R87

Pretty good game, although graphics are a bit basic. Ive done a couple of golden greats championships using the GP format on here with all of the riders who have been world champions. I didn't know you could create your own formats though. Might have a go at setting up the current GP scoring system, as most recent one is 2005.

Sadly, the attitude of the BSPA towards people who criticize the way speedway is run seems to be "If you don't like it, then don't come".

I remember (not long after he took the job) that he rubbished the notion of an independent body running British Speedway as "speedway works here very well". The fact that as the chairman of the BSPA, he was in office during the farcical winter in 2010/2011 would have seen him out of a job in most other sports. Lets not forget also that he promotes a club which had to go cap in hand and plead poverty to their own supporters - these two sagas hardly make him the most credible of chairman. Sadly, with the way the sport is current (mis)managed here, moving him on and replacing him with another current promoter will be like shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic. I think there are a lot of forward-thinking promoters within British Speedway (Rob Godfrey at Scunthorpe has always impressed me), but with too many older promoters set in their ways and determined to keep things as they are just because it "suits them", then I don't see speedway moving forward - I hope I'm proved wrong, but I don't see it.

Problem is that, despite the promoters grumbling about riders not turning up, but these same riders get picked by other gullible clubs the next season.

Middleditch shows a bit of backbone at least

Ward (just like his British club) seems to revel in this victim role. Its always someone elses fault and everyones out to get them. He needs to accept he's in the wrong here and seek the help he needs, and people like Middleditch need to stop handling him with kid gloves.

Can only agree with what's already been said. Darcy is a fantastic talent on a speedway bike (probably the best I've seen at such a young age), but he needs to get himself sorted out before he loses it all. Poole have backed him to the hilt when lots of other clubs wouldn't have, but they won't keep backing him if he keeps popping up in the headlines for the wrong reason, and Matt Ford has already gone on record as saying he has to get his life sorted out An 8 to 10 month ban for me would give him time to maybe take stock of his life and decide what he actually wants. Yes it might seem tough from his point of view, but it seems he has to learn the hard way. As for turning up at work with a hang-over, well I've never done that and I suspect if I did, then I would be sent home immediately.

Can see the parallels though.

Darcy Ward = Michael Lee

I'd be all in favour of a cup competition being added as long as it didn't start until mid -season. Then teams who have little chance in the league have something to go for. It would reduce the number of meaningless matches. Even the British League Cup of 2003. A good idea and I enjoyed those meetings, but too many clubs didn't take it seriously and, it was given the boot.

Agreed. My point however is that riders get too cosy on the small tracks and don't want to move onto something bigger even though it will aid their development. It has to be a two way system here though. The promoters and advisors need to make it clear to the rider he needs to race on big tracks, and there also has to be a desire by the rider himself to do it.

There has to be a balance between big and small tracks. Not enough of the major events are staged on bigger circuits. Plus the under 15 championship rounds are being held on pokey little places like Eastbourne and Rye House. While these clubs have a good track record of developing riders, it can hinder their development if they get to dialled into small tracks I think Hans Nielsen expressed concern when he was at Wolves that it was hindering his ability to race on bigger tracks where - let's face it - most of the big international events are held anyway.

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