Grand Central

What a stupid plan to come up with at THIS time. Some people really should not be allowed in decision making positions.

Yes, fifth out of that five.

Ultimately the league season will have to be written off as a whole. A few tracks that will be able to get up and running in the summer/autumn with only a limited fixture list and a very limited SGP in the autumn will be possible in certain countries. I dont expect any more than that.

Ok. Then I'll shout. Not a chance of getting under way by that early date.

But it won't be.

My earlier post was neither expressing panic nor pessimism ... Just the reality of the world situation we are now in for the next few months. Not days and weeks. I wholeheartedly agree with the ridiculous business of closing schools ... But once they are closed at the levels of infection we have on closure date It will be a impossible to open again until the infection levels are actually REDUCED ... That will not be until mid summer. Varadkar is saying they are shut in Ireland until March 29 ... Utter BS. The infection rates then will be greater on that date than today. The truth is that than once the decision is taken to close the same people will not be able to open again until the end of the school year has arrived. The UK approach so far seems the most sensible. But the plans we have in the UK will still involve these major closedowns in the weeks to come. And that is not because of media led panic. That is what the science does predict.

You paint a very accurate picture of the situation out there and the sub optimal response of many people and groups .... But it is the reality of how a population DOES respond and it is that very reality that the policy makers have to bear in mind when making their decisions. Wishing for it to be otherwise is friutless.

I think It is blindingly obvious that the season will not be going ahead as planned despite statements to the contrary. The UK government policy at this stage is only delay the progress of the virus as far as possible so that the most draconian of measures are only needed further down the line and for the shortest time posssible. But all the advice they are working to is that it is still inevitable they will come in. In a couple of weeks time that will include all events like speedway for almost certain and the restrictions will they have to stay in place through April and in to May. That is when the peak of it all is expected. Those countries that have set off doing this as early as now will just face having the worst measures in place for the longest duration. But... All sports will be closed at some point soon because the sportsmen and associated workers will be going down with the virus themselves and isolating. That will make the 'sport' redundant. In addition emergency measures relating to ambulance/paramedics (even private ones) will take the decisions out of of the sports authorities hands. Quite quickly we will be recognising just what this means ... No SGB, no SGP and no SON. We are fooling ourselves to think otherwise and should start preparing for a limited sporting schedule in high summer and beyond.

Confirmation of Armando's continuing mission to make Speedway sh!ttier. It is 4-3-2-0.

Every time I read anything quoting what Castagna has to say on these matters just makes him sound more and more of a prat.

Except .... I don't give a stuff about anything to do with football at all. Whereas I have followed Speedway for 50 years, travelled Europe and spent probably thousands of pounds watching (every) SGPs in person or on TV. So forgive me for finding it important, even if you do not.

Please don't have such musings in public. The more ridiculous the idea ... The more likely that Armando will implement it.

I hear you too. But as it is they have NOT made it a five point difference between first and second in the final which could really impact on outcomes; it is just 2 points. And then again ... Have any of us ever thought that the prestige etc of winning a GP has been lacking so much that it requires a rejigging of points to increase the incentive ? Leaving well alone seems just perfect to me.

Cheers. You are absolutely spot on about how the dynamics might change. As far as I can see you have just made a great argument AGAINST changing to this new system. In general the race point system makes EVERY point in EVERY race of vital importance ... making for a better race meeting throughout. Anything that takes that away even just a little - just like you say may have been in Billy's mind - is generally a very bad thing. For the spectator.

Actually you're not quite right about the 1996 series. Back in 1996 the points were awarded 25-20-18-16 .... whilst we get 20-18-16-14 in 2020. In 1996 we did not have semi finals and finals; instead we had A B C and D finals. It is true that at the year end just two points separated Hamill and Nielsen at the top. And if you use the 2020 scoring it is also the case that Hamill would beat Nielsen by just two points. A close series either way. But ... Interestingly if one looks back to the scoring in 1996 over the six rounds Billy Hamill and Hans Nielsen actually tied on 65 race points each on their heats 1-20 scoring. And they both scored 9 points in the A finals they reached. TIED if the 2019 system was used back then. You cant get closer than that On countback Hamill reached 5 A finals and Nielsen just 4 so positions unchanged. Speedway at its best is about 3-2-1-0. Dont mess with it.

To even mention Erik and Hans now though is so backward looking ... We are thirty years beyond ANY relevance that would be helpful in decisions or understanding. In Speedway terms or the rest of society. Despite being closer to 60 than 50 myself I can appreciate that it is just this sort of 'harking back' to pre-history by oldies that must drive anyone born post 1990 absolutely bonkers. And make them switch right off from listening to us on many issues of TODAY.

Good God .... That would have been in 1988 or 1989 !! Get a grip !

What a bizarre comment ... Four riders who quite demonstrably couldn't 'put bums on SGP seats' any better than the 2019 guys.

Of course it may end up that the 7th and 8th in SGP2020 get 2 of the extra wildcards. So ultimately the switch to only the top six qualifying by right may make little difference to the personell in SGP2021. But ... during the SGP year it has always been the top 8 placing that has seems to drive competition in the lower reaches of the points table and maintain interest in their scoring. At least for the commentators who make great play of this. Raising the bar to the top six will just make it look as if there are just more riders 'out of contention' and from even earlier in the SGP year. Have less to race for themselves. And have less for us (and for NP/KT) to care about too. Just not really sensible ?

Dont agree at all. I think the title matters quite a bit. Especially for that illusive 'credibility' everyone seems to value so much.

No doubt about the problems of the SWC and the need for some changes But that did not mean that they answer was the ridiculous SON format, rules and even more stupid title they came up with. Trouble seems to be that Castagna and chums cannot come up with the right response when needed, no matter what situation they are given. Something NEEDS change because there are real issues needing to be resolved ... Their ham-fisted way gives us a botched product like the SON. Meanwhile something that works really well like SGP scoring and needs no change and they cannot stop themselves messing around with it to make it worse. Why is it that in just about EVERY walk of life, every institution, every international sporting body, every bloody government seems to be headed by total f..wits at the moment ?

Yes. If the numpties that came up with the scheme for next year think it is such an improvement ... Then why not put it into practice when they had the chance by giving the SEC winner a wildcard for next year. I think it's a poor change but at least my picking Mikkel M it would have shown their integrity by being committed to the idea. Right now. As it is they look pretty shabby.

Piss poor decisions , yet again.

Great news, Thanks.

But plastic replacing brown paper ... Clearly Greta's message didn't make it to Surbiton !