mikebv

It would have to be a fan of over 20 years ago I would say... Since circa 2000 many fans have predicted the current situation as simply it was the ONLY outcome if British Speedway followed the same path of destruction... Too many Mickey Mouse meetings which by definition then led to Mickey Mouse Championships eventually eroded the patience (and interest) of even the most ardent of fans.... Quantity of Speedway meetings became the mantra rather than the Quality of them... All to pay for the far too many riders over this time who became full time professionals meaning they needed shed loads of meetings to earn a decent living after paying out 'daft money' on machinery and tuning, all to keep up with those with true genuine talent who would, by natural selection, inevitably rise to the top of the Sport. (Like has happened ongoing since 1928)... The only way of paying for this 'professionalism' was to run more and more meetings of less and less credibility, and charge inflation busting admission fees year on year to desperately try and compensate for the ever growing annual reduction in income, all due to dissilusioned fans leaving the Sport in double digit % numbers each season.. Sky must have pumped in circa £20M to British Speedway over this time with the net result of diddly squat in positive impact to the Sport today... Riders, bike and engine manufacturers, and tuners will all have earned a staggering amount of money in this time (an even more staggering amount given the actual size of the Sport I would suggest)... If only half of that £20M had been invested in proper marketing and advertising of the Sport, maybe used as 'Prize Money' rather than 'wages' to give Championships some credibilty and kudos, or even used to subsidise admission costs, I would suggest the Sport in Britain would be a million miles better off than it is today..... Sadly, when fans the length and breadth of the Country gave the Promoters some excellent constructive feedback in Speedway publications and social media, no one actually listened... Maybe they were genuinely deaf? Or maybe they were just simply arrogant...? One thing is for sure... They need to start listening now, and do something about it immediately... Before it truly is too late...

100% on all points... Unfortunately as they all 'self police' they all know that taking any disciplinary action will set a precedent that each of them will inevitably suffer from in the future... Hence the reasons we have some many 'vague rules' as they all then know they have a collective 'get out of jail free card' to be played when they want to do something alien to any proper Sports administration.. Lift up the carpet, brush (literally in this instance) the dust under it, replace the carpet, and then tip toe away... Nothing to see here, move along please...

Did a fair job i thought... The peg might have been being used to keep the dust out of her nostrils....

Just been thinking the same thing... Maybe it would be better for the GP's on BT, the SEC on Eurosport, and the domestic Leagues of Poland and Sweden on Premier to 'showcase' the Sport? And British Speedway then 'hoover' up any inquisitive non Speedway followers and ex fans who decide to 'give it another go'... Now don't get me wrong. .. Anyone attending for the first time, or maybe after a long sabbatical from the sport, are probably more than likely never going to set foot in a Speedway Stadium again when they see what British Speedway serves up to them, however.., It would at least mean a few more admission fees being paid in to the Sport that 100% wouldn't be there if people judged whether it was worth attending by watching British Speedway on TV regularly.... Incredibly and contradictory as it sounds.... A Sport could actually (and uniquely) benefit itself by NOT 'promoting' itself on TV!!! Instead just live off the backs of those who can do it well and build a business around your obvious linkage to them... "When The Seagulls Follow The Trawler" and all that...

What do BT Sport think? I suspect they must scratch their collective heads and try to work out how what they show on Saturday nights from various parts of the World, can be in any way, shape or form related to what they show on Mondays from tracks around Great Britain.... The last three nights have shown us in one meeting exactly the HUGE potential the Sport has, but in the other, completely why it can never fulfill that potential in British domestic racing.... With such 'raw materials' with which to work, it really is a disgrace, and in equal measure, a travesty, the way the Sport is ran in Britain... It can never change though if the same people, who have 100% brought British Speedway to exactly where it is today, remain in sole charge of the future of the Sport too... Its a crying shame.... It really is..

Exactly... Should have been 'drowned' overnight.... I know the lads at the NSS do this if it's expected to be sunny and hot on the day of the meeting... Then gets another good soaking during the afternoon and finally about 30 mins to tapes up... Result? A grippy first half dozen races then the dirt gets turned over and 'proper racing' takes place...

They definitely won't want one for the Speedway. .. In just 48 short hours you go from Cardiff, which delivered exactly why so many of us fell in love with this Sport... To Swindon, and why so many of us are now totally pissed off with it..... A true microcosm of how to run exactly the same Sport, but with a world of difference in terms of capability and execution.... Maybe it is now time to just be kind and put Speedway (British Speedway) out of its misery? Let's face it, it's not really going to get any better than this is it?

Definitely not when the Boat Race is on. .. Might impact the crowds....

A wee wee would be too much for it to hold..

Batch definitely not impressed. ...

"Adam Ellis going wider and wider chasing the dirt".... to quote Nigel... If he is really chasing the dirt he is going to finish his race in Bristol...

They are all riding it OK until they suddenly hit a nightmare spot on the track...

Good to see it seems to be getting better then?

Heat 10.... Last one out, switch the lights off please.... Be interesting to see what the Polish teams make of tonight... Might find a few lads getting a touch of 'Summer Flu' on Monday and Wednesdays between now and season end... (Oh, and on Thursdays too)... (And some still criticise Woofy for not riding in Britain?)..

Isn't there a duty of care for the riders on behalf of those who expect them to ride? I have said that I think Speedway has to lower it's ability level of rider to keep going and be affordable... However, I am slowly coming to the conclusion that having 'lesser' riders on some British Speedway tracks would be nothing but carnage... If Morris and Musielak cannot ride it then you cannot ever really comprehend running meetings with a much lower standard of rider making up the majority of team places.. Cricket Test Matches would get completed quicker than a Speedway Meeting...

When you get an 'advert' for the Sport like you had on Saturday it must have brought a few extra people to the Stadium or maybe tuned in to watch on BT... They possibly would have thought "I'll give this another go"..... Bet they regret it now... I do sometimes think that if those in charge of the Sport tried to shoot themselves in the foot they would miss... (Just watching heat 8 and the rider in the Brown helmet is leading the rider in the Brown helmet, from the rider in the Brown helmet who is well in front of the man bringing up the rear in the Brown helmet)..

Maybe those new houses have got some taps that work? Rosco should knock on and ask for a bucket or two...

Cannot blame Morris... I would be out of there sharpish first chance too...

A deceptively hot Sun..

They have just took Nick Morris' helmet away.... Presume to fill it with water and put it on the track. ..

Ask Alan where the water is?

From Cardiff on Saturday... To Swindon on Monday... Exactly the same Sport... Sublime to the Ridiculous.... British Speedway...

If the fans and riders feel this is taking the pee out of them... Maybe they could use it on the track?.

Nick Morris.... Fair comments by the way lad... (You need to come in here buddy)

Fair call then given Wright locked up a little... Not as if Morris fell completely by himself a big distance away from second..