g13webb

Bearing in mind the Draft rules are similar to last year, does that mean Poole will be releasing Newman as their protected rider...????? Interesting.....

Correct me if I wrong, but I believe NKI, along with several others, remains the assets of Peterborough Pirates. Just because 'Jack' Frost has now joined forces with Poole he, as an individual would never had held the registration of any rider, and would not be a situation to place them with Poole or Matt Ford. The only way that could happen would be if Matt Ford purchased those registrations from Peterborough Pirates, and then with the riders permission. Frost in not a Speedway Club, just a financier........

I for one thought the racing dished up from Melbourne was far better then the usual we get from Cardiff. I thought it was amazing SGP, probably the most superior temporary track I've seen. Each race was of the highest quality and every rider had a chance of winning. Sure the crowd didn't compare with those of Cardiff, but give it a year or two and this this be the daddy of the all. Brilliant Venue, Brilliant track, brilliant racing. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting...... NB... To think they're posters on here who think Greg Hancock is boring. To me he's top draw. When Woffy does those sublime passes, the world raves at them. But when Hancock makes them unbelievable moves, you don't hear a word..... No, he was a deserving winner.....

Firstly , I would like to say, I have nothing but respect for Newman and don't blame him for any of the controversy surrounding his draft position He is without doubt the Best of the Draft riders and should be rightly acclaimed so. For the last 2 years now he has stood out and impressed wherever he rode, and was such an important ingredient of Poole's winning teams. All the fans and riders are aware of this and I'm sure the promoters are as well, so WHY is it then they continue to create issues by persisting with grading riders from the PL form when that has no relevance to the EL at all. Last year from the PL list, Newman was placed 7th, and gave Poole such an advantage, one that proved paramount to their success. Surely the BSPA can see the obvious conclusions.....

As you were one of those who accused me of Scare-Mongering, when these average differentials was first implemented. It's nice that you can now see problems, that was always gong to happen when trying to make comparisons between riders. The hole has been dug. Instead of making it bigger, the BSPA, should take SCB ( the Poster, not the organisation) idea on board and accept it as a way out....... The HL list is yet a another stupid idea. There cant be a cut off point without creating many problems. Like you say if a rider is grouped as a HL and hasn't got a team place, surely he wont be allowed to ride as a second string, then its goodbye to a rider who wants to race over here. What about the rider who is just below the cut off point, when he increases his average, will he be than classed as a HL. Yet another, unnecessary problem Using SCB's list, or something similar, would be so simple. The Team Managers can then select the riders from the list, to the Point limit allowed. Why do we need a HL Group, why do we need Draft scheme. we just want it the way it always was...... All the best ideas are simply ones.....

You are obviously missing the point. The list includes all riders Heatleaders, Second strings and Reserves, with a compatible average for fairness to all clubs and riders. Using this list all squads selections can be assembled fairly

What !! No loop holes ???? Now why couldn't the BSPA have done something along similar lines. So straight forward, so self-explanatory and everyone would see a clear situation of fairness. Just proves what can be done, with the right application.......... Well done that man........

In life, you usually only get out as much as you put it. and thus, I feel Lambert still has some way to go to repay the Promoter and Fans who have supported him through his development so far. We have seen him progress into a highly talented youngster, who could be destined to the very top of the tree. He is now at a stage when he will make a big impression in the league, when he can repay all the faith and belief these fans have always had in him. From his time at Lynn he should have learnt what speedway means to the fans and what winning the illusive title would mean to them, and what better way to pay those dues than help the Stars win that title. To jump ship now, and join another Elite Club, would be insulting to all concerned, and vindicate all those unsavoury comments doing the rounds. If he wants to better himself then he has to go aboard to compete with the best, but to up-sticks just to the join top club, proves to me, he is nothing more than a Trophy hunter. I hope he stays and prove all those doubter wrong......

No, not at all. But Please, you look at it any way you like. I was commenting on the BSPA, and referred to a collective brain between them, based on the decisions they made.....

I see and speak with Buster often. I have the greatest of respect for him, and marvel what he has achieved at Saddlebow Road. so no complaints there....... My comment were directed a the BSPA as a body, the organisation of our sport. It seems that when they all get together, common sense goes out the window..... The sport becomes secondary.. I'm also aware there are some good people on the committee, but just seem to be out numbered, by those who think everything is rosy.

I'm trying hard to be see the positives from the recent AGM, but failing miserably. If there be a trophy given for the most complicated set of rules where most problems were self inflicted, then the BSPA would win this award every year. without fail....... I am sure they set out with the sole intention on pissing everyone off. Sometimes I wonder if there is a brain between them, How can a sport , so straight forward, be complicated so much. When the Drafts scheme was first suggested, some of us were branded as scare mongers for pointing out the obvious shortcomings of having protected heats, resulting in varying CMA biasness. . Now two years down the line the BSPA are digging a bigger hole than before, trying to rescue a badly thought out idea. Years back we had 13 heats, everyone racing against each other. Every rider's CMA was testament to their ability in comparison to other riders. Increase the 13 format with and addition reserve race and finish with the nominated one, to achieve the full 15 races. Its so unbelievably SIMPLY.. so straight forward. We could add a simple proviso to that, and say each team has to field two British riders, one being at reserve. Our sport suffers from many problems, least of all, attracting of new supporters. We have a desperate shortage of top riders, leaving the sport over run with Guests, Double Uppers and R/R. I cant see where this AGM meeting has addressed any of the important problems and have only compounded the ones we already had.

You sure have a wicked mind

I wouldn't go to Cardiff every week, whatever the costs were.... We go because of the occasion, not because of the racing and are charged through the nose for the privilege . Being a Cardiff regular, I am often amazed at the relevance, people place in the meeting, and how it is used as a measuring stick when comparing with other events. Yes, there are 40,000 plus crowds; Yes, there are the best riders in the world, but surely that alone, is not the reason to hold it in such high esteem. Usually the amount of decent races can be counted on one hand. Undoubtedly, the track has made huge strides in recent years compared to what it once was, but it will always be a temporary surface, and as a meeting, it will never compare with the likes of Torun in Poland. but we do not have that scenario... No, the reason the event is so special is because, It's the only opportunity for most to see a SGP live, It's the weekend when speedway takes over the city... Yeah it's a good, expensive time, but please don't think the racing is anything special, I seen far better races in league matches up and down the country most weeks....

Pleased I don't live near Manchester, I couldn't afford to support your lot........

I too was at the meeting and saw those riders plus Lewis Rose as well. I was probably a bit slow, cause I was of the impression, they were there to support the Young Stars in a big Match. No doubt talks of next year were on everyone mine but I wouldn't have thought Buster would have conducted contract talks with everyone on the same night whilst a match was taking place. After suffering big accidents last year, surely there must be big question marks about the return of Rory and Kerr. Each will have to prove they are back up to fitness before any contracts are sought...... I would love to see them both in the Lynn set up next year, but how far do we go with sentiment. Rory has been a tremendous ambassador for the sport and would make a brilliant Team Manager. Look at the difference Mark Lemon has made at Belle Vue. He could be the key to open the door, that has been closed for so long....

Appreciate all your fact findings. Although we don't want to use guests, it is not them that slow the meeting down like R/R do..... Again thanks for the info...

Probably if your response was an objective opinion or a constructive criticism on the state of D/D or race nights, I would have responded differently, but to nit-pick on an example, was so trivial. The problems with the way our sport is run is a major issue. and any suggestion is worth airing. I'm sorry if I used the wrong example...... But my point was, If someone who has followed the sport for 50 yrs, get P----d Off with slow meetings, what effect does it have on attracting new fans ???

You obviously think everything in the garden is rosy, and the sport doesn't have a problem, picking that up like you have. Wednesday has always been good night to race, with little or no other meetings. But there were many times this year we rode on other nights besides Wednesdays, like Monday, or a Tuesday, sometimes even on a Thursday. Your figure of 95% is way off the mark. Looking back through our fixture list, the actual figure of the occasions we race on a Wednesday is 63% . Only 12 of our 19 meetings have run on Wednesdays.. But all this is irrelevant, the idea of the suggestion is to organise the sport more professionally and appealing way to encourage more Punters, More Riders and More families. For someone, who has watched Speedway for 50 odds years I was mentioning problems that annoy me. Thinking along those lines, What does these drawn out meeting do to new supporters, they must get really pi---ed off........and that's what needs to be addressed

A lot of good points you make above. In my first comment I highlighted the need to race leagues on specific days, not with the sole intention of getting some top riders over here, but to bring some organisation into our sport in this country. The number of times teams come to the AFA with a rider missing is beyond a joke, Usually the result of double uppers riding for their main club. Using R/R to cover the gap means a slower meeting when a rider will need more rest between races. Nothing peeves me off more than slow, stop and start meeting. That just one instance. There are not enough riders to fulfil all our league places so doubling up is inevitable. Lets have more control of this situation by setting certain racing days for each leagues... Agree about the top riders not wanting to race here, but it would be good if they could see we are trying to help them in their quest to organise their years work ahead.. Instead of shutting the door one or two like Nicki Pedersen might say why not. The sport has to be organised better and meetings need to be run more professionally , then the crowd might start to come back...

It was always going to be an uphill battle against the Heathens big hitters and so it proved. The young Stars, although ravished through injuries but still battled to the end. The three final heats really gives a unfair scoreline, as the teams were a lot closer than that...... Ryan Kingsley was a revelation scoring 17 from his extra rides. The RR and falls really took its toll on proceedings. The Ref tried to keep the meeting flowing with quick 2min warnings, but with so many missing the meeting was always going to be drawn out. Didn't realise how cold it was until back in to the car. Just pleased I wasn't one of the few Cradley supporters facing that long journey home. Decent crowd, but how many of them were there purposely to collect their Niels tickets. Priced as they were, they were always going to go quickly. Pleased we acquired ours, but feel for those who missed out. All tickets were gone in half an hour. Good to see Rory, Lewis Kerr and Lewis Rose in attendance to cheer the Young Stars on....

No, Not at all .. Your point about costs, are because you're assuming that every club would HAVE pay out more to attract top riders. My point is to organise the sport to comply with other countries and other leagues. and that isn't going to cost ANYMORE than it does now. . All we need is to organise the sport as a body, not a tin-pot organisation governed by specific people and certain clubs with their short-sighted demands. We could have the EL on say Wed and Thurs, We could have PL on Fri ,Sat and Sun, leaving NL for Mon and Tuesdays. That way we could fit in with other countries running their top leagues on specific days, we would also free up clashes when EL riders double up with their PL clubs, we would free up opportunity when the NL clash with PL. A bit of organisation that hasn't cost a penny, but it would be so much better for all concerned. The riders, the fans , the clubs, everyone would benefit . They're going to be people saying, yeah but we can only race on certain days, but that's no problem, cause all days are accounted for. If Wolves say we can on only race on Mondays, then they complete in the NL. Sheffield might say we always race on Thursdays, that's also good, cause they could compete in the EL. There is no reason why this cant be done, all it needs it someone to stand up for the sport and not for themselves...... Surely the sport is more important than any club.....

You seem to have all the answers and your mind made up. By complying with the other countries in Europe it will be easier for the riders to travel from venue to venue, they won't be as many clashes as there is at present. Whether we can appeal to new riders we don't know, but if we complied to a program as other countries do, as least that way it would ensure our riders are happy and not so knackered trying to fit meetings in to our unfriendly calendar..... If we try, we might get some success, but burying our heads in the sand we won't get anywhere.....

Really pleased to see that. Having seen some wonderful riders here at Lynn in my time, top names, that just roll off the tongue, like Betts, Lee, Simmo, Jessup, Sanders, Louis, Crump, Richardson, Pedersen, Henka, Loram, Adams (forgive me if I missed someone's favourite) and when I say I would definitely rate Niels up there with the very best, you'll appreciate how important he has been to the Stars over the past 5 years. When the management start thinking of plans for next year, Niels has to be the first name on the sheet....

As per normal the cart coming before the horse. There far more issues to worry about than 6 man teams. Surely the first problem to sort out is the workability of three leagues Then next, sort out two specific race days for the Elite league hoping to interest more top riders to compete. Designate the PL to run on different nights. There's way too many meetings when riders are missing, riding for their parent club instead.... Lets have a laid down program of 'Rules and Guidelines' that all Clubs and Riders are happy to work too. Lets have a progression status so the riders can improve and not have too perform out of their depth like at present. If it is deemed best to operate 6 man teams then so be it. But lets get the priorities right first.....

Like other, I'm very disappointed with Porsing's progress, and now feel he won't make the big time. He came with many claiming his pedigree was first class, all he needed was time. Well, he's had 2 and half years now and is little different from the rider we first saw. Sure, some days he's inspired and rides like a top man, but others he give the impression of little interest. He's fortunate to have a good sponsor and to lives locally. But if he wants to go far in this sport then he needs to make bigger strides and put in more consistent performances. What he has done so far is not good enough. I am in no doubt he is capable of reaching the heights of national status, but to do that his application has to go up a big step....