Chris Brown

I would prefer the letter to Eurosport to be praising the fact that they are showing the GP and SWC given that SKY got shot of it and without Eurosport I suspect it would have mattered whether you like the commentator or not because you would have only seen results on the internet Some people just have nothing better to moan about

What a prick, understand frustration but you have to control yourself Maybe the next time he wants to be interviewed the cameraman should shove him

Where are all the riders coming from to fill these squads ? Please don't tell me all the missing GP riders will suddenly want to ride in Britain...........................unless they can all earn an absolute fortune for doing part of the season I wonder who will be expected to pay for that.........................oh that will be the fans again

Nobody is saying there will be no riders unless the EL goes to one day per week. There will be dozens of riders and I am really not sure there will be less fans. There could be more because without the so called top riders the costs would be reduced and maybe a greater audience could be attracted Anyone would think that a few riders skipping the UK would mean every club is going to close the way you are putting it EVERY single business in the world will fail unless its puts its customer first, doesn't matter if its Sainsburys, Tesco's, the local newsagent or British Speedway. The promoters need to learn that, its scary that as a customer you seem to think the riders should be put first. No wonder the sport is in a mess if people think we need to put the riders first

Best point made so far tonight but sadly I suspect not one that too many in the sport will take any notice of

While theoretically this would be great it's totally pie in the sky. Stadium owners would lease the stadiums to suit speedway because they would on TV a few times...................really ? Are you going to pay for the strength of the teams you are suggesting, the costs would be astronomical. Birmingham did only race on one night and not enough people turned up and this was a team that was generally successful. It would IMO be financial suicide. We need to recognise that we cannot afford all the top riders, no chance. As for your last point, sorry but the top riders are a lot of the problem with the financial demands they make on the sport Just my view

Fair enough but if he or any rider does like the way the sport is here then they should not expect it to change just because they say so That is also the way of the world. It will be shame to see top riders decide not to ride here but if that sustains speedway here by becoming more profitable then so be it

But can we afford the 'best' riders ? Do the 'best' riders provide the best racing and entertainment. Not sure they always do to be honest

On one hand Philip I hear what you are saying and I am not having a go at Tai personally here but while he was an up and coming rider he was very happy with the set up in the UK which allowed him to ride in more than one league and develop his talent in a way that maybe 10 years ago he would not have been able to do. None of these other countries offer and British or Aussie rider the ability to ride the sheer amount of speedway that Britain does, which is why there are so many riders riding here from countries other than Britain Its just fascinating that now he is at the top of his game he feels that if he is to continue to ride here then British Speedway needs to dance to his tune and change. I suspect we would all agree that British Speedway is sadly dying on its feet, lets be honest it has been for years but this is not the reason he wants to change everything, he wants change because it suits him. No criticism for asking but why didn't he think this a few years ago when he was benefiting from the system. Lets be honest its the British league system (however screwed up it might be) that has allowed Tai to develop to the point that he was able to become a worthy World Champion, the leagues that he now seems to prioritise done pretty much nothing to aid his development in his early career For me it would be shocking for a British World Champion who has IMO benefited from the platform British speedway has given him to make him what he is to turn his back on it because it won't dance to his tune Having said that he must make a choice and its up to him, all I ask is that British Speedway does the right thing for British Speedway rather than the right thing for riders who just want everything to change to fit their own personal agenda As ever, just my opinion which I am sure people will disagree with but British Speedway will hopefully be around a lot longer than the riders who want everything changed to suit them. I suspect Tai should be credited in some way for being the one to at least say what he thinks but I just do noit share his view

And he loved it so much he stayed there for.................. Every rider comes out with this sort of crap when they sign, its what the fans want to hear and what I am sure they are all told to say

No chance of that, he is definitely retired, van has been sold and I think much of his equipment as well

Not sure you can point that accusation at Ales. It was aimed at Lukas 10 years ago but not sure that is particular relevant now anyway. I am sure there is a very good reason why Ales was not riding tonight

If you really believe he is taking the p#ss then that is your view. Personally I don't but lets agree to disagree with that one then eh ?

Surely not, Peterborough would have said so wouldn't they ? Strange that there seems to be an expectation that if you have an injury that stops you riding then you should of course not be seen out in public. Being in a bar and riding a speedway bike funnily enough do not have the same stress on your body

Genuine answers a) No, but not sure its relevant No, but not sure its relevant. I would have had my club not been decimated by appalling owners. I would love to be able to None of this stops me having an opinion I didn't think

Safe financially ? Birmingham have gone, Eastbourne look like going. I know the answer. lets invest massively in bring the big names who will bleed every last penny out of the sport and keep our fingers and toes crossed that the supporters who want this are prepared to pay for it. History suggests they will not and we will lose even more tracks I struggle a bit with the concept that destrengthening the league means a reduction in the quality of the racing, personally I do not see the correlation Its a difficult one for promoters (gee am I defending them) but in a declining market, its a brave man who invests in a team hoping it works, Rick Frost done it and it failed, why should it work elsewhere No question the sport is on a spiral and not sure anyone knows what to do.....................................apart from the people who are telling everyone else they should be spending more money of course. I agree that scrimping on shale is a problem but points limit reduction for me is not the major issue. If we really think the right strategy is to drop a couple of clubs from the Elite League then I would be concerned, looks like two are going when the costs are trying to be reduced, maybe you are thinking its another two, That if course would mean that everyone could complain about lack of variety and seeing the same team too often I still say get rid of the top riders as the sport cannot afford them

OK, take your point on banks but Bank of Horton is not a mainstream bank from my knowledge so see no reason why he or any other promoter should behave like one Yes, I understand the cashflow point but I reckon its up to the promoters to plan and fund their cashflow rather than customers. Don't know about you but when I go to Sainsburys, I fill my trolley and pay for what I purchase, not sure they have ever asked me to put down a deposit against next weeks shop.........................and I can only use it if I go in between certain times on certain days You get the point I was trying to make

Neil, of course I was not there, I don't go to speedway any more.................................and yes the Horton's had a major part in that so I am sure to a degree you understand my issues with them being involved in speedway. Problem is having a pop at them is generally not that difficult because its a non stop supply of ammunition Nobody is suggesting it was a premeditated call off but the facts are that money is taken from supporters and NOT returned a few minutes later when a meeting which sounds like it had little chance of going ahead had its gates opened and money taken. Personally I think the concept that money is not returned when the meeting is not staged is immoral and no promoter should be doing it. I don't care whether the BSPA rules allow it or not, the concept of taking £15 or whatever it costs from a supporter and providing nothing in return is unacceptable and the pitiful rules which then gives you a limited number of options to use that ticket is unacceptable and promoters should give supporters the option of their money back on the night because that is the right thing to do rather than hiding behind BSPA rules. That is not a dig at Horton or any other individual promoter, I think they should all be ashamed that they keep people's money. Bank's are robbers but even they don't expect to have money without paying interest on it. Yes the promoter incurrs costs but I can see no reason why any supporter should contribute to the cash flow issue this causes, that is part of owning a club. Had last night been highly profitable nobody shares the gains with the fans At the end of the day only Mick Horton and those close to him know whether there was really a need to open the gates and take money, I can't say one way or the other. I guess a plea for more fans and more money coupled with a meeting where the gates are open and then the meeting is called off just make you wonder...................possibly unfairly but when it comes to the Horton's I guess I do not hold a balanced view

This surprises you ???

500 adults does make you wonder why anyone would bother running any club. If the support is not there then at the end of the day it will go. Yes there is an responsibility to go out and try to promote the sport but 500 compared to the numbers only a few years ago it awful This is where clubs need to know who the lost fans are so at least they can be targeted for a return. Sadly no clubs have any of that data

Just a view that not every club has problems, that seems to be the case in this ownership. Just an observation ! Certainly hope any problems can be overcome because as I well know your club is a long time gone, maybe I am just a little bitter and twisted where the Hortons are concerned.

Here we go again. I am sure Neil will pick me up on criticising a Horton again but why oh why are they allowed to run clubs. It cannot surely be more than coincidence that every club they touch ends up with a plea for more fans because they are losing money can it

When I was in the pits on race night at Oxford I was always told that no member of official staff was able to have their mobile phone turned on, the post said that the Medic took a call on their mobile from a family member.....................they should not have had their mobile on, that was my query Since then it has been posted that the rule in fact says that one member of the medical team should have a mobile phone in working order. That negates the point I was making........................still I guess the rule was not brought in so people could personal calls You are right that we will never know the truth but seems there are two polar opposites, a rider rightly or wrongly saying one thing and the promotion rightly or wrongly saying something completely different. I guess we can all make our own judgement on that basis

Well there you go then, its on the Berwick site so clearly that must be the real facts I have no idea what went on as I suspect others don't as well but all this seems a bit dodgy Anyway aren't mobile phones banned in the pits and on the centre green for riders and officials ??

Perish the thought that a rider rides for one team and one team alone rather than all this doubling up. For me doubling up should be scrapped, that would solve the problem