paulboy

Unbelievable, some relatively good news in that at least speedway is still going to be shown on Sky next season and all we get is people moaning about Matt Ford again!

Certainly any Elite League club with attendances around the 1000 mark are going to struggle massively without Sky money. I don't know the ins and outs but, as far as I understand, Eastbourne (average attendance about 700) lost roughly £70,000, presumably after the Sky payout which has been quoted at £70,000 per club (I await correction!!) which means double that loss without Sky! I wouldn't imagine Eastbourne are one of the biggest payers either but, again, won't pretend to know the details. I've done some very rough sums, using my own estimates, and reckon the points money for an average home meeting must come in at around £7000. 700 people through the gates at £15 per head, which they would not all pay, comes to £8750 after VAT, so there is very little spare to cover rain offs etc. And I haven't even factored in signing on fees, flights, stadium costs etc, although do appreciate some clubs have other income streams. Anyone who thinks the Elite League can continue in its current format is living in cloud cuckoo land, I would think there are no more then a couple of clubs not losing money, although hopefully not all to the tune of £70k last season. A North/South split doesn't seem possible to me, it just doesn't work geographically and a couple of Midlands/East Anglian clubs would have to go North which I would imagine would cause further arguments. Is one big league (i.e. including all willing EL & PL clubs) the answer? It didn't really work in 1996, although the economic climate was different then, and could only stand a chance now if the top clubs were willing to share the riders around. That's a lot to ask and I can remember several occasions where it hasn't happened in the past, 1984 springs to mind when Exeter and Newcastle both made the step up but struggled to field competitive sides. Or maybe a couple of clubs step up to the EL, Sky stay on board and there is a meaningful fixture list although I don't really see how this is financially viable. Things need to be sorted soon, clubs can't start signing many riders for 2014 when they don't even know what the league structure will be. Yes, speedway is at a crossroads, who has any confidence the powers that be will get it right this time?

What a pointless, pompous, patronising post!

Yes, interviewed live at about 8.55, maybe 3 mintutes, they'd clearly got him out of bed :-)

At the risk of dragging this out for ever football commentators still have to comment on something that happens in a blink of an eye and there's plenty of them that are not much good at it! At the end of the day we all have our personal preferences, I don't rate Pearson and don't like people telling me to press the mute button so I can't hear him, it kind of ruins the whole event! Tatum I can cope with as he talks some sense and think he would be much better beside somebody else, but as the only recent option was Tony Millard I guess we're stuffed

Not sure I agree with that, just think they're the best of a bad bunch. I only have about 40 years of sport watching experience and there's very few commentators with the lack of ability of Pearson. In most sports there is at least one stand out commentator and I have rarely watched anything where shoting "wooahh" is the stock phrase used.

The same old arguments, it's a hard job, if you don't like it use the mute. I pay for the channel and would like a decent commentator to enhance my enjoyment, not one who just shouts at me, obviously too much to ask!

Brilliant racing Somerset's manager's inspiring - not!!

Couldn't agree more, he only just speaks English How did Cook get away with that flyer? Bet Rosco didn't notice it!!

Life would be boring if we all thought the same. I thought Rosco started badly and got worse throughout the meeting, by the end it was embarrassing. He was pretty well just talking about himself and often talking over Tai. I also thought he made Shouty seem even worse than normal. But Tai, who I expected to be useless, came across very well I thought, no sign on any ego which was great to see.

No question about it!! Don't agree with that decision either, but Rosco will make it all clear (if mud can be considered clear!!)

Even makes me appreciate Tatum! :-)

Thought Tai would be useless but he's a breath of fresh air compared to Rosco & Shouty. Talks a lot of sense without hysteria. Unfortunately Pearson now has carte blanche for his nauseating Woffy Woffy Woffy!!

I thought the commentators were a breath of fresh air but maybe because that's because they were different. I found Wade enthusiastic rather than shouty and much more entertaining than the usual duo. I was laughing out loud when they were discussing Bunyan's airbag - Holy Cow!

I think it depends how old your Sky Box is. I used to get Eurosport free but when I moved and bought a new Sky Box had to pay £5 per month to add the Entertainment Extra package. Hopefully £5/month is not going to put anybody off. By the way I'm in the anti Pearson camp, he even messes up darts now :-)

There's a Coles Mews & Sanford Place on the old County Ground site

Would have been so much quicker to have just typed Stefan Nielsen :-)

Come off it, he is there because he represents GB, no other reason! No problem with that, if a Brit has to be in he is the only option, although not sure about your averages, I have Harris just behind Woffinden who of course has a massive home advantage to boost his average.

I went East out of the city, rather than all the way round, and found my way out fairly easily despite having no local knowledge and just a road atlas for help. I think just follow the signs for Newport.

I just turned up last year and the service was very good, although I went all round the North of Cardiff on the M4 before heading back towards the centre (following directions).

Can anyone help? Last year used a Park & Ride which worked fine although a hell of a Q afterwards and I believe some people waited hours for a bus that never arrived. This year I'm thinking of using the secure parking facility just the other side of the railway line. Has anyone ever used this before and, if so, whats it like getting out of Cardiff afterwards? Any other parking suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

1 Scott Autrey 2 Ron Preston 3 Sam Ermolenko

Peter Prinsloo, Tormod Langli, John Titman, Mike Farrell, Nigel Boocock, Neil Middleditch, Pekka Hautamaki, Steve Regeling, Neville Tatum

He had a season at Exeter, 1985 I think.

Thats a poor point when you consider how crap the Poole track was last week.