SPEEDY69

Does the Star article say he's returning to Plymouth or just the UK?

Just a small revision 🙂.

Nope.

I think you have interpreted my post incorrectly. The discussion point was that clubs do not want to risk a change of race night because their fans don't turn up - it is those fans I am referring to, who, as with the majority of most clubs' attendees, are more mature. If this is what is preventing clubs from looking to grow their business then I'm afraid it really is doomed. They should be doing their best to attract both new and existing/previous fans but above all new ones.

Given the reported size of their crowds each week, where is all the money going at Plymouth? - surely they're not paying silly money to riders (although their travel expenses bill must be higher than all the other clubs 😁)

That was the case when the Mon/Thurs race night came into being and some premiership tracks had to change, so it can be done. If a few ageing fans hold that much sway over clubs then that's why we are where we are. New fans need to be attracted.

Absolutely. The Championship is too strong in terms of top riders. None of those riders at Number 1 and 5 should be able to ride if they're already Premiership heatleaders. Turkeys and Christmas though.

Most of the prospective teams being cited on here look hardly any different to last season's starting seven - and they won't, not with the same points limit. All you can hope for is that most riders live up to their average and one or two increase theirs.

I don't think any Premiership heatleaders (top 3) should be able to ride in the Championship. The gap needs widening.

I agree with much of this but do think team strengths need equalising somehow - it works well in other sports. If Ipswich had been allowed to keep their side from 1998, not only would the 99 season probably have bankrupted them if they'd retained all riders, would other teams have actually stood a chance of competing either? There should be a much wider gap between Championship and Premiership.

But no-one has said this have they? As far as I can see they've just made a rule that it can't be older than xx years but with no justification on why, certainly nothing to suggest it does not continue to provide an effective safety barrier. Perhaps the HSE should do some testing.

It was doubling down that was the issue 😁

I agree - it's not about development but about giving young poles more experience so they turn into better riders for Poland. I think the dictate has come from them and they must be wondering why, after all the money thrown at Polish speedway, they've still only had two world champions in the last 50 years. Stipulating u21 is pure ageism and if I was denied a team spot, as Joe Thompson reflected upon recently, I'd be considering a case under the equality act. what they should be doing is counting race experience like pilots hours and using that to offer development places, if it's about development.

It says only one, not two.

Age is immaterial. For example. they may get a place because they're 20 but end the season with a 2.5 point average and not get a place the following year as no longer u21. It's not about development at all, just outright ageism.

It's a massive expense which doesn't make much sense to me in terms of safety - should be more like an MOT and see if the current barrier provides the cushioning it should then fine to carry on using it. It'd still be much better than the hard foam type fence they have at King's Lynn which I can't see provides much better than the old wire mesh type fences. Interesting rumour that Poland will mandate air jackets for riders maybe the year after next, if not next year. Another expense for clubs that they can do without because you can be sure riders won't pay for them.

I liked both of them but they could be a bit forceful up the inside. Eriksen did well in a world team cup I seem to remember and also remember him riding a big motocross/road bike at the end of season meeting all around the centre green - his van was also difficult to forget 😁

I don't think it was alleged, it was clearly evidenced on TV with the clouds of smoke from burning rubber filling the air. Unless BSN used AI to create it......

Yes. As far as I'm aware the only reason they are closed for speedway is the requirement for stewards. They are open when car racing is on.

Nope, not true. I energy to Torun for the Son or whatever it's called, racing was reasonable but very poor crowd. For a team match it's packed. Belle Vue crowds are no bigger than those at Poole but which has the best racing. The feeling and experience of being there is the most important factor. Quality of racing comes will behind that. That's why F1 remains well supported.

Hmm, let me say it again. Some riders in the past have started their career in the top league (not in a lower league) and become very successful. Age is not proportional to success/ability and there is so much evidence of this I don't think you need me to give examples. Many of the riders who have started brightly but then stunted/faded is nothing new and to be expected as when the pressure/requirement increases, there will of course be those who don't make it. The point I am making and which several people, including promoters do not seem to get, is that restricting opportunity by age is totally flawed. Parnytski was under 21 world champion but pants in the grand prix the following year. Crump was also world u21 champ and then won a GP the following season. Age is irrelevant. What they should be looking at, if they want to develop, is perhaps (and I haven't done a lot of thinking on this) is count experience ( a bit like flying hours for a pilot) and compare that with success, perhaps using averages as a measure, as well as individual successes. Then, a rider could be 25 and just starting out but get a place at reserve because of their lack of experience. A rider who started in one of those reserve spots aged 16 and now 24, still averaging 2.5 points per meeting, should not be ahead of the 25 year old in the queue for a place.

But if they never ride in the Championship then that's irrelevant as they'd be doing well in the top league. I think you're now falling into the trap of focusing on age and relating that to ability, which is the mistake with any age restriction.

I haven't been calling him out or offering an opinion on here at all but I'm now curious as to why you think someone would be reticent to give their opinion to him directly - what would happen?

Several riders have been top league standard and even world class before 21 years old. I don't like age restrictions as the sport should cater for talent so your suggestion of of achievement before being placed in the top league has merit as so many do struggle, but we have also seen success stories there (Loram and Screen spring to mind). If they're talented enough they will shine through.

What some seem to have missed from Richard Coleman's vision is that he wants much bigger divergence between Premiership and Championship in terms of standard. So this may see Championship sides get weaker, as well as Premiership teams getting stronger, looking to reduce doubling down further. This may make each league more of less attractive for promoters. Let's see what happens