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Matt needs to put away the archive book of averages and the calculator and look after the riders he’s got. With a bit of faith, loyalty and encouragement they should come good. Why wouldn’t you want to keep Kurtz, Grajczonek & Woryna and tell them you’ll build your team around them for the next three years? Batchelor, Tungate, Newman, Kennett, Howarth, Shanes, Starke, Klindt, Andersen and even Chris Holder should all have been treated better. With all due respect to them it never makes sense to keep bringing in stop gap, foreign based riders like Szzzzzpaniak, Lindback, Gomolski, Sundstrom, Jepsen Jensen & Jonasson, who aren’t committed to the UK and never stick around at any club for very long.

But how are the staff supposed to make it pay? Do you know the cost of a uniform and the bus fare to the cinema for the staff, if you want the best staff at the cinema you need to charge £20 per film and only show it on a Monday and Wednesday as of a weekend the staff work in sainsbury’s, also the camera can be very very dangerous so the staff risk their life everytime they show you a film

One of the frustrations of being a Poole Supporter (by the way for many years) based near Chelmsford - Essex is that I don't get a chance to see them so much. A 3.5 hour drive is a bit of a ball breaker. Thankfully I didnt attempt it this week as would have seen my backside ;-) However that does not dampen my love for the Pirates or my enthusiasm for the sport. Having been pressing home my comments/thoughts re using these young N/L riders and having a combo of 2 of these under 20 in each side - add existing established young riders and top off with the experienced guys. (Not all these ultra expensive top/top riders based abroad). Well tonight I am more than happy to spend my £17 entrance fee for a meeting at Lakeside only 23 miles from where I live, where I will see the kind of Speedway I am trying to advocate partly. Firstly I get too see our returning asset N.Klindt - Hopefully will have a gating day at Lakeside as we know not an easy track - Also get to see another asset in Newman who dont expect too much from these days to be honest. Add into the mix experience such as Lawson/Proctor/Bach/Campton - add established young talent such as Morris/Ellis/Jensen and also exciting youngsters such as Bewley/Wajtknecht and topped up by youngsters who have been in N/L such as Mountain (Lakeside guest) - Bickley - Bowtell. Now that is certainly a well spent £17 entrance fee - Ok add £3 for the program but I dont give a damn as this is the mix of talent i want to see. A mixture of Experienced/Established good young riders/Young talent coming through. Maybe throw in a snack from the burger/hot dog/chippie van and a pint and its speedway utopia Who needs GP riders and it cost the promotors a fraction of the cost. Its nights like hopefully tonight that you think there's hope for the sport yet. Also no rain planned and I checked both BBC and Met office. Fingers crossed.

The only rumours u should listen too is fleetwood mac!

Speedway doesn't fix things that are broken, but fixes something that isn't broken - the World Cup. In my opinion, APART FROM THE JOKER RULE, the format for the WC was finally perfected after years of fiddling around with it. Four nations, one rider from each in every race and wearing the same helmet colour throughout. Dead simple. Easy to understand for casual or new viewers tuning in and that's how it should be. Forget about team riding, new viewers won't understand or care less about it. This new competition is taking us backwards to a confusing, audience alienating format.

Lucky we've got a few anoraks left that follow the sport in this country that care about the shambolic way it's presented and the disgusting state of the stadiums we're watching it in eh? Applying the rules is a basic necessity of any serious sport surely? Hope some of these riders that don't make a fortune riding on the continent have other qualifications to fall back on because speedway will be semi pro at best in the UK in a few years.

As a speedway fan really feel for the Bears at the minute nothing is going there wsy at the minute , hoping Ben and JPB are back on a bike soon we as supporters don’t realise the sacrifices the riders put in for our entertainment , get well soon you two

The agreement with the FIM is that we have priority on Monday and Thursday and Denmark has priority on Wednesday. The fact that the BSPA decide to run on Wednesday, Swindon excepted, doesn't change that agreement. Denmark still has priority on a Wednesday and we have it on Thursday.

After the criticism yesterday it's good to see that Rob Painter from GB Speedway Team took the time and trouble to travel up to Cumbria today to see Craig Cook. That's the proper and professional way to deal with things.

Although teams can name a U21 rider, who can be used at anytime it is not mandatory to have one. With this in place many heats in both race off`s will end up with only 3 riders. USA, Ukraine, Finland and Italy have only 2 named riders. With no back up they will undoubtedly all at some stage be reduced to 1 rider heat representation. Not value for money and an ill conceived format and ridiculous rules. No need to drop the World Cup for this farcical event.

come in numbers 1 and 5 . your time is up @ D.P.

Funny, that's what Hancock said when he needs an excuse because he couldn't be Ars#d a couple of years ago.

Just put an announcement out on the PA during the interval about the roadworks? Not hard is it?! Anyway, I got back from working in London just to get in before heat 1 and was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was. The back car park was almost full. Why such a big crowd? Must have been the draw of the World Champion being in town and the prospect of our very own Robert Lambert beating him. It couldn't have been the crazy half term offer!?? "The King’s Lynn Tru Plant Stars £36 Family ticket gives you all a fun packed evening this Wednesday 30th May. A Family ticket gives you entry for 2 x adults and as many children U16 as you like for just £36. Parking is free." It's £18 to get in for adults and kids go in free anyhow? Looking forward to the next crazy value promotion - 1 coffee for £1.50 or a special offer of 3 for £.4.50?!? It made me laugh anyhow : )

I don't think the number of riders choosing Poland would be anything like the numbers some are suggesting. For many of the current riders, who race mainly for Polish league 1 and 2 teams, a guaranteed 30 plus meetings in the UK in one big league would be more attractive than being part of a Polish league 1 squad with no guarantee of being a regular pick. They may not like having their opportunity to race abroad curtailed but I think many would accept it. The UK has got to find a way to operate that initially makes the sport here sustainable and then able to grow. Staying as we are is not an option.

Oh dear!! Thats horrendous

That profile pic of yours is very wrong!

I'm not sure if Robert Lambert will be eligible to take a reserve ride, even if required. He's 48 years old according to the GP website! http://www.speedwaygp.com/rider/robert-lambert

Omg, there is plenty of choice, could be singing that chant for hours on end.

Could speedway cope with 'Jack Holder what a ₩@#£€& , what a ₩@#£€&'

Probably something to do when the football left the stadium ?

i see concretors covering an area of around 1200m2 with plastic on a regular basis in australia to stop any potential rain ruining their surface.... the next day they come in after a huge downpour and their concrete has a perfect finish on it. I am sure someone could come up with a proper system to cover tracks. Maybe covering the actual track in it first then use Najjers idea of clipping another layer from the fence down to the centre green? all it would take someone with a “well sort it attitude” rather than someone who gives up at the first hurdle.

Not forgetting Justin Elkins who was a great for Swindon and went off the boil when he went to Poole

Ridiculous! We have started the season in BL2/NL/PL/Championship in April since 1969 (1968 was a late start due to the lack of teams in the initial year). I don't remember the second tier having gaps like this. Perhaps the problem lies in having the shortest league schedule since 1968? 10 home league matches is a disgraceful offer to the public, even allowing for the limited additional Championship Shield meetings that in the south add a paltry two extra fixtures making a grand total of 12! So, just what ARE we supposed to do? Start the season in June then move on to the play-offs in September? Trying to defend this year's schedule is ridiculous. The second tier has foolishly followed the top tier into a fragmented season and will pay the same price if it's not careful. Perhaps the promoters can only afford top stage a dozen meetings? If so the least they could do is be honest and inform their remaining fans.

I think after your win last night your post was proved correct looking at it how many away wins have there been away not many.Also Swindon are a very strong side at home a terrific top five with great backing from Zach.I do think Somerset are in the mix for fourth spot with Lynn,Poole, all to play for.

By the time Workington go to Lakeside tomorrow they'll have had 8 away and only 3 matches at home. Bearing in mind the home ties are supposed to generate the revenue to pay the riders (home and away) the promotion are to be lauded for being able to fund these eight away fixtures in the hope that revenue from home matches will in the end balance the books. Heaven forbid the weather's bad on Saturday then we could be looking at 10/3 away-home nigh on unsustainable. Fingers crossed for Saturdays weather and a good crowd to go with it.

I think Rebel supporters had "Rose Tinted Glasses" at Kings Lynn last night Note to all Rebels supporters "Get Some Rose Tinted Glasses"

Only donuts I saw were riding in white and yellow helmets

9.2 Tiea 3. If the scores are shared between the two teams taking part in the Race Offs heats 22 & 23. Final 2 heat 22 (Semi Final) and Final 2 heat 23 (Grand Final), the team taking 2nd and 3rd position will be considered the better place team.

Never responds when he's found out to be a liar. . . Again

Absolutely. As the Save Cov Speedway group have said us riding at Leicester does not hinder what the group are trying to do. If speedway and Stox are not running then it would be difficult to show an ongoing need especially further down the line. It's been said several times this season that Bees in Leicester is temporary, will always be temporary and it's not a replacement for Brandon. We need to be back in Coventry. Also we only have a one year deal. Brandon Estates are trying to say Leicester is a long term solution, Horton and Leicester has rubbished those claims. Also again Leicester is not a replacement for Brandon as it can't run stox and that cannot be emphasised enough. It' not just about speedway.

I thought riders were queued up to ride for Poole, that is what we are always being told.

King's 4 matches would have been good enough to place him at number 1 but as you state 4 matches is not enough to be included. Regarding Bewley you are correct in that I should have include him with ranking points of 900. I will amend my list.

if bikes were slowed down and tracks were prepared for racing we wouldn't need gimmicks the sport could sand on its merits

It’s funny that because we spanked you’s at home in the league and we are sitting unbeaten in 3rd with 9 points from 3 where as you’s are second bottom with 4 points from 4 meetings ahahahaha stop underestimating the teams that don’t have big names because we’re currently doing a lot better than both sets of tigers ans the witches aka the 3 league favourites, same goes for Newcastle as well.

Fed up with all this season waited to long for holder total shambles imo

The bottom line will be whether any increase in ticket sales is sustained and importantly, whether profits increase. Although, as you and others have said, the overall picture will be distorted by food, confectionery and drink sales so it may be difficult to draw direct comparisons. I've never understood those who refer to speedway as 15 minutes of entertainment. To me it's the whole package. The build up to the race, the race and then often discussing the result. At the NSS we have Chase the Ace, a good announcer and centre green presenter and the post meeting press conference so I rarely find that I'm not being entertained in some shape or form throughout the meeting. The only exception is if there are long delays between races but there is nearly always a good reason and an explanation and apology.

Scrap the lot go back to basics and only sign riders who can commit to UK for season. It will reduce costs and hopefully admission prices.

I thought you would like it!

Speedway needs to be run every week at home during the season or people tend to find alternative things to do.

Did you go to Newcastle and Berwick to see the easy Sheffield victories since the teams are not competitive? I was at both and cannot remember what the scores were.

Hope springs eternal - I hope he comes back soon.

I know I am not Steve but, personally, have to say I really enjoyed the Stewkesbury era ...... 1985 onwards from memory ..... after the Chandler promotion collapse aided by Mike Lee's ban. Not being able to see Sam Ermolenko progress was outweighed by return of Martin Gates, retention of Kevin Smith & Stan Bear, and progression of a host of youngsters ..... raw Aussies & my fave Dave Biles. Cost in terms of my wallet was not an issue in those days given quality of entertainment ..... thus would have no issue watching Championship as opposed to Premiership provided racing was exciting ..... and there ain't much to beat ATM. I guess most will have same view.

In my day bloody hell i am old i loved to see riders show there own personalities the leathers often showed that.The biggest five for me over the years were Ivan, Booey boy Blue, Red devil Broady, Alan Cowland and as always John Davis now John Davis would be great in this era a real showman great with the younger fan and was always professionally turned out.People think the 70s/80s were backward times but the monkey mask went black leathers went and new helmets come in which at the time was massive.I think this myth about the sport being miles behind the times is nonsense the main thing is get the PRODUCT right (i.e. the entertainment factor and the racing.

Just to muddy the waters a bit more surely any ban is a domestic one and does not affect FIM meetings.

Further to my post a few days ago a bit more information for those interested. First the figures are for league and cup meetings. Second you need to bear in mind that the winning percentages are likely to go down as the Lions have only ridden 3 away matches compared to 6 at home. Third a bit more information: Winning percentages home & away: Andersen H 50% A 20% T 32% Bjerre H 33% A 17% T 27% Pieszczek H 48% A 7% T 34% King H 25% A 13% T 21% Newman H 16% A 13% T 15% Serjeant H 14% A 0% T 9% Kurtz H 12% A 10% T 11% Last place percentages home & away Andersen H 0% A 20% T 6% Bjerre H 25% A 33% T 27% Pieszczek H 19% A 29% T 24% King H 13% A 50% T 25% Newman H 20% A 40% T 28% Serjeant H 36% A 64% T 45% Kurtz H 36% A 60% T 43%

At over £100 for seats for me ,the Mrs and our son I think I will give it a miss, if anybody thinks that’s a bargain there is a place on the british speedway management comitee waiting for you

I see the Norfolk air has already addled your brain

And you wonder why speedway is seen as a sport followed by anoraks.

To me it confirms that we say goodbye to riders who are not committed to GB,even if the weakens Teams by bringing in youngsters and riders who are gaurenteed to turn up every week,it's p#ssing a lot of fans off IMO .Guests and R/r should only be for injured riders.

I was seriously asking myself the question of why do I keep going last night. I barely attended a handful of matches last year, but this year British Speedway as a whole seems to be starting to get its act together regarding rider availability due to doubling up, whether it's the correct FRN's or not is a different debate for a different thread. I'm trying to renew my enthusiasm for the sport after a difficult winter for me personally and have been to quite a few meetings so far this season (Leicester, BV, KL, Somerset, Sheffield, Peterborough). Leicester had been without Speedway for too long 1984-2011 and it pains me to see what a disaster of a track they have returned to the sport with, they could have built anything and they came up with that and then there has been a stead fast refusal to do anything about it, it's by some distance the worse track I have ever seen. Add to this the dust and delays due to the sun, which thankfully haven't occurred yet this year and it's easy to see why crowds have dropped off alarmingly. I can even put up with a crap team, Leicester have always had a crap team, this year seemed to promise something different, but seems to be heading the same way as every other, I can put up with a crap team if I can see some genuine unpredictable action, the only thing unpredictable at Leicester is who is going to make the start because more often than not the order coming out of the 2nd turn is the final result. If it pleases you to think I'm Robert72 (whoever he his) then you go with that... As a genuine matter of interest I'd be curious to know what keeps you going every week (assuming you go every week) as I'm asking myself that question