IainB

Woffy mentioned something in and mid-meeting interview at the GP the other week, he basically said he was going to buy engines until he found a "special one". He said that they should all be the same but occasionally you'll get one that is "special". I'm no engine expert, far from it, but I do think there is something in this, how often do you see a rider winning all before him until his engine goes pop... and then he's never quite the same again. 2006 Hans Andersen had such an engine and arguably could/should have been world champion that year, he was nigh on unbeatable that season but didn't actually qualify for the GP's and came in as a reserve mid way through the season to cover for injury. He won 2 GP's, came 2nd and 3rd once... his engine went pop and he was never quite the same again. I don't know how Speedway engines are built and what the production tolerances are, but are they really all the same? Bartek and Artem certainly seem to have "special" engines this year, it'll be interesting to see how they go when their engines go bang.

Bank Holiday Monday, Wolverhampton

That's what I was thinking...

it was a p1ss poor crowd for a BHM match against the Champions elect

Do you get your Mrs to throw mud in your face for the full experience?

We almost nearly kind of do have the riders though, it's just that they aren't given the chance. Look at Jason Edwards, binned from Eastbourne and binned from Plymouth in favour of a rider from the upper league. BV elect to go for NBJ instead of a home grown rider... and they operate a NDL "feeder" team!!!! Just 2 examples, there'll be loads of others from the last few years

Haven't IOW been riding against Oxford Cheetahs on the Island?

No, they also referred to the upcoming Championship meeting! And they've not ridden at home in the NDL since

I don't know for sure as I've never ridden either, but it certainly doesn't look easier to rider Leicester's rollercoaster I think the "problem" is, there is no home track advantage at BV, there's no trick bend or hidden holes that a rider can master or avoid. Since the move to the NSS I don't think BV have had any "track specialist", Criag Cook & Matej Zagar all had their iffy meetings. The closest you've had/got is Dan Bewley but as he's gotten better the standard of opposition has gotten worse so he may be flattering to deceive a bit, his average is only 8.5, I'm not sure what his home average is though. In fact looking at the GSA's Dan is actually top of the averages on this number, back in the day if you were over 9 you were a solid heat leader. Looking at the averages of all of the riders in the PL it actually looks like quite a competitive league. You've got to remember that Steve Worrall is really only a decent 2nd string, that's been thrust into a heat leader position only because the standard of the league is at such a low. I'm not sure

Even Lineker "doubles up" for BT Sport and the Beeb

Well, on the face of it, it is. But even we had the we're not getting enough people through the turnstiles call to arms earlier in the season. This particularly incensed me as the visibility of the Speedway product in Leicester is almost non-existent, If you're not already in the know. I made a few comments/suggestions on the Leicester 2021 thread to which a few people took exception to. A couple of posters suggested that if I were that concerned why don't I put my suggestions to the promotion... so I did... No reply, so if I can still be bothered I will continue to "consistently moan" on here about some of the easy wins that Leicester could do with little or no cost. I don't know if you remember but we won the last Championship league title in 2019, the club's first league win EVER! Never gets mentioned at Beaumont Park the club have made zero capital on what they spend all year trying to win.

I'm almost past caring tbh.

With the benefit of hindsight, and I don't know the timing of events etc. but surely the massive mistake, if there was one, was running a Championship side. Because as soon as the taxman came calling NDL may have been the only way to go. They're going to need a basic minimum standard of kit, but I assume most send their kit off to engine tuners for servicing etc. This money goes straight out of the sport for zero benefit. Riders at Championship level especially and probably Premiership level do not need super tuned engines. If they want tuned engines for their own individual endeavours or clubs in other countries that's something they should be paying for not British clubs and punters. I've said it elsewhere, I've never gone to a Speedway match to watch a rider ride a new highly tuned engine.

I fear that anybody with any credibility even approaching that of Barry Hearn wouldn't touch Speedway with a barge pole. You'd probably only attract the type of fly by night type merchants that currently run the sport and they would probably snuff it out.

They have the staging rights, as far as I know the TV rights could be sold on, unless you've heard different I don't think it's been confirmed yet.

It's the new in depth coverage we had been promised

I always used to enjoy my visits to Monmore... but then I was following Coventry and we usually came away with the points, maybe that had something to do with it

Even the "pundit" said it was a bad move

From what they showed prior to the TV meeting tonight they really may as well not have bothered sending a camera or reporter at all

Decent crowd for a telly match

Where's Porky? Has he been banned from TV matches?

Perhaps things need to run their natural course then and something start up from the ashes... I don't know, I'm really lost for words now, ones that haven't already been said a thousand times anyway.

Thanks anyway

Any news on the lad Jablonski?

I've seen 3 Yanks in the last few days and I would say the future looks quite bright for them, Becker and Nicol were impressive at the NSS earlier today and Ruml impressed at Leicester on Saturday night.