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Your girlfriend wishes you would come second

Hi SJA, This is not true. We at BSN work around the club and their own grading schedules. We don’t and never have dictated anything in regards to the running of a meeting - we are simply there to document it. We interview to fill time because there is a track grade or interval, not the opposite. Regards, Ben Duffill (BSN)

I don’t understand why the tractors are out for so long It’s everywhere you go. Clubs want fans to turn up and support the clubs yet they treat them with total disregard. It’s suppose to be a family sport yet the meeting is dragged out over nearly 3 hours for 23 mins of racing. The tractors were on track longer than the bikes. People have got work next day and kids got school so why drag the meeting out for so long. No wonder the sport is all but dead.

Evening Daniel, This is on top of gate receipts, sponsorship and TV money - so I can assure you the budget was considerably over £150,000 per annum. All the best

I wish I had a quid for every time I've seen this posted

Tomorrow we have the first meeting on the brand new speedway track in Veenoord. Photo's of the new track: https://www.facebook.com/speedway.veenoord/posts/pfbid029PNzTvsfTZhDShyznFnhUszAkiJzEZwz71ibkzQ9Zspoq22ZzRQnEdWQU2ewc6SUl Live updates: https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/722/dutch-open-speedway-veenoord.html

There is a lot of truth in your last paragraph. I've had this conversation with my mate, and if one of us doesn't go, the other probably won't unless we know there is going to be another of our dwindling group going. Little niggles, like tractor racing, not being able to hear the tannoy after being fobbed off for literally years , consistently making the track inconsistent for the first few heats, seeing the same away team 2 weeks on the trot, getting thrashed home and away,all these and more are sucking the fun out of going,to the point where I am starting to pick snd choose and I've been going to speedway since the early 70's.

Attending meetings just "for the racing" definitely delivers for me too.. The only downside is that any team sport desperately needs their followers to believe in the teams from an emotional angle.. Which hopefully then encourages plenty of repeat visits, rather than the "occasional ones" that you and I (and countless others "generic fans"), currently do.. The actual racing is as good as anything i have seen in over 50 years of following it.. If they could ever add credibility to the quality of racing then they could be on to a winner.. Hopefully one day, it may sink in, and they give it a go...

But from what I'm reading Birmingham are struggling to get a crowd and lost money last year who is gonna pay for a 7.5 rider ?? The team was built to a budget to survive, now due to fans not supporting the team, now appears some supporters want to break the bank again !!

Please can you refrain from talking sense on this forum

Watched the stream. Really good meeting with some close racing. Probably one of the best I've seen this year. Hope Drew Kemp is OK. Hoping to get over to Scunny this year if the racing is this good!

VK links here for Lublin v Gorzow: https://vk.com/video-81427162_456239540 https://vk.com/video-53550004_456241354

Because most of the tractor drivers are arrogant people who dont give a flying fig about the paying public and jsut enjoy their own little bit of glory driving thier tractors round and round and round. In the days when there was dirt on the tracks , one lap after each was deemed sufficient. Nowadays lap after lap polishing the turd every 4 heats (sometimes less) ifs somehow required. Fits in withe DELAY culture now prevalent in 21st century speedway.

You're very welcome. I am a nerd. I'm happy to own up to that well known fact. But my interest is during the meeting itself rather than preserving some sort of historic record. I like to get some view of a winning race time to assess later clashes in the meeting. It adds to my enjoyment but I don't expect everyone (anyone?) to share my view. This extends to other features such as gate stats. Last night's meeting was a particular case in point. The race wins and points scored from each gate is of interest to me and last night this played a significant part in the latter heats. Given that teams were permitted to swap gates between their allotted gates, and two gates were statistically were advantageous (3&4) both the pair of gate chosen and who started in which was of some importance. If you're really interested I can tell you who started in which gate in all races. And there speaks a proud nerd! P.S. it's "dawn", the time of day, not "Dawn", the girl's name. Sorry, I'm a pedant as well

VK link https://vk.com/video-53550004_456241353?fbclid=IwAR2T1tIDh-xVTClmqnZorbJQM4SxgqCle11wjyhfPZ0ZMIfpLQQ3y1nN5ew

Sorry, didn't mean to offend you, but the same applies for your boyfriend.

When I have been to Birmingham, it was noticeable how large a percentage of the crowd "wore the club shop".. Not large crowds in total, granted.. But it does suggest that a losing team could impact attendances quite a bit % wise if those fans in particular became disillusioned.... Many tracks have a fair % of fans who can just go along to watch the racing which can help them during a poor run of performances, as they turn up anyway.. It was also noticeable the age demographic of those in attendance proudly wearing their yellow and red, and, sadly, there will be other reasons as to their less regular visits too I would think as the years have gone by and continue to do so.. Certainly the "oldest" crowd I have seen at Speedway... Although a few will run them close.... It does certainly seem like it has been a "hard sell" for all Birmingham Promoters after the "honeymoon period" ended after a few years of their return.. You cannot knock those currently in charge for their efforts though can you?

Because they don’t get chance too. Meetings are called off on weather forecasts sometimes days before the meeting. I have been at ‘rain affected’ meetings where the main match took place, all 15 heats without issues only for the ref to decide it was too ‘dangerous’ for the second half riders to go out despite the fact all of them wanted too ! The youth of today do not get an opportunity to ride in non perfect conditions because they only get to ride on slick , bone dry tracks like they are presented with 95% of the time as that’s what’s produced for them, particularly at the one track open to them every weekend. You may have seen one very keen youth travel from Plymouth to Redcar four weeks running to hire a track with dirt on it , for private tuition on a championship standard prepared track, and it’s showing in his results, give the youth chance to ride in ALL conditions on ALL tracks. Run u-19 , U-21 ,U-24 British GP rounds at as many tracks that will host them, not one off events on one track.

I am aware that my view and experience will contrast with others but I have enjoyed my speedway visits since I started going again in 2021 ish - this year I have attended 3 meetings - 2 at Foxhall crowds were Ok about 2000 ish (maybe more) is my guess and at Sheffield last week. In all 3 the away side has won - crowds fairly decent I reckon there was 2000 maybe more at Owlerton last week too. There has been some decent racing in all particulalry when riders like Doyle Holder and Emil have been involved. There have also been some dull heats FTG as they say but that's speedway. I tend to try and ignore all the shennanigans - if you constantly look for problems you will find them - most other sports wing it and run on a whim of owners / the money men as well. I try to be a glass half full rather then empty type. Ultimnately I want to go to the meeting pay my money and go home afterwards feeling I enjoyed it - which for now I do. I remember once attending a football match at Hillsborough - the guy behind me spent all game moaning about how SH*t3 Wednesday were, the ref was bent, and everyone was an idiot, anyhoo he left with 5 minutes to go the game was 2-2 - the Owls scored a last minute penalty to win which he missed - given the above why had he bothered going if it was causing so much stress!!!

Paul called if off!! The power he has!

I must be honest Ben I think your coverage is superior to Eurosport

I rarely have any problems on the M6 from Cannock to Altrincham (A556 junction) getting to or from Belle Vue. The M6 through Walsall & Birmingham is just awful, permanently, even on a Sunday when we often go to Coventry Blaze it can be awful. The biggest problem getting home from Belle Vue on a night is if the meeting ends 21:45 or later because the M56 is often shut at 22:00 and A roads to Altrincham are not fun. There was an awful lot of tractoring, before the semi I think the entire stadium erupted when the tractor finally left the track. Track was certainly not as good as when the Aces visited a few weeks ago.

I don't think he deals very well with logic...

Read the Star today - interview with Alex Brady - but also KL suggesting they brought in Hoggard as TM so Buster can focus more on Peterborough! Don't shoot the messenger!

Many supporters talk sense, but the clowns in charge just Bury their heads in the sand and wonder why the sport is dying on its ar#e

It's about time the young kids got protection from being dropped all the time, then bringing in older journey men who have not made the grade all these seasons!! How about having a rising star at No 7 all year, and a under 24 brit at 6, and another under 24 brit in the team, bit similar to what Poland do

Charles Wright and the 3 who pick themselves... We have 3 of the worlds top 10, with two of them being absolutely top notch around their home track of Wroclaw at times this season.. Worrall would be my choice if at Vojens.. And Ellis seems to be having an injury impacted campaign... So why Wright? Wroclaw and the NSS are pretty similar in shape as both built around American Football pitches with wide, sweeping bends... And Charles does have that bit of "devil" in him when it all becomes "too close for comfort", he wont take any prisoners in those "clutch" moments of races... And you won't be passing him without having to take a risk or two. He will make sure of that. And if behind won't be scared of doing the odd "Bartek" across any of the apexes, and riding his opponent up the track... For me, it is a great opportunity to win in Poland's "backyard"... As long as we get "No 4" correct...

Also let's not forget that he was heavily involved in turning the Great Britain Speedway from also-rans to consitent medalists and World Champions!

Only way to improve is racing better riders.

how will that improve them, its no challenge at all riding against the same riders all night. If you have the best reserves at the beginning of the season that is a 20-4 point swing every meeting and the meeting is already won.

The only way NDL riders are going to improve is by bringing a heat change formula for the reserves. I'd suggest that the four reserves only race against each other in 4 heats with one start from each gate.

Apologies, I'd forgotten that the Championship were doing the superheat this season

You feel that Oxford have missed a trick a little bit there.

Sounds good, would be a welcome addition, any team helps but Rye House are one of the bigger names in the sport, it's a shame they're not in it already

Kim Nilsson had a crash yesterday and scans have revealed a small fracture in one of the neck vertebrae. It will require some more checks to determine full status.

Great, so the only part that was cr@p is the only part that remains... I loved the shape of the track at Newcastle, it was a new challenge for most riders and the corners meant that whoever had the biggest balls going into the bends won... Saw some very interesting techniques entering the 3rd bend in the 15 years or so I went there The surface was absolutely terrible in the last couple of seasons though... With some of the holes appearing... The whole thing needed digging up and putting back down There is absolutely zero chance of the Diamonds coming back anyway... Just got to accept that and go to some interesting meetings around the country instead

don't disagree with any of that - all sound from my perspective - would I ever be a 100% attender each week probably not as my team are now long gone!! I really do / should get myself to BV - I currently live in an area where I have plenty of choice - BV is only 1 hr away Sheffield I can walk to and Scunny is only 45 minutes away. if i feel a wee bit more adventurous I could go to Peterborough (90ish mins) or Leicester about the same. Even Wolves I can / have done in about 90 minutes I agree now the racing now is better than its ever been - you just have to watch old videos for that to be proven in my view!

Like making assumptions based on other peoples tittle tattle….

Aye, as Steve says, it was against Leicester. A did ask Stewy and the guys to gaan easy on us, obviously took no notice (28-62) a think? We officially closed on June 21st, remember it well, it was a long day, felt like the longest day of the year!

Could you act as a consultant with Eurosport on the Premiership meetings with regards to camera position, and also advise on direction ?

I might be wrong but didnt Dan only join on a 28 day contract originally so would be free to sign for someone else when that 28 days is up?

Well done belle Vue.

How could I be referring to you when your not on Facebook, you’ve answered your own question

Firstly well done to all involved tonight, but I’ve already seen a post on Facebook saying we won’t have anything to say or moan about now…ahh it’s ok we’ve only won once in 11 fixtures this year. But 2nd in a under strength pairs meeting fixes things for some

But didn’t he appear on bbc news and I’m sure he’s been on question of sport although someone may correct me if I’m wrong. He was in numerous tabloids doing interviews after winning his world titles but people just aren’t bothered about speedway that is the problem, you might’ve got a few hundred people up and down the country going when they discovered what it was and the novelty factor because they hadn’t seen it before and it looked exciting on the tv the clips they’d seen or whatever then they go to a uk meeting the track is unfit for racing and meeting gets delayed an hour while work gets done to it and said people won’t return. Or the ludicrous guest rules your trying to explain to a newbie that Chris Harris is employed by Coventry but tonight he’s guesting for Swindon because there rider is riding in Poland instead of the uk. People won’t understand and just think it’s a joke (which it is)…. imo the sports problems are far bigger than woffy advertising it. When do you ever see any of the current promoters promoting the sport anywhere? Why can’t they all chip in and get a proper advert out on bbc or itv or channel 4 or whatever it may be? They can’t or don’t know how to promote it in some cases yet why should that fall back on to the riders to promote the sport for them? The top riders will promote it to gain sponsorship but the vast majority of sponsor’s already know about speedway or are already involved in it.

we need more tattooed youngsters with big holes in their ears

It's fair to say there's a long way to go before we see the bikes at Rye again but there is certainly hope where there was none previously. Mr Ribbons seems to be doing everything he can to make it happen

I think they should leave the '10 mins walk to West Brom Town centre', out of the advertisement

Why did you do it then?

Not dumped. He was helping out on a 28-day contract, which has ended. In this week's Speedway Star he explains, while getting on really well with Berwick staff, after two years with the Bullets he wanted a change -- and had a deal pre-season with another club, which sadly colllapsed. He confirmed he is looking to join another team. Ben's a nice guy, wish him well.