Grachan

If Swindon don't run in 2022 it will be presumably be stadium related, not because of their decision not to run this year because of Covid restrictions.

“The economics of the sport which relies so much on the paying spectator are not robust enough to take any downturn in revenue particularly after the cancelation of the 2020 season. Our government is not able to provide any indication of the timing or the steps of lifting the restrictions, which is not a criticism, just a fact. With this in front of us, it is impossible to plan and commit for racing at the Abbey in 2021." Swindon Robins Speedway Official Website: NO SPEEDWAY RACING AT SWINDON THIS YEAR (swindon-speedway.com)

Haven't Somerset closed down completely, so hardly looking ahead to 2022. If any team made the right call it could turn out to be Swindon - providing, of course, that they do run in 2022 as they say they will.

It's Eurosport. It was always going to be an inferior production to Sky or BT. To be fair, considering it IS Eurosport, they're not doing too bad - although they do need to ensure they get the score right as it is a pretty key part of the meeting.

They need to focus on getting the score right. First we had 7-61 when it was 7-5. Now we have 14-14 when it is 14-10.

Another great Second Division rider was Martin Yeates, who did pretty well in a British Final, which was unheard of for a second tier rider at the time.

That, presumably, would depend how it was done and who decided to do it. For example, if, say, Tommy Robinson decided to run a "Straight Pride" event, it would quite obviously be seen as provocative because it would be. If it was fully inclusive - as Gay Pride is - then it wouldn't be seen that way. I wouldn't mind betting, though, that if a "Straight Pride" event did take place it would be some form of far-right thing. Because nobody else really gives a toss.

You can't be considering getting rid of Crump, surely? How long is he out for? Crump is one of the few reasons for me to retain some form of interest in this year's league.

1 - So that's descrimination then. 2 - Where does it say that there's not allowed to be a straight pride?

Speedway could do with adopting any cause it possibly can, to be honest. Surely speedway needs to be trendy. People need to remember that it is only in my own lifetime that homosexuality has even become legal, so you must admit there is something of a legitimate cause here. The right for gay people to join the armed forces was only officially lifted as recently as 2016. Gay Pride may not be your sort of thing, but you have to acknowledge the reasoning behind it surely.

Totally agree. Points limits, averages, bonus points and so on are such a major part of the sport yet broadcasters brush it under the carpet as if it is some sort of embarassment. It was this aspect of the sport that attracted to me to it in the first place. Thinking it needs to be kept simple is a big mistake. Even if these things aren''t gone into in great detail they should at least get a mention.

I always found that at Coventry most fan interaction happened when riders went into the pits as they had to go along a stretch of the greyhound track. You'd see a lot of hand-slapping going on there between riders and fans and I was always a bit envious of that little stretch into the pits at Coventry.

Yeah. I was looking at today's forecast. Dur!

BBC is showing no rain at all after 2pm.

Out of interest, how many races were you expecting?

Whichever way you watch it you'll have to pay somewhere I guess. I watched on Eurosport player because otherwise I'd have to pay over 30 quid a month for Sky Sports as well.

You can watch the whole 3 hours on Eurosport player.

He didn't win though, which kind of messes up your theory a bit.

A big mistake that a lot of people in speedway make, in my opinion. It is such a major part of the sport, and one that has had many lengthy discussions on here. Trying to keep it simple is hiding something that would appeal to many people. Points limits and so on never even get a mention on tv.

Good coverage from Eurosport last night. Better than I was expecting. I was hoping, with the extra analysis time, that there would be more statistical talk on subjects such as averages and points limits, but these never seem to get a mention from whoever is covering the sport. They really should go more into this side of things. It's a nerd's paradise, but they always seem to shy away from it. Good to see the regular reports from King's Lynn too. I hope this type of thing will be a regular feature.

I thought you couldn't do a tactical in heat 14. I guess that must have changed.

I guess it's about looking at who is in the team and thinking that they are worth watching. My expectations were lowered a few years back when Arena-Essex turned up at Swindon and I looked at their side and thought they looked extremely weak and unattractive. They then proceeded to win the match so I realised it must be all teams that are like that.

Probably the only two teams in the league that you can look at the line-ups and think that they see half-decent.

More like, if you don't want to be covered in liquid waste and sewage don't jump into a cess pit.

I actually know someone who worked in an abbatoir and did become vegetarian as a result. That's why it always makes me laugh when people say they are against Halal meat because of animal welfare.