Halifaxtiger

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.

Very good point about the difference in track size I must admit that when I have watched Polish Speedway on the internet for all the big stars competing I wondered what all the fuss was about. The only thing is you don't necessarily need high class riders - anyone who watches either Mildenhall or Dudley will tell you that. In my experience, those two tracks offer the best speedway for the money in the country. Perhaps the fact that Peterborough's gates are about half Lakeside's is why Frost & Co are talking closure and Douglas & Cook aren't.

I don't think there is any question that Lakeside have stepped up big time since Douglas & Cook took over. In fact, only Berwick in my experience have improved more dramatically following a change in promotion(or otherwise) during the last few seasons. Biggest crowd I saw last season for a league match was that for the Hammers/Eagles meeting at AE on Good Friday - I guessed at something approaching 3,000. I suspect a few of those who attended the RICO memorial meeting might have changed their minds about the quality of racing at the track.

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.

That's because in my experience they do. Its a terrific little track. I find that size or shape doesn't dictate quality but preparation does - decent shale and a good curator make all the difference. I thin Peterborough and Workington are brilliant, but so are Plymouth and Mildenhall. I like Dudley & Edinburgh too. Lakeside is the most underestimated and unfairly abused track in Britain, most seemingly basing their opinions on what it was years ago under Ronnie Russell. I arrived early for a match last season and had a chat with Gerard Richter and he confirmed that Russell wanted it slick and hard,while Douglas and Cook just want it for racing. You can tell.

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.

Quite and with very little consistency it seems.

I think you are right, but 'hard done by' is a minor understatement. Total disbelief and serious anger would be closer. How on earth can that be justified ?

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.

He has a full time job outside speedway. The point about Wells is that there is every reason to believe that he will improve (something that cannot be said of Hall or Sanchez) and I don't think its beyond the realms of possibility that he would be up there with Stead. Lose him and fail to get an adequate replacement - ie a rider with potential - and a poor side just gets worse.

Saw him ride for Rye House at SBA and he was pretty good. Finished stone last first time out, then was beaten by Gathercole in a close race, beat Fisher twice and then was harshly excluded in heat 15. I think Plymouth have got a good signing on that average. Its pretty open this year. My four for the play offs are Somerset, Berwick, Leicester & Newcastle but Scunthorpe, Edinburgh, Workington, & Ipswich aren't far behind. If Plymouth get two reasonable points scorers in the last two vacancies they'll be in with a shout too. Rye House will surprise a few - they are better than some are suggesting. The only three that I suspect will be outside of the main pack are Redcar, Glasgow & Sheffield.