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Great racing - tick Flawed scoring - tick But the other takeaway from this weekend is having GPs back to back on Friday and Saturday nights makes perfect sense going forward. In terms of practically, financially and competitively. We all know it's a costly job and a half putting these events on, particularly for the one-off tracks. So, why not just do it twice over the weekend from 2021 onwards - offering better value for the punter, spreading costs thinner for the organisers, even greater exposure for sponsors, double the content for media? Have a small practice on a Friday morning and crack on into the racing for Friday night. From a riders perspective, it gives ample chance for everyone to get something out of the weekend. Any rider struggling with set up on Friday, has a chance to come back wiser on Saturday and potentially, an even more competitive meeting. From a punter's perspective too, you could get a "double discount" for both nights and I think most would go for it. Every GP I've been to - Cardiff, Prague, Daugvapils, Lonigo, Torun Krsko, Bydgoszcz - has consisted of a very enjoyable Friday night p** up looking forward to the next night. But would I rather have been sniffing the fumes and seeing 23 races? Damn right!

It was changed to the knockout formula in 1998, when they extended the series to 21-22 riders (plus 2-3 wildcards). It was also open to manipulation, with riders dropping points in the final outing to prevent another rider taking part in the A Final. That's what was good about the "every point counts" scoring system - it cut manipulation almost completely out.

Re the points system. . Should do a D Final, C Final, B Final and an A.. Keep it simple, top four to A Final, next four to B Final etc.. That way it rewards the best riders on the night for their performance v their counterparts, and the commentators can explain to those watching that each race counts to the riders final qualifying position.. 25 to the winner, 20 to second, 18 and then 16 to the A Final riders 14, 13, 12, 11 to the next four.. 9,8,7,6 to the next four And 4,3,2,1 to the D Final riders.. Two points difference per final to reward those who qualify for the C, B and A Finals.. And a big points tally to the rider who wins a GP, (to reflect that hugh achievement).. And the more GP wins a rider gets the more the likelihood he will win the World Title... Which is how it should be.. And the rider who crosses the line first in the Final scores the most points, Which is what the FIM want.. It would also keep most riders in with a chance of either going "up" a Final or dropping "down" a Final going into their last rides, and therefore potentially meaning a big swing in their final points tally (eg first in a C Final or last in a D would be an eight points difference), so should make for some great racing..

Plans for the future of Newcastle Speedway https://newcastle-speedway.co.uk/diamonds-message-to-supporters/?fbclid=IwAR3Obyt7JWugX1w8Z2JYedfNegIO_tYDDzjg99smuJFVOjEO1Nnq_fvm0Ng

Not entirely sure which meeting you were watching.. but it wasn't last nights.

What wasn't a guaranteed climax about last year's GP's, whoever won the final won the GP, simples

I would like to see the BSPA use some of the money received from Eurosport to put together some sort of package (I'm thinking simulators, bikes to test gating times, Go Pro videos, race videos, I'm sure better people than me can come up with other ideas) and give this to teams to take round schools. Like the England Rugby World Cup winning team did years ago. Clubs could even use these as pre-match entertainment? It would also help if clubs could also somehow get kids to see a bike in action up close. To see the power, noise, smell, danger of a bike, would be a massive draw I think.

For one reason- they are not Bookies !!!!

You may not get the crowds that you think you will if you hold 2 rounds at a track on consecutive days. I have been going to the Arenacross for a few years and it used to be one night in six different uk arenas on a Saturday night which were all near full capacity and the atmosphere was very good. They then switched it to six rounds in three arenas running on a Friday and Saturday night. Now the arenas are less than half full with spectators and the event is nowhere near as enjoyable as it once was as it has a flat atmosphere. If you had a Cardiff GP on a Friday you would be lucky to get 15k and the Saturday crowd would probably be lower than it normally is. I expect most people that go to Cardiff do a 200 mile plus round trip and wouldn’t do that two days running.

It does make an awful lot of sense. I never understood all the negativity over the two-day 1987 World Final. It was the first time we'd travelled abroad for a final and loved that it was over two days rather than one, and we got to see 40 races instead of 20.

AGREE

IT will be at the NSS with or without spectators

Makes sense to plan a move away from Greyhound tracks.. No long term growth plan (no matter how good), will be delivered if you are relying on the sport of greyhound racing to provide you ongoing with their facilities to use..

Oh man you've just absolutely spoilt the highlights for me haha! Spoiler alert required in future I reckon. Sounds like a turd race so you might've saved me an hour

Well as the normal max capacity is 10-12,000 I'm sure there is no problem whatever they choose to do

They can not give any information until it is decided which Polish track it is being raced on.

Maybe Speedway,but British Superbike and Moto GP’s have huge crowds nowadays(pre -Covid.)

Trouble is most people wouldn't touch motorbike racing with a barge pole. And even with the demise of barge poles, we haven't made any progress

Probably right, his gating let him down. However, having said that, he was a bit numb as to what to do next. Tai would have seen he couldn’t get round, plan B, cut up the inside. Laguta just stuck it out and lost out.

Passed the link on to Reg Fearman, he greatly enjoyed the film and has passed it on to several other veterans of that era he is in touch with, Meadowbank was one of his most favourite tracks to race on. He is sure that the date of the meeting is 14 June 1952-which would explain why Jack Young is in civvies as he had moved to West Ham by then Apparently the full teams are shown on Speedway Researcher for that date. He recognised many of his old friends- Gordon McGregor, Bluey Scott, Bob Mark, Dick Campbell, Noel Watson , Don Cuppleditch for example. So again a big thanks to iris 123 for posting this great old film

What about the massive 3500 seater grandstand on back straight?

That’s exactly what happens at the track, using the Kandysoft custom spreadsheet. The broadcaster produces the graphics using their own workings of the results, which is where any discrepancy arises.

But as was pointed out in Talk Dirty, riders are only allowed 2 "mechanics". Doesn't leave many free hands/eyes to be watching the relevant gate performance . Mind you. It doesn't stop a rider having someone in the stands doing that job and texting one of the team just before the semis. Any riders reading this, please PM me. I have a good piece of tech for this type of analysis

I am very curious to learn what it was that you did to try to save the Rockets ? Did you offer to be the new promoter ? Or offer cash ? Every post I read from you seems to indicate that Speedway is on its knees because all your expert offers of help have been declined. In the days when Arena and the Rockets were in the same league, I was often a visitor to Rye House. I don't remember you ...should I ?

The tyre is hologated so shouldnt need testing unless the FIM think the compound has been changed. As for a rider tied into another manufacturer. Tough either get on with it or break your contract and use the other tyre

Another classic from the master of betting

Wait till it's on eurosport then you will have something to moan about

That's right and if I recall Joe Owen failed to make it to Swindon (I was present) and where another match point was lost. Ivan never forgot and always reminded Ian Thomas whenever they met up years after apparently!

We used t' dream o' livin' in lake!

Oh well, lady luck only visits for a short time. I'll continue to bask in my SEC victory

Aye I suppose that semi final were alreet. Mind you, I seen Eric Boocock do same every ruddy week at t'Shay in t'sixties. And you try telling the kids that today... and they won't believe you.

How about the scb applying to hold the 125 championship in 2021 . Today we had 3 riders in the top 8 in the Czech Republic. Would be good to hold the meeting here and offer free entry to schools

WROCLAW last year ... tells you something

Now Scott has caught itiswhatitisitis.

Even the Speedway GP website has given Vaculik 4 points and Zagar 3 tonight when it should be the other way around !!!

Back to the original point personally believe it’s time we sent as many teams as possible to race abroad. Whether it be125 250 under 19 under 21 or full blown international meetings. We have been to insular for to long. Plenty of talent on these shores all willing to travel they just need the scb acu tosort it

But I heard he was a boring, one-trick pony???

BT need to junk the studio. Utterly boring niceties. I like Scott but just think the two of them spend their time blowing smoke up each other’s arses.

Give him a Ferrari engine; that'll slow him down...

The comments in the last hour on this thread just about sums up most speedway fans ... whinge whinge literally about anything .

Not sure I would agree with never has been. He was brilliant when first in the gp’s but now is too inconsistent.

Laguta lacks aggression and track craft when behind. Needs to smarten up and toughen up to be WC for me.

1996.

Exactly. It openly available, why not have it in stock at the back of your van.

Why are Betard bookmakers sponsoring the meeting yet offer no betting on it??????

Did anyone complain when Malcolm Simmons or Peter Collins scored 15 points in a Daily Mirror Grand Prix QR in 1976, yet only got 10 GP points? Of course not! While I am not a fan of the new system (I much prefer all points on track counting), anyone with an IQ in double figures or better SHOULD be able to understand it... Anyway, whether I like it or not, it doesn't prevent me from enjoying four blokes engaging in good racing...

I actually think the points are easier for non fans now. The heats are qualifiers. Simple. The same as heats in the olympic athletics. Qualifiers. The fastest athletes don't even extert themselves if they are safely through. Qualifiers. Semi finals. Final. Surely that is easier for the layman, who won't be filling out detailed scorecards and counting every point. I never follow the heat scores in detail in the GPs, so the final points were easier for me to follow.

A bit late in the day but I have just watched the youth championship held at Scunthorpe and those who bemoan the quality of racing at this level should take a look again. Heat 6 is just one example. Raw talent reminiscent of speedway in the late sixties and early seventies when grass track riders gave speedway a go. In those days it would throw up some riders who would excite and my most memorable was at Rayleigh when Ivan Miller beat Boston's Arthur Price. What a race for those who were in the stadium on that bank holiday Monday These young lads today deserve every speedway fans support. They get out on track and give it a go and the gutsy performances deserve so much more and not the criticism that seems to be par for the course. Speedway purists will understand, those who believe the current league set up is the be all and end all a requires the skills of Doyley or similar to make the sport entertaining are deluded. If only tracks like my local, Ipswich , would put on a few of these amateur meetings I am sure the ‘anoraks’ of the sport would support the meetings and many would be happy to pay £10 to watch these lads entertain. To those at grass roots level you are appreciated.

Caught with his trousers down , Clive Fisher always had a good turn of phrase