Nobblytriers

I can't really see any bitterness in the piece on speedwaygb website, just DH stating that he's saddened by Doyle's departure. If it's true that the club has invested a lot of time and effort re the visa application, then surely that's just a statement of fact? With regard to DH's immoveable stance with the track and race night, whilst I don't agree with him, isn't it his business? Who in business doesn't want to do it their way?

Strange that it's gone quiet with the "get over it, suck it up, end of, Poole are Champs" posters now that lots of examples of points being deducted, (for a variety of reasons), and a result being altered, are coming out. I really hope that the SCB adhere to the rules and put some credibility back into the sport. I thought the two legs of the final were great and it's a shame that it's been marred by this controversy. I don't really see it as some do, it's not like a goal awarded when it wasn't one, or a try. For me that's an error of judgement and/or opinion. In this case, it's a clear breach of the rules, nothing to do with the refs opinion or judgement, it's the failure of the ref to implement the rules.

There's a name from the past, sort of rolls of the tongue. Pretty sure I saw him ride too (but could be wrong). Another name (same era?) Dag Lovass. Always enjoyed seeing him. Sorry this is off topic but I couldn't resist!

lol

But the tactical ride is allowed in the rules, riding without goggles isn't

Is it possible that could change in the not too distant future? Aren't we reading that crowds are down in Sweden and that some Polish clubs are in financial difficulty? Maybe a few more will come back when, or if, continental speedway goes a little pear shaped. On that note, why is it that we have to dance to the tune of the Poles and Swedes? They always seem to get first dibs on where and when riders race. (or maybe I've got that wrong )

Seeing as we're talking track again, does anyone know if the 'no mans land' between the track safety fence and the spectator fence is mandatory? If not, my proposal would be to widen the straights by using half of the gap between fences and to bring in the corners by about 6 meters at each end. By shortening and widening the straights this should offer more racing lines. As we know, this wouldn't be a guarantee of great racing at every meeting (too many other factors in the recipe for that) but I think it would help a great deal. Anyone with an idea of how much this would cost?

What about the paying public?

Good point. Why was it called off without an inspection? Can anyone provide a sensible answer?

I think abandoning the meeting around heat 7 or 8 would have been the right idea. The meeting should have been re run and the fans would have got a bit back from the abandoned heats. Disgrace to let it go to 10 then call it off. It's either safe or it isn't!

I can't understand how it can be safe in heat 9, then after a crash, to allow heat 10 to be run, then abandon the meeting after heat 10! Why not carry on till the end? Either it's safe or it isn't!!

I thought it was good to hear Jason's support of the management over the mic, got a cheer from the crowd too, and his disappointment over the way Bridger let the team down. Some hard racing at times and at one point thought that Jason and Janowski would end up in a heap, close stuff. Does anyone know why there was another restart in ht15? Didn't see a bad start but the red light didn't seem to come on until all 4 were into turn 2!

Hi Gordon, not having a go at you, just never thought I'd read or hear that statement I tend to agree with you that the tracks with shorter straights and longer bends will produce better racing. I didn't think about the evolution of the bikes, (I think John Boulger made a visit to Leicester last season and said he couldn't believe how fast the bikes were), and that must also play a part. Another one, I think, is the exhaust pipes. The power isn't delivered when the riders need it and they can't cope too well with deep tracks. It would be good to find a solution to the problem ... if there is one! J

Well there's a thing! Never thought I'd read that Kings Lynn's track was the wrong shape! If you look at the Leicester threads, you'll see that there are a lot of fans who think that BP is the wrong shape and they're all saying it should be made wider .. more like Lynns perhaps? We have seen some good meetings at BP and I saw some at Lynn years ago, so it is possible to have good, close competitive racing no matter what the track shape is. I have said many times that there is more to it than just the shape. Watch the first GP of either 2013 or 14, on a huge track with sweeping curves and count the passes ... and that was at GP level. The riders determination, the bikes, the shale (type and depth), moisture content, banking all play a part. Years ago, when the bikes were using total loss engines, it's even been suggested that the oil deposited over the track over a period of time, gave the surface extra grip. All we can hope for as fans is that it all comes together on the night. When it's right, it's the best sport in the world. J

We've only got eight teams and out of six meetings, one team isn't in the list. Does anyone know why Leicester isn't being shown, even away?

There's another thread on the forum, in news and discussions I think, and it's about the silencers. It seems that the power is now delivered differently and it's not as responsive as it used to be. I think they say that there's a time lag between opening the throttle and the power kicking in. That must make it difficult to control. Make interesting reading (if you're into that kind of thing)

The crowds at these meetings are massive!! The clip from Lezno with KK seems to have a better crowd than most GP's. How do they do that? Also, with large Polish communities living in the UK, does anyone have any idea how many (if any) go and support our tracks up and down the country? If it's not many (and I suspect that is the case), then is there a reason why we can't attract them through the gates? Would love to see crowds like that, the atmosphere must be great.

Could we put all of the premier and elite teams together, and then form two leagues of roughly equal numbers with promotion and relegation? The top division could have one top rider (current elite?) per team. I say that because todays Elite isn't really that elite is it? Alot of top riders don't ride here anyway so there's not that many to go round. No doubling up/down of riders for both leagues. Have a third league, todays NL, and allow doubling up/down between that and League two. Have two fixed race nights and use those to ride weekly at home and away. Scrap the current tacticle rule. Watching the Swedish league last night was far better with the old style T/R rule in my opinion. 6 points down and put in anyone you want but each rider can only have one T/R ride per meeting. No T/R's in the reserves race. Get the riders out for each race as the last one finishes and stop them going back to the pits after tape infringements. Keep it moving. I'm not sure about extreme type presentation like some are saying the sport needs. If you go too far you might loose as many as you might gain. Just make the facilities presentable, the refreshments value for money, the breaks interesting and the racing entertaining.

Another long time fan here. I don't think that speedway is any worse than it used to be, it's probably better in some respects and it's certainly more visible to the general public with the amount that's on TV now. It may be that people now want more for their hard earned cash. Then again, there's more for us to do these days. Stadiums do appear to run down, so that can be a turn off, but no matter what, toilet facilities should be clean and tidy and refreshments should be of a good standard and value for money. The racing should be entertaining (goes without saying?) but speedway has got a name for itself as being 'first out of the gate wins' - I heard that sentence every time I mentioned speedway, and still do today. As fans, we know that it isn't true but how do you shake off that image? We've had some great racing on the TV lately but unless Joe Public can be bothered to tune in, then he will still have that negative opinion. We need incentives and publicity to get new people through the gate, and that when they come through, give them something that will make them want to come back. Keep the races flowing, stop the riders going back to the pits at every opportunity. It's bad enough for the fans, what will a newcomer make of it? Rattle through the races, have a good 15 or 20 minute interval (with entertainment or pit chats?) and finish with some exciting racing. We know we have a great sport, there's nothing like it, there really isn't. I think we need all of those involved in running and promoting this fabulous spectacle to get together and work towards getting the crowds back. Without the crowds, they won't have anything to promote. PS, can we have more riders using castrol R please? Gorgeous!

For those that are interested, just taken a look at three different websites for weather forecasts and they all predict heavy rain/showers 4ish with lighter rain/showers predicted for 7ish and the remainder of the night. Leicesters track drains very well and there is a strong breeze. Hopefully this will be enough to allow the racing to go ahead.

Take a look at Screamers post. We're all different and I don't think you can say who will and who won't suffer from it, though it appears it can run in families. From your likes and your post you come across as someone who has never suffered, or been close to one who has, so think yourself fortunate. Once you are consumed by this darkness it really isn't easy to 'get on with it' or as some say, 'pull yourself together'. You have good and bad times and it really isn't about what you have or want. A whole variety of situations can lead to this awful condition. Medication suits some while others find their own way through it and their own triggers to pull them back when they feel a downturn coming on. Can I suggest, politely and respectfully, that you do a little research, or maybe spend some time with a sufferer. That way, you just might understand what depression really is.

Prepare tracks for passing, whatever that may be - some say more dirt, some say less. Allow all riders to have four laps practice to help set up their bikes for the conditions so that they're ready to race from heat 1, maybe make it a sort of early 2nd half, four pre-main event races? The pit gate stays shut until after the race is finished unless medical attention is required. No more back to the pits for tape infringements. I can't think of any reasons, other than track grading or a rider having two races on the trot, as to why, as soon as the riders are leaving the track from one heat, the others should be out on the way to the tapes for the next. Try and ensure that the supporters are catered for, ok food and drink, clean toilets, good vantage points for watching, good tanoy system, relevant information as the meeting progresses. Just a thought, there's a few remarks regarding the sound of speedway and the restrictions imposed by planning rules. At tracks where these restrictions aren't in force, how about running a meeting or three without the new silencers, or better still, take them off completely! I started going to Blackbird Road at a time when they rode without silencers, and the noise, together with that smell we all love but don't enough of these days, certainly made an impression on me.

Well, this is difficult, trying to get a point across without being misunderstood. I don't think I've said the racing's great, or the crowd, or the whole of the set up at BP. I've already explained the rant, sorry but I'm getting old now, and I just felt that I had to say something because once again, the same complaints were being posted. My post ended up being a bit of a rant more out of frustration than anything else and as this is an open forum, I think I can do that. I suppose all I was trying to say was, can we give it a rest? We all know how you feel but what can we do? It would be nice to be able to post on here without being slated for maybe wearing a pair of rose tinteds and seeing things differently. I still feel that all the negativity on here can have a detrimental effect but I don't think that it would be the sole cause of BP's demise, I'm as aware as the next supporter that all is not well within Leicester Speedway. I just think that we have what we have and that the team should be supported. No doubt if more problems develop at BP, for whatever reason, then they'll be discussed on here, and I haven't got a problem with that!

I was not putting forward an argument, just sick and tired of hearing the same old gripes from the usual folk, (and not just those two), and pointing out that if you don't go, then it won't be there. Hence the note to the rant at the end. I think I may have read a comment by someone saying that it sounds so bad at BP that they won't bother coming (if ever I find it, I'll post it) so I think that the comments can affect attendances. I know the racing at BP isn't the best but it's what we have. If it goes, we have nothing, maybe not even a track where the shape can be changed in the future.

For heavan's sake guy's, give it a rest!! Yes we know all about it now, DH has done tremendous damage to the future of Leicester Speedway and it will fail abysmally very soon due to the lack of support. The track shape is all wrong, the racing is crap (because the track shape is all wrong), everyone is upset, no one talks to each other, there's a skeleton staff, all the sponsors have left, the riders have all resigned and thrown their race jackets in the bin, the promotors wife is interefering, Glyn's been sacked again for saying things on the forum, the sun's out so the meeting's off, the grass on the centre green is three inches too long, the track anouncer gets on everyones nerves so he should be sacked, we haven't got a tractor, the water bowser's been reposessed by the balifs, ... the negativity is relentless! I think you lot are looking forward to the day when the doors close on BP and you can smugly say "I told you so" TWK is right. If it's not supported it will cease to be - it won't be viable. By all means, have your say, don't pay you hard earned at the gate for something you don't think is worth the price, but is it within you to let people make up their own minds as to what is a good nights entertainment, or are you so bitter that you just can't stop yourself from having a dig at the promotion when the opportunity presents itself? Must you constantly come on here and bang on with the same old stories and, by doing so, put off potential visitors to BP? There may have been a number of visitors who would have come to the meetings, that have been as good as those at other tracks, but they have been put off by your constant critisism, not just of the track but of the promotion too. The nay-sayers on here suggest that the only reason that the Somerset and Ipswich meetings were good was because of the previous wet weather. So, the track shape is OK now then? It suggests to me that there may be something in the track base that needs changing or the composition and mix of the shale? If you look at comments on other threads, processional racing seems par for the course at most tracks. In fact, speedway has, for as long as I have been fan, (42years), been known as a sport where "the one to the corner first wins" We know that's not always the case but BP isn't the only track to have processional racing. Look on updates - "from the gate" Jim the whipper-uppererer makes out that bornagainlion is a loss to the sport (like so many others), when he himself states that "his love and passion is football" , so he is taking his son to watch Liverpool instead of coming to BP. I don't see that as a loss, more of a choice. He was never "into" the sport in the first place! He also states that all other speedway clubs are down to the hardcore fans. So why keep banging on about Leicester's crowds dropping? It's the same all over the country apparently. Come on you lot, stop banging the same old drum, OK, moan when you want to, air your grievencies when you need to, but get behind the team, turn up and watch the spectacle of those four men on two wheels, 500cc and no brakes sliding a bike around a shale track. Rant over