mikebv

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....

A plane full of Aussie open Tennis players had to quarantine after one person on their plane had a positive test on arrival... After all had been tested, and all negative, before they left... And they all had to form a bubble together not drip feed into the country individually, which Speedway riders will invariably do...

And with quarantine hotels starting next week, actually getting riders to the meetings could be an issue if they are still around in May. Which if they follow the 'Aussie Model' they still will be... You could end up with just a pool of UK based riders guesting every night in both leagues to complete the fixtures... Another question mark being therefore whether enough punters would fork out £20 or so to watch it... The promoters will need some support and goodwill this year I feel to complete the season in a league format..

Just imagine if those in charge brought in such a system... ? The mind boggles as to the amount of various rules, regulations, logistical data and permutations that they would come up with... And at the end of it all... Both teams would lose...

Maybe it's so Jason can ride in the Championship on a 12.00 average..?

Well they already have a top six place secured...

100% this, its obvious isnt it? And if things are still "dicey" come the season start in Poland, then Polish Speedway will just ban everyone from leaving their country if they want a team place anyway... Or if they dont "ban" them from leaving, as that might be too controversial, they will put some compulsory to attend practice meetings together on nights when riders should be 'elsewhere'.... Maybe the UK leagues initially will still name riders who 'may' still ride over here just to put seven names on a team sheet? Then use guests to cover their potential non attendance due to "circumstances beyond their control"... And then hope that later in the season more relaxed rules will apply as the vaccines kick in and reduce the global risk so the initial septets named can all get on track.. With such ever changing logistical issues it must be a nightmare planning for this season, however, I would imagine the promoters would feel that having two years of no UK Speedway on track, and on TV, is something they will do absolutely everything they can to avoid... As March/April 2022 will be an awfully long way from the last meeting in October 2019..

For me, it was two instances that eventually "broke the camels back".. One was the 'Aces' beating Swindon in an away meeting where they had to use Brady Kurtz instead of Craig Cook as Craig had to ride for Glasgow due to (I think) it being a rearranged match. Glasgow being the side he signed for just a couple of weeks earlier mid season... The fact that Brady top scored in 'our' win made it seem even more ridiculous given Poole, Swindon and the Aces were vying for the play offs at the time, and left me with no satisfaction whatsoever.. The other instance was the "swapping of guests at half time" plan rolled out initially for the Poole v KL play off final.. Even though someone at the 'top table' eventually came out and changed it, for me the damage was done as obviously someone else at the 'top table' had initially decreed this nonsense as "perfectly acceptable". (And having two Swindon riders there in the first place was ridiculous in itself).. The bottom line for me was simply if those who run the sport dont take their own flagship competition seriously (as clearly demonstrated by their actions in those two cases), then how can they seriously expect me too..? And also then seriously expect me to part with circa £40 for me and my lad to watch it...? They do though inadvertently help me (through the money I save) to fund my Cardiff, SON, World U21 and other GP trips, so I do thank them for that..

Exactly.. There shouldn't be time to look at your phone because "something" is going on.. Attend a Speedway event in the US and there is always "something" happening between races.. Got to a Supercross event and there is always "something" happening between races.. Its "full on" interaction with the fans.. No time to get bored when "something" is going on to prick your interest..

I can't see an 'app' replacing the programme any time soon given the demographic of the fan base.. The same demographic who are by far and away the main sector who still purchase magazines and newspapers.. Although sales of those two kinds of publication have dropped circa 50% over the past ten years with many media companies now doing an on line version of their paper product to balance the loss of hard copy sales and hopefully attract the younger demographic who are more tech savvy.. If an 'app' is the "future" in attracting young people to watch the sport then it truly does have a problem.. Letting all kids still at school in for free, as long as supervised, and see if they like watching the sport enough to pay when they are older, would be my first move. Get into the nurseries and schools and give out free tickets to the kids to take home with a couple of £10 tickets for the parents/relatives to use. Give the person in charge of the facility plenty of free tickets for their staff as a sweetener and start to build relationships with them which could include donating to fund raising, buying sports kits, etc.etc.. Getting emotional loyalty from facilities within the local community who can influence literally thousands of young people and their guardians would deliver far more return than any 'app' could...

I think you may very well be correct as it will take some holding of their nerve I would think, however, at least it looks like a plan of action rather than the usual 'make do and mend' nonsense that has pervaded for far too long.. As for the dilution of the standard, I think what we have this year (if it happens), is just about right for the amount of fans the sport gets. ie No "Superstars" that quite frankly haven't generated crowd levels to justify their high salaried inclusion. (No disrespect to them but that is the reality)... A "brave new world" or "a disaster waiting to happen"... Either way, at least it is something that has been thought through and accepted by the Promoters so let's see how it all works out, and as always with these things, the devil will be in the detail.. And from what I have read so far from those within the sport, a certain amount of 'rider control' will be taking place, therefore let's hope it's done fairly for all teams so each pair of RS's are all of a similar standard collectively..