Fromafar

20 years ago my uncle a diehard speedway fan since his youth just suddenly stopped going for no other reason than had enough not disillusioned just had enough and starting to get on a bit roughly 60,me be that much younger could not believe it how he could just stop going now that I am approaching the same age have got exactly the same feeling ,still love when I go but sometimes just decide on the day to give it a miss more and more ,I am sure a lot of older fans drift away just the same way,trouble is the sport cannot seem to attract the younger fans and keep them.I think one of the main factors is that growing up in my era your Dad or family took you everywhere with him (football,speedway ect) until you were in your late teens and that introduced you to various sports nowadays most young people are doing their"own thing from very early teens and it is probably "not cool"to be away on family outings we have missed 2-3 generations of "young fans" for various reasons and the sport is suffering,and that's not counting the way it is run.

While I Personaly did not find the meeting boring,10 re-runs,tapes malfunction and numerous falls would not be seen as exciting by a lot of fans.If this had been the Sky Televised Meeting would it have been seen in the same light,I'm sure the Promotion would have been tearing their hair out wondering if they were going to make the deadline .while ALL the above mentioned things can happen at ANY meeting to report them in such a manner as adding to the excitement is dubious to say the least IMO.Great to see Ricky coming back ,he has certainly been missed,hope he can have an injury free run for the rest of the season and has not lost his gating touch.

obviously I'm not at track expert or I would not be baffled,only expressing my opinion on what I pay to watch ,Razer prepares the track as he sees fit.Everything still perfect in your world that's fine by me.

I'm afraid the track prep from week to week baffles me,most weeks the real racing begins at about Ht 10 when the "wonder wheels" finally loosen and spread the heavy dirt on the outside 2/3 of the track and the riders can start to use that bit of the track with confidence.If we get a week of rain and the meeting is on the racing is usually better!!

Harris is not exactly have a cracking season either looking at EL averages not just Kennet IMO.

I would agree with you on that one,attended Edinburgh on Friday and Berwick last night and saw at least 1/2 dozen of the incident you mention at EACH track ,pit bend at Edinburgh ,exit to second bend at Berwick and at both tracks riders were lucky to get away without serious injury and some hairy moments for the other riders in the races concerned.IMO silencers certainly don't help the situation when a rider gets pushed out of the racing line and has to react by shutting the throttle,the bike just takes off.Its noticeable nowadays that race leaders keep the throttle wound on even when winning by miles ,I think this has to be done to keep out of trouble and ride the ruts.

i Initially said it was a knee injury another Ambulance arrived at Stadium but not sure if Ben went away in it.

your boy was brilliant,with a decent Team manager you might have sneaked a win,unfortunately Barkers fall end your hopes.should have gave Hawkins his 3rd ride in Heat 13 in place of Lanham and put Ellis in Heat 14 IMO.

Have to agree, if you are trying to attract NEW fans by charging £10 why would they come back if you whack up the price the next again week.

like I stated in my previous Post the Promoters are the ones that have to come up with the answers.Some of the comments from certain Promoters to the Star's article early in the season prove that.We all have our own ideas but we are just the paying punters to some Promotions (not all I hasten to add).

What proposals could anyone offer through a magazine article that would be taken seriously .

Hard to say but Ellis was poor at Berwick which considering similar to I.O.W. was disappointing ,but he is young and is entitled to struggle on first time visits to away tracks.His main aim will be to get an injury free season under his belt which IMO is sensible.

A good article,but the average fan has recognised these shortfalls years ago IMO.restructure is certainly needed but how do you entice new fans to the sport and keep them ,the usual suspects will come with the usual it is 4 guys going round on a bike and everything is fine.geniune fans would love to come up with a solution but it is the Promoters as a collective group are the only people who can solve it.IMO.

BRITISHSPEEDPOWER previously known as ? On this Forum.

cheers ,remember now,crashed at Oxford with Blixt which finished him with serious wrist injury,former Bandit Paul Thorp rode in Final.

Thanks ,my mistake.

what about Kelvin Tatum I'm sure he rode in WTC when he rode for Bandits

I think it would be disappointing if Berwick did not stick with Ricky if he is coming back,he has become a favourite of the fans and done a good job in his time at Berwick.

Its total nonsense to charge anything if you have a rain-off ticket it's taking the p#ss IMO.what did the fans see 3-4farcical races.

Whatever anybody thinks about Eurosport coverage,just remember SKY just dumped GP speedway and will possibly be dumping British Speedway next season,at least Eurosport are giving it a go.Their. coverage of other bike sports is Great IMO.

While Greg has had a great GP career and cannot be dismissed lightly in any GP race.but,he has been passed more times this season after gating than in his whole GP career .The Young Guns are coming through and you cannot see him being Top Dog again.

Well done to Darcy don't think anyone else could have past Zager once never mind twice in the final.Good Eurosport coverage dispite the interval man getting a few minor things wrong ,better than the sky drivel in previous years.

With today's TV technology rewinds ect.I don't think it effects crowd levels if the fans want to watch speedway they will turn up IMO.Team Strenghts might be the deciding Factor in this one iI fear

Same conditions as Glasgow last Sunday.

you thought everything was on the the up last week,has reality kicked in.iI certainly hope that their fortunes can be turned round as we need successful teams in the North.