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PETER Oakes in Speedway Star this week has tried to unravel the farcical situation that the BSPA have put themselves in by preventing Scott Nicholls and Edward Kennett riding for a Championship team in 2018 because they did not do so this year and therefore failed to acquire an average. Although, of course, Nicholls appeared in various end of season Championship finales as a guest. We also now have a situation where Nick Morris and Craig Cook, both of whom have averages over eight, and Sam Masters (almost eight) could ride for the same Championship side but not together for a Premiership team. Do the BSPA ever look beyond their noses when making up rules, seemingly on the hoof.

Now wolves have signed Thorsell the writing must now be on the wall with regards to the TV deal as BT made it clear their offer was conditional on 7 GP riders being present in the league. My guess is reality has now set in at clubs and the delay in signing riders is down to an adjustment in value of what the riders believe they are worth compared to what the clubs are willing to pay them. The main thing for all of us is that every club survives so I for one will not criticise if Lynn or any other club come to the tapes with an understrength team in 2018. However i would hope this is the wake up call required to finally start working on a complete restructure of the sport for 2019 rather than the inept tinkering we get every year.

Up to this season neither could double down, the situation was lapsed for just this season. Chris (and others) took advantage and established themselves a Championship average, Scott didn't, even though it's rumoured that a club actually offered him a place. Personally I think British riders should be allowed to double up, whatever their average but I'd stop overseas riders being given that privilege.

Now I like workington..my second team...but that is an awful signing on that average..Sorry to say it cos I want worky to do well. Jenga...if you didn't like Sarjeant you will be suicidal after watching klindt.

No professional sport is a £10 sport and even sports at semi pro level is a bit more than that. I think that £15 would be fair price but promoters do need to look at improving pre meeting and in between heats entertainment.

I just don't see what the 2 Brit rule has to do with the one over 8 rule. Where is the relevance? People have clearly looked at their own team building plans and then proposed or voted accordingly. This really has to stop. Seriously. Get some bloody rules and stick to them.

Is there there a silent C TWK

The problem is too many higher quality riders have been allowed to double down for too long. It wouldn't be a big deal not having Kennet and Nichols in the top league if cook Harris Morris masters, Schlien, lambert, king, Lawson, grazionek, among others were also prevented from doing so. thats why it's a problem.

There are certain Poole fans that see Gavan name and they go straight on the defensive instead of actually reading what he's posted. He's more positive about the Poole signings than some others!

Having read this post I now expect the matter to be covered with the same degree of condemnation in this week's Speedway Star, rather than be buried on this website.

Would be very stupid to turn down a 1 year deal down, even if the money is poor. Except offer then immediately start making plans for 2019 and other options, an internal channel from BSPA or speak to other broadcasters. Get the rules sorted early and get out there and sell the product, don't get to next November and do nothing and be in the same boat which is the norm with people running UK speedway. Things don't just fall into your lap you have to go and work for it! Get all clubs to put on a real show come to agreement for both sides where stadiums are packed, make the product look good and then use that to sell to other broadcasters. Use BT and then somehow get a bidding war if you can get a second company interested in the product.

I'm beginning to feel my age. I haven't got a clue what either of those things are.

Yes, but that's because the current format allows for the possibility of the race-off to happen without the host nation. It would be very easy to solve that issue. I think most people would consider a best pairs competition to be a diminished SWC, but let's see...

If you think the higher standard premier league is worth £10 why do the championship clubs charge £15-17?

It will be interesting to see the final signings for Poole but looks like they could be a strong team if they get the last 3 right which I am sure Ford/Middleditch will! On the Poles, personally think Szczepaniak will be ok but wont set the world alight but he will be dependable and hold his ave at least. Woryna on the other hand is a very different proposition. Watched him many times at Coventry and saw many glimpses of brilliance. He has obviously improved immensely in the last 2 seasons and I would be amazed if he didn't translate that into some excellent performances for Poole. In fact I will be so bold as to predict a 7+ ave by the end of the season. But he brings much more as he is a lovely lad and had loads of time for the supporters especially the younger ones. Both astute signings IMO.

Just being selfish. I'd much rather have a league with 8 closely matched teams than one or two teams running away from the rest at the top of the league. Closely matched teams are also more likely to produce good racing and that's what it should be about.

I would call that comment a bit derogatory. I would also call posting something negative about him every single time he's mentioned an obsession. We all know you don't like him. We get it.

I must say that I can't see the logic here. If Chris Harris can ride Championship Speedway - why not Scott Nichols?

The only debates some of the poole fans have gavan , is mass debates at home in their bedrooms whilst looking at pictures of chris holder.

why don't you do one and go and concentrate on your beloved Ipswich

Cos you always seem to bring the thread down all the time.

Sorry Jacob. If we were going to go down the 'No Freddie' path then a strong team all round, including a super strong reserve at #6, would IMO, have been the way to go. Hope I'm wrong and I'll be happy to have this post quoted ad nauseam come october!

Whilst Nico rides on an Italian licence, he is still Argentinean

Me neither. I thought the 'March' music was great when the Track Staff walked out, followed by the Riders. Of course, those were the days when Speedway was run professionally.

If Coventry fans believe this, then all the more reason to prevent it happening by supporting the venture, proving there is support to warrant a new stadium.

Regarding it being a £10 sport, I agree it is IF there is no added entertainment. What clubs need to realise is they can provide added extra entertainment at little or no extra cost. It might involve some effort and use of brain cells (assuming they are available ) but fans would be more willing to attend if they weren't expected to stand on terraces for what seems like hours between 15 races of one minute duration. there have been numerous suggestions for extra entertainment muted on this forum, some of them very good. Such a shame few promoters read them

Yes but would anyone take the risk if they were more than five, possibly Woryna.

Probably in the past, the riders assumed there was plenty of money to be earnt from the sport, and rightly or wrongly asked for the world, when signing contracts to race . But it has become obvious to us all that this behaviour couldn't continue. There was always going to a day of reckoning, and now we at seeing effects of that. I have worried for some time that the sport cannot survive on its present course., and that massive restraints have to be in place just for survival alone. If that means the end of the top riders, then so be it. I just hope that the majority of riders realise the dire situation the sport is in, and doctor their costs accordingly. They must realise the acute balancing of the books is crucial if the sport is to survive. I hope riders like Lambert don't price himself out of reach, in their belief of what they think their worth. That would be a shame......

Really ? PL average for Scunthorpe 2016 5.42 I'm not a fan. At Scunny he was brilliant if he gated, not interested if he didn't.

He also rode for Crewe if my memory serves me correctly ,he would only be in his early 60's I would have thought nice enough and friendly chap to talk to .

Although I would like to see KK sign for the Aces on his current average I hope, in a way, that he signs for you because you signed him last year when he was dropped and because I think he will improve his average and help you build a very competitive team.

Hardly signings that will set the world alight but with the potential to improve. Its alright saying that their form in Poland is strong but very often that form doesnt translate across. Love seeing the usual Poole suspects going on and on about how wonderful their team looks. 12 months ago.........................KK was back at his spiritual home there wasnt going to be a better number one in the league..glad Chris Holder was gone as KK was far better. Nicolai Klindt was going to be the best reserve in the league, someone on a false average who was only going to score bucket loads of points. Kurtz and Jack Holder would be the new turbo twins smashing in points all over the place..........Kyle Newman 'Mr Poole' lovead and adored by everyone at the club was going to kick on and realise his potential................you ended up with Lahti, Starke and Kennett Now we are being told how amazing these 2 young Poles will be...........................hope it doesnt go the same as last year

I would say its 50/50 Could toss a coin to decide but likely be a double header whichever side provided it

As far as I understand, any day now...

I totally agree with that ff. I think Scott Nichols would be a great asset to the Championship.

Hahah love it, it so is though its like a Holder fest!!

Don't say this often. But Gavan has done nothing wrong he has said some points about the riders which are very true. It is a risk but if they come off then we will be up there for the league. I think we have a better team in the running than Wolves and Swindon(our number 6 reserve will be better) But last year we thought we had a good team and it didn't turn out so well. I feel the signing of Josh G though is massive. He understands all the UK tracks and provides great back up and i feel like he is where we will actually win rather than Woryna and Matt S.

Just has to wait until March when Poole have named there team then he can ride for who he likes happened a couple of seasons back with someone may have been Doyle to liecester

And promoters don't seem to appreciate that with every unpopular rule, the ones promoters themsleves admit to then change, you lose fans who may never return. The latest less than popular rule being the 'one over the eight' rule for 8pt riders. Fixed race nights is good but then a lot of good is undone by that new 8pt rule, so the likes of NikiP, Woffy, Greg, Russkie Emil, NKI, etc can't return to ride in the UK even if they wish to...

Well they are saying something that has not been done in 89 years. Speedway started at Arlo in 1929. If you assume thats the beginning of 1929, thats 89 years ago. So it could be a move to a new stadium or ownership or both!

Well if thats the condition holder going to ride for us a bit of a joke if you ask me certainly dont sound committed does it ?

This sports is so full of loop holes and bull dung it's unbelievable.

I was watching TV early the other morning and there was what I can only describe as a reality TV show about the crew on a luxury yacht and it got me thinking - how much would it cost to produce some kind of reality series for speedway. There are two possible angles I can think of. The first would be to follow riders during the course of a season racing for their Britsh teams. You could gamify this by having some kind of fantasy speedway angle with senior/ex riders, managers, sponsors etc. picking their teams and meeting/advising the riders they have chosen. An alternative approach could be to create a competition, such as a series for NL riders and each week profile a rider or two and follow their progress through the series. I think this has the potential to expose speedway to a much wider audience than meetings on Sky/BT Sport ever could.

I think we all know clubs would go bust if they did, however it does not stop people having the view that what is on offer should only cost £10 to watch. Luckily for clubs it seems their loyal fans are happy to pay whatever they wish to charge, however I do feel people would attend more matches and new fans could be attracted if admission was reduced. I think £12 is about right including a free digital download of the meeting programme through a BSPA app (if not attending then the download is available for £1).

Well, this would certainly clear out the oldies, but whether it would encourage kids is another thing.

Time will tell. In a weakened league with only a couple of top boys racing he could even improve his average. If he can maintain an 8 point average he will have done well IMHO. We've seen riders being written off before a wheel has turned before and they've shown posters up. Who knows, KK might even ride to a world class standard in 2018. Anything is possible.

I'm not convinced that KK is on his way to sign for the Aces, we shall see. However, he did a good job for us the last time he rode for us and I, for one, would welcome him back on his present average. I know some, well Stevebrum, seems obsessed with posting derogatory comments every time his name is mentioned but I don't see how he can fail to improve his average.

Did we ever want them running our club? Nobody will support this. Neil do your mate a favour and tell him not to waste his time or Brandon Estates money, I've never seen anything so obviously doomed to fail. If the league has any sense they will reject your application as you won't make it through the season. Brandon Estates will then point to that failure as proof that Coventry Bees are financially unviable and use it to strengthen their argument to build on Brandon. I suspect this is the motivation behind the whole thing.

I'll record it and play it back when I'm asleep.

Stream for all 4 rounds is here I think http://www.australianspeedwaychampionships.com.au/live/ And/or possibly here http://www.nrgtv.com.au/live/ UK meeting start times I think are: 6th Jan 8.00am 10th Jan 8.30am 12th Jan 8.30am 14th Jan 9.00am