wtf

But this is where it yet again goes back to the clueless rule makers. in 2012/2013 when the titanium ban was lifted everyone consulted, told them, it's not needed, it will just drive up cost, so what did they do? allowed it back in, what did it do? drove up cost. They consulted on Rev Limiters, then go and set a limit that changes nothing regarding servicing requirements and cost. If you want to stop the Karger type ignitions, then ban them. Unfortunately, the technical knowledge that is around is ignored in favour of those making money out of the sport. UK speedway will allow itself to die a slow and costly death whilst ignoring what is obvious to most of us. They are terrified of actually making a bold decision and would rather keep putting a Band-Aid over a malignant tumour hoping somehow a miracle will happen BTW speedway riders being like sheep have largely ignored the Karger ignition since it came out as most didn't understand how it could be used. Everyone jumped on it after Anders Thomsen won his GP on one earlier in the year. They'll be back to buying their £300 clutch levers soon

Yet they've been around for 4 years plus, and the "new Karger Ignition" is very primitive compared to other motorsport applications. The cost of the bikes at the upper end of the sport is only an issue over here. The question is does the UK choose to have different bike specification rules than the rest of the speedway world in a similar way that they have a different tyre rule?

I don't see why not. It's the day before not the day of, but who knows these days.

No, just hated the track as most of your own riders do

Like a lot of people on the planet he doesn't talk work outside of work. I find it quite human rather than not interested. Troy's had a lot of problems with engines this year and has spent a lot of money trying to get them right for him. He'll be the first to admit that when he gets the right engines performing he's as good as they come, but when they are not doing what he needs them to do he struggles. Every rider has their plusses and minuses, when he's good he's very good, when he's bad, he's bad. The perception is that he doesn't care. That's wrong, but I understand why people think it. I've known many riders over the years who can make themselves look "all action" and trying really hard, when in reality they are not. Troy isn't one of them. If he's struggling for performance you'll see it, if he's flying, you'll know it. He's not everyone's cup of tea, I think he's been good value this year on a 5.5 despite his problems. I totally get the frustration because he can be world class on his day, so why can't he be like that every day? If he knew how to be like that do you really think he wouldn't do it?

How can riders have an inflated opinion of their worth if D#ckhead Promotions are prepared to pay them that rate? That's simply supply and demand. Speedway essentially hasn't changed in 60+ years, what has changed is the space for attention it competes in. There is much more competition for someone's spare disposable income these days. Fans forget they are nothing more than customers of a product. If you like the product, buy it, if you don't like it then don't. Despite what most think, you're entitled to nothing more. Speedway needs to evolve hugely, I agree, it needs to cut it's cloth accordingly. It probably doesn't need big stadia if it has few fans present and mainly streams

But these are "special Rules" they only count when you want them to

Can't find any record of Leon guesting for Plymouth away to Poole this year at all, maybe you could elaborate?

Unless you live close by, it's a godforsaken place to get to or from. In the case of people like Aaron or Leon, it's only an 850 mile 14 hr round trip. Then in every race you have, you'll face their top 3 and the cook brothers round their home track, so lets say you could easily end up scoring 5 points at best? at a heatleader rate in the championship £80 a point, that's £400. Now you got to pay for a mechanic. They're probably not available as they are doing their other job, if they're coming with you and helping with the driving, they're going to lose 2 days work. £150? If it's a meeting mechanic who's local to Poole, going to cost you £60 ish, but you're driving yourself there and back, and god help you if you get injured and end up in the hospital, while there's no one to pack up your stuff, drive your van home etc. Your engine might be in for service right now, some will be as they rode Monday, then Thursday planned, so might not have their chosen engine available? You run the risk of crash damage, injury, mechanical damage, all for going to get your backside kicked. Your fuel rate won't cover your diesel bill, if you try to stay over somewhere you got hotel to pay, then food on the road etc. Certainly it's not that appealing for anyone north of Watford. If you're a half decent heatleader in this division, there's a better than average chance this booking will cost you money

Probably a few T shirts and caps too There was one Anlas "engineer" checking temps after each race. Wouldn't surprise me if they had another Bod for moral support or a free Jolly to the UK. Most of what comes out on the TV is just political spin because everyone being interviewed is trying to gloss over a poor decision. The briefing before the meeting was a bit like the blind leading the blind. One new tyre, no, one new and one of the old tyres, no, 2 new tyres but you can only use the second if the first fails, no, have 2 and use 2. It was a bit of a farce

Generally, been running higher pressures on the Anlas since it came in. Most are running between 7-10psi. The new tyres had a different carcass construction. Alot of people think the problem is the compound, it isn't, it's the construction of the carcass that is making the tyre lamination separate and fail. There were a few problems on Monday, but generally the tyres faired much better. Happy to refute most of what you say. There isn't a minimum tyre pressure that riders have to run, 6psi and lower was common on the old Mitas tyre, shale is no longer sharp edged, were racing mostly on mud these days. For as long as I can remember it's been 1 tyre (2 edges) per meeting. The catastrophic failures are not down to a tyre being punctured by a foreign object due to low pressures. the Tyres are falling apart from the inside out

Just one, with his roving thermometer. He was the sacrificial "engineer"

Maybe part of the BV experience is to provide the same level of chronic disappointment most of us get watching speedway these days. Turning up to find you didn't get what you paid for is pretty normal these days. The BV experience is just making it even more personal

To be fair, riders and clubs have been talking about next season since about June/July in most cases. It's not just Glasgow, any in demand rider will have been having conversations about next year for weeks by now

Biting just fans the flames I'm afraid. Many know you are here and will read it, and get a kick out of watching it. The world can be a very sick place

Don't be so ridiculously logical, no place for that kind of thinking

That's simply supply and demand. An 'in demand' has always been able to do that as long as someone is willing to pay it. I go back 10 years to when the 2nd division introduced a voluntary pay cap at £55 a point. It took less than 2 hrs before some promotors had torn it up and offered more. If you look at Poland in the last 12 months, they have made significant changes to get pay rates approved and public, with them trying to rid the sport of it's under the counter cash payments. Promotors moan like F### about riders demanding this that and the other and in the same breath, they go and pay it. If someone offered you more money for your job, would you consider it?

This is the problem I have with their statement. It implies the track is somehow at fault. The tyres are the problem, it just so happens that Peterborough highlights the problem more than elsewhere. How long before they need 2 tyres at Scunny? They were using 2 last year.

I was hoping for a plague of locusts

I was asked back in 2013 about rev limiters by the powers that be and for input as to what would be workable. I advised a limit of 11000 rpm would reduce costs significantly to the point where service intervals could be doubled at least. All this was taken on board and other views we’re sought (quite rightly) then they come back with a limit if 13500 rpm for use going forward and that’s their current intention. The best laugh about it is that the bikes currently without rev limiters don’t rev that high under load you couldn’t make it up the only people on the planet who benefit from limiters being set that high are engine tuners cos the stuff will still wear out in next to no time go figure

was that the one where he kind of rode through him?

Don't forget there is a small fee that is paid to the BSPL on every tyre that is sold in the UK.. wouldn't want to omit that

Once you admit to needing more than one tyre per meeting at some tracks, you are admitting that the tyres are not fit for the purpose they were purchased for. It's a little known fact that for this year there have been "special compound tyres" available at the "troublesome tracks". You couldn't make it up. This is supposed to be a sport with an homologated one tyre rule. If rider safety is the number one priority, then either get rid of the one tyre rule or have a better tyre that will do exactly what the Mitas used to do. I would hate to think how many pictures there are running around the SCB offices of tyres like Basso's. I say that because I know there are a lot. an awful lot. But no, they put out a bulls##t excuse like running out of tyres as the reason for the abandonment. I just think last night the balance tipped and someone in authority actually got scared of killing someone.

Had the same exact crash at Poole a week ago too

If the chips ever run out there'll be a riot