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I was one of the riders that mr Rees left without money during his flirt with speedway promoting and along with the other 6 had to be bailed out by the bspa, I can still remember Richard Juul storming down the ramp at stoke to literally rip the blokes head from his shoulders cause of his bouncing cheques, IMO he should be let nowhere near speedway again but that won’t be the case as the sport has a history of forgiving “less than honourable” people back in the sport

You’ve done a good job Dave in difficult circumstances. You’ve been up against some serious delays with no co commentator whilst sat in your front room no doubt. I certainly don’t envy that! Keep up the good work.

Thanks for listening tonight everyone. I will admit, my head was all over the place during Sunday's broadcasts and I struggled a lot, but tonight for me went 100% better.

Good enough to watch again

Heat 7 at Gorzow was brilliant. No quarter asked or given and the commentator sounded like he was giving birth with excitement. Bartoz could have binned it but to be credit stayed on the bike and still got the win.

There's probably a far greater chance of the rugby league club sharing a revamped Horsfall with Park Avenue than returning to Odsal. I gather there are plans to strip out Horsfall's little-used athletics track and do a proper job of building a stadium. Without the rugby league club on board, I can't see the Odsal money pit being viable. Speedway was never as well supported at Bradford as it was at Halifax, where anything over 3,000 felt like a big attendance. Being in a crowd of a thousand scattered about Odsal's vast acreage really wasn't much fun. Perhaps many posters only ever went to Odsal on a 'big event' day. Having read The Dean Machine's remarks: does speedway not have a 'fit and proper person' test (not that it works in football!) for would-be promoters?

Bewley has to be admired too,I reckon he has his work cut out IMO.Hope it works well for him.At least the tracks will suit his style and speed.These young Poles are tough cookies .

Heat 14. Pedersen never lets us down. Brave racing from all 4 riders.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18514939.avenue-agree-35-year-horsfall-lease-bradford-council/ This is from our local Rag. New lease is with the local athletics club, so you would assume the track would stay in situe , but most probably be updated with a new synthetic surface

Should have no bother giving a good commentary from Czestochowa tonight. Cracking racing track and riders in both teams not afraid to mix it. Should be a belter I can't wait.

I'm with Emilali on this one - this is why National League speedway has never appealed to me. You could see 10 passes in one race but it wouldn't even scratch the surface of watching the Poles and co giving it absolute full chat on a big open race track.

You are lucky then if you get to watch BV every week as its the best track in this country by a million miles. However, for me, I prefer watching the worlds best riders riding at 110% every week in Poland not just seeing journeymen going through the motions or James Sargent breaking the tapes 4 times per meeting. Would be boring if everyone liked and wanted the same thing I suppose. Can I assume you didn't enjoy heat 7 from Gorzow ?

I sympathise greatly with Dave having to fill in those large gaps without live action. At least it's better than in Sweden where he only had a locked-off wide-angled picture to support him during the many breaks. It's a shane that the interviews conducted in English couldn't be included on the international feed but then there are long sequences as the presenter translates from English. Premier Sports are obviously working to a very tight budget. Thankfully Dave has the resourcefulness to make it work. There is only so much that you can do and bear in mind I think this is is first foray into Polish speedway with his stock car commitments having clashed with Premier's previous Polish coverage. It's hard enough commentating remotely off a screen without having huge gaps to fill...alone.

I remember a friend of mine who would stay at home and watch a match that was televised live at Cowley rather than walk the half mile to the track as was his normal want. Highlights I saw no problem with but live? Speedway's fan base was never going to be sustainable as attendances were already on the slide when live matches were introduced during the late (?) nineties. Whether speedway failed to capitalise is obviously a very good point and it seems that the sport missed an opportunity hence the current predicament that the sport apparently now finds itself in.

Robert has 2 full seasons on Bewley in Poland, one being at the top level. At the moment there is no comparison. Dont understand why people must do divide and conquer with British riders (and I’m not saying you do). I can’t remember the last time we had 3 British riders in the top flight of Poland.

Mute. You have furloghed Dave.

Good job done, People who criticise just need to mute the sound.Its not rocket science to to work out what’s happening on track and results.

You can’t afford to be seen to give up in a race over there,you won’t get your next ride! You can see why the Brits find it tough.The young Russian was giving Doyle a hard time.!

Great race... You can only marvel at the level of ability needed to race at that standard, making split second decisions almost every corner... You would think there would be hardly anything riding on it given the score too, shows how intense (and important) it is over there.. Polish Speedway...

Superb heat 14

When I was younger I could go to Belle Vue, Bradford, Doncaster, Sheffield and Halifax, all on public transport.

WATCHING behind the glass at Plough Lane severely diminished the atmosphere, no smell either, but it was great post-meeting.

Worth it if only for the view!

Football is almost a worldwide sport so therefore has a global audience, whereas Speedway is limited to the UK, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, , and to a lesser extent, Slovakia, USA, Russia, New Zealand, and a few others, Norway, France, Italy.. etc etc. If Speedway is to have a succesful Tv audience then it needs to broaden its foundation throughout the world but thats almost impossible, proven by the fact that we are struggling here in the UK just to survive.. If only Japan, China, and other Asian countries could become in the Sport then we may have half a chance.. indeed i think of my wifes home country the Philippines they are motorcycle crazy but mostly lack the income to buy expensive Speedway gear.. which brings us back to something the BSPL refuse to do anything about costs!.

Why are you comparing our national league juniors with the quality of racing we are debating? If you want to use an example then it really needs to be a fair comparison. If we wish to head along this road, then I wasn’t overly impressed with the 16 year old pole yesterday who was chucked and frankly a danger to himself and those who shared the track with him. That was hardly a pole giving full chat on a big open track, was it? If we are going to debate, then at least level the playing field as best we can.

I don’t think Dan was dismal on Friday. We really have to look at the context. This was his first Polish top level meeting. He was quick enough. The kid has no balls and that needs to change but I thought he was okay. With the above adjustment in a new set of balls he will do ok. Some people expert an inexperienced kid to just rock up and bag a load of points. Not gonna happen. Robert is miles ahead in Poland, no doubt.

I think you have somewhat misunderstood what I have said. The general package in Poland is so much better, I absolutely don’t dispute that. As a tv experience with full crowds or being in Poland watching, which I have, it is an entirely different experience. A better one. However that shouldn’t discredit what we have here. If you remove everything by the side and just concentrate on the actual speedway, there are tracks and certain meetings in the UK which offer entertainment to the equal. Belle Vue is an excellent track, one of the best in the world, but so is Peterborough. So is Somerset. So is Scunthorpe. So is Glasgow. Kings Lynn has great potential but is unfortunately prepared for his main money stream, stock cars. Poole is also a great shape and I have seen some brilliant speedway there, it’s just badly prepped. Your above post is a good summary of exactly what is wrong with the British fan. This need to divide and conquer is a really sad state of affairs. It removes ones ability to enjoy something which can be good because everyone else says you can’t. Can you assume I didn’t enjoy heat 7? Absolutely not, because it was one hell of a race and I said as much in this very thread. Stop being so down on the positive elements of British Speedway. A large chunk is indeed a mess, but parts are still excellent and I feel for those who cannot see the wood for the trees. Edit: Throw in Swindon as well, which is a cracking little track now. Really nice shape to it, rides like a bigger track and is well prepared. I’d have no issue riding that every week.

Great commentary that Polish version. Didn't need to know what they were saying.

Things could change if Drabik can't postpone his case until after the season. Being able to replace his points scoring at reserve was essential and thanks to a passport they have.

His gating was better than last season. More like the 2018 season, when he was on fire. He looked very fast yesterday. Long may it continue.

You are right this year about the team strengths, but the problem is with two sides, I feel. Lublin gambled on only small changes to their promoted side last year and it paid off. Having Pawel Miesiac progress from second tier second string to Ekstraliga heat leader after investing in machinery did help. The progress seemed to have reversed in his absence on Friday but Wroclaw are a very strong side with Drabik's progress and Chugunov filling his place at reserve. Rybnik haven't been able to strengthen their promoted side to anywhere near the required level. The match at Gorzow was far more typical of Polish speedway. Don't be put off buy those first two matches or you will miss a lot of great speedway, but do allow for the fact that it is very different over there and a lot of familiar comforts won't be there. The racing should make up for it.

Czestochowa set for sunny periods today with no rain forecast !!

Well, I've watched my first 3 PPV matches on Premier Sport and I must say, while I'm more than happy to have some "Live" Speedway to watch, I'm less than happy with the coverage. It reminds me very much of how Eurosport used to be, bordering on amateurish, I wonder if this will be the shape of things to come when/if the British League gets underway on that channel. I know the commentator is active on here so I'll not be too critical but he really needs a co-commentator to work with as even just reading tweets out during the breaks leaves him with nowhere to go other than silence. You'd think that Premier Sport would have taken in enough extra subscription money to warrant a co-commentator. I also realise there were no adverts in any of the matches over the weekend, so surely that's even more reason for a co-commentator. The commentator doesn't seem to have done his homework on the intricacies of the Polish League either, with lack of knowledge of the helmet covers, league points, tacticals, rider numbering (what's that all about!!) etc. He's certainly more knowledgeable than that 5-1er, 3-3er guy they were using last year for some matches but I do feel he doesn't inject much excitement into his commentary, sounds more like a cricket commentary... but that's just my personal preference/opinion. Missing heat 1 of the 1st match yesterday while they're playing promos is amateurish and unforgivable. Having watched some of the Free Sport output last year I've become well used to not seeing the last few heats of a meeting, so I was well prepared for it and recorded the whole channel for the night! As things stand I can't see myself renewing my subscription beyond this season should live British Speedway resume next year.

Blimey, Steve, most sports had the 'will live TV coverage damage our attendances' argument back in the mid-1960s! And decided TV was the way to go. Did speedway simply fail to capitalise on the shop window the most recent examples of live TV coverage provided?

The quality of racing and general meeting progression, well as a man who attends BV each week.....it was worse. And I also believe, so far this weekend, that I have seen better meetings run in more timely fashion across the UK. Equally imo, anyone who fails to see that should also ‘give their head a considerable shake’.

I should have added... Live at the track, not in front of a tv screen

Ah i see, i did wonder if something like that was in place, as tv companies often want to protect their own sponsors. Cheers for that.

SKY planner updated - live 7.30pm Premier Sport 1

Tonight we have the re scheduled round 1 match Czestochowa v Grudziadz Programme starts 7pm UK time 1st race 7.30pm Eleven Sport 1 and Premier Sport 1( 7.30) Links http://www.maniak.tv/mk1 http://www.drhtv.com.pl/drhtv-1.html https://daddylive.live/embed/stream-71.php Downloadable score chart Czestochowa https://wetransfer.com/downloads/8612e4a7820f5c8e4e2b006c58fa8aa720200612065602/1541f9?fbclid=IwAR1qrZ7cXWBMQ_7XuSZRiIwqQAc9ADr8q6AWMmqInLfdXcahd4qfoSc6ZQ4 pages 6 and 7

Sky strictly controlled what could and what could not be advertised. One of the rules was that you couldn’t bring a new sponsor in just for a tv meeting. Or even plug an existing one too much. I seem to recall a discussions between the floor manager and the Poole promoter about the number and visibility of the A-frames on the centre green. Maybe Discovery/Eurosport will be less demanding.

It’s time they did - like most teams used to Saturday night is speedway night

Great to see Robert top score for Rybnik against Zielona Gora 14 points from 6 rides looks like he is back to his best, let’s hope so anyway

No pucking interest in that

Punters are getting restless at the delay

Liked the Steve McDermott interview, he had a very laid back attitude and knew what he was doing regarding earning a living from the sport while still working at the same time planning his future( a few today need to adopt that way of life).He was a class act with a great style and very underrated.IMO. Friendly and a great servant loyal to Berwick and certainly seemed to enjoy his speedway.Obviously enjoying life which is great to see.

Yes I have, I got one in my workshop and I’ve got a long stroke GM from 15 years ago and I’ve got a weslake and a 2 valve Jawa and have ridden them all, the modern engine in fine if the conditions are good but when they are not which in our sport is quite often, more adaptable engines could be used in the sport, everyone knows this even the modern superstars but nobody will do anything about it, calling of meetings is doing and has done the sport no favours at all, apart from expense absolutely nothing has been gained by the evolution of the engine we have today, racing is no better or worse than years ago but the balance of engine/rider has changed dramatically especially on bigger tracks and all that has done is push the cost up, nobody is saying a return to a 2 valve or a weslake and there is nothing wrong with the angle of the engine but when it comes to safety it doesn’t even get considered when you’re talking about the engine, it’s all about getting the edge and that means higher risk

Rider safety comes first is a contradiction in itself ,if it came first then the sport would make riders use a more adaptable engine, the engine used today is power and nothing else, safety doesn’t even come into it ,speedway is dangerous, if you don’t like it don’t ride

With everything that’s going on in the world and it’s been a while since I’ve seen any speedway I kind of forgot how much some modern riders are prima donnas where there is a bit of rain around

No, it’s a recording of a future meeting

HAVE you ever been in Cardiff around 9am on SGP day ... it is already packed with fans from all over the country and elsewhere.