enotian

Based on the fact that we're told that it takes a couple of heats for the track to bed in, it makes complete sense that all the riders are offered the opportunity of practice laps pre meeting. You could even make it part of the pre match and it would likely improve the on track action. Won't happen because it would give the away team a better chance of winning and as we all know the home team must win at all costs.

Cheers man. I'll probably get over it by the time Chris Allen get's his first maximum for the Bandits.

I'm sure David Beckham has image rights. So you can't take a picture of him and use it to sell as a David Beckham product. You can publish pictures of him as part of a media publication of course but you couldn't take a picture of him and sell it as a poster. Which is more akin to what a sticker album is. Or if you did you'd have to pay him for using his image. Quite simple to set up as lots of people have found that the pictures they've used on dating apps are being used as fake profiles on other apps. Because they don't read the T&C's. A nice little extra income stream for those dating apps.

Wonder if any of the riders have image rights in their contracts. Some have their own merchandise don't they. It is a 3rd party who are taking the risk and reward on this. Probably worth getting one as I imagine it'll be a collectors item. The 2022 sticker album never to be replicated.

Apparently so Obviously I was referring to Chris Harris' victory at the British Mathletics Championships in which he won gold in the multiplication category. Fr!ggIng predictive text.

Sounds like it was suggested not dictated by Eurosport. Then voted on by the promoters who must think it's a good idea (or are frightened to go against their broadcast partner). Maybe in future supporters should just contact Eurosport with suggestions to improve the sport. Without drawn matches does there even need to be league points? Just do the same as the NFL. Wolverhampton are 10 and 0 (wins to loses) Kings Lynn are 0 and 10. None of this pesky bonus point stuff to incentivise close matches. Indeed just end the match as soon as one team can't reach 45. Good job it doesn't apply to the Championship because some of the Diamonds matches could be quite short. I'll just give Eurosport a call......

Would you pay to watch a film if you knew the lead actor was being digitally replaced by Barry Chuckle? Sorry, I actually agree with you. Yes Birmingham are weakened but if I was in the area I'd want to see Pearson's debut to see what all the fuss is about. Seems a nonsense that R/R couldn't apply because something Ian Thomas once did at Newcastle in 1978 or whenever it was.

Which realistically makes them about 5 to 6 points under the limit. They might end up with six riders averaging 6 ish plus whatever Congreve progresses to. Maybe a total team average of 40 points. Effectively a 4 point increase on their realistic starting averages. That would normally give you a chance of winning the league but not if you start 6 points under the limit. They effectively start each match (away and home) 8 points behind the opposition as heat 13 and 15 are nailed on 1-5's. Until the authorities do something about team strengths (i.e. only one rider over an 8 average) there is no hope for the Diamonds. They clearly need to operate at a lower level but with the National League having so few fixtures that's not viable. Expect the usual use it or lose it cries to start in July.

Be fair now, Berwick's actual new no 1 is relatively unheard of having only had a 20 years career and being a multiply British Champion and Cardiff GP winner.... ooohh what's his name again? it's on the tip of my tongue..... Absolutely shocking really. Ironic really that a sport which is suffering because mostly all the riders are full time professional that the administration is so amateur.

credit where credit is due. just goes to show how limited averages are. Hopefully the lad gets a chance at no7 at some point. Seen him at Brough in 2019 when Eastbourne won with 3 heat leaders and him at reserve. Looked really talented. Seemed to get mucked about last season so hopefully he can get back on track this.

Only surprise was that the Redcar heatleaders dropped 4 points (3 due to an engine fail). I'm sure Wilson Dean, Complin and Congreve will get better and Starke might have got more than the R/R five but it's a team which is never going to take points from a team with three strong heat leaders. Home or Away. So if your opposition is guaranteed nigh on 41 points from three riders plus another guaranteed 3 from heat 2, 8 and 12 or 14. The other four riders only need to add another 2 between them to win. This is what happens when the teams aren't evenly matched. Hopefully the on track action was better than the scoreline suggests.

Top notch punditry that. Looks like Roynon's pop at the Diamonds has inspired him more than the bad place.

Really hope you don't mind this comment @crazysue but I wonder if there is some way the BSN could allow a reduced fee for anyone registered disabled. Maybe the validation would be prohibitive but it would be a really positive story for Speedway if it recognised the issues facing the disabled community. Apologies if I'm using the incorrect terminology. I'm not aware of any other streaming service which offers this. There's an obvious reason to do it as well. To acknowledge those braves riders who have ended up disabled in the course of entertaining us.

Correct. Some would complain but they're all complaining anyway about doubling up. Which is part of the reason that the restructure won't happen. Because the Premiership teams can afford their riders demands because they can ride in two divisions. Take that away and they ask for more money. Meanwhile the likes of Poole and Glasgow get to spend money on top level heatleaders and the best riders on low averages to ensure they're always at the top of the Championship whilst others scrape around to complete their teams or go bust trying to compete, see Workington. It's totally unsustainable for the majority of teams in the Championship hence the number of teams under the points limit who'll never be able to compete to the point that crowds will dwindle and they'll inevitably disappear. Clubs need to exist within their own means and not to subsidise the top handful of teams.

aren't ready for the Championship because the standard is too high for a 2nd tier competition - is the point. the fact that two have jacked it in also proves my point They would be ready for a lower standard Championship. You'd give a team spot to a 2.00 assessed rider if you thought they could average 3.00. You wouldn't if you think they'll average 1.00. The fact that they might only average 1.00 in the current Championship does not mean they are not capable riders it just means they're not up to the standard of the other riders in the league (most of whom are riding in two divisions so have much more income to invest in machinery) but could progress to a higher standard given opportunity. I don't think riding in the NDL offers these young riders the opportunity to progress as quickly as they would being in an environment with more experienced riders. It's how it's always worked organically in the past but in the past young kids mostly weren't thrown into a league made up of top division riders. There way a clear career path for all but the exceptional kids. 2nd division reserve, progress to heat leader if not No1 status in that division and then get an opportunity in the top division.

People will only have been able to come up with one name of a young British rider who should be in the Championship because of the level of riders in the Championship. Just about all of the Premiership riders also ride in the Championship just spread across more teams. Archie Freeman, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, Harry & Sam McGurk, Alex Spooner, Jake Mulford, Joe Lawler, Tom Spencer, Sam Beebee, Elliot Kelly and Sam Hagon are all talented young riders who need to be competing with more experienced riders to help them progress. But most of them would properly struggle against the majority of the riders in the Championship and would potentially lose confidence as a result. While the Championship is full of these Premiership standard riders there's no chance of them being given an opportunity. The problem is will the competitions they do ride in help them to progress to become Championship ready. I don't think so. Writing off a whole batch of talented you kids.

Oxford isn't he? Dillon not Max who I think I heard had a full time job in the US so wouldn't come across despite seeming to be much improved since his spell at Edinburgh

Terrific Youtube content from Lee Complin there. I'm not a fan of social media but it is exactly what the general public are after. There's a good backstory there regardless of whether or not his comeback goes well. Really professionally done and great exposure for sponsors.

Thanks. I don't watch too much content from the 5 main channels. In addition to your three favourite sports I also like my football, rugby union and cricket. Then you chuck in Netflix, Spotify, (i don't have Amazon Prime) and the odd couple of months of Disney plus, possibly BSN. It all adds up. I'm lucky I can afford to subscribe to them all but then as it becomes safer for me to do so I'll like to do stuff other than watching TV. You can easily see if the Discovery sport platform doesnt offer the range of mainstream content the series can easily become even more marginalised as it is now.

couldn't agree more. all the talk from discovery is about growing the product/series. I imagine it can only grow if you're growing the fanbase to. what casual viewers are you going to attract on discovery sport. those who have access to it either have been given it free as part of a package and will hardly use it or have it specifically for Speedway (existing fans) or another sport of the channel (Tennis, Track Cycling?) who might stumble on SGP. at least on Eurosport the access is much wider and the variety of sports shown much wider and higher profile (at this point). I suppose the numbers of subscriptions/viewing figures will decide what happens but if those viewing figures are niche sponsors will react. Maybe they're hoping the PL coverage will act as an advert for the SGP. On that basis it would help if the were more SGP stars in the PL. I suppose half the league have one so that's maybe enough. What is the situation in Poland? Have the rights been sold to one of Polands main broadcasters? Or do the Poles need to purchase Discovery Sport as well? I do like the sound of what Discovery are looking to do with the series with more off track content but I do worry it'll not attract the figures they're looking for. Then the intended investment/improvements are abandoned and the series stagnates for the rest of the contract. Presumably FIM were okay to have their flagship speedway competition being moved to a less accessible platform. Or did the money talk?

I don't disagree and can't see it being a money spinner but it does sound like it is Curtis Sport taking the plunge. Unironically you order them on-line!! Might get one as it could be quite the collectors item. (my attempt at sarcasm) As I say fair play if someone thinks they can make a buck out of it. It's not doing any harm.

difficult to do sarcasm in the printed word but I think you've nailed it above. I don't disagree with anything you say but it's no different to any other Sports sticker album in that players can move. I loved my Espana 82 and Mexico 86 World Cup sticker albums but some of the players didn't even make the squad. Poor Paul Bracewell. Plus if you get a doubler you can maybe stick him over Ty Proctor At this point I'm wondering when it'll be available or will Birmingham just have a half page? from the press release it does sounds like it's been franchised out so it's probably risk free for the BSPL and if someone else thinks they can make a profit from it good luck to them.

There's deffo advantages. One less signing on fee? One (or two?) less travelling expenses depending on who pays. One less race suit? I think the problem's arise when RR is in operation, especially for the 4th, 5th or 6th averaged rider. If everyone is programmed for 5 rides who covers? If the 6th rider is the nominated reserve he'd still only be able to take two more rides (7 in total which is nearly half the heats) then if the one rider above can taken a RR ride that's still only three of the 5th riders programmed rides being covered so you run the risk of three rider races. You could say everyone gets to take a RR ride but that would undoubtedly get abused. You could when RR is in operation have an unprogrammed #7 and you'd still only have six riders at the meeting but essentially you're saying that there still has to be enough riders to cover seven team places. Or it becomes a guest fest. As I said before it might be an obvious solution but not if it compromises the product. There'll certainly be a reason why six rider teams were abandoned and hasn't been reinstated as I'm sure the promoters would have loved cut costs.

last tried in the mid/late 90's (1997?) after the amalgamation of the Divisions 1 and 2 had failed. Only lasted one season I think in the new second division, whatever it was called. I can't remember the heat format (how many heats) and don't recall why it was abandoned. Maybe just because more riders became available rather than it being unpopular. Although I do think there were problems with flexibility especially if RR was in use. An important consideration though if the product isn't as good. There are quite a few moving parts at the moment. I've posted previously about the evolution of streaming. If the majority of your streaming income comes from away supporters then you need to think about how you maximise that (i.e. having more than one away team) I'm thinking 4TT. That would have to be a stand alone competition a la The Hundred in cricket. If that extra competition provided enough fixtures it would replace the need to double up between PL and CL. That might mean 6 man teams or perhaps the CL would become a more sustainable league using British based riders only with perhaps only British U21 riders allowed to ride in both the PL and CL to aid their progress. Maybe a few of the current more affluent CL clubs would revert to the PL and the more sustainable CL, utilising British youngsters, would enable some clubs (Mildenhall, IoW, Workington) to step up.

So extrapolate this out to see why it makes sense. All Russian sports people are banned by international sports authorities. The Russian authorities than ban them all. So all Russian sports people are therefore now allowed to compete in international events. Representing some banner but in reality representing Russia. Massive boost for Putin. "I told you they wouldn't ban our sports people". It's like telling a fat bloke he's banned from eating pies and then giving him a pie as soon as he says he doesn't want one. As long as he pretends he's not a fat bloke, even though everyone knows he is.