Ben91

You’d like to think that is the case. One track running in three divisions is a recipe for disaster.

Things should be kept as simple as possible. Convoluted rules turn most people off. None of this “if you best rider is a Sagittarius he can be your rising star but only if he eats two packets of chocolate buttons with the machine examiner before each meeting” rubbish.

The last speedway book I read was Tai’s and to put it bluntly it was rubbish. Nobody should be releasing a book mid-career. If Jason Crump, Tony Rickardsson or one of the top names from the sport of the last 20-30 years (now retired) fancies writing an autobiography they can take my money.

The issue there is that they’d rather open a track where there is no desire for one to save face rather than fix the current mess, I’d say.

If things are that dire that Scunthorpe have to move up to the top league then it’s time to admit a single “professional” division is the way to go. Forcing clubs to operate beyond their means just to keep a TV deal and a few world class riders here really isn’t worth it.

Cocaine has always been the realm of the professional classes. See the 1980s. Drugs are more readily available now but to say the majority of under 30s are partaking is a huge stretch.

Given the increase in failed tests in recent times maybe testing has become more stringent than it previously was around the tracks. With the dangerous nature inherent in the sport I’d say all drugs bans handed out in my memory have been too lenient. Zero tolerance is the answer. Fail a test and don’t bother coming back ever.

It is. But a pretty half-assed one at that. End of season meetings used to be a spectacle and offer something a bit different. This is a challenge match featuring opposing riders you’ve already been over exposed to during the season.

As with everything it is all shades of grey. In a winter where we are losing at least two clubs already, rule changes scrapping the third tier will probably also see Speedway become unsustainable at another two. However you frame it, that’s bad business for the sport. The way to go would have been one professional league and a grassroots league. With no entry point to league racing the supply of riders will dwindle and potentially dry up completely in the next few years. Losing the National League will be worse for the sport than many realise I fear.

It’s a very defeatist attitude and probably contributes to promotion these days rarely being any more than “if you don’t come we might close.” Which is lazy and emotional blackmail. The sport should constantly be trying to improve and as fans we shouldn’t be accepting of any old dross just because we should be lucky to have speedway at all.

Birmingham seem to live under the cloud of closure constantly. To step up a league under those circumstances is foolishness of the highest order. If they do then I doubt they’ll be coming to the tapes at all for 2025.

Less riders per team weakens the sport just as much as a slightly weaker league to accommodate the standard of riders we have/can attract here. So long as the racing is competitive and teams aren’t made up of wobblers then fans will attend. There are enough riders out there for that to be feasible with one league and seven rider teams.

Five rider teams would be the death knell for me. The circle would just get even smaller with less riders required and the same amount of doubling up undoubtedly allowed. Then you’ll get riders missing and sides competing with a four rider line up and R/R. It would make the sport more tinpot than it already is.

Appreciate that, we all have different experiences. I don’t feel depression or mental health issues ever truly leave you but time and experience can help with coping. A complete aside from the thread I know! Completely agree with regards to Cook as a rider. Was dominant in this division for quite a spell. Remember him winning two races off of 15 metres at Rye House one night if my memory serves me correctly.

Where was the survey conducted?

Do what’s best for the sport. If that means riders noses are put out of joint and they have to get jobs on the side so be it. The competitor should bend to the will of the sport they want to compete in, not the other way around.

But the point of the play-offs isn’t to get big crowds, it’s to decide who wins the title… isn’t it?

If, as has been suggested, Cook is suffering from mental health problems then he absolutely needs to get those sorted before he considers resuming his speedway career. That can be a long and winding road, mental health problems are for life, not just something that will go away. Sadly he may have burned a lot of bridges over the years even if unintentionally. Cook has probably overachieved in his Speedway career given how late he came to the sport. We’re talking a former Grand Prix rider here, yet people have seemingly knocked him more than built him up during his time in the sport. Whatever happens I hope he is in a good place. If he can come back to racing, be safe and enjoy it then even better for everyone involved.

Given the state of the sport it sure looks that way.

Small leagues and two home and away against each team is so boring and repetitive. Things will never change. I’ll remain a stick record but it’s so frustrating as someone who loves the sport.

It’s a very British mentality. When someone starts doing well it’s immediately the thing to do to dislike them. It happened with Tai, it’s happening with Robert Lambert and it’s even beginning to happen with Dan Bewley.

A side can pick and choose horses for courses. It gives an advantage. It’s not that hard to understand why it’s not fair.

If so that’s a joke. Guests should be the same for both legs, and Harris rode for Ipswich in one leg of their semi.

The worst line up the GP series has seen for some time. It can be as simple as the best 15 riders in the world making up the field plus a wildcard each round. I may as well be riding in the series in Kvech’s place. I’d have as much chance of winning it.

No lack of effort from Hume for sure but sometimes you have to know when to settle for your position. Could cost Ipswich massively come the end of the tie on Thursday evening.