A fit for purpose rider replacement facility would eradicate many of the needs for guests, as would a fixture list that doesn't plan meetings in whereby you already know you need them to complete either, or both, teams.. Doubling up/down is though a 'necessary evil'.... There are simply not enough riders to go round and, if no doubling up/down, not enough meetings for riders to make enough money to justify their outlay to ride...

He rented out his farmhouse when he went to live in Poland last year and is (or was a few weeks ago), still living in a place he rented when he returned... And wasn't sure whether he would go back to the family home when the tenancy agreement ended with those renting his place, as he was waiting for Poland to give some clear indications of what they wanted from their riders... Interview in the SS a few weeks ago..

Sadly what we have is the obvious legacy to years of running the sport with a very narrow insular view which, when added to a lack of any clear direction, resulted in what we have today.. And you wont solve these issues 'overnight', however.. There does appear to be more of a forward thinking collection of promoters out there nowadays, who can see the bigger picture that they desperately need to follow.. This year might end up "a bit Mickey Mouse" given teams may end up sharing riders all over the place to get meetings on... But let's be honest it's been "a bit Mickey Mouse" for many years hasnt it? So lets give them a bit of slack this season with the hope a 'new dawn' is around the corner..

Ordered it yesterday afternoon, it came today before 2pm.. Always liked Kelvin, even when he seemed to be less than a favourite of many of the English fans.. (Although to be fair to be him, many of the fans at that time seemed to think they were all Americans).. And for me, does a great job on the commentary with Nigel P... Not everyone's cup of tea, but who cares, they sell the sport fantastically well...

Watched him in the Colts and when paired with Dan Bewley, he would, a fair few times lead him home, with Dan, whilst not exactly being dropped, but also not making any inroads. With Kyle often posting one of the fastest times of the meeting.... Similar too, when Dan led, (and also won in a fast time) Kyle would be matching his speed and often finish a safe distance away but still a close second.. It does appear from watching him that the first corner really does determine his race (to be fair like more than a good few over the years), but I am not totally sure when he hits that first bend with three others in very close proximity, all vying for the same small piece of track, that he is totally comfortable, and that on more than on a few occasions I have watched him, he comes out of the second turn in a non too advantageous position from a pretty useful start.. Definitely got some speed and talent though so lets hope he can develop onwards..

What about "Young Dan Bewley", and "Young Robert Lambert"? Not had that many years experience in the UK and still very much 'Rising Stars'.. Maybe a 5* grade could be introduced..? But start them at the back like Stock Cars do..

To be fair to the Peterborough promoters it isn't a bad idea... It means that their team will be the first one in the country whereby all their riders have received the vaccine...

As Cilla would have said.... "Surprise Surprise!".....

It will probably be "in the interests of Speedway"...

Well if you are simply going to bring facts into it......

Could the stand alone track be Buxton coming back now Sheffield are no longer riding on Sundays?

You only have to see how Belle Vue now probably wouldn't exist if the NSS hadn't been built, to see the future those Greyhound sharing tracks face..

KTel's Hits Of The Seventies..

You would think it would be dove tailed wouldnt you? Riding in the higher leagues and then riding in the bottom league.. For many it would also mean a change of emphasis too, one meeting riding without too much expectation and pressure being on them at reserve, then having to ride as No1 for their NL outfit with the higher expectation that this brings.. As well of course also being a possible confidence booster if the higher level is finding them struggle...

He sounds like a lad who knows his plaice....