Halifaxtiger

Had word yesterday that a full planning application will be going in for a track in Cornwall soon too.

Andy Hewlett has posted some news on facebook: 'OK looks like we might be starting to get somewhere. The Planning Officer at Bristol City Council is now (finally) looking at our pre-app (submitted in October last year!) and has been in contact with our Planning Consultant . So hopefully we can get an official response soon. Steve Comer has been working very hard behind the scenes and I think we can get our "Round table" meeting together in a few weeks time. Then we should be able to make some real progress. Thanks Steve for your patience'. Fingers crossed.

I think gates across the country would increase but only marginally and certainly by nowhere near enough to offset the level of revenue generated by the Sky contract. I don't think anyone would suggest that the loss of that contract (in the short to medium, certainly) would not be a disaster for the sport, and while EL clubs would feel it by far the most I suspect others would as well.

That is true but if it is made clear to the riders what the score will be at the start of the season I don't see it being an issue. To me, its better to do that than have home riders racing each other or destroying (to a degree at least) the concept of team riding.

Bates is definitely worth a shot at PL level. With the possible exception of Adam Ellis, he was the best newcomer I saw last season and improved visibly through out the year.

To me dropping bonus points for 3rd place is wrong but I can't see what you envisage happening. Any promotion worth its salt will surely just pay both riders 1.5 points.

Sadly, locally you can't do that any more but a few years back I did a nationwide one - Stoke Saturday, Newport Sunday, Exeter Monday, Isle of Wight Tuesday, Wimbledon Wednesday, Peterborough Thursday, Edinburgh Friday, Berwick Saturday, Glasgow Sunday & Newcastle Monday. The weather was absolutely amazing. Sad to think that of those tracks two stadiums have completely gone and one is unlikely to hold speedway again.

In my experience (which based upon your signature is a great deal more than yours) no track has upped its game in the last few years more than Berwick.

Pity that. Your serious, intelligent, objective and erudite posts will be greatly missed.

I think he deserves another try. His EL average is only marginally behind Stead's, so he could put as much as three points on his average. I don't think any other in the team - or any other rider you might have signed instead - has that sort of potential. Its a gamble, but then again so are at least 3 others.

Lets face it, whatever league Stoke would be in it would be a 'rubbish hole' of a stadium with 'crap food' (your words, not mine) and the 'top lads' aren't in the PL, they are in the EL - in fact, comments like yours are made by EL fans in respect of the PL, and many PL tracks are now only £1 or so cheaper than their EL equivalent. If you look through the British riders in the EL or PL, virtually every one started in the NL (or its equivalent, the CL). Our GP rider this season started there. I'd maintain that if PL & EL promoters gave British youngsters the opportunites that they give to foreigners there would be more. Its an absolute myth that the quality of the entertainment in the upper leagues is better than the NL. Stoke often isn't the racing track that it should be - I still believe it has the best shape in British Speedway - but when its good, its very good. What I would say on the subject of taking new spectators is that there is no doubt that I would take them to Mildenhall rather than Belle Vue (as an example) every time.

I'd say its a perfectly reasonable position to take and indeed one that is taken by a significant number of speedway fans across the country. Clubs do have their hard core but there simply aren't enough of them to sustain the team. That means that others must be persuaded to part with their money, which means that the product must be sufficiently attractive for them to do so. If it isn't, then the promotion are as culpable for the consequences as any stay away fan. On your last point, you're probably right but it must be better to suggest that they give the team a try rather than telling them to sod off.

I have said on the Sheffield thread that being negative or positive are simply putting a spin on the facts, ignoring bits that don't suit your case and emphasising others that do. Better to be realistic every time, because your comments have far more value. Totally agree about the right to criticise, providing its kept in context. There's a good chance that every rider can increase his average and having a strong reserve is always very handy, so its top 4 for me.

First bend on the picnic benches (although I am not sure which meeting yet). My advice is to listen to the more reasoned posters like Spinny and give the team a chance. My view is they don't look good on paper but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't look good on the track (whoever signs).

Actually you will at least potentially miss him a lot, and I mean a lot. It is quite clear that last season's disastrous losses were incurred largely as a result of the numbers that decided to stay away and that any who did continue to go need to keep going this season. The consequences of them not going are pretty obvious to everyone. You might regret that flippant remark, because its hardly likely to persuade him to go, is it ?

All being well, see you at Easter mate

I think that's a good team with every chance of making the play offs.

Redcar are a Thursday night track so that's unlikely. While I can understand running scared of certain teams, that can't continue.

That's not enough to sustain Sheffield Speedway, though. It might be enough for you, Spinny and young Jordan (and me, for that matter) but its not enough for those that make the difference between profit and loss. Any promotion that relies on the angle 'you should just be grateful' is scraping the bottom of the barrel, admitting that their team is crap and doing absolutely nothing for the sport in their town. There simply must be a duty on them to attempt to attract people over and above the diehards who come what may and if they don't do that and the team goes out of existence they are as culpable as the missing fans. I think you are wrong here. Wells EL average is comparable with Steady's and is less than a point below his EL one. That surely means there is at least potentialy a huge amount to come from him at PL level and while he wasn't impressive at PL level last season he deserves another go. Booting him out if the pay issue is settled could return to haunt the Tigers badly. Having said that, I am sure you aren't the only one who holds your view and it is a more than understandable one.

I think that you are right here. Smarty was a top rider at this level but the injuries he suffered in 2011 were horrific and when I saw him last season at Redcar he was nowhere near the rider of 2010. Hughes, too, was a top rider at this level for Plymouth but his last couple of seasons have been poor. I don't rate Chessell highly and the strange choice is Tedham. Someone over 30 on a 3.00 in the NDL ? Is that a first ? Reade was a certainty and his performances last year were both amazing and absolutely justified the faith that Stoke showed in him in 2011. Its a pity that more tracks don't follow their example and instead of booting out British youngsters after a couple of poor scores give them a reasonable run. Priest is better than that average and a good signing. If Smart and Hughes get back to where they were (and I don't think that is at all unreasonable) Stoke will be a handful for anyone.

As usual,spot on . Reade's average is somewhat inflated given that he spent most of the NL season at reserve but the scale of his improvement from 2011 was astounding. I also seem to recall him bringing the house down (against Workington, I think) with a late win that kept the Devils in the match. I thought Starke was disapponting when I saw him ride for Isle Of Wight last season, he's better than that. Given the choice, I'd go for Reade. Is Glanz still an option ?

I think that's the nub of the matter. Having said that, while people are entitled to draw their conclusions as to how the team will do, it shouldn't stop them at least giving the riders a chance.

Its difficult to imagine a better signing on every front. I can see the Fen Tigers being right up there again this season.

As always, you make fair point but................. The one lesson that Sheffield 2012 taught speedway is that if you go too much the other way its just as disastrous. Make no mistake about it, the heavy financial losses incurred by Sheffield last season were primarily due to a poor team line up and fans turning their back on the speedway in their hundreds. To me (and I'd be the first to admit its not my money at risk) its a matter of balance and I'd say the Tigers have got it badly wrong.

To be fair, I know a lot of others agree with you. My view is if he can get double figures in the EL he can get them in the PL - there is at least a possibility that he will improve. Compare that with Richard Hall (for example) who has stayed on just about the same average for years and you will see my point.