Ghosty

Rider long time sponsored by Gary May......................Bjarne Pedersen.................. is he on Gary's shoping list!!!!!!!!

Team strengths/ averages etc. It would seem that the BSPA have not thought through the new team averages for our new leagues for 2017. I think it would have made more sense to firstly tell the riders what's on offer i.e. points money, number of meetings etc. then get a commitment from the riders to participate in 2017 U.K. speedway. ONLY THEN can you determine team strengths, conversion rates for averages, amount of double up/down to allow etc. It's not rocket science to know that in the perfect speedway world the average rider is 6.00 (50%) an unbeatable rider is 12.00 (100%) a very poor rider beating no-one is 0.00 (0%). The average team is 42.00 (50%) that is the figure you should gear your points limit & conversion rates around once you have determined what strength you want your leagues to be. It is not possible for a rider to have an average higher than 12.00 (100%). Speedways points average is a fantastic toll to determine team strengths - something many other sports would love to have so lets use it wisely & to its advantages.

Starman you are wrong Neil Street did spot them - he could see the talent & potential. One of the few not spotted but recommended to him was Craig Boyce, but ask Craig how much an influence Neil Street was to him as manager of Poole & Australia. Ask Julian Wigg what influence he had on Simon during his Weymouth days. Those of us who knew "Bill" personally regret he never had a book written on his lifetime in speedway.

If you checked out the riders who rode for all the best team managers, & then check the greatest percentage of improvement per rider then I think Neil Street would come out on top. Neil had the eye to spot talent & then knew how to improve & develop that talent. Just a few names: Crump, Boyce, Wigg, Nicholls, Scolfield, NKI.

I agree with around the boards (again) the EL is not the place for Somerset. If they were to re-brand as the Bristol Bulldogs & spent big time on advertising that could work?

I agree with around the boards (again) the EL is not the place for Somerset. If they were to re-brand as the Bristol Bulldogs & spent big time on advertising that could work?

I would think the Stone Potters must be very rare?

Do you get promotion within the BSPA on the number of Holidays served pleasure of HRH the Queen?

Agree 100% but not just a full time "person" someone who can organize, motivate, good PR skills & firm financial backing.... Mike Bowden fits none of that criteria!!!

You are wrong Mike Bowden is not the best chance. It needs a PROMOTER that can PROMOTE & I don't think Mr Bowden would even get the licence to operate a for second time. I can't see why the right person with a bit of financial clout behind them would not succeed & be the envy of all other UK tracks. The key will be PROMOTE, PROMOTE & more PROMOTE not just Plymouth but plenty of other tracks also.

There must be someone other than Mike Bowden keen to run the devils.......... PLEASE GOD HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad news @ the moment yes........... BUT if the right person or group were to come in & PROMOTE THE SPORT the potential @ Plymouth is better than most other tracks in the U.K. That's not 'talk the talk' but 'WALK the WALK' = PROMOTE to the thousands on your doorstep. Hope to see the Devils in 2017.

I ment new sponsors & NEW supporters, what is the average age of current speedway supporters? I would guess it's about 50, speedway needs more NEW younger supporters, but we will not get them (or keep them) unless we have a sport with CREDIBILITY & that's not whats on offer in 2016.

The first thing we need for 2017 is CREDIBILITY the sport I've been involved with for 50 years has been going down hill for many years. What chance have we got to attract new sponsors & supporters with the current product on offer?

This should be a cracking meeting, the Rebels are now back on form I predict a very close result with no more than 4 points either way. However if the weather alters the normal track conditions OR the track is doctored then the Zummerset 7 to win by 10!!!!!! Whatever the result I wish all those attending a brilliant meeting contested by 2 very good sides.

I was there last night (I have been involved in speedway for 50 years including riding) & agree 100% with what you say, but the record books will show Paul Stark excluded & the race awarded to Ryan Fisher - what a joke! Dan Bewley- yes a real talent, rides the bike properly & rides with his head, with the right back-up & good luck will be a GB star in a few years.

Yes ......... with 6 man teams... already tried & it didn't work even with a different race format will make little difference Back to the basics please!

Does anyone know is the WTC run-off being shown in the clubhouse?

Again well said Aroundtheboards...... AGAIN agree 100% always stand back & look @ the bigger picture Big with the positives & not it's the "school holidays" & we have no home meetings!!!!!

Well said Aroundtheboards! Plymouth have a good exciting team this year & have the potential to have MASSIVE CROWDS, yet what is being done to get the crowds in? sweet F.A. I suspect. I think they are the only team in the whole of speedway GB without a current website, so come on the Plymouth management PLEASE PROMOTE & make the club the success it can be.

This is all a sorry state of affairs, if the reason Keven Jolly "blew his top" was because of the guest facility for Chessel who can blame him? He has placed such a lot of time & money into Mildenhall - yet the sport would appear to be run by a team of halfwits. Speedway needs a huge shake-up starting from the top & a few heads pulled out of the sand. I have been involved in Speedway for the last 50 years & I for one would not put any of my own money into the sport - only because of it's current state.

Great race from 2 british stars of the future.......... But I get spoiled,I see brilliant racing like that every week @ the Oaktree arena. The race the other week when Paul Starke went from last to first in one move has to be seen to be be-leaved @ that was in heat 15!

A few facts: Poole's track could be sorted easily in 1 week with the right equipment (road grader being the most important), materials & the current decent weather. How do I know? been there & done it. In my past life as a future speedway rider! I have also worked on the track including completely relaying one. A track that has WAVES will only get worse!

Agree 100% it's got the makings of a great meeting, Somerset have surprised a lot of fans this year with their "not as strong as normal" team - but averages dictate what team you can have. All Gary's team are still young & improving they are all racers & all love the OTA. Glasgow have a great team & were most peoples title favorites before the season started, some it would appear have been attracted by the Ashfield dollar. I don't know what the team spirit is like in the Tigers camp - but that could have the biggest bearing on Friday's result & indeed their 2016 season, I for one will be traveling to the OTA for what should be a trilling meeting between two super teams.

I think Terry Russell is pals with both the Mike Bowdens.......... The one from Plymouth is a notorious second hand car salesman the other know nothing about does anyone?