Sings4Speedway

Whilst i agree with you (and always will you speedway legend) there was also a time when not everyone had a phone full stop in the same way not everyone had a computer but times evolve and life becomes tricky without. As an honest question if speedway were to disperse with the physical programme would you consider getting a smartphone of whatever level to utilise the 'e-programme' or would you just print a score sheet and keep at it the analogue way?

Is it just me or is it all just toooo complicated and we already have enough complications with averages but we do at least partly understand them so why not just set it as newcomers to the CL 2.00 - rider who has completed 30 NL meetings or fewer 2.50 - rider under 23 3.00 - newcomer who has completed 30+ NL meetings or over 23. from then on they just have the average the achieve with above minimums applied. For PL reserves need to achieve the required minimum standard via conversion rate as they do now job done. Im all for promoting British and making them more attractive signings makes sense but not if it makes it all too easy. The reason more Aussies succeed than Brits is because they have no choice, its make it or fly home.

Except the riders in the scheme will have places in teams held open for them that currently are often filled up with non improving NL riders apart from those no improvers who have got in on the scheme! I hope it is limited to two leagues only as many on the scheme will desperately need the NL rides for confidence (if there is a NL left) and i hope those involved have deep enough pockets as running 2-3 bikes with 3-4 engines and all associated running gear that is required to compete in two leagues alongside van, time off work etc will push several to the limit but i hate the begging bowl messages mid season and have enough of it from established riders.

With the greatest of respect if the programme sales are what dictates if a clubs survives or doesn't then the writing is already daubed across the wall.

So if im getting you correctly should a rider agree to go onto the rising star register they must accept a team place if offered to them regardless of where it is or face the consequences whatever they may be? Obviously there might be some sense applied in some cases but only likely to financial such as not paying a rider 500 miles fuel money each home meeting. Would certainly be interesting reading to see the sanctions being held against the riders especially if you consider that two places per side will become the norm in the Champ in future. I can see the fun being sucked out of the sport very quickly for some riders being forced to clubs/tracks that they don't like very much.

You are right to a point but even the right amount of dirt can produce one line racing at even the best tracks like NSS or Peterborough. If all the grip is out by the fence at the showground it just produces fast but processional racing. Tracks need multiple racing lines / options for track craft to decide the outcome rather than gating technique and most suitable engine.

I completely agree but with printing costs on the rise and an increasing demand for better value for money how much revenue do program sales generate over a season? The programs on sale are often printed prior to team changes due to injury/unavailability, rain offs cause either redundant stock or repurposed scruffy examples plus of course the surplus of unsold items. More fans are printing their own sheets and filling in trackside as circa £3 for a document that is rarely read or adverts noted is a pricey addition to each visit. Advertising space could still be sold just to be displayed on the app and with links to companies websites may actually create some genuine trackable sales. Throw in a link to any team merchandise and it could be a very usable item.

The consequences should be published along with the list. The asset system is largely flawed and i fail to see why many riders sign for clubs/local clubs other than being given a sensible financial incentive. Being restricted by a club that could affect any riders development despite that club having zero interest is just daft.

The only benefit i can see of an app would be to remove the need for a physical program. A scorecard with the actual riders and updated meeting scores and actual times so that nobody has to rely on shoddy PA systems. They would get around any cancellation and reprints plus the dreaded insert. Obviously there are plenty who still enjoy the physical program but in a green sustainable world e-programs feel like the future.

But why is it so complicated? Why not say 0 years Champ experience 1 Star, 1 Year experience 2 stars etc. PL Experience 3 Stars min. All riders under 30 are eligible. Verge has ridden for 10 years, Harrison hasn't been on a 500. Naming individual riders and putting them into grades is opening it all up for criticism. There is still no incentive for any of the clubs that need the riders to get involved with the development of emerging riders, thats where the progression and success of the system will come from.

Was this not planned to be introduced via a new ignition system only for them to not actually be available due to production / hologamation constraints? Another well thought out ruling. 2nd halves stopped at Somerset because the track staff got fed up waiting for it to finish and wanted extra to stay on. Unfortunately rider availability and the lack of main meeting urgency hurt the numbers attending. The novelty for riders traveling fair distances to watch a lengthy interval, drawn out parade and interviews before curfew arriving and 2nd halves curt short/abandoned grew weary for many talented riders.

Don't knock the last one, Jacob has got good bikes and if Savalas could squeeze in his kevlars he could be brought in as a 1star ringer

Its not April 1st is it? Bacon, Stoneman, Andrews, Woolley, Verge, Bowen even on the list. These guys have been around forever. Dugard & JPB making a return? and thats without the major question marks over the grading and ability like how Palin & the Thompsons end up on 1 star (apart from being in Godfrey/Bates teams). How are Flint & Kemp 3 stars but Rowe and Bickley 4 stars? I didn't think this system would have any credibility and yet again this above draft would confirm it.....no wonder the sport is a laughing stock!

Jettison the top end who are largely doing that themselves by opting to ride in other leagues. The bottom moves up and the cycle continues. Of course there will always be riders who score more or less, who are just terrible at certain tracks but by reducing the average gaps it will assist with the strung out racing. As for price point i don't disagree, reductions need to made across the board in terms of entry and rider demands to reflect the product on show.

The same development that the BSPL has repeatedly tried to shoot down as they cannot take any credit for it? With respect to some riders that applies in much higher leagues also. Promotors are only concerned with points and not the manner of riding or safety of other competitors or themselves. Fans can be as bad with one persons dangerous is another's view of exciting.

Either would require strong points money to keep riders interest unless there are sanctions to prevent them missing meetings should it not go as they hope. Unless its an individual series of youth rounds as per the plan before?

Kent already have Ledwith & Hurry in their plans so a few more won't do any harm. In hilarious contrast to the upper two leagues (who think so highly of themselves that they seldom reference the NDL) the introduction of a minimum age limit. All riders to be 25 and above, no exams etc to worry about and bonus points offered for any side with a combined age that exceeds 220.

Nailed it. Two strength in depth sides going at it on a well prepared surface and let the result speak for itself. Team building needs a cap at the top and bottom ends so riders are closer in ability. A 10 pointer and 2/3 pointer on track at the same time isn't going to offer much however a heat with 7 & 5 pointers or 6&4 and the action is likely to be closer.

Speedway as a whole follows the same failing business model of many high street shops, namely products of differing quality but prices not reflecting. Its clear the there are plenty who will pay lower rates for a lower standard just look at Primark/Sports Direct for example. There are still those who will pay higher for better items but they are fewer transactions per year. Just look at the GP's Cardiff is packed, SON is packed but these are high level one off events. Weekly low grade showings need to reflect the prices. Speedway isn't the only area failing like this, Cinema's operate under the same model, chain restaurants are much the same but the takings and attendance in both have also been on a rapid decline (Pre Covid). If Speedway wants to continue weekly it needs to be at a weekly price, if it wants to make bigger events monthly then so be it. But don't bemoan people for asking for value for their money or choosing to spend it elsewhere. I don't bemoan clubs closing because either the product that was offered wasn't correct or the way the business was run wasn't up to scratch. Speedway will continue in this country but it will have to evolve to survive.

NDL riders above reserve level were never going to do the PL 2nd halves and why would they. Little or no money, little or guarantee that the meeting won't be binned if the main event over ran, limited benefit other than additional track time. Only emerging amateurs who were desperate to put themselves in the window would put themselves through that kind of torture with limited opportunities of progression.

I wonders if thats Danyon Hume? Im sure he won't but i would be sorely tempted to tell the Pirates to stick it as they went for unknown Aussies over a young Brit in the first place.

Im just glad they have stuck with stars, a couple are closer to rosette standard but try explaining that to a newbie

Dropping capacity wont work as you cannot sensibly supply enough riders from the youth classes across the league plus the majority of the teams are run midweek. I hope its a cap on the top riders averages creating more strength in depth sides as just reducing the team build averages artificially inflates the averages of riders and creates the impression they are better than they are.

I don't expect many Championship sides will feature 6 heat leaders. I don't debate that prices are too high across the board but just because all the riders feature in the Championship doesn't make it a Championship strength side.

Not an inspiring list to be fair with the exception of Bacon. Mountain worth another look? Kinsley is local-ish and unless ive missed something Stefan Nielsen would fit?