wtf

There will certainly be a number of riders who have decisions to make. Interesting one for me now will be whether the BSPA are clever enough to use and maximise the one draw and advantage they have over all the other speedway leagues. I bet they won't The advantage that Sweden and Denmark offer to any rider in Poland is that the travel is less, and you can do both leagues on one set of equipment. One van, one set of full time mechanics, one workshop, one set of bikes. You can even do the GPs with this same single set up. If you want to run in the UK, you have to have a complete other set up, and you pretty much cannot use it for anything else other than racing in the UK. That adds significant costs to riding in a country that doesn't pay great compared to the others, so what is the attraction of racing in the uk apart from the "technical tracks" ? Simple. No Squad System, and lots of meetings. You are not going to be asking any top riders about choosing the UK over Poland, it's how do you attract them away from Sweden or Denmark. Now would be the perfect time for the powers that be to announce that there can be no team changes in the top league other than to replace injuries, and that you want a full calender of racing, 2 home and 2 away plus playoffs with a guarantee of say 28 meetings. Ask any rider who has been frozen out because of a couple of poor meetings on the continent whether they would rather do that or run the risk of sitting on the side lines. Most top level riders like riding the uk as it starts early, so they can get dialled in for the season on the continent and it guarantees them lots of meetings and time on the bike. opportunities to show how they're going should they struggle overseas. They won't do it though, they are too stupid to understand the only real draw they have to attract the higher level riders and maximise it. Hence they've been talking about a squad system for the last few years. Poland will do what they want to do, over here you need to understand what strengths you have and how to make the most of them. Just watch our "genius's" miss an open goal

Speedway.......... The only motorsport I can think of that specifically uses a control tyre to reduce costs, even the playing field, and prevent a tyre war. And then allows the use of another alternative tyre. You couldn't make it up. Anlas have only been courted by various speedway bodies over the last few years as Mitas have been threatening to pull out for a while. So they allowed their use to keep them around, same as their encouragement with the Golden Tyre in the past. Can you imagine Ferrari turning up at the next F1 Grand Prix and saying, we want to use some other tyres because we don't like these Pirelli's and my best mate just took a kick back off of this other manufacturer. Speedway exists in spite of the clowns running it, not because of.

some riders that night didn't fancy it

I think it's ridiculous to criticise individual clubs or promotions for acting in the best interests of their businesses. As Blobby says above, why wouldn't a promotion look to try and unearth a "gem" rather than keep going back to an average brit hoping they come good and push on. There are many more who fall by the wayside than those who push on. Where the confusion comes I think is we all seem to think the BSPA should be pushing forward rules to help promote a healthy GB representation going forward. Whilst they act as a governing body so to speak, it's just a group of individual business people (and I use the term "Business people" very lightly) making stuff up to suit themselves. You could argue that a healthy Team GB helps their businesses, but I bet they would argue that a successful team helps them more. I would have thought Team GB and Rob Painter should be the ones lobbying the BSPA to make a structure that encourages development of GB riders and youngsters in particular. The PZM make the Polish rules to help develop their riders, the Swedes in the past did similar. Rob Painter should be trying the get the BSPA to do something to provide opportunities or advantages to British riders. I can't believe they didn't continue with something similar to the fast track set up they have. sure modify it, improve it, but use it to give opportunities to those British riders you think have the most potential. Other counties do it successfully, but maybe as a group they think they have nothing they can learn from other countries? At the same time, British riders really need to help themselves sometimes. Too many times when the going gets tough they "retire" and throw teddy in the corner. Understandable to a degree when since the age of 11 they've been told they are superstars. Sometimes blowing sunshine up kids backsides does skew their thinking. Too many times I've been talking to them and they say "no ones called me yet about a ride for next year" you ought to see the look on their faces when you ask if they have called anyone themselves. I'm generalising of course, there are some really good proactive riders out there and some really pig headed idiots too, the majority sit somewhere in between. Interesting what Arnieg says about Charles Wright. In 2010 as stated, Charles averaged under 4 at Redcar, he didn't have particularly successful periods in 2011 and 2012. The difference I guess is he didn't have a hissy fit and retire, he went away, considered his future, decided to change somethings and started to rebuild. A season in the NL rebuilding confidence and then taking at opportunity at Somerset when the time was right and he's built from there. the Fast Track helped him even though he decided to sit out the first year, and he progressed. You could say similar about the later progression of Jason Doyle. in 2011 there were plenty of Aussies who were considered more talented than him at the time, some of whom are sat back in Aussie now after themselves having hissy fits. (it's not just a british thing). There is an element of if you want it bad enough you'll make it and if you don't you won't. And in my experience too many young brits don't want it bad enough. Yes the system isn't perfect, Team GB should be making the BSPA do something to help, but these guys need to help themselves as well.

Very good of Simon Stead to fly out there for one meeting to hand out the race jackets and fill in a programme.

Yeah I guess he did ok last year against the champions on their own track? 16+2 and 7. He goes better round Swindon than most

Sam said he would like a big track as a home track now he has signed for Edinburgh so he has one of each type. However not sure he’ll like the pay rates at Peterborough and he lived close to wolves last year so who knows

Best try again because Adam Ellis will be at Swindon

I agree completely. Unfortunately we live in a world where all too often we see a short term me me me attitude to the detriment of the bigger long term picture. And that’s from both riders and promoters alike

Riders are worth whatever some fool is prepared to pay. I think a lot of riders think they’re worth more than they are but then again if someone pays it they are worth it to someone. If Peterborough hire Tungate again it tells you a lot about where they are after he couldn’t be bothered to turn up to 3 meetings last year and the management know it.

He actually spent all but the last month riding at 3 or 4 but did a lot of heat 15s which tends to lower your average a bit. He’s kicked on hugely in the last year or 2. Not unlike Jason Doyle who till his late 20s was “ bang average” so who knows what the future holds but he’s on an improving curve right now. Wouldn’t surprise me if by mid season he’s riding at number 5 for you.

Same one Buster used when Robert Lambert was 15

correct

Really sad news about Colin. RIP

Very True, Sam Masters might be looking for a bigger home track to go with Edinburgh as a small track. How does he get on with Lemo?

Don't think he'll be in the UK at all 2020

The other reason you'll need Batch is There'll be a big gap (well ok a small gap) where Bjerre used to be

yeah he hops about all the time! was it 5 or 6 years on the trot at somerset?

So what do you suggest riders come over here for? The love of it?

Both Holders JG, BK and Howarth would be an interesting top 5

He wasn't picked for 2018 because his average was quite high in the eyes of those who were building teams that year. in 2017 he started the year on a 2.38 at reserve, had a great year at Redcar and more than doubled it to 5.08. I think from memory he spent the last month or so in the main body and held his own, but obviously team builders wrongly saw little improvement potential so chose to ignore him. This year he will finish the season on a 6.40 average and could well have the same issues as before. I hope not for his sake.

Rider demands need to change? It's not difficult, If you think a rider is demanding an excessive deal, don't pay it. Either they won't get a contract or if they do then that's the market rate because someone else was prepared to pay it. Blame the person prepared to pay it not the one asking for it and getting it. If they ask for an excessive amount and don't get a job because of it tough on them. Riders demands being excessive is the symptoms not the cause.

well he didn't borrow Ermolenko's bikes so I was referring to Masters

assuming Sam is returning to Wolves

Lenny Nagy1 may well be looking at much of this weeks events through some red and white tinted glasses, but believe me when I say Mr McGregor has never has a red and white tint to his decision making and I would imagine his appointments are based as much on geography as anything else. His usual tints of decision making were very much blue and gold in the past imho of course