Leaderboard

I couldnt care less where we finish as long as the club and the sport survive but thats the difference in your mentality. You would rather win the league and watch clubs disappear. If we come bottom i dont mind as long as we get value for money in the racing and the club doesnt go under

Wrong, it maintains continuity of media interest through the close season and then they don't abandon your club or relegate you to the village fete page when the season starts.

Whatever the rights and wrongs , its such a shame Cookies 8 yrs as a BV rider as ended this way

Reading that statement again, I think another part of the wording is key. The club said he was informed he was out of ‘initial’ team plans. That would suggest they had potentially left the door open but I’m absolutely certain Craig would have had some sort of inclination. It it sounds like sour grapes to me and both parties could share some blame here. He shouldn’t be running his mouth on social media. Keep it in house, if your going to say something in public then do it like Tungate did. He’s now completely burnt his bridges and that is just silly. An 8 year relationship should never end that way.

He who laughs last doesn’t get the joke.

Doubt it think your barkerin at the wrong tree

Agree totally about the differences and wasnt really suggesting a Hearn type figure could run speedway It was more the reference to player control causing issues and a more centrally controlled set up being able to regenerate the sport

If you don't know who the riders, then are they are bound to be surprises.

He can't do breakfast, puzzles, quizzes or most things and says he is bloody useless at most things. over qualified then

A hope the tell wi,,, they say he left under a big black cloud, maybe he stole an umbrella ?

Outdated system then!

Which is why the riders are daft to sign such contracts, if they all stood together and refused to sign the present contracts they would have a bit more clout. If they are happy to be "owned" by a promoter and told what they can and cannot do then that is up to them.

As far as I am aware, Jake Allen is a Somerset asset. After signing for us at the tail end of 2017, he was approached by a club to sign for them in '18 but he said that Scunthorpe gave him a chance in the PL so wanted to stay in 2018. After a great season in '18, he was, again, approached to sign for a club in '19 on which he again said no to stay at Scunthorpe. The dates of when he was approached, I do not know, but he was approached as will most riders. As regarding the asset system, I have seen it here & in the SS where a riders parent club, ie the one owning his registration, has 1st choice. It then goes to his last club he rode for & if they don't need him he then becomes open to offers but a club approaching him has to ask his parent club & last club before directly talking to the rider. But, as have known before, not just last year but previous years, rules are broken or manipulated.

For me he was the best rider in the league 2nd half of last season. Will be a huge miss that is for sure.

THEY didn't have to. Been banging this drum for decades. Assets are illegal. Cook didn't have a valid contract with Edinburgh so could do as he pleased. If BV paid Edinburgh money then more fool them.

Is it not all just all a bit pathetic to introduce this rule,just opens a can of worms.Woffy will be looking for Team now.If that’s the best they can can up with it show how pathetic the sport is run IMO.Your are negating the benefit it is meant to help young riders but letting riders who have been riding for 20 + years have a reduction NOW.

Heeps is a seriously overrated Aussie. Would be a poor signing for anyone in the Premiership.

When you consider some of the other teams so far, going with 1 heatleader will be a disaster

Very pleased to see Luke Ruddick get a chance. I have been a fan since his early days at Mildenhall and he's improved season on season in the NL, with a near 1.5 jump last year. Its a massive leap from the NL to the Championship but there's no doubt he'll give it everything he's got.

Its difficult to see where the sport is going in term of finance,as it doesn’t seem much has been addressed and there is no way that crowd levels will dramatically increase in the sport by charging to much for children and families.Kids have to go free to inticed the fans of the future and hope some stick with it.

Whatever Buster wants

It's has not been publicly announced, I think the announcement about that and other various "tweeks" to the rules is due in January. But I have had it from the horses mouth, ie Promoters and Managers of 3 different clubs that the rule is in effect.

Aw yeah. Forgot about Heepsie, he's from WA. That's really a foreign country.

Or his not so big brother

None of cook, wright, starke, BWD or Barker would be local

It’s not how you start it’s how you finish. Thought everyone had worked that out after last season. Team is going to be solid with strong reserves.

He stole something from somebody thats for sure.

Which if correct makes a new rider (or any other rider for that matter) not being allowed to illegal surely......

No playoffs next srason then winding down

Have not seen any comments from the club about the failure to get Saturdays. Cannot understand why it did not get automatic approval, After all, what is the difference between one day or another ?

That has been obvious, and not news, since the end of the season, it was just when that was in question.

Again then earnings meaning what - turnover or profit?

Thanks, I hope they have. It looks a good side.

I would think you are going for a more strength in depth look like Poole are.

Agreed. he is a great gater and very tenacious when behind. I remember a couple of years ago he stood in for the visitors at no 7, and led at the first corner, and never dropped off after he had been passed. Could be a breakthrough year given this chance, and I could have fancied having him at Newcastle.

Razzer going to be a big miss. His form virtually everywhere second half of season was a joy to watch. Some brilliant racing and also some very close calls to be wiped right out.

With Rye House’s results being expunged mid-season, Chris Harris’s average should have reverted to his starting average, which would have been too high for Poole to sign him. Should the BSPA remove Chris’s points from Poole’s results and award the 2018 title to Kings Lynn?

So narrow minded. Surely any help for British riders is better than promoting more foreigners, wherher they are 15 or 45?

He has said he will walk away if no buyer at the end of next season I believe .anyway who would pay that sort of money in a sport that is nearly on its last legs to be honest ?

Not overrated but has under achieved When he is working with others and challenged he gets whats needed done and it pays off. When left to his own devices he can let things slip and it shows He was poorly prepared coming into 2018 and it took most of the season to recover his condition Im reliably informed he has kept up the training this closed season and appears to be finally realising he needs to take more responsibility I hope he does whether as a Witch or not as it would be sad to see his undoubted talent not fulfilled

Maybe because Ged wants riders to turn up with a positive attitude even when the tracks are wet.

Loyalty cuts both ways. Belle Vue stood by Cook as well. From many posts, it seems that this was a matter of terms. As much as I would have wanted him to stay with the Aces, if he was asking for more than they were prepared to pay I totally agree with the decision to show him the door. Its about time other promotions had a sense of financial responsibility - we have seen Glasgow banging on about continual 6 figure losses but word is that they are again throwing serious money about to get who they want for this season. Its anything but the first time we have had a situation where a rider says one thing about his departure, the club says another and I suspect we'll never know the truth of the matter(Acef's point above, however, is a very fair one). It has all the appearance of a childish slanging match but if someone was being untruthful about me I'd almost certainly respond.

Oh dear. Could have been an exciting year, regulars Howarth & Thorsell on low averages considering their ability & experience. Exciting new signings in Becker & Morris. Masters is young enough to improve a little, should be solid. Bring back Wells (&/or Pawlicki (on 7.32)) who have improved considerably since they were last at Wolves. Wait... They've resigned Schlien, meaning no Pawlicki and realistically no Wells? Cleveland Arms beer must be good if that is what CVS is planning. The regulars on the terraces need sone of what he's drinking.

Does this drip feed of information happen anywhere else? Polish fans knew who was in their teams weeks ago. Why wouldn't Sheffield, Somerset and Scunthorpe want 7 newspaper articles if they thought it was good for them? Like many things in Speedway, this is outdated thinking, perpetuated by those who can't or won't move with the times.

Agree but we’re in a different stratosphere in terms of losses. I get that speedway is run on a shoestring and promoters deserve a hell of a lot of credit for sticking with it but clubs need to cut their cloth. The point being made about riders thinking they have a right to remain professional in a struggling sport is also a valid one.

Much better that than having Championship clubs outvoting the Premiership at every opportunity!!

And ??? That just sells papers...it doesn't bring in 'new' supporters! ?

Very very poor decision from Belle Vue in my opinion. Craig is a rider who pulls fans in by his 100% commitment to the club. He is Belle Vue through and through. Most other riders just fly in do there bit and fly out. He does much much more than just ride for the club. Fans events promoting the club that Craig. Very surprised maybe Lemon wants more Aussies in the team next year. That's my desire to visit Belle Vue gone. No Cook no Dan no thanks see you again sometime.

Remember in previous years in play off meetings against Poole. He had BV blood running through his veins and was totally commited. He was gutted more than anyone when they just missed out winning. If I had been a BV supporter I could not have wished for a more commited rider. Full of raw emotion for BV to do well. It was not just another European Club for him as part of global track riding around Europe. In some ways I kind of hated the guy, but maybe it was part envy as that's the kind of commitment and sense of elation/grief I want to see from more riders when they are trying their best for the team and are GENUINELY gutted when they lose out. For many of the top riders its almost a sense of just another meeting and off to POL/SWE/DK tomorrow so doesn't mean too much. Maybe also being British he has also felt a real connection to the team over the years he has been with BV.

Nobody really knows why Craig as been omitted from BV , high wage demands are just speculation, what I will say is that after 8 years at Belle Vue , CC was everything you’d want from a Speedway rider ... loyal , committed, gave 100% every meeting , i certainly wish him the best wherever he ends up