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Ahhhh this arguement about the 45 point average always gets me! If ‘rider averages’ were calculated purely on average points scored, then there would be some legs in that arguement. Because rider CMA are calculated using points X rides / 4 - when you take into account heat 15 and riders taking 5 rides, it’ll work out that the total team points based on that calculation should be about 42.00-42.50. Years ago back in 2002 it was 45.00 including bonus points which is about right. Lowering the team total CMA year on year just weakens and weakens the product year after year. The strength of the second division is nothing compared to what it was, probably even 10 years ago let alone even further beyond that.

The bottom line is simple.. It doesnt matter what you are trying to sell if not enough people know you actually exist.. It could be the greatest product in the world that you have, but if you dont advertise that product, where it can be purchased from, and when it is regularly available to be purchased, you wont make any success of what you are doing.. Because it's simply just not possible to do so using that 'plan'... Getting a proper, professional national marketing campaign going, which highlights the sport and its teams, is the only way to get the cut through required if the sport wants to prosper and thrive.. The core product of the racing today is a product you can certainly 'sell' if enough people get to 'sample it' I would say.. The last "Golden Era" as Steve says was the 1970's which was very much delivered by a very successful 'England' team, a very regular slot on Saturday in a prime time TV slot when there were only 3 channels to watch, and a true "perfect for TV" superstar in Peter Collins to keep the watching millions amazed and enthralled at what could be done on a Speedway bike.. In short though, fundamentally, the message was out there of its existence and many would follow their local teams on the back of the international success and high profile meetings they watched on Saturdays during the summer.. Get something like that message out there again and, given its low starting base, even just 25000 or so more a week would more than 100% increase its income.. What an opportunity that really is when a great many of the 65 million population live around no more than an hour from a venue, and that track is often pretty much usually the "only one" within that travelling distance.. Opinions and arguments about stadiums, team strengths, rules and regulations, race nights etc etc etc and how they negatively impact the crowd levels, (no matter how valid), pale into insignificance against the impact generated by the very fact that literally millions live within an hour of a Speedway track and dont even know the sport exists.. Sort that as a priority and the size of the prize potentially is huge given the starting point..

Some people here keep talking about restriction of trade and all that crap. PZM ruling is just that, a clause in a contract is a riders choice.

I do understand that, but it’s a bit of a knock on effect isn’t it. A rider in the premiership may not be able to ride over here anymore, so someone currently in the championship may move up and potentially drop their championship team, so I would say Glasgow do need to worry about it

The product is the racing not the names

However, the contestant may have a dilemma if the question was about Tai...'hmm, is he Australian or is he British?'.

If the chat is true that the points limit is going to be lowered I wonder how the fans who have purchased 2020 season tickets which have been rolled over to 2021 will feel paying for a weaker product. Also if the 2020 riders received their signing on fees and find them self no longer with that team place does this mean that they will have to pay this fee back that was most probably spent on new equipment.

I doubt you will see any Polish riders in Britain in the future, if the Polish leagues insist on riders signing for only one team, which is on the horizon the way things are going. I think because of cost cutting, British clubs will need to look for home grown riders.

Undoubtedly. I think the best hope is that the Home Office simply have too much on their plate and don't get round to bringing in new rules for 2021 and just say 'carry on for another season and we'll sort it out next year'

Most in the CL are doubling up already, and I would have thought those that aren't would do the PL in addition rather than instead of the CL.

But the riders in the Premier League not returning, will need to be replaced by current Championship riders, who will need to be replaced by National League riders.

I didn’t say anything about how much experience they have - I said the quality. Every year the points limit gets lowered it weakens the teams from the previous year. That is a fact proven by maths. Correct - which the top riders will provide better racing than lower standard. They are more skilful and much more likely to carry off certain rides. Bartosz Zmarzlik for example is not only the best in the world but he’s the most entertaining too.

The biggest shock was DJ not having an engine failure...

Some good tussles!

Lowering the team total CMA year on year just weakens and weakens the product year after year. The strength of the second division is nothing compared to what it was, probably even 10 years ago let alone even further beyond that. I would strongly disagree with that comment have a look at the teams in 2010 and there is far more experienced riders in the Championship now.

Some teams might need changes ,but is their any justification for changing points limit.Personally I don’t think so.

The tone of several club articles in this week's Star seems to be discussing the best way forward for those clubs that may have to change their intended 1-7s due to rider (un)availability - due to Polish regs, visas, Brexit regs or whatever. There is even suggestions about going for 6 man teams if necessary?!

Hey haven't we all been conned for years anyway? As I see it there are 90 points in a match- 45 available to each team so surely team building averages should be built on 45 points? If a team is built around anything less than 45 where do the points disappear to? Can you imagine a similar type of stupid rule being introduced into soccer where they have 11 players but a certain players are allowed to score? The sport has been diluted down through various rules over the years and we wonder why British Speedway is in a poor way?

If any Team have their declared 1-7 should be allowed to keep it. Their fans have paid good money to see it and their riders they have should not have to pay back if forced out unfairly. Everyone knew the rules. Why fiddle the points limit down? Plenty of good riders to go round to fill up the gaps according to Mr Godfrey; and I agree with what Stewart Dickson said in Speedway Star, it will be a season when winning League might not be as important as the Sport and getting it back for the public. My team needs a couple of riders, they say they have at least one lined up and Grobauer for Johannson is already announced months ago.

The simple fact is the NSS is the best speedway track and stadium in UK if not Europe but the truth is the people running the BV club are clueless as to how to promote a speedway club. There’s no energy, been no improvement, they are just going through the motions. Smith is just a hired hand ex insurance salesman and knows nothing about speedway and how to promote the sport. Lemon is just a ex-rider who knows nothing about running a speedway club. Since the first season in 2016 crowds have actually fallen which is incredible achievement when you consider the fantastic standard of the racing and the quality of the stadium. IMO BV-NSS needs to get the right experienced ‘speedway people’ who know how to promote the sport. PC for one?

Hopefully they’ll accept that the world has just been through the ringer and be happy to be able to go back to watch any speedway at their track.

As with all quiz questions, they’re easy if you know them. The question did at least narrow down the options by asking which commonwealth country Ivan was from. Brought a smile to my face hearing Speedway mentioned I must say.

Actually, Ipswich Town football stadium is owned by the council.

I Heard- Stock Cars also have crap stadiums. Nothing to be compared with F1

I know of a rich man who has a nice house and a poor man who has a not so nice house.

if a Club like Glasgow have confirmed 7 riders, can get them all back and happy to pay for any work permits why should they be penalised. Why not let them field their declared 1-7 in 2021 so that clubs who have to back-fill can but Glasgow are not penalised. If Glasgow have to release a rider why should a club benefit when Glasgow are penalised. probably a few other clubs with 6 or even 7 riders available, why penalise them? (Leicester / Kent / Eastbourne / Poole / Redcar - all indicated can get 6 or 7 back). Stewart Dickson was quoted as saying maybe the winning of the Leagues in 2021 was may be not the most important thing as a reason for reducing average, actually that could work both ways. If Glasgow can get and pay and cover cost of getting their team on the track, why penalise them ??

ZUPER ZENON !! We called him and he was our hero . My all time favourite rider and just incredible. The whole stadium at Hackney buzzed when Zenon took to the track !! We travelled to Chorzow Poland for the World Final way back in 1979 to cheer HIM on . This draw some confusion from the Poles but he was idolised by us Hackney fans and we were routing for him to win. He should have won the meeting and been 1979 World Champion . He was so humble and total gentleman off track . I got the chance to chat with him on the plane to Voyens GP in 1999. He vividly remembered his time at the Wick 20 years later and clearly had an affinity and affection for his adopted club and the fans who loved him. Our car had a ZUPER ZENON sticker in the back window when he rode for us. One day my wife was driving car up the M11 , who should draw up beside her ? Zenon himself and gave her a wave. Len Silver will be mortified to hear of Zenon's passing - RIP Zenon - A TRACK GREAT & LEGEND IN THE EAST END - WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU ! - UP THE HAWKS !!!

Landlords will still want a set level of rent which creates the knock on effect of promotions needing to charge a certain price to pay the bills. There are fans who won’t attend unless they’re seeing the “best” racing here (despite that stopping around 20 years ago). Those riders won’t be happy to standardise equipment to a level for the UK only because they don’t race in the UK only. While it’s a nice idea it’s something of a minefield I suspect. I feel we need to go semi-pro and take a hit quality wise short term to move forwards long term.

Hopefully when our new owner gets a place of our own in the next year or 2 & maybe another fella like ken could come along & help & encourage new up & coming riders... I think that would be a great move for current Gems & sapphires manager Steve pate to help with as he's done great work with ladies grassroots football in the past & also he took the same approach to the gems team in 2019 ( good work ) he's always encouraging the younger riders boy or girl when he gets to meetings which is good to see

Hmmm can of worms, can see Glasgow’s point of view ....Poland and visa issues, British speedway stick to 41 points otherwise might as well just go junior racing