mikebv Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago 11 minutes ago, Fromafar said: Who cares ,they are all at these days GB meetings are just pocket money. And teams sign riders knowing full well that they cannot fulfill meetings on certain days of the week, as they are already contracted elsewhere on those nights, so go to tracks having to use guests... It's all a bit Mickey Mouse, so riders giving the UK a miss for their own reasons, or pressure from elsewhere, doesn't make much difference... The guest system is a major part of the reason riders miss these meetings.. No guest system, (and you either use RR or a 2 point unattached rider), and teams would simply not accept the situation, and the rider would have to be there.... As it stands, some clubs can arrange a meeting knowing that they have missing riders, but have already lined up "track ringers" to replace them, making their team better!!! Ludicrous in a so called professional sport... A 28 day ban, given so few meetings now take place per month, is also no deterrent... Maybe a season long ban (and next season too), would sharpen their focus? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 21 minutes ago, mikebv said: And teams sign riders knowing full well that they cannot fulfill meetings on certain days of the week, as they are already contracted elsewhere on those nights, so go to tracks having to use guests... It's all a bit Mickey Mouse, so riders giving the UK a miss for their own reasons, or pressure from elsewhere, doesn't make much difference... The guest system is a major part of the reason riders miss these meetings.. No guest system, (and you either use RR or a 2 point unattached rider), and teams would simply not accept the situation, and the rider would have to be there.... As it stands, some clubs can arrange a meeting knowing that they have missing riders, but have already lined up "track ringers" to replace them, making their team better!!! Ludicrous in a so called professional sport... A 28 day ban, given so few meetings now take place per month, is also no deterrent... Maybe a season long ban (and next season too), would sharpen their focus? The problem with that approach is that most riders in that position would simply walk away from Britain deciding it isn't worth the hassle. I'm pretty sure Ben Cook, Tungate and Gusts to take the most obvious recent offenders would all take that approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 6 minutes ago, arnieg said: The problem with that approach is that most riders in that position would simply walk away from Britain deciding it isn't worth the hassle. I'm pretty sure Ben Cook, Tungate and Gusts to take the most obvious recent offenders would all take that approach. Good riddance to them then 👋, if you want to run a credible sport in this country 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveArena Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago Nothing from Shovvy or LBW very strange maybe they have gone on holiday together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 15 minutes ago, IainB said: Good riddance to them then 👋, if you want to run a credible sport in this country That’s my thoughts too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crescent girl Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago 12 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said: 58-32 'nuff said!😇 Although next week at Sandy Lane,Pirates final opportunity to lower their averages for 2026 will see a very different result imo!! Thankfully, the rolling averages mean that one bad score out of twenty has very little effect on a rider's average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago 3 hours ago, IainB said: SCB STATEMENT: FRANCIS GUSTS Wednesday August 13, 2025 The Speedway Control Bureau were made aware by the Oxford Management on Monday 11th August that Francis Gusts had informed them that due to illness he would be unavailable for the Oxford fixture at Poole on Wednesday 13th August. However, on Tuesday 12th August Mr Gusts represented his Polish League Club Wroclaw in the Under 24 League being undefeated by an opponent in his 5 heats. The report from the Polish media after the Polish fixture descried Mr Gusts performance as excellent On Wednesday morning Mr Gusts was made aware that having competed in the Polish League on the 12th August, he would be expected to ride for Oxford in their fixture at Poole on the 13th. Due to Mr Gusts failure to attend the Poole v Oxford fixture on Wednesday 13th August, Mr Gusts SCB Registration will be suspended for a period of 28 days as of the 13th August. Oxford will be entitled to a facility for the same period 28 days, where after Mr Gusts will need to return. I honestly wouldn't have noticed Gusts missed a match for no reason. I'm so used to Cheetahs having guests in every match, I just assumed everything was as normal. Which isn't a great state for British Speedway to be in. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Blobby Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago 3 hours ago, IainB said: SCB STATEMENT: FRANCIS GUSTS Wednesday August 13, 2025 The Speedway Control Bureau were made aware by the Oxford Management on Monday 11th August that Francis Gusts had informed them that due to illness he would be unavailable for the Oxford fixture at Poole on Wednesday 13th August. However, on Tuesday 12th August Mr Gusts represented his Polish League Club Wroclaw in the Under 24 League being undefeated by an opponent in his 5 heats. The report from the Polish media after the Polish fixture descried Mr Gusts performance as excellent On Wednesday morning Mr Gusts was made aware that having competed in the Polish League on the 12th August, he would be expected to ride for Oxford in their fixture at Poole on the 13th. Due to Mr Gusts failure to attend the Poole v Oxford fixture on Wednesday 13th August, Mr Gusts SCB Registration will be suspended for a period of 28 days as of the 13th August. Oxford will be entitled to a facility for the same period 28 days, where after Mr Gusts will need to return. Never here anyway so not really make much difference. Now would love them to look at the Klindt situation and threaten him with a ban for picking and choosing his meetings for Plymouth. I’m sure he’d be able to make it then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 2 hours ago, mikebv said: And teams sign riders knowing full well that they cannot fulfill meetings on certain days of the week, as they are already contracted elsewhere on those nights, so go to tracks having to use guests... It's all a bit Mickey Mouse, so riders giving the UK a miss for their own reasons, or pressure from elsewhere, doesn't make much difference... The guest system is a major part of the reason riders miss these meetings.. No guest system, (and you either use RR or a 2 point unattached rider), and teams would simply not accept the situation, and the rider would have to be there.... As it stands, some clubs can arrange a meeting knowing that they have missing riders, but have already lined up "track ringers" to replace them, making their team better!!! Ludicrous in a so called professional sport... A 28 day ban, given so few meetings now take place per month, is also no deterrent... Maybe a season long ban (and next season too), would sharpen their focus? I might not be as strict at that, but definitely think there should be a deterrent in place to stop the Gusts / Cook / Klindt situations happening. 28 day ban with no facility (75% guest) would be my preference. If clubs feel they are hard down by tough, sign a new rider! Preferably one who will turn up each week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 2 hours ago, arnieg said: The problem with that approach is that most riders in that position would simply walk away from Britain deciding it isn't worth the hassle. I'm pretty sure Ben Cook, Tungate and Gusts to take the most obvious recent offenders would all take that approach. Without credibility, no business can hope to prosper... Or maybe even just survive... UK Speedway is a classic example where that lack of credibility has slowly, but surely, eroded the fan base... The Poole v Oxford was a semi final of one of fhe few competitions ran, and was planned in knowing one rider wasn't available as he rides elsewhere on a Wednesday... It's telling that the sponsors of the comp, like so many other sponsors of the sport, are "in the Speedway bubble", as "outside money" would be more than a bit cheesed off with the lack of respect shown to it, and them, by such decisions.. As I said previously the Mickey Mouse guest system allows such things to happen as it can even deliver an advantage.. The sport needs to take a long look in the mirror, and deliver an operation where it stands on its own two feet, with riders giving equal commitment to it or face a lengthy ban.. They coped without Nick Morris for two years, so I am sure those three mentioned, and others, won't be indispensable... Especially if they match team numbers to availability commitments... In short, they set the sport up so supply exceeds demand... Whether they have the will, or the capability, is another matter... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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