enotian

Havelock, Loram, Louis??? plenty of relatively recent experience to be passed on there. But to be fair does the team manager have that much of an input? Cieslak let his riders select the wrong gates and the Russian bloke didn't look like he knew where he was. To be fair the BSPA are doing a lot more to develop young riders than ever before but it will take a while before this bears fruit. No need to reinvent the wheel after today. It was embarrassing but any country would have struggled without Woffinden and Lambert. Cook and Harris were just the next two taxi's on the rank and were exactly that.... rank, but I'd struggle to thing of anyone who'd have done any better. The challenge for the BSPA is how to get the talent to become world class.

Some SON spreadsheet and pdf content here https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

which are not the official green sheet averages as they only include this season's fixtures (and bonus points). i.e. they're not the rolling averages used for team building or position.

it looks okay on the excel version (with a colour background) but I should probably change it for the pdf. I only use the excel version.

SON score chart. Excel or pdf. (I think the format is correct) https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

none taken sir. my point (not made well enough) was that as others strengthen it's often the #7 that get's the boot in the numbers game. perhaps Edinburgh for example. in which case Ruddick would appear to be a better option. note that Simon Lambert scored 3 at Kings Lynn last night. capable but not suited to Newcastle.

very interesting. I wonder if Austin Novratil gets an invite to practice whilst he's over for the SON. Yesterday 11 lasts (i.e. only 4 heats we could have gained a heat advantage) and our bottom three scored 4 vs Leicester's 22. Still not convinced there's a better 2.00 option out there than Phillips unless someone like Gilkes feels ready to go Championship after only a handful of National League meetings but perhaps once the points limit increases that'll either give us more points to play with or free up a 2.00 discarded elsewhere.

Reality is there is nobody knocking on the door who could go a better job at present than Phillips. Of the kids in the National League (Jenkins & Edwards) don't seem to want it yet or (Palin, McGurk, Ablitt, Gilkes, Thompson's) are too young. Others don't have places in the National League (unless Danyon Hume can get an injury reduction) so don't appear to be interested (Lawlor, Parkinson-Blackburn). Plus if there was a candidate I'm sure the Glasgow money tree would shake first. Without being able to make a change what should be done is to make better use of Clegg. I reckon there was about another 4-6 point swap in last night meeting if Clegg had been used in heat 5 and 8. Wasn't required last night (although it did get close at one point) but there'll be tougher opponents and he'll not be a reserve too much longer. No point in giving Phillips or Lambert the easier heats if they're not developing/scoring. I'm not sure that Lambert will ever get the hang of Newcastle but could be decent at reserve away from home. It's going to be frustrating to watch but in lieu of any alternatives you just have to accept it for what it is.

Nicol was impressive. These American's aren't phased by the tight turns of Brough. To a lesser degree Aaron Fox and Max Ruml have looked decent in 'recent' ish season's and it looks like Becker has the hang of Wolverhampton already. At 4.00 assessed it makes you wonder why the Diamonds never look in that direction.

And wasn't it JBA who trashed Stevie Worrall last season? Probably ruling out MBA who was clearly the best option. Anyway let's hope Simon Lambert goes even half as good as the last Diamond Lambert and remember with a lower points limit some of the opposition Lambert will face are far less experienced. Even starting in the top five he should be looking to increase his average. Also is it clear what happens to the points limit once the new set of averages are in force? Does it increase to 42.50?

If you're a hipster you'll name drop this band, Black Midi, every chance you'll get. They are the hottest band in London right now..... and look what they've done So perhaps speedway isn't just for old folks in anoraks after all. Enjoy

In lieu of nobody more informed responding I'd say GP riders make a decent living from the sport but nowhere near the earnings of even a standard NBA player. So I'm guessing that the comparison is with a factory supercross racer. In terms of league racing, they're all effectively Privateer's, signing contracts per season rather than being employees of a club. They aren't paid during the close season and they finance all their own equipment. Therefore, some have jobs during the winter and some supplement their speedway career with work during the season. I hope that's useful and a fair comparison. I'm sure someone more informed will be along shortly.

Yes, sounds a bit Harlem Globe Trotters/Barbarians which is a bit novelty act. I don't see any reason why the team(s) based in Britain would have to be comprised entirely of British riders. The product needs competitive teams to produce exciting action. The nationality of the riders is irrelevant.

Exactly what is sought by TV and sponsors though, a Euro League. A continental audience rather than national and therefore many more people to sell to. It would have to be FIM endorsed as the national federations are unlikely to relinquish control even if it could raise the profile of the sport. 12 to 14 teams should provide enough fixtures so that the gp riders only ride in the one league providing some much needed credibility. It's the only way in which league speedway including gp standard riders could be delivered in this country, albeit restricted to one track and 11 to 15 meetings per season.

It's probably not feasible but 4.00 assessed for new foreign rider has to be tempting giving the weaker Championship. Of course you've got to find a good one. I vaguely remember Austin Novratil riding well for the USA dream team at Brough about 10 years ago and noticed he podiumed at the USA championship recently. Starting at reserve could be a massive bonus, especially partnering Max Clegg who could be dominant. Even 5.00 for a European newcomer might be worth a gamble but we seem to have lost those links and the better options are probably in Poland on a Sunday.

Perhaps to justify the reduction in points limit???

If Aarnio, Wethers, Morris and Phillips are nailed on, that would leave about 17.95 for the remaining three. If they can regain fitness/interest I can't help think Lewis' Kerr and Rose have unfinished business as Diamonds. Would leave about 4.86 for the final rider. No out and out No.1 (less likely to be available on a Sunday) but three challenging for the role and potentially strength in depth, assuming most teams go for two 2.00 riders.

I'm inclined to agree. Not about the chap being deluded but about 15 mins action in 2 hours being viewed as boring. If I went to a gig and heard 5 (3 minute) songs in two hours I'd not go again. So is the answer more heats per meeting? Say 20 or 24? Could solve the problem of doubling up if each rider had extra rides per meeting? But the ticket price would need to rise and whilst it's not unusual to charge more for a better product it would be a bold move. Or more simplistically run 15 heats in an hour..... …..but then there's a danger interval sales of Bovril would decrease. Until promoters realise the product is flawed in a society in which most things are instant they'll only ever be re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. At least they acknowledged it last season with heats supposedly starting within 2 minutes of the previous but I still spent an awful lot of time watching tractors which didn't appear to have any material effect on the standard of racing.

Exactly. This is a sport after all so no matter what restrictions are in place some will be able to invest more than others to gain an advantage. The worst strategic choice made was to reduce the gap in standards between the top two divisions making the sport unaffordable for promoters, riders and supporters alike. As well as diluting the product for those who could afford it. All facilitated by doubling up. Disaster. The best strategic choice was to concentrate on youth development. Surely now's the time to reduce the standard of the Championship so it's a stepping stone for those young riders and part time 'old hands' making it affordable for promoters, riders and potentially supporters.

In the context of a development league isn't that what you'd want? And of course the allocation between classification's is fluid. Could be 1, 2 or 3 whatever is appropriate based on rider availability or strategic approach to giving more opportunity to new talent. It's the concept of categorisation based on number of matches (=experience) which is the point for discussion.

So rather than age is it number of competitive matches that should differentiate. Or a combination of both to encourage youth. If a season is 25(?) matches then after 100 matches a ride should no longer be eligible to ride at reserve, for example. Probably only appropriate for a development league level (somewhere between Championship and National) where teams could be made up of: UK under 23 rider Non UK under 23 rider Rider with over 100 matches 3 UK riders with less than 100 matches UK rider with less than 10 matches all criteria applicable from the start of the season. Clearly it'll still be manipulated with riders missing matches at the end of seasons to remain eligible but rules are there to be 'manipulated'. It would mean that teams could be less evenly matched but the finances will probably dictate otherwise, at a development league level.

the usual https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

spreadsheet or pdf https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

the usual https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

spreadsheet or pdf https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe