mikebv

The huge advantage Poland has is the way TV can, and is willing to, prop it up... Last season showed how important the sport is to the broadcasters own buisness models by the way they wanted the 'show to go on' regardless of the existing challenges... Having the Sports Personality of the Year shows the level of the sport in the wider public's awareness which must therefore help it attract those big national company sponsors wanting to be associated with it.. And when you have broadcasters willing to tender for your product, from an already high base, then you are very much in demand, and your continued success then becomes fundamental to the continued success of the broadcasters too... Similar too, but on a much small scale obviously, in the way Sky and the Premier League in football over here both mutually benefit from each other.. Both the Polish top league and the broadcasters know that keeping their 'product' at a certain level, and in the minds of the populace, is the only way to keep moving it forward, and given the size of the prize, (and the dire consequences of not doing it), will, quite naturally, ensure that absolutely anything and everything is done to protect both the product, and the very large investment, both emotional and financial, that so many in Poland make in following and broadcasting the sport..

And you've also got the added complication with Covid that, like the current season just gone, the top league may decide to go with 'guests' again from the 2nd tier.. MJJ for example may be in high demand to be added to a top league team part way in to replace another rider, so then what would he do? Presume the only 'second league' he would be allowed to race in would be the 2nd tier in Poland.? If a few other top (ish) names (who are top level heat leaders in the UK, Sweden Denmark etc), drop down in Poland, then they too may be faced with a dilemma whether to double up part way through the year or not if asked.. Risky for teams in these other countries to take these riders on without some real water tight 100% commitment to ride all season I would say..

For the 'average rider' the last I read (pre covid), was twice the money of the UK in Sweden and five times the UK in Poland.. More obviously for the 'top riders'.. Meaning (if still the same) you can earn the same in Sweden in half the number of meetings you would need to ride in over here.. Same money for less risk, and less wear and tear to man and machine... An easy choice to make for many I would think..

For the best part of two decades the collective powers that be have buried their heads in the sand, thrutching around from one knee jerk plan to another, without ever accepting the glaring fact that they couldn't afford the riders that they kept insisting they needed. Riders whose own personal agendas often meant matches taking place as contrived, credibility destroying 'guestfests', or ran on nights suited to their calendars, rather than suited to when their clubs would have liked to have ran to get their largest crowds in.. Maybe Covid has finally meant that the "go it alone" policy, that should have been instigated years ago when it was clear Poland were calling the tune, will finally come to fruition and British Speedway will start to be in charge of it's own destiny..

They were waiting for the season to finish...

I can see quite a few changes to the 2020 teams if 2021 goes ahead.. Those lads with a contract in Poland may not want to risk any further lockdowns, and thus finding themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time if they happen.. The positive of course is that Poland get their act together early so riders will be signed up in plenty of time for the UK to plan in their own season.. For me, any riders with a Polish (or maybe Swedish contract too?) should be avoided, and the domestic calendar drawn up with riders who are 100% available on any given night over here.. As fixture lists too may become a little ad hoc at a moments notice to ensure a completed season. Therefore 100% availability and flexibility will be very important.. As I say, lots of time for this to get sorted for a March or April start so no excuses to stumble into 2021 if the green light to go ahead is given..

When I used to 'ref' for Alex Higgins in the early to mid eighties every Friday when he was practicing/taking on all comers for a fiver a frame, he was a very different player at 8pm after umpteen vodka and oranges, than the one who started off playing at 2pm. When 'refreshed' he was truly 'The Hurricane' and would hardly miss... From around 9pm onwards, he would start to be over the tipping point and start to lose a few frames/quid.. And that would be when the 'dark side' of a genius would appear...

Wouldnt surprise me if he did.. Gone are the days that to make it to the top that you had to ride over here on the various size circuits, and with the big money to be earned in Poland on tracks of a similar size, riding against the very best to benchmark yourself, it could even be seen by some as a retrograde step riding against a lesser standard over here.. I would imagine keeping your sharpness and competitive edge riding against the very best would be the priority of riders like Lidsey, who are getting ever closer to the top level..

Been a few near misses.. But also a good many 'no where nears'... A shame this season didnt happen as with Lidsey at reserve it could have been a title winning year.. I bet he gets a re-assessed 7 point average next year now!!

But what a way to win one!! I can still see Bobby and Jason going around turns one and two and realising both had a lead over Henka and PK as they went down the back straight.. Then the longest approximate minute of my life followed.. The track grader picking up the Wolves fallers bike (Wainwright?), gifted us the 5-0 which gave us a chance after being eight down with just a few races left.. 27 years ago....? Wow... What a night..

Some good rules in CS which could be adopted in Speedway. When so many points behind (think it's six or maybe eight?), you can choose gate positions and keep doing so whilst behind by whatever is the margin they use. More credible than a tac sub rule to try and keep the score close.. Also, moving before the tapes go up is an exclusion with no replacement. It certainly focuses the mind and sorts out the starts.. My lad rode for Stockport as a young kid till his football life took over, and he did quite well individually, with the team being very successful in the Northern League and also did well nationally against "bigger" teams.. A fantastic sport to get young kids into, promoting team spirit, competitiveness and fitness, and ran by real enthusiasts..

I also believe that a postal service is still available via the "Royal Mail" whereby you send hard copy correspondence... And failing that, some have even trained pigeons to deliver messages tied to their legs on their behalf..

I am on my third email address... I honestly couldn't tell you the name to the first one I used, never mind the password... I presume emails are still sent to it... My wife uses my other one for ordering off the internet but I haven't been on there for 3 years at least... Plenty of people will change email addresses from time to time yet still recieve lots of messages to the one they no longer open.. Personal websites usually have a direct email, or even a mobile of either the person themselves or whoever is managing their website, so usually a close associate. If all else fails, then maybe contact a riders club, every club has an email contact with some personal ones, who would be more than pleased I would think to see their man gain some better kit through sponsorship..

Mickey Mouse Speedway.. Well done FIM Well done BSI Clowns.

Then the "When Poland get in front we call the result" rule comes in to play..

No mean achievement..

It's only 4 hours away I believe.. And it has a roof.... Or maybe it doesnt.. And it never rains..

Bewley rode probably the best of all on view on a wet, muddy track the other night so who knows... The UK lads are more than used to riding in pretty crappy conditions on dodgy surfaces so maybe it will help? And the younger lads sometimes have less concerns than older more experienced heads when conditions are less than perfect..

Andy Smith was always one I regularly felt sorry for.. He pretty much gave everything, every race, yet would often end up with an average that left him without a job the year after at the club he was at when points needed shedding, and other clubs would be not sure if he could keep up that average at their track... Amazing to think that you help a team become successful by giving your all and (let's be honest) NOT effectively 'cheating the public' by giving 100% every night, and then struggle to keep your job.. It's a bit daft isn't it? Edit: Just remembered, silly me.. "You see, this is Speedway and it's different to other team sports"...

And I knew a rider through a sponsor who liked to finish his season on 5.9 as a utopian figure.. He was always regarded as a "solid six point rider" so felt any promoter looking for such (weren't they all?), would see the "potential" in his scoring for them He never was wanting for a team place but used to usually "struggle" a wee bit, (after a good start and middle), towards the end of the seasons when/if his teams couldn't win anything.. A promoter also once told me he would never sign anyone who had been a particular standard through the year, and then had a great last month of the season, as he wasnt convinced it was exactly a step change in the capability of the rider, more a reason of getting some "gift" points of others.. There are lies, damn lies, and statistics..

And SON.. And maybe go through the GP Qualifications too? I am sure he will want to give himself the maximum opportunity to stay at the 'top table' now he has deservedly put himself in and around that level.. A key year in his long term development next season, building on what has been an excellent season for him just gone.. He is now delivering the level that the 'potential' alluded to, however many have had that potential and not reached where he is now.. Maybe he will feel that not riding in the UK this year, has helped that development and will try more of the same blueprint next? Can't knock the lad if that is what he decides..

Been great to watch so much Speedway Dave.. Commentary fine and any 'confusion' when faced with changes you had no access to was always met with the right amount of self depreciation and humour... Not been the most fantastic racing ever in the Polish and Swedish leagues, which could possibly be down to a lack of crowds in Poland, and less quality on show than usual in Sweden, but overall there has been more than enough to keep the viewers interested... Well done on putting a fair old shift in too with all the rearranged, short notice fixture changes, meaning some weeks it seemed there was racing every night and sometimes twice a night during those weeks.. As said previously on here, in an ideal world you would have a co commentator to share some of the commentary, as it must be very difficult to be the only one constantly talking for a couple of hours.. Overall though, for me, I have enjoyed the summers racing, and the broadcasts that showed it, and considering 'no Speedway' could have been a possibility, ironically I don't think I have ever watched more...! Keep up the good work, and here's to next year and more of the same..

My lad is playing in the FA Youth Cup tonight, there will be a few hundred there. .. We are at home because the other team is in the fifth tier of football so cannot have a crowd, hence we are holding it.. Several hundred people in a stadium with mostly standing areas can have a crowd.. Whilst a stadium with mostly seats (so social distancing controls are much easier) cannot. Crackers

100%.. And as you can guarantee that Poland won't be falling over themselves to put back up the points money to pre Covid levels, (after trying for a good few years to reduce those numbers) it will provide the sport over here with a huge opportunity to reset itself, and make it more 'future fit' in regards to how much it currently pays out v the income it gets.. Whether it takes that opportunity though is obviously another matter, but 'exceptional circumstances' do always provide 'exceptional opportunities' to realign yourself for the better..

Put a few U19 riders in and say its 'grassroots'? Move along now, nothing to see here..