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Who would you say these riders are that ‘shouldn’t be performing in the championship’? The problem is how far the premiership has fallen the calibre of rider in the Championship now is no better than it was 10/15/20 years ago. The main difference then was the top level had world stars in every lineup. If there needs to be a clear line between the two divisions then why is it the championship that needs weakened rather than the premiership strengthened? Why don’t they raise the limit of the Prem to say something like 50 then teams that want to can build super strength teams with multiple gp stars that would show the difference. Constantly watering down the middle tier the most varied and competitive division in the country does no one any favours.

While I agree the top guys more than likely aren’t going to come over there is a second tier of guys I wouldn’t have thought it would be to hard to attract some of especially with Swedens troubles. Guys like Jensen, Bjerre, Klindt, Holder, Bewley, Lidsey, NKI, Tungate, Bellego, Berge, Lahti, Huckenbeck, If only a couple of teams could put a team to that standard together then let them, speedway must be about the only sport that constantly punishes success and plays down to the lowest common denominator

With 16 home league matches next year , and with Ben back , even more nights to watch the racing through the gaps between my fingers when they're covering my eyes

Did someone turn up with a list of a hundred of his mates that he thought should be given a book as a freebie?

Don’t think you’ll find many riders that will race in the Ekstraliga and a championship club in the U.K. only leaving out the premier league. regardless of what happens with the league and playoffs and all the “Facenas are throwing money desperately trying to win the league.” Statements. I genuinely couldn’t give a hoot, because thanks to them we now get to watch Ben Basso fly around Ashfield for 16 league matches and that’s worth every single penny of the season ticket.

Don't forget who is saying it though!

There asset isnt he? Hope Poole havent tapped him up before speaking to Plymouth! I know how much you hate that sort of stuff

Don't see it personally. However isn't this a confirmed signing thread, not a rumour thread! lol

Lawson and Poole did absolutely nothing wrong - just listen to Lawson discussing it on a Poole podcast for proof!1!1!

Riders will always tell fans what they want to hear before the club & any rider can make any signing official.

ZC is a Plymouth asset is he not? What if Plymouth refused a loan to Poole.? What if they loaned him elsewhere? It's rumoured that Poole refused to allow any of their team to Guest for Plymouth after Plymouth whipped them at home and drew at Poole. Not sure if that's true may be someone coukd see if any Poole rider guested after that point.? twit for tat is possible although may be Mark Phillips and Mattie Bates have a bit more integrity than the win at all cost Ford's.

Wonder how you and others would react if a Poole asset openly said they no interest in riding for them and was openly saying he was riding elsewhere! Oh yeah it happened last year with Basso and you lot didn't shut up about it for 6months

Swap you Mayfair with two houses + Kings Cross Station for Richard Lawson……..lol

Pantomime stuff. Craig has always conducted himself well when he’s come back to race against Edinburgh and is gracious in interview about his time as a Monarch. As a result he still had a good relationship with the fans - there will always be the odd exception to that obviously but you can’t please everyone.

Like who? Who is going to want to come? We don't pay enough and we have too many fixtures. There might be one or two, but there won't be many. Just because Poland has relaxed their two league limit, it doesn't mean all the top stars are going to come flooding over here. History tells us that!

Anyone imagining that there will be a reduction in admission prices is living in a dream world. Clearly Championship promoters are looking to cut costs so they are hardly likely to give away what they might save. I fully agree with the poster who suggested that there are numerous rider riding in the Championship who shouldn't be performing at this level at all, and it is these who are pushing up the costs so a way has to be found to exclude them. Some supporters won't like it, but it has to be done. Allowing doubling-up has been the most damaging decision that the BSPL have made, but we are lumbered with it now, and the only hope is that it can eventually become more limited - but to be honest, I wouldn't bank on this happening.

No consolation I know but trust me it will be worth the wait and don't expect to get anything done for a few days once you pick it up, it's a fantastic read.

Beginning to think it will be

He's a Plymouth asset is he not? Got nothing to do with Poole or Holders then has it? Surely he has to get permission from the Club of whom he is an asset! Complete lack of respect Poole have for other Clubs is and remains a complete disgrace.

Not really, if the two teams can’t agree a fee or if Plymouth refused to sell it would just go to arbitration

80% (£4m) of a £5m contract, that wouldn't be on the table without an introduction, is an even better 'earner'. Don't forget, 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing....

You’ve really missed the point here. The top level riders aren’t going to come over here. One or two at the very most. So therefore a higher limit means the rich clubs will snap up 4/5 heat leaders and reach the 50 point limit. The others simply won’t be able to go higher than 40 if they are lucky - as there won’t be any riders of that quality left. And they will get thrashed every week. Therefore the only way to have distinction between the leagues is for the Championship to lower its limit. Look, I wish it wasn’t the case as much as the next person, but it is what it is.

Trouble is you convinced Mike more than the Poole fans. Poor Mike. Kinda mean getting his hopes up and you wonder why nobody believes all the stuff you post about Richard Lawson

It's to easy,poole fans are like mackerel for taking the bait.

Those aren’t punishing success though rather they are promoting parity, none of the sports mentioned force successful teams to be broken up so really that’s like comparing apples to oranges. The constant race to the bottom is what is killing speedway if one or two teams can afford to sign who they want and dominate for a few years then so be it. It’s up to the others to manage themselves better and stay competitive.

No doubt by the time the houses are done they'll have lost planning permission on the new site, or it isn't financially viable any longer. They just can't catch a break. Bless.

Bet you less than 50% of those guys come back. A 50-point limit would cripple the top league - very few of the big names will return, meaning the rich clubs sign 4/5 heat leaders and leave the remaining clubs with whatever is left. It would be a farce. Almost every sport (with the exception of football I guess) punishes success as they want to keep their sports competitive. To mention just a couple - F1 now has costs caps for this exact reason (with teams at the bottom getting more research and wind tunnel time and bigger caps) and American sports have wage caps and reward those at the bottom with first choice of draft picks. Similar situation with rugby league, rugby union and cricket - they all have wage caps. Why do some speedway fans always think it's just speedway that operates in this way? It's exactly the same argument with the playoff situation.

Looking at some of the teams that are being put together in Sweden they don't appear to be in that much trouble.

Can't say I am thrilled at the signing. Joe's past scores at EWR......... 0, 0, 1, 6, 1, 3.

This has already been mentioned in this very thread, but how can the Premiership teams strengthen if the big names don't want to come? Raising the points limit to 50 is absurd, no team will be able to get close to that. They simply don't have the money or the appeal for the top stars. And even if they do, it will just be one or two teams that are able to get close 50 and they will totally dominate.

Got it now

64 mate can't do that! Maybe if the track needs watering....

Eddie and Hans will be back hopefully.

I didn't realise Orlando was in France? Because that's where he is flying to today

Said something about annoying some female from Poole.

Really hope not

You have to remember that a few years ago the Premiership bosses wrecked the National Development League because it was too successful. Now they want to wreck the Championship League for the same reason. The NDL needs to have a higher standard than it is allowed at present then the step up to the CL at its present level would be a lot easier. All that then needs doing is the PL move up a point each year for a few years and the gaps between the leagues is reasonable and riders below NDL standard should have what was allowed up to a few years ago until the Premiership bosses decided to spoil everything because they couldn't run their own league in a business like fashion.

Really

No bait here. Anyone who listened to Zach's interview on last week's PiratecastLive will know what his plans are.

Thank you Poland!

Similar situation could arise as in R Kinsley & C Coles this last year. Expected to do well in heat 2 & pick up the odd point elsewhere but 3 x 0's & you're gone.

Yes, wrong Russell. Terry was the brother with the media contacts.

Told you.!

Superb Book. A most impressive tome. Looks good on my bookshelves too. It is really well worth getting for Christmas. Very highly recommended.

Rzeszow

Think the time was right for him to move on and I am sure he will leave with thanks as he has been an excellent servant to the club. At this stage a move back to his parent club just might reignite his form.

Think Z`C is heading back to his parent club

Two questions…….1. Selling “the brand” to whom? 2. Do you think the present double uppers are going to be happy being pushed out of their lucrative positions in the Premier League?……not to mention the double downers.

Out of interest, has anyone who previously promoted the idea of behind-the-scenes corruption, "brown envelopes" or "money talks" eaten their words yet? There was as much evidence of corruption on show last night as there was of Donald Trump's election having been "stolen" from him.

Think it's more a case of how many times he gives up or politely moves out of other riders ways,, when a pass is coming