R87

I posted this on another thread, but will put it her as well, as its relevant I'll quote a couple of lines from the late Simon Wigg's book: "We need stepping stones for British youngsters. Unfortunately, promoters tend to think its important how many races they have on a night, or how the regulations are structured, or whether the team aggregate points limit is set correctly. These are all negative aspects of speedway". And: "If every member of the BSPA were making a million quid a week running speedway, I would listen to them. But they're not. Most of them are busting their a**** to survive - and then tell each other how to run their show. I find that incredible".

We can talk about 5 year plans until we're blue in the face. British Speedway is run in such a way that it can barely see whats happening at the end of its own nose, let alone 5-10 years down the line. Until an idependent and full time body is governing all aspects of the sport, then it will continue to resemble a boat in the middle of a lake; with some rowing one way; others rowing another; and the bosses at the tiller scratching their heads, wondering why the boats going round in circles. I will quote a couple of lines from the late Simon Wigg's book: "We need stepping stones for British youngsters. Unfortunately, promoters tend to think its important how many races they have on a night, or how the regulations are structured, or whether the team aggregate points limit is set correctly. These are all negative aspects of speedway". And: "If every member of the BSPA were making a million quid a week running speedway, I would listen to them. But they're not. Most of them are busting their a**** to survive - and then tell each other how to run their show. I find that incredible".

Absolutely. Craig Cook riding abroad only once in his career is staggering. These riders need to be advised much better by people who've been there and done it already. We are the only country who do nothing to help its own riders. In fact, we do more to HINDER them. Massive changes need making and have done for at least ten years, but while people treat it as "just a social event", then we'll continue banging our heads against a brick wall. As I posted earlier, there are people out there who have vision and the nouse to improve the product, but the old guard continue to close ranks and hound them out through small-mindedness. We have had sky coverage since 1999, yet STILL none of the leagues are sponsored. I started watching speedway in 1990 and there was a rickety trackshop with a couple of tables. Its now 2014, and its still a rickety trackshop with a couple of tables. Sadly, speedway seems to not want help.

Agree entirely. The probem we have is that rules like doubling up have allowed too many of our riders to get in comfort zone. How exactly are people like Danny King going to learn and improve by bullying riders in the Premier League? The BSPA is facing a simple choice, adapt or die. Sadly, when you have people like Len Silver saying that he's "quite content with British Speedway at the moment", then what chance do you have?

I believe there are people involved in British Speedway who have good ideas and have a desire to do whats right for the sport. The problem is convincing the promoters who remain so set in their ways and prefer the sport to be amateurish and low-key

Pretty obvious decision there....even Lawrence couldn't get that wrong

Thinly veiled attack on the BSPA from Tai there?

But at least they will be picking up some experience. Its what the Americans are doing. We will not win this competition any time soon, so it would be as well to pick the likes of Lambert and garrity. Stead and King have had enough chances and wont improve, but the younger ones might

Stead and King just don't have enough experience on the European tracks. Our riders need to do more to get meeting abroad, instead of mucking about in the Premier League.

Stead and King just don't have enough experience on the European tracks. Our riders need to do more to get meeting abroad, instead of mucking about in the Premier League.

Aussies probably deserve to go through overall, but Swedes were deflated after that moment of idiocy from Lawrence

Two poor decisions in as many heats from Lawrence. Didn't agree with Nilsson exclusion and then pulling that heat back when the rider who moves punishes himself. Don't why he gets so many big meetings.......awful referee

I think this meeting has has had more incident. Fair play to Sweden, they did well to get back in after such a dismal start.

The issue for me will be the lack of experience (save for Tai and Bomber) the rest of the squad has on the continental tracks. Again, it shows these riders need to do more to pick up bookings in Europe. You need to have the knowledge to set your bikes up and also to know how to ride them. Just winding the throttle on and hoping for th best isn't enough. Appreciate that the Aussie were not at full strength and the US not the force they were, but as people say, you can only beat whats in front of you.

Not condoning Ward, but the last thing you want when you've had a rotten night is someone sticking a camera under your nose. Very good professional display from GB. Well deserved

Thanks for explaining that Nigel....we never noticed the cone was still on the track

Its British Speedway......it doesn't do professional :-(

I'd have picked Lambert tbh. He and Garrity for me should at least be in the squad to soak up experience....these are the future now, not the like of Stead.

Much as I would be in favour of 1 night a week speedway, I just don't think its feasible. Possibly they could look at limiting clubs to 1 home match and 1 away each week, but thats probably the best they can do

Its ok screamer. I was generalizing that some people may have felt Cardiff was too expensive, but while not exactly cheap, it is compared to what a GP would be at Wembley. Plus, the people I know who've been to Wembley say you are too far from the action...not an issue at Cardiff, which is almost tailor made for speedway.

Wembley may be better in the sense of the nationals being more interested, but if you think Cardiff is expensive, then Wembley would be ridiculous

Definitely wasn't the best Cardiff GP ever, but not the worst by any means and certainly after last years farce it was an improvement. Thought really that Ward was the best on view, but he's still prone to the odd lapse. Falling in heat 8 when the win was in the bag, and then picking gate 1 in the final, leaving Hancock the better performing gate 4 was also dubious. A good slick running which the British promoters should look at. OK they cant afford the sort of things on show last night, but the quick turnaround between riders leaving the track and the next four coming on shouldn't be that hard to implement. Even the trip back out was easy, as we were back in the Midlands at 10 45, not in the small hours as normal

A slicker and more professional presentation of meetings wouldn't go amiss. I was at the Wolves-Swindon match two weeks ago and we had Peter York on the centre green, whose routines were dated 20 years ago and are now just cringeworthy. But what really irritates me is the painfully slow procedure of meetings. It can't be impossible to complete a meeting in 100 minutes. People don't want to be standing about in the cold for ages while nothing happens. I really think there should be something in place where clubs are encouraged to complete a meeting in a set time. If it over runs (barring mitigating circumstances like a bad crash and/or damage to the fence), then the home club should be fined. Riders and Referee's also need to play their part in this too. Get them straight back to the tapes after an unsatisfactory start, rather than speeding off back to the pits for 5 minutes.

Agreed. A lot of younger riders (and some team managers) seem to use Twitter to moan and bitch. Scott at least seems professional.