RobMcCaffery

It's a long way in Britain. Certainly not for me after several years travelling round Europe for ice racing n the 1980s. The furthest I only got though was Leningrad, as it was then. Travel 250 miles for a drink in Britain and you'd be considered crazy. Anyway, this was a case of an off the cuff remark that has grown ridiculously, and when I see the likes of iris123 posting emoticons in response I know it's about to get nasty as usual. What is a long journey differs from country to country. An away trip to Vladivostok in the Russian League might be considered a short hop for some.

Prep for both Dave. You can always carry over the unused work for when the relevant teams do appear, suitably updated of course. Right now I'd be more focussed on the new formula and rules on subjects such as reserves, tacticals, r/r. Bear in mind your viewers are likely to more confused than you.

You are quite correct that it is unlikely that NSport would subcontract the rights, and I was not suggesting it was a likelihood, just mentioning that TV coverage was happening in Daugavpils. I've seen odder outcomes than NSport hiring an outside company to provide coverage in times such as this. OHO's coverage would need to be 'beefed-up' considerably. So, I wasn't saying it was in any way likely or certain, just that there was a very outside possibility worth monitoring. The situation's not binary, i.e. certainly possible or certainly impossible. Before the production of a certain film the term "Shades of Grey" would be appropriate. It's easier just to say definitely yes or no though...... I certainly was not saying it would happen, just be aware of an outside possibility, and certainly not this week.

I actually believe that in the long term neither Britain or Sweden will be able to justify using riders who have contracts in Poland. You are not being naive but you are missing one key point. Poland have already suggested that it will be a condition of future contracts that the rider will only be allowed to ride in the Polish leagues, apart from international events. Yes the Poles are running a tight season and can do without unneccessary risk. However we have already seen them add Fridays to the Extraliga schedule with League One mainly taking Saturdays, a day worryingly referred to in a recent interview as "formerly" being reserved for international events. NSport then announced the running ofestablished non-league events such as riders' championships, pairs and Golden, Silver and Bronze Helmet events on Monday nights, thus producing a schedule of up to nine televised meetings from Friday to Monday,with two being televised by Eleven Sports rather than NSport. When the four GP weekends occur the Ekstraliga will run on the Sunday and Monday. Okay, this COULD be just for the remarkable circumstances of 2020. However there are no guarantees thaty this will indeed be the case and Poland seizing Fridays to Mondays long-term. I read a large number of articles o Sportowe Fakty's website and while that site is rather sensational and you have to rely on Google Ytanslate you get a clear feeling that Poland's economic power could well be wielded long term so they get what they need with Britain, Sweden and Denmark herded into Tuesdays to Thursdays. There is no direct evidence yet but it doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to see it happening. We shouldn't be paranoid but it would be wise to recognise the potential problem.and prepare accordingly. The first step would be to plan for the possible need to run without riders holding Polish contracts and to reshape the international priority day system that currently limits our Premiership to Mondays and Thursdays to, in good time look at regaining lucrative Fridays and Saturdays, subject to an acceptable compromise with the Championship with a view to ending doubling-up thus allowing both leagues to run on the same night, thus avoiding the farce of teams having to change leagues at great risk just to retain their race nights. Okay, that calls for extra riders. With the UK exiting the EU sureky now is the time to lobby the government to remove many of the obstacles that currently restict the number of Australians riding here. It won't be an immediate, complete solution but it would be a significant start. An Aussie committed to a season in Britain is far more effective than another rider whose focus is on Poland and will be missing frequently. Times have changed. Time for British Speedway to change. The possibility of being dictated to by the needs of Poland could be even more ruinous than our current position. It could be the same in Sweden. Let's see how many squad members with Polish contracts actually get to ride in their league which starts in two days with an ominous silence on team line-ups when I last researched it on Friday. The money in Poland and needs of saturation TV must not be allowed to further damage the sport outside Poland. As a tailpiece, with the exception of meetings in Daugavpils Polish s[peedway fans can expect TV coverage of all league matches n all three divisions, with up to ten matches per weekend, plus regular Monday programming, leaving aside BSI events. That's saturation and might be a less beneficial long-term than you might think. If they take a hit it's sure to rebound on the other major speedway nations.

The Finns are long-distance travellers. In 1986 I was sent to Leningrad to cover the World Ice Racing Team Final. We stayed in the Hotel Pribaltiskaya which was full of Finns who'd travelled nearly 400 km from Helsinki for a night on the booze. My point about OHO Live was that they had already made the massive journey to Latvia at least twice this year and if there was a slight chance of anyone televising meetings there in the absence of NSport it might be an idea just to take a look just in case. Yes it's unlikely but they have been there and this year. Just worth a quick look just in case. A lead's a lead.

But they have been filmingthere.

They're playing the long game - making sure riders they employ only race for Polish clubs, and, I suspect; breaking the allocated international race night policy so they can run whenever they want. They're abusing the current crisis to flex their muscles and I fear the Swedes are about to see just how far they will go. This isn't about 2020. It's not about 2021. I suspect it's for the much longer-term. Money talks.

Dave, take it from someone who's done the job. albeit at a much lower level, if you delivered the perfect commentary someone will always come out from under a stone to attack. Often it's motivated by simple jealousy. You're right to research and try to get it right. You're doing a great job in very difficult circumstances, so remote fro m the action. I thoroughly enjoy your work. You avoid lazy cliche for starters. Thank you. You're doing an honest job and doing it very well. It's a pleasure to have your company for a couple of hours, although five nights a week is pushing it ;-)

Next June will be the 50th anniversary of my first speedway meeting, at Rayleigh. It's taken me half a century to learn to let speedfway get on with it and do not try to help - all you get is abuse. I'll just enjoy being a supporter. It's taken a long time to learn to say no. Apologies for trying to help rescue the Rockets.

It's okay iris, thanks to people like you I won't be troubling anyone with help. It's hard enough making things happen without having to fight off so-called supporters. As in all of my other speedway work I have been asked to do it and thanks to my love of the sport I help, without pay. I do what I can with what I have. I don't force my efforts on anyone. I leave the egotism and self-promotion to others. All I wanted to do was help Rye House but having to red postings like yours does make sure that any other requests for help will be declined. It's just not worth the cynical, nasty response you get.To be honest, as I usually am many speedway fans like you get what they deserve. I have never posted anything other than the truth as I understand it in order to help the club and help inform and reassure supporters in the face of often totally ill-informed gossip. You'll have to find a new victim. Gradually people like you are weeding out the genuine people and eventually you really will only have the real "bullr peddlers" only interested in themselves. I've been ill for several years now. Thanks for the kick in teeth for daring to try to help my club while battling for my health. Why don't you take it on? You seem to know everything and you certainly have the arrogance to do it in a way that idiots will respect. R.I.P Rockets, killed by cynics.

A Finnish channel's been covering meetings at Daugavpils such as the Latvian championship and Baltic Speedway League (in which Francis Gusts impressed). You never know if they could do a deal with nSport. Unlikely but you never know. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGiXv9EkutA87cKsN1RP_Rg

Been there, avoided buying the T-Shirt. My first two trips to Wembley were in 1973 to see England/Great Britain win the Daily Mirror and World Team Cup titles that heralded our period of dominance until the Danes took over in the 80s. Having a superb racer as Peter Collins as World Champion was delightful and England's domination (as it was from 1974) eaerned a very useful amount of media attention. It also gave me England 88 Poland 19 (17 5-s and a 3-2 after Ray Wilson fell), which was an abject bore.Only the emergence of the USA saved test matches. To a supporter like me, as I was then before getting involved more seriously from 1985 this was all a bonus. What mattered to me were the fortunes of my team, Rayleigh/Rye House Rockets. We are unlikely to return to those levels of dominance, but then it's the same for Denmark and Sweden who dominated before us. The overwhelming economic might of Poland is hard to be near impossible to challenge until the bubble bursts. We once had those crowds. They can be lost. So, having GB at the top in world speedway would only ever be a pleasant bonus. Getting my team back again is far more important.

Lodz seemed to have it all last year. Great new track plus some fun presentation - all the rider photos for TV line-ups had them in similar hats, but where did they end up? It would be nice to see their ambition rewarded this year. They've had two solid home wins prior to tonight but three straight defeats away.

I think we're all aware of the relative riding standards, but as a supporter of a tier 2 team (BL2/NL/PL/CL) for most of its existence I go for quality of racing rather than riding standards. Can a loanee be loaned on to a Division 2 club over there ?

My goodness, this is dragging on. No urgency.

An interesting night, especially welcome after L1 last night.The Friday night matches are those not fancied by the main media partner, NSport so let's hope their judgement is right and we get an even better Sunday.

Leszno have thrived on finding outstanding young riders such as the Pawlicki brothers and more recently Smektala and Kubera. They are an incredibly powerful speedway team.....it's just that Zielona Gora have a habit of defying odds. Yet they can crumble at home as they did against Czestochowa. Either way, a one-sided stroll to the title is not what we want, especially since most of us, I suspect, are neutral observers. I hope Falubaz or Wlokniarz can put up a fight. I sadly can't see anyone else even slightly troubling them. Mind you, Lublin keep ,defying logic...

I'd be careful. They are by far the best side but bear in mind Zielona Gora held them to 47-43 which if repeated in a play-off would give Falubaz a good chance to beat them over two legs.

I used to watch Joe Screen racing round Czestochowa in the 90s on Polsat. Wonderful stuff, as if Hyde Road hadn't closed.

I wouldn't waste your time reading anything Falubaz writes......

There really only seems to be one racing style in Poland - flat out. Perhaps a lack of riding on technical tracks with less than perfect surfaces leads to a 'one-dimensional' approach and might explain why the Poles produce so many international riders but so few champions.

The Polish article is in part directed at Grigori Laguta for avoiding test laps and allegedly avoiding fuel testing. He's had enough problems with authority for there to be a problem, surely?

It's been suggested that riders like Jason thrive on riding regularly so maybe just one meeting a week isn't suiting him.

Have you heard anything about the nitro rumours reported by Sportowe Fakty, Dean? Of course they're NOT directed at Madsen.

Don't know about just letting half the crowd in, Czestochowa seem to have only let half the team in.........