Odds On

and we'll keep telling you until we're blue in the face that this is mainly led by the riders.

Jack Holder just looks a accident waiting to happen, perhaps he is one of those riders Jason Doyle referred to as being dangerous/out of control?

I thought they were quite funny and made a decent atmosphere, I can vaguely remember them having a microphone and gave an away rider a hard time after they had to walk the home straight at BV after suffering a ef on the fourth bend. Each to their own I guess.

the battle of the biggest drama queens in terms of team managers...heaven forbid if Swindon lose, Rossitor will be crying again in front of the cameras!

do the likes of Doyle, Holder, Batchelor, Schlein and co realise what they are doing to tomorrows young Aussie speedway riders?

So Doyle has basically put himself in the shop window by working his way through British clubs that have little choice on the nights that they run, now that his stock is now sought after across the world he now deems it not for his liking! Doyle you are a great ambassador for Australian Speedway and any Aussie youngster trying to break in to world speedway, but the platform for them to do so(British speedway) you are now basically either holding a gun to or washing your hands of. British speedway has been around a lot longer than the likes of Doyle, Holder, Batchelor and co.

is Doyle in a position to mock other riders?...

did he really say this?...you don't have a injury cv like his by riding "slow and with brains"!

If he doesn't pay the fine he isn't riding anywhere in the UK next year....like it or not British speedway is bigger than any one rider, everyone saying that riders should stand up and make a stance, could the same not be said for the one's who actually pay the bills etc, the promoters?

Matts always been in the office on race nights, now that the faithful are declining in numbers he has a bit more time to watch a few races!

so basically its garbage and he can't be doing with garbage. I wonder how many British promoters would take a chance on Holder going forward? Just to summarise, both sides are winners, Chapman has off loaded Holder and Holder doesn't have to ride for Chapman.

I thought Chapman was the Chairman?...anybody with an inkling of any sense would realise that the decision of CH ban from British speedway would be made by the committee, Chapman may of been the catalyst for the push for the ban but the final decision would of been made by the committee which he probably doesn't get a vote on...or I could be completely wrong?

would of agreed to that a few seasons ago, its that nowadays the Aussies come across as if British speedway owes them a living. I have nothing against the Aussies and do enjoy watching them, what I find hard to swallow is the recent knocking of the sport in this Country, if I was that unhappy with something I wouldn't do it and would ride elsewhere, or at the very least keep my head down, increase my stock value and then move on, because like in any other sport when your careers starts to spiral downwards(which it will) you might just need a favour or two to help you by the very same people you have trod on on the way up.

the simple equation to this is...Aussie riders need British speedway more than British speedway needs Aussie riders.

Perhaps you could answer the original question?

the £200 was just a example of a rider in the news just lately, here's another example, a rider in the Elite scoring double figures in one match earning over a £1000. The money riders are wanting just isn't viable, they along with everybody else involved with the sport need to realise just that for the long term future of the sport, the days of earning a living out of the sport for the majority has gone.

and where else would they be able to put themselves in the shop window for other leagues in the world?...perhaps you could name a few Aussie riders who have made a career out of the sport by going down another route other than the usual British leagues.

after recent shenanigans in our beloved sport, it may be a good time for a reality check for the promoters, riders and supporters. The whole sport revolves around one thing, money, whether its the promoters or riders they are all dependent on it!... Surely the sport should be run like a business, if more is going out than coming in then you are living beyond your means and there is only one inevitable outcome, you wouldn't run a business for long running at a loss! The sport needs to change and by that I mean radically, everyone knows the golden goose is laying its eggs over in Poland, good money on offer and all appears rosy in that garden. Here's the radical part, these figures are hypothetical. Promoter takes in £25,000 on a race night, after all his expenses(not including riders wages) he is left with £10,000,it is then that the riders and the promotor take their cut out of the profit, currently riders are either on a guarantee or pay per points, how this works over a season is beyond belief, hence why a lot of riders are chasing money towards the end of the season etc. The onus is put on the promoter and the riders to find sponsors/additional income over the off season. For a rider to moan about £200 for half a days work is in insult to those that are coming through the gate paying his wages, how many speedway fans are clearing that sort of money on a daily basis, yes I know they buy their own machinery etc and the risk is great, speedway riders only race 8 months of the year! Speedway is not a sport for the vast majority to make a living out of, there's more to changing a hobby into a working career work for you than having two shiny bikes with the very latest go faster gadgets on, a new sign written van, paid mechanics etc etc... The above will come in for ridicule from some but the crux of the matter is the sport is more of a hobby than a full time profit making business. Will the above happen?..no, mainly because the tail is wagging the dog and not the other way around, the sooner a stiffer and more radical check is taken and imposed on the sport the sooner the better.

people really think a rider will go to a court of law?...once a rider puts his head above the parapet there is all sorts of worms coming out of the can.

Really, so riders who hold out for better deals get itchy feet the nearer the season approaches, do you really think they wouldn't sign if offered a deal...;lets not forget most riders only know how to ride a speedway bike...

one thing you certainly learn in life is never bite off the hand that feeds you....perhaps Holder and Batchelor have well and truly don't this!

riders having family in the pits isn't uncommon, in fact it is more common than uncommon! If I remember correctly didn't Jason Crump have his grand dad, father and other members of the family helping him in the pits?

a worry?...if it works for him then fair play to the lad. Take a look at certain riders and see who they have in their corner of the pits, now that is a worry and a criticism!

I'm guessing the gravy train isn't stopping in the UK anymore for these two Aussies! The real outcome of all this, it will make riders think at least twice before pulling out of meetings, rightly or wrongly.

personally I don't see how you can have fixed figures for points, the logical one's in speedway realise that if a promoter has paid everyone out besides his cut and the riders wages, then that figure can be divided between himself and the riders, the alternative is what we have now, a sport where barring a very select few are making money out of the sport. The above is harsh but in reality is what is needed in the sport.