enotian

how would it be enforced?? I can't see your standard Speedway promotion having access to a government vaccine passport database. alternatively are they going to insist on airport customs style checks to get into stadiums??? causing queues which are no doubt not distanced. Imagine you've bought your ticket in advance then forget your passport (or don't have one) who turns you away? Do you get a refund? Or do they just let you in.

Whilst again I don't disagree I think it's becoming more common place. If you look at cricket someone like Jos Buttler will be able to name a half dozen teams he plays for in different competitions around the world. But he's entertainment and the competitions are viewed as distinct separate brands that mostly don't run concurrently. So he's in the Big Bash for a month, then at the IPL for another month, the Hundred at another point and domestic T20 some other time. Whilst the big names are a massive part of these competitions it's also the experience which is being sold.

that's just unlucky though isn't it. And luck or lack of it plays a massive part in any sport. You'd still be on an even par with your opponents. How many times in the past has a youngster increased their average from the assessed two or three to then find themselves replaced, by an old hand on a lower average, once they start to struggle. At least by retaining their star status once ready to return from injury the young rider will be able to re-take their place. I'm not a fan of the rising star scheme but something needed to be done to make sure youngsters are given time to develop rather than being chucked in and replaced by a more experienced rider at the earliest opportunity.

Interesting that (and I have an interest) up to now nobody has mentioned public transport. Such a ban (although not something I would agree with) should not mean the end, for those affected, in attending any events during non daylight hours. However, I would imagine that the vast majority of people could not even contemplate using public transport at night as an alternative. 'Could not' being the operative words. I'd suggest that if such a ban was in place the standard, frequency, reliability and safety of public transport would have to increase dramatically to avoid making a vast section of the public prisoners in there own homes...... ......getting good at that this government. PS I drove home in the dark last week without putting my lights on like a total moron. I'm 48.

I don't disagree. All sports suffer from the competitive nature in which the most talented purveyors can place demands for their services. Perhaps in speedway (athough the £ signs are smaller) the pool of top level talent is more limited, which magnifies the problem. I also think that you might be right about the culture of watching from the sofa. But I don't think this extends to other sports. I imagine crowd levels at Football, Rugby and (limited overs and test) cricket were higher after satellite TV took over the coverage. I've always found physically attending sports events far more preferable than watching from home but what is the obvious difference between other sports on TV and speedway which has meant attendances have increased elsewhere but decreased for speedway meetings? I think there's a follow the herd culture and if you watch an event in which there are full stadiums of people visibly enjoying themselves you'd be more inclined to think 'I wish I was there'. Cut to coverage of league speedway........ not a lot there to convince the herd mentality to follow suit. Maybe league coverage isn't the way forward? Maybe speedway on TV should be more limited to bigger events which can attract bigger crowds and perhaps have a bigger production budget. How about trying to sell a Speedway Festival to broadcasters. Package up all the grand finals into a week long event during the summer, make it an occasion make those watching at home 'wish they were there'.

excluding assessed starting averages Tsumani!! Arguably if he scored a 15 max on debut he's been on the decline ever since wasn't he a nine pointer from the off? Obviously started on an assessed two or whatever it was at the time but was never anything less than a nine pointer straightaway. I was more interested in riders who had difficult/average starts to their career but suddenly improved during the course of a season. Charles Wright is a more recent example. Having spent a fair few seasons as a four ish pointer was it Somerset he went to and added three points to his average?

No definitely meant status. The Standard has improved. Whether the quality of the entertainment has suffered as a result is debatable but certainly the sports popularity in this country has waned. I suspect there are numerous reasons for this. We'll free to whinge if that's your bag we all enjoy a bit of one now and then. Personally I prefer to spend my free time enjoying whatever I'm up to but it takes all sorts.

exactly. who ever got excited about a healthy balance sheet. the trick is being able to do both. it's the failing of the competitive sporting environment where contracts are negotiated annually and top men are a scare resource with a format where you can't win without one.

just don't think he ever wanted a Sunday track and was never happy at Newcastle. Made some shocking starts, at least one per meeting, and struggled to pass the top men even when he was quicker than them. If he can make starts in 13 and 15 he's capable of beating many of the other CL #1's.

Yes, if I recall Lee was a much heralded youngster who struggled for a couple of seasons but was given time and probably went from #7 to heat leader in a season in the 2nd tier. Going on to be a GP rider. An excellent example of the benefit of giving young riders time to develop. I always assume if I rider isn't doing a Peter Collins, Michael Lee or Kenny Carter in their first season then they won't make the International stage but it's just not the case. Of course Mauger himself. Was only ever top man around Newcastle but by all accounts was out of his depth as a youngster at Wimbledon. Not sure of the league configurations back then though.

crazy how the sport, over the years, has tied itself in knots over averages to two decimal places when they can only ever been an approximation of actual ability. Creating any amount of dysfunctional behaviour and decision making.

Jorgensen is a nine point man in this division if his horror year at Newcastle was a one off, which his top division form would suggest it was. Of course its daft to start under the points limit but it's how you end not how you start (apart from actually starting of course) that counts.

Assessed five??? That's just a technical improvement He was probably a ten the first time he got on a bike, such a natural talent.

I think there has to be a correlation. Wasn't it around that time, mid 80's, when there was controversy about allowing British riders to drop down into the National League? That's drop down not double down! So the likes of Gordon Kennett, Dave Jessup and Les Collins could all join NL teams despite having been world finalists (podiums) not much earlier. Imagine that. Going off thread, but it's why I've always said foreign riders should never drop below their assessed average for team building. And that assessed average shouldn't ever be as low as four as it is now.

if I recall staying at reserve all season despite averaging seven in that amazing Eagles team. Probably only getting three rides per meeting in the old thirteen heat format. The start of a great conveyor belt. Dugard, Standing, Barker, Norris. I think Dean went to Ipswich but can't recall if he ever made an impact in the top flight. I recall Darren Standing going straight through the first bend at Brough just as he was starting to progress with Stoke.

In a weakened league You'd expect perhaps Auty, Aarnio and especially Jorgensen to add say a combined 4 points to their starting averages. Then what is the expectation for Palin? 5 points? 6? 7? Then if the 7th rider is a Kennedy or a MacDonald they could add a couple. All of a sudden you're averaging 47 points and doing fine.

yes two pointers I guess. Then ending the season as eight pointers. That Poole era in the 2nd division was a convey belt for Australasians. plenty of examples of two point Aussies in the Diamonds ranks during the National League era. No need to develop local talent back then. Plenty went from assessed two to second string in their first season then heat leader in their third. Hunter and Bargh (and others) were just before my time and missed out on seeing Shane Bowes progress when the Diamonds closed.

I was aware that he'd lost his life but was never sure if it was speedway related. I remember seeing Boxall against the Gems and he looked like a huge talent. I think he ended up signing for the Diamonds as #1 which I think is where it all started to go wrong. Plenty of example around that time of talented kids who didn't get any guidance or have the resources to progress. Let's hope there's some assistance for the current crop.

ah yes I recall Dugard, Havelock and Silver emerging at the same time. He was on a steep upward curve. World Finalist by 1990!!! 2nd season?? Remember seeing him at Brough in his first season. Scary but quick. Was always going to be a massive talent. yes. What about that group of Aussies. Wiltshire, Adams and Boyce all around the same time after a lean spell. All massive talents For some reason I don't ever recall seeing Mear ride live. Was he mostly top flight at Essex? Didn't he attempt a comeback at one point? Could he have gone on to have been international class?

Wow, they must have really watered own the product in 1978!! Couldn't resist. That's some improvement. He'd had a few seasons as a three pointer hadn't he before the sudden improvement? Was he an Australian? Although I think my first ever meeting was around that time its just a little bit before I started to take interest.

With there having been a season hiatus I was thinking about which riders might make a massive improvement in average in 2021. Then got wondering about historically which rider has improved their starting average by the most by the end of the season. [excluding assessed starting averages] I recall Mark Thorpe almost doubling his average in c1991. He'd had two average seasons in admittedly average Diamonds teams, averaging about five and had even been dropped for one match iirc. By all accounts he was only handed a team place in 1991 because his average fit. Starting at reserve with Scott Lamb, I think, he was lightening out of the starts and never looked back, ending the season close to a ten average. Anyone else turned from reserve to #1 in the course of a season?

One can't deny that the status of speedway in this country has deteriorated but there are plenty of manics on here. But I guess if speedway is all you've got to be depressed about you're probably not doing too bad.

so how many of the cheap cannon fodder are being chucked in at the CL deep end who didn't have a team place in 2020? Smith (but only because Bailey isn't available), Alcock and Hume?

There was still a choice though wasn't there. Mountain could have been retained ahead of Roynon or Wright. If, as you suggest, a decision was made assuming Mountain would be the 3* #7 then someone messed up. When that became clear the choice between Mountain, Roynon and Wright could still have been made at that point. Although this doesn't stack up for me given they've then gone for a 1* NDL 2nd string at #7. Admittedly the other 3*'s are nowhere near Mountain standard but if that was the plan and budget then I'd have expected another option at #7. Kinsley for example.

Agreed. Not just the points points limit or rising star programme to blame. Mountain would still have fitted within the points limit even with Barker in the team. Perhaps the loan fee was prohibitive? Shame as he could have progressed. The Diamonds team would be competitive with him as the Rising Star. Actually surprised he didn't get the rising star spot at Kings Lynn? Surely he'll get a place at Birmingham, Redcar or Scunthorpe??