RPNY

100% agree with you. There are pluses and minuses for both one off world finals and for the GP's. I used to love the qualifying rounds going to KL and Coventry etc for the British, Commonwealth and Overseas finals. But I think some look back at one off World Finals through rose tinted specs. The Finals I can remember were: 89 - Rubbish 90 - Brilliant 91 - not great 92 - boring but over the moon Havvy won 93 - not bad 94 - not bad CustomHouseRegular I get where you're coming from and I would indeed have loved to seen a Wembely world final, but I disagree that Cardiff is nothing more then a glorified open meeting. Been to every single GP there and always come away thinking it was a good meeting. The boys definitely raise their game for Cardiff. Plus even though I'm a fellow (east) Londoner I think Cardiff is better venue to host a GP. Wembley would be much more expensive, harder for most of the country to get to and there is literally NOTHING to do around the stadium. What I do agree with though, is it is hideous that a rider can win a GP but not score the most points. Utterly ridiculous. Trying to explain that to new fans has been a right laugh!

How anyone is complaining about that GP I do not know. Cracking little stadium, great racing, bit of controversy that is the entertainment I am after when i sit down to watch a GP GPs 1 and 2 this year were a complete sht show but since then I think it's been a bloody good series.

Ah a rare time we agree my friend! There is so much that can be done to improve the product and therefore the crowd levels before we even talk about changing the format of the league and the racing. PA Systems a big thing. Presenter quality another, facilities another, time taken to complete meeting another, choice of music another. Darts and 20 20 haven't just drawn crowds because the game alone. It's the razzmatazz and slickness of production that goes with it. People know they are going there for a good time and a laugh they don't have to be hardcore fans to enjoy it,. With regards to live meetings 100% agree it should be all out to have a big crowd there. Tenner for adults kids for a quid anything along those lines. Get the crowds in make it look like a spectacle to those new arm chair viewers.

I'm not a huge Cricket fan but few years ago I met Robert Key who was at the time Kent Captain. He told me they make more money in a single 20 20 game then they do in the rest of the county season. The traditionalists hate 20 20 but the fact is it's been brilliant for the sport. Speedway can no longer say it was popular way back when so let's go back to the way it was. We need to come up with ideas on how to move it forward. Now all we need to do is come up with those ideas...

Well I guess the answer is leave it as it is then..

Not a huge Tatum fan but in his defense he does criticize when criticism is warranted..

But if it's one big league he'll get a lot of meetings in UK. 38+ league matches, KO Cup, Pairs, 4TT, PLRC, plus any other individual meetings etc. Also for a Danny King who MIGHT suffer, there's a Richie Worrall who will be better off. I'd also suggest 6 rider teams. 2 Heat Leaders 2 Second String 2 Res. another Cost cutting exercise as well as assuring teams can be filled.

An amalgamation of the 2 leagues with only the 'Elite of Elite' riders dropping out. However I keep getting shot down for that idea so I'm dropping it now lol

All I'm suggesting is a bigger league with higher quality riders and more variety for the fans (ie not seeing the same team at the track 4+ times a year) may go some way to improving things.

I don't know or have the time to look at the stats. I've thrown some names out there and I happen to think Holder is far better then Harris but if the stats say otherwise then again I'll hold my hands up.

Well it seems you see more EL matches then I do so I will hold my hands up and say Im wrong but from what Ive seen on Sky the big hitters tend to be winning pretty easy. My point with a stronger PL is that Harris, Nicholls, Hans A, are quality riders who would be #1s but could still be beaten by current PL #1's and some PL 2nd string where as if we go back to 1995 and merge the leagues but keep 'elite' riders it wouldnt work...

Well the Elite league big hitters still trounce the 2nd string riders as the gulf is so wide. In a stronger PL (Mid way between current PL and EL) would like to see riiders like Simon Lambert as a reserve as opposed to NL level riders... Again, I know my idea is way off perfect! I stand corrected, the EL is a great product on the up...

I understand what you are saying and I know my idea wasn't perfect by any stretch, But what I was suggesting was a stronger Premier league that would consist of say 20-22 teams so those who are currently doubling up still get their fair quota of racing - as well as the Richie Worrall's of the world who currently not getting a DU opportunity get more meetings. With regards to Nicholls Bomber etc wanting money that Holder Zagar etc currently get, well the Promoters need to stand strong. What are their other options? They aren't getting many opportunities in foreign leagues are they... I just think on big league would provide lower costs, more competitive racing, greater variation of opposition for the fans...

I personally would write off the Wards/Holders/Woffindens/Kildermans etc and just go for a one unified, strong, Premier League. Riders such as Bomber, Scotty Nic, even people like Hans Andersan could be heat leaders but there wouldn't be the extreme gulf in quality between Elite league #1's and reserves like there is now. Plus with little to no GP riders, Thu/Fri/Sat night tracks would be less disrupted and therefore likely to get bigger crowds. Costs will go down, Seems like a no Brainer to me. Yes it's nice to have the Best riders in the world In the UK, but whats the point when they are winning races by the length of the straight and are bankrupting their clubs...

Was not a particularly nice kid when he started out and thought he was going to be the next big thing. Seems he became a bit more humble over the course of his career... However was a good servant to British speedway and wish him well in his retirement

I apologize because you are indeed correct there.

Well that season was a stronger field then this years so I would say yes.

If those two were in the GPs instead of say THJ and (sorry mate) Bomber it's possibly be greatest ever GP line up.

Who is actually the best rider out of Emil Ward and Tai? This thread got me thinking...

I think it's harsh on AJ as he's been good value for money for a lot of years. Good meeting Saturday very enjoyable. Since the farce of the 1st 2 rounds it's been a good series IMO. What has happened to KK? Never been a big fan of the guy but it's so sad to see how he's riding now.

I really hope Manchester is added but I suspect it won't be as they don't want the Cardiff crowd to be dented in any way. Even though I'm from London I agree that there's no point in taking it to Wembley. Stadium, half full, pig to get to, nothing around there to do pre/post meeting. The Olympic Stadium I'd disagree, great transport links, the Mall near by with bars etc & knowing the the costs involved they would welcome any additional income from a GP and the like. Cardiff is great though, gone every year never once come away thinking anything other then money well spent.

Even as a Rye Fan and a long time hater of Arena/Lakeside, I struggle to understand the negativity towards the club here. The club post Ronnie Russell has been very well run. Why are people here so harsh on them?

I wasn't at Gothenburg but I was in Gelsenkirchen (flew from Tokyo for that one) and Warsaw (from NY) and my father went to Riga. I was raging at the balls up made at each of these and more annoyed that no decent explanation was given. Gelsenkirchen in particular I'm still seething about. However I try to remind myself that a handful of GP's over a 20 year period is not that awful and in real terms on par with other sports/concerts/nights out which will sometimes end up with a very unsatisfactory conclusion. I know people on here get annoyed with temp tracks and sometimes they are right to feel that way. But I for one much prefer seeing a GP in a top class stadium in a decent city so the whole weekend is something to look forward to. Looking at the attendances at Cardiff although the die hard fans don't agree with me, many others do. If we could have a full season of GP's at somewhere like Torun (fun city, perfect track great stadium) then yes that would be ideal. Unfortunately that isn't ever going to be the case. All we can hope is that BSI learn from their mistakes. They certainly seem to with Cardiff this year. On a different note, any chance Poland looses a GP and we get Cardiff and Manchester next year??!

Here's a thought.. Shall we be optimistic and wait till after this GP is over to pass Judgement??!!

Point being Bomber didnt not do that statement himself!