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This post is one of the best I have ever seen on here! You sound just like me! I have often got into arguments with people over statistics (particularly averages and probability), and they seem to be offended by me questioning whether samples are large enough. I got into a really heated argument on a speedway group when I suggested that averages could never be considered accurate when they will constantly change over an infinite number of cases. Also, statistics are only a reflection of what HAS happened, and not what is LIKELY to happen. I must admit that I have never heard of Steiner systems (I'm smart, but not an intellectual), but I will definitely look into them, because I am nerdy like that!

During a search for something else speedway related, I tripped over this. As a bit of a nerd and having studied the stats on starting gates (wins and points scored) I was interested to see that someone has tried to apply some science to this subject. Oh well, as I write this, I realise I might be the only other person in the world interested enough to even read this article Click here

Wyer you asking me??? Olsen only scored 8, so he must have bean off-form. Losing to the same rider four times would have left him with egg on his face...

I've always said that statistics do not lie - but they don't always tell the true story behind them.

The problem with using empirical data is that you need to tease out the differences between variances that are due to random chance and those attributable to actual biases. For example if Roger Rabbit who somehow fluked his way into the GP series and came last in every round had draw numbers 2,3 & 4 in most rounds then to what extent is his poor performance caused by being in those positions vs. the extent to which the scores from those numbers are adversely effected by the frequency with which Rabbit appeared in those positions. (see for example http://blog.philbirnbaum.com/2011/08/tango-method-of-regression-to-mean-kind.html in the context of baseball) The question is does 152 GPs give us a large enough sample to remove the affect of random chance? It seems quite possible that all but the most egregious of variances will be due to chance. Some things do stand out from this analysis, notably the huge advantage offered by gate 1 in heat 1 and that you don't want to be in yellow after a track grade. I wonder to what extent biases in gates are damped by overtakes - table 11 suggests a strong correlation between number of passes and the variances shown in that table with Krsko and Prague having much higher variances than Malilla. Interesting to see the input from Phil Morris too. Anyway I do love a good discussion on Steiner systems (I first encountered them when doing my Oxbridge entrance exam, and immediately saw I was dealing with the 20 heat individual speedway race format).

It's certainly an indepth study and seems to take in all the factors involved, except rider starting ability. A fast starter will, most times, have an advantage over a poor starter, but that can't be changed. Would be interesting if the authorities adopted Proposed Plan B for a season to compare the statistics.

RACE Director has the final say ... Phil Morris nickname amongst the riders is Fireman Phil ... he does like a bit of water

I'm only 58!!! Still, I've worn glasses for over 50 years...

That’s a joke in itself isn’t it - thousands allowed in on Friday and nobody on Saturday as announced mid week.

Please Please Pretty Please Did Wyer the Flyer give him a headstart and then smoke him like a kipper/Danish bacon

I remember watching this and howling with laughter when it happened. Well I am an Heathen and Ole was a wolf/bee

I think the bands on the right arm were introduced at the 1982 World Final in L.A.? I didn't think it was a bad idea, particularly when the helmet colours came off. Remember also the large, bright, Polish-style helmet colours that came in for a while at certain meetings... They seemed a better fit.

The GB team used Anlas tyres in the GB vs Denmark test last October at Kings Lynn. They also used Anlas tyres in the Team under 21 final this year. Certainly at KL, it was one tyre per rider. It was the 2020 tyre that caused the problem, but it wasn’t only used in the GPs - some of the Ekstraliga riders - Anders Thomsen for one - was using them. Judging by the number of flat (Mitas) tyres in the Ekstraliga this year, I suspect riders have been running Mitas tyres at very low pressures to try to match the grip that Anlas was giving. The soft nature of the Anlas tyre was the reason why the 2020 tyre was removed from homologation. British speedway have had a contract with Mitas for years which has been both for commercial and consistency reasons. This contract expires at the end of this year. The contract with Anlas follows the same reasoning. Anlas tyres are not in anyway dangerous and, as the pricing will be the same as with Mitas, and all riders will be on the same tyre, what’s the problem? Mitas have been threatening to withdraw from the speedway market for several years now, whereas Anlas (check them out - they are a huge company) are keen to use speedway to spread brand recognition. I don’t see a problem with what’s happening.

I was at the meeting as well and still have my programme. Sadly, I seem to have missed the significance of what happened as all I have written in my programme is e/f for Olsen!

Which is exactly what i posted about on October 2nd " TV revenues will be the key. We are assuming that Eurosport being pan European will show the GP’s throughout Europe. This will not bring in revenue the same as renewing contracts with Canal plus Poland and Danish, Swedish and GB contracts. It will be interesting what they decide to do."

It looks like this assumption may be incorrect as I understand that Eurosport events have put together a tender document for the broadcast rights to Speedway GP and interestingly World Cup. These rights are for individual countries inc main Speedway nations UK,Poland,Denmark and Sweden. So possibly they have realised that better return on investment will happen if they sell the rights off on an individual basis and then show it on their own channels in countries that do not take up a broadcast rights contract like France,Holland,Spain and Turkey . The other that also has to be considered is that this tender process could just be a EU law compliance exercise to say it was put out to competition tender but Eurosport TV always have the highest bid

Yes and all with 3-2-1-0 scoring ... The absolute bedrock of proper speedway.

It was,Zmarzlik is a hard charger but he can take it back.Emil gave him a hard thump last week-end and they were having a laugh about it.Emil is the same never seems to get upset at the rough stuff.I really like the Polish racing ,there’s a lot more room for manoeuvre with track width.It’s a different game to the racing in GB.

Usual story of football teams living beyond their means and then losing tenure or title of their own ground, thereby leaving them at the mercy of property developers. Beyond foolish as the ground is often their only tangible asset, but since when did football and sense go together?

Easy. Poor lady has not been well. I hope she does a good job but plenty will moan just for the sake of it. Boring.