weatherwatcher

I agree with every word. No one is even giving it a chance to work. Lets see if they are up to it. They can be no worse than some of the poor overseas reserves we have ben seeing here in the last few years. Given the chance they may turn out to be stars of the future and give us a team GB to be proud of

In all motor sport there is none other with a more level playing field equipment wise than a speedway bike you have a choice of 2 engines,2 exhaust makes, no gear boxes to worry about a choice of 3 carbs and they all race on the same fuel. The only bit that controls the changes to the bikes is the gear sprocket on the rear wheel that they alter to suit each track or track conditions and the cluch which eavery rider has his own personal settings. So it dose not make a great big choice as say in motor GP with a choice of bikes frames engines team manifacturers etc. The choices to a speedway rider are very limited, the top lads probably have far better mechanics than lads at national level but the bikes are still the same. The other facter is that the top lads can have a choice of 4 or 4 bikes on a race night so that puts the poor humble lower league lads a bit of an unfair advantage. Plus they don't yet have that experance, skill and speeed that the likes of Tai etc have. All in all their machines should be or should almost be identical. Do what they did in Reanault sports car racing devolop a bike that is identical, do not allow any mods other than the rear sprocket and give them all one bike a piece ( I mean they have one identical bike apiece with no engine mods allowed). It is then just up to the skill of the riders and not an unfair advantage of superior machines it is the rider alone that wins the race. If people want to see the worlds top riders ovewr here then do something along the lines of premier football clubs. X amount of clubs with just the worlds to riders if that is what people wish to see. I would rather see so good team speedway raced by even matched teams that gave first class racing. That what you are seeing now with a couple of top riders making a mad dash to the front and then a long strung out proccesion of rider that far behind that the next race is due to start before the last man finishes. Speedway needs to have a complete rethink or all will be lost in a feqw years I am afraid

Would British speedway be any worse off if all the overseas rider didn't ride here. Would people still go or do they just go to see the top riders. With a level field with only Brtish riders it could make the racing more competitive. Without the usual two riders or one rider so far in front and the rest with not less rider skill but inferior machines coming home half a lap behind. It also may improve the quaulity for our home riders if they got the chance to ride in a better British league structure. We would then get a better class of young British riders that could compete at world level. We sadly need to bring on more top class young British riders than we have now and they are being held back by place in the top flight of both the EL/PL being made up of overseas riders. We will have to wait and see what happens at the end of this week, but I think people would see so fine racing on our tracks if things planed out that way. Britain needs British riders. They need to become the stars of the future not for the sake of Brtish speewday or world speedway but for the sake of and the future of speedway to carry on as the way it is, it can't carry on for much longer the way it is going at the moment. Bring down admision prices. For one I can't afford to go to every meeting and have to chose when I go. If the admission price was lowered and the racing was on a more level footing and it came back to what speewday is all about that is a team contest on the track, with the team pairings, getting a good gate and getting to the front and then teying their upmost to keep the other teams from passing then I think you would get some very good racing. Not sure this is ever going to happens, maybe just a dream. But something drastic has to be done before we see most of the clubs go under from wages for riders who ask far to much to ride when I say do we need them. Do we just go to see the top world names or do we go to see some decent speedway meetings.

Sorry about that just taken another look at the Sorry about that I just took a look at the Poole site I looked at last night and it was from last year we all make mistakes. Hope it isn't with this in mind that the guys above do the same over the next 3 days if so Then may the Lord Jehovah give us strength. We need something very possitive out of this years meeting. If no TV coverage then they need to look elsewhere for sponsership.

I live 20 miles from a speedway stadium and our local paper has never even mentioned that the sport exists. I am thinking of writing to them to put a feature in the paper. But the only sport they seem to cover is football and cricket. I think that our local area newspapers could do more for our sport. Unless you are a supporter and know that a track is near you how would you know it exists, there must be people out there that would love to see the sport if they only knew it was there. Just seen on Pooles wesite about this years AGM not much to write home about. Take a look if you want to be bored to death. I have been looking all over the internet and the only place that gave any details was Poole. Quite a shock that me thinks not. So what has change nothing new year same old rubbish other than the Elite Leage dropping the points total. No mention of TV right 0or sponsership. Look forward to a new years speedway with dread. We have to do something or this sport is going to die a slow death, or maybe a rapid decline. It is time that those in power sat back and looked at what actually going on around them, and actually did something to help our beloved sport to carry on for many many years to come.

Just seen the post on Pooles website from the AGM nothing has really happened and nothing has really changed. No mention was made on TV covearge but it has still got a few days to go. Just the same old people and the same old rubish we hear every year

I know live coverage of speedway other than the GP and Europeans on Euro sport will be sadly missed if nothing comes for 2014 but it is up to the people who sit around the tables and not on the nikes on the race track to find a sponsers or sponsers to cover the lost revenue. Football clubs do it as do several other sports so why can't they get things sorted out either give us Sky or BT for next year or find some big money from other sorces. Speedway is here for many years so lets hope that they come to their sences and help keep our sport alive and kinking

As things go I think it will be Morris Not sure but I think it was already mentioned that he was taking over for 2014 on one of the latter Sky Elite League races. But don't quote me on that one. I don't see team GB doing any better next year, some of the riders are getting past their sell by date and the up and coming riders have still a long way to go, before they reach top level racing. Give them a few more years and a few more chances to compete in the top flight of speedway and we may just then see a team GB that is worth it's pinch of salt. But 2014 I think will be another no, no for team GB whoever is in charge.

I like this can't any of the big clubs would do anything about it though. But yes they should be made to do it that way in a few years time we would have a team GB to be proud of. We are slowly running out of riders that are world class. Some of the team now are coming to the end of their careers and we need some new good blood in the team that an compeat with the rest of the world. Will they ever be given the chance. I think what you have written should be made compulsory to the top British clubs the sooner the better.

It is hyard for young British riders some of the lads depende on their parents to help them financially and as machanics and transport. Some of them stuggle to upkeep one bike running and all for the love of the sport with very liitle in the way of recognition from any spnsers. There are guys riding in The Midland Development League that that have to give up the sport due to those cost mentioned only to realise they love the sport and give it another go. There are some good lads out there and with the right strings being pulled would stand a better chance of doing far better than they do now. With money there to help them get at least two bikes and a decent level of equipment to make them competative as a speewdway rider. Our country needs these guys, they should be someway to show them a life line to bigger things. The sport or sponcers could do something do make this possible.

Just seen an update on speedway on Sky sports for 2014. They are still very quite about things saying that the contract is still up for grabs, not very good English. But they are stating that they are hopeful of getting the contract which is good news or that it may go to one of their rival broadcaters, so even more hopeful news. We shall no doubt soon find out, who gets it or will no one bother with it, it would be a great loss for British Speedway if we lose it on our TV's it had been in the wilderness for so many years till Sky came along and started to show it. I can remember the days when you used to get one of two races a year on the BBC'S Grandstand Programme and it was a few to say the least. I hope for our sport that we do not lose what we have now, with weekly Speedway. Eurosport have the Gp's and a few other races and good for them but would they consider doing weekly British Speedway or is any body else willing to take over the broadcasts.

It goes to show from this year alone that most of the accidents to the riders are far worse than they used to be. Some of the riders seem to act like kamakazi pilots, with no regards to other riders saftey or to themselves. Used to go to Cradley Heath and Long Eaton in the 70's and 80,s and I am sure that the riders where less agresive than thy are now. You only have to look at the amount of fisty cuffs that go on even at GP level,due to some actions by the rider can only be called driving without due care and attention. I think riders where more like gentlemen in the years past and not only thought about their own livelyhood but the livelyhood of other riders. It seems we have a new breed of speedway rider now with a don't care less attitude to their own lives or the lives of others. We need to cut down on the amount of really bad crashes that hagve happened this year alone. Air fences can still be dangerous. When you hit the track at the speed these guys are going, then the results can be quite disastourous. Can't wait to see what the AGM brings in a few days time. I just hope it dosen't bring us a Winter of Dis-content. "Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun [or son] of York," . Or will it as the bard wrote give us a glorious Summer I hope so for the sake of our sport.

No I wouldn't call them bends or corners, they are the sort of things you have at the Isle of Mann TT races a speeway track is just two inter connected straights a bit like your first model railway layout. Lets keep our speedway as it was always ment to be and always will be. Great fun for those watching and a great skill for those who ride on our tracks.

Has Gavan ever been to a speeway meeting or even know what speedway is. Not sure from the statement made. Think it is good enough as it is without all of the wizz and bangs. It has been going on from before I was was born and it is still going on now in the same form and I hope that it goes on for a lot longer as my grandson will be very disapointed if he misses his speedway.

I don't like the B/W tactical ride. If a team is 10 points ahead then so be it, they have raced to earn those points, to then give the team behind a chance to double up their points seams a silly idea to me . Let them race on and lets see the outcome. Or is it the the team that are behind then go on to win are the best team on the night. It makes the whole thing a farce. Let the winner of the races be the one that has the score that they went out and earned, not handed to them on a plate by a TC. Think it would make some big changes to the league tables at the end of the year if they raced for what was actually on the true points they won not decided by the outcome of TC's. But that is just my idea. I don't like them full stop.!!!

Voted for him today. Needs all of you on here to give him your votes he has done well this year

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

This will be my final post on this thread. I was always led to believe that speedway was a sport of the skill and ability of the riders. Part of that skill is with the rider that can gate the better than the other 3 and who has got the raster reation time. The rider that can get away from the tapes and make it to the first corner in the lead will most times if he his skilled enough he will keep that first place to the end of the race. It is not just a question that in every race you will see riders swap and change potions throughout the 4 laps. It is with the skill of those riders that can keep the others from overtaking him. That was my idea of speewday for the most skilled riders to keep the place on the track that they had managed to get after the initial first 2 bends. It is not just a sport to see riders over take but to see the skill of those riders to stop others getting by them. If this is what you wish to see then just maybe you are following the wrong sport. If you didn't see some first class riding on Sunday night them you must have been in the long line of folks that where waiting for a pint or hotdog at the vans. Because I saw some very good racing and some very skilled riding there. Goodnight and God Bless.

I think tnat it is now time to put this thread to sleep, it is getting so repetative and I think it is now turning into a few peoples personal vendta's. If any of you can do any better with Leicter Speedway I suggest that you put your hands in your pockets and buy it and then re-design the track to how you think it should be. Instead of sitting infront of your keybords moaning and groaning, sit behind a word prosessor and make a 10 point argument of what you personally think is wrong. Get a ruled A4 refill and a ring binder and on the first race of next season, go round all the supporters ask them what they think and then ask them if they want to sign a pertition to hand into the management to call a meeting between all those who sign and the managment to iron out the faults that you think need answering. You won't get anything done on here. So let it rest peacfully and go to bed and have a good rest.

I t was far better racing than some I have seen whre all 15 races are like they have been joined together by a peice of elastic and follow each other 10 feet apart. Leicester have a stadium to be prood of and it is great to have speedway back in the city. Yes things take time to sort out. Think back to the day it all went flop years back. Back to the bad old days when stadiums where closing left right and centre Cradley Heath, and Long Eaton to name a few, ask them if they want their speedway back do you think that Long Eaton riders liked losing their home track and now ride at such a hoorible place as Leiceter no they are pleased to just have the fact that they can race. I have folled speedway for many years gone to some great tracks and tracks that you wouldn't be proud to have in your backyard. But the riders are where there not all riders have the cash behind them to 4 bikes and a team of top class mechanics behind them, but it is these guys that enjoy their sport. Leicters stadium is not that bad and from what I have seen in the stands on a Sunday night there are some graet fans there, not many of them are winging and whining but are enjoying the racing and and enjoying the day. If you don't like what you see and what a few on here are going on about, then please be quite. Go about it in an adult fashion and get a meeting with the management at a meeting with the fans and then put your points to them face to face. Our is it just easier to maon and groan sitting behind your keyboard . I for one are glad that there is speedway back in the city and this area after Long Eaton closed that was the end of local speeway and the nearest track then was Coventry and there was no way I was traveling to see them. There gas been a lot of hard work put into the stadium and after only 3 years it is far better than some stadiums in the country. So get something done if you are not happy. And yes there was some good racing on Sunday. I have seen far worse on Sky than what went on on Sunday night

British tracks are some of the hardest tracks in the world to ride. No two tracks are the same in this country. It comes down to the fact that the rider has to get used to the track and the surface conditions. I f you wan't there on Sunday night then you missed the best meeting you could have seen on any track in any country in the world. Krystof Kaserzac rode like it was his home track and so did several others and if you wanted to see overtaking then it was in abundance. The track crew had slogged their hearts out for 2 days to keep the track riderable and I don't think that any track in the country could have stood up so well to the weather we had last week. Also for tean Great Britain to want to stage the Ben Fund race there next year and if you read the quote from the Lions webpage about the stadium, then obviously some one has got something wrong. From a true loyal Lions fan.

What a shame it would be to lose another speedway club. I can't see this happening though as it sounds like there are interested parties out there that want to take over the running of the club. And what a great stadium it is. There have been to many clubs go under over the years and far to many clubs being lost either through financil problems or owners of the land whre the stadium is having it taken away from them for building houses. I can think of quite a few. Long Eaton who lost their stadium but have come back and now race at Leiceter Lions track poor weymouth who have not lost their stadium once but twice and are still looking for somewhere to go. The list could carry on with the likes of Cradley Heath etc etc. Lets hops that Sheffield are not one to add to this list. Get the City behind you to save this great Venue. Thats if they are interested in doing so. Most don't seem to bother. It is just a speeway track is the way they think why should we bother. Put without it they will lose a great asset to the city. I follow Leicter Lions and was great when they came back 2 years ago. You can't keep a good club down. Just like a Pheonix, Sheffield will rise from the ashes and go on to great things. Just hope that they don't ruin a good club

We need to get our home riders out here getting more rides at top level to better their chances of becoming the next Tai. The British lads who are doubling up in the EL/PL and are now coming to the twilight of their riding lives will never get any higher than they are now. If the young up and coming lads don't get a chance to compete in the higher levels of speedway then that is where they will stay either NL or PL someof them on a shoestring budget and only one bike to their name . Not gtiven the chance who will ever know what they can achive. The young British riders should be given that chance by riding in the reserve place at all major clubs instead of foriegn riders. May not be so exititing but not given the chance we will never find out. The state of our British riders is very much at the for-front of this we have 6 if that top riders now and out of those 6 how many can we count as true international stars that can hold their own against the best in the world very few. Let the lads have their chances, it may take a while, but I say let them carry on doubling up. The riders in the EL will soon be having to ride a league or 2 down in a few years anyway as no big club will want their services, then who do they have to take their places???????????