Roger Jacobs

What about fans who don't have a local track, or are unable to travel to away matches, or simply can't afford admission prices?

It's all well and good a few former fans returning to watch, and hopefully going again when a different team is riding, but it's whether there are any new fans being tempted ...

I was told by the office that the 25% reduction was for team building purposes only - so only repeated what appeared to be the official line. Looking at the 2023 Regs, it is not at all clear ... sigh. Absolutely stupid, because unless they continue to discount Brennan's average, it will increase on the first new set of Green Sheets - maybe BV have got the lawyers on it ...

They knew you were coming

Doyle at 7!

You still make it sound as if this was done deliberately. It only happened because of injury. Definitely agree with your point about Morris - he has a battle on his hands not just to remove ambiguity, but also to deal with the strongest personalities among the promoters.

Why would Hume be the fall guy? On the basis that Sayfutdinov will up his average, and either or both King & Riss could do the same in a successful team, there won't be any scope to replace, other than another Rising Star. As said earlier, they must think that Thompson can be carried while he learns and improves - it's what the Rising Star is all about.

"010.2.3 Amended MA's With the approval of the BSP LTD GC or Directors for: - a) riders who have been absent from British Speedway racing for more than 3 seasons (The MA may be increased or decreased) b) riders who have been absent for more than 1 full season due to a speedway injury ..." Not sure which point remains, because that's the same as last season - and why Lambert was able to return on his previous average. No idea why the BSPA hasn't changed it. Ironically, I believe Lambert's average would now be subject to potential amendment, and Zmarzlik's average would most likely be amended - up or down It seems that for new riders, there's a grading system to decide on their assessed average, although I don't think the system has been published - the BSPA will probably work something out if they need to, and the details will never be published.

Interesting choice. Maybe they've decided they can afford to "carry" a rider with less experience, although of course what appears to be an excellent set-up with regard to his previous and ongoing development. Positive personality, desire to learn and improve, plus a professional approach with a back-up team that will also work closely with the club is what's required for a Rising Star.

Have you read the new Regulations?

False economy - and a self-made smokescreen for the main problem ... The sport needs corporate sponsorship to survive. The play-offs have become the extra survival option simply because the sport is heavily reliant upon the cash flow generated by paying customers.

The Regulations were different in previous seasons. Sheffield took advantage of the same regulation used by BV to make a signing that they otherwise couldn't have made - that definitely improved their team. Perhaps if they hadn't set a precedent, then BV might not have been able to make their change? Also, no-one can ever predict how well a new rider will perform (or how poorly an existing excellent rider will perform), so there's no argument there either. Get over it.

Im sure it used to be that a team couldn't have a guest for a rider that hadn't made an appearance - but I can't see anything in the Regs ...

The whole point is that the Regs should not require any interpretation. I think that many fans have got used to the make-do-and-mend / sticking plaster attitude of the BSPA, instead of the need for a major overhaul ... which doesn't mean that everything has to change, but a holistic view is required to ensure necessary changes don't impact existing stuff that does work.

I didn't think they've allowed people in to watch for quite a few years - something to do with health & safety, insurance, etc.

Even if it's only one day a week, it still needs to be funded - and a CEO won't be on minimum wage.

Whoops! Splendid mixup between 84 and 98

Only for team building purposes.

Sometimes the same team completes that starts. In 1994 the same 6 Witches swept to the title. There was an "agreement" between promoters that if a team stayed the same it could be kept for the following season - but the dominance of the Witches meant that the other promoters hastily forgot that ...

Apparently Linda Lovelace's dentist said that she had the best set of teeth he'd ever come across.

I wonder how many Ukrainians consider the Witches "their" team - or even know there is speedway? When Gollob and other Poles rode, there was no big interest from the Polish community in the town. I think it's possible that there will be a negative reaction overall from people who are vociferous about the war ...

It was confirmed to me by an email from BSPL office (very helpful with general queries).

Rew starts at reserve. Hume’s Green Sheet is higher - the Brit discount is only for team building purposes.

The Star and EADT haven't employed journalists for a long, long time - the standard of writing has reduced dramatically, and most articles are simply reports of something that's happened - often from Tweets, etc. - with no observation, analysis or opinion. Look at this for a prime example of meaningless, hilarious drivel (Tuesday, 14 Feb): https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23319268.suffolk-heater-fail-leaves-audi-driver-without-100-000-car/

I thought he was suffering with long Covid and has to pace himself through the season?