Halifaxtiger

Are you ? Whose opinion counts more - someone who goes every week or might go every week or someone who hasn't been for 2 or 3 years and is unlikely to go again ? That doesn't mean your view is worthless - definitely not in your case, your post above is an excellent one - but I'd say the views of those who attend regularly or might attend regularly are far more valuable. Four things that are constantly raised are the quality of racing, the facilities, delays and presentation. Unless you go, you can't comment on the last three at all and can only comment on the first based upon about one third of British tracks Is there a sport that has done away with programmes entirely ?

No-one intentionally. The guards are there for when they do so unintentionally. Slip and fall here and you hit the guard. Slip and fall in Sweden and you lose an arm.

First paragraph : completely agree Second : When's the last time you actually attended a speedway meeting (not being insulting but we know only too well that about half the posters on here don't actually go at all or only go occasionally) ? Thing is I can't recall hearing a war cry last season at all and even if my memory has failed me a bit they are certainly very rare indeed. As to tunes they march out to, there are a few cheesy ones but most are OK. Programme boards are a bit naff but try filling a programme in without one.

Perhaps he should speak to Rob Godfrey.

Yes, I think that's perfectly reasonable. After all, why not ? In truth, I see no reason why we couldn't see the voting either. The only thing I would say is if there was someone from Belle Vue I would say they have the right to remain anonymous because of the potential takeover. In truth, I don't know that for certain by any means but I would have been surprised if they were losing money. I actually think that given the gates they had it is possible that the Aces made money, too. The problem was not the ongoing 2016, but the vast burden of debt carried forward from Kirky Lane and the disastrous outcome of the Peter Craven meeting, which I suspect was the straw that broke the camel's back. Yes, it does, although we have had public confirmation that the Aces and the Colts will run in 2017 and that the talks are positive. I just don't happen to believe that if there is a potential buyer we have any right to know any more than that. I accept it will be a case of wait and see, however frustrating that might be.

I think it might just be. Of course, because its football that's different and its absolutely fine . My point is not to be critical of any other sports rules, but simply to show that any comparison of one sports rules against anothers is ridiculous.

No, not quite the same. But its still one goal counting as two. How stupid is that, score one goal but it counts as two I hear they are introducing a new rule in speedway next season whereby the riders of one team are only allowed on certain parts of the track depending on where the opposition are. Bloody hilarious Ever heard of offside ?

Word I got was that it wasn't down to Boocock but the riders. Typical case of putting paid employees wants before those of paying customers with the result that paying customers are thinking of not paying any more. Its not bloody difficult : Customers needs come first every single time. (to be fair, Sheffield are anything but alone).

Precisely. All we ever hear are excuses about wind, sun and stock cars. Scunny v Edinburgh last season. A hot, windy day with a stock car meeting the previous night. Best meeting I saw all year and one of the best I have seen in years. I wouldn't mind so much but Sheffield have the same trackman !!

Never heard of away goals counting double ?

I certainly don't think Belle Vue's future is shaky by any means............which is one reason why I am surprised the Colts haven't been entered as a standalone team, I would have thought the attendances for Colts matches last season would have paid their way. Where a takeover is in progress I would accept that there is a need to keep things confidential until it is actually agreed, although some degree of disclosure such as 'talks are ongoing' is appropriate. I really don't think the BSPA have done anything wrong regarding the situations at Belle Vue or Leicester in terms of public announcement. Yes, it was. Scunthorpe riders but rode a couple of home matches at Owlerton.

Definitely worth a visit. Much of the racing there last season was just brilliant. If someone asked me to name a track to tempt someone to return, it would Scunny. That's a little different, Humph. If there weren't issues over the ownership and development of the stadium, I doubt if speedway at Coventry would be under threat.

I hope very much that you are right.

The answer to the question is 'Yes'. People were talking about it dying 30 years ago and more but its still here. I hate to bang on about Isle of Wight (and apologise for doing so) but to me they set a standard that others should at least consider. I have been to every British track in the last two seasons and did 80 meetings at 23 last year, so I think I have some qualification to make a fair comparison. First of all, its about making sure people know about the existence of a speedway track. Their efforts have been amazing - posters, leaflets, flyers, adverts, shows, stands - you name it, they do it. Anyone seen an advert at Eastbourne ? Thought not. The cost for two adults and two children is £22, comparable with any other evening entertainment and about 30% cheaper than a visit to the cinema. Poole can set you back nearer £50. They have two of the best presenters in the game - Bryn Williams & Tim Allan. Compare that with star of the show Peter York at Coventry, that annoying bloke in the middle at Plymouth, the unbelievably dreary chap in the box at Glasgow (I was told - as a joke - that he worked for an undertaker and for a moment believed it) or the centre green man at Birmingham, who has the charisma of a moose. Then there's the racing. Pretty good, in fact. The tracks that could learn a lesson from this are numerous but lets name Sheffield, Kent & Leicester for a start. There's also what they put on over and above that, particularly for the youngsters (who, of course, bring their parents). Face painting, bike racing, meetings with riders, centre green visits. When I was there last season, a group of away fans were taken into the middle. That's unheard of. Finally there's the attitude of the promotion. Pretty incredible by speedway standards, I'd say. For a start, they are highly visible on race nights. Fair criticism is not met by abuse, aggression and hostility, but by someone actually listening, taking on board what you say and giving you feedback even if that is to say that they disagree. Then there's the story of young Callum Gouldbourne, who I don't think it is an exaggeration to say has literally had his life changed by the promotion and riders at the club. Buxton or Redcar could learn a few lessons from this, and we won't even go near Stoke. What is amazing (and indeed infuriating) is that none of the above is difficult, time consuming, expensive (aside from the initial outlay,the advertising is met by sponsors) or even inobvious. Its all just about a bit more care and effort for the needs of customers, both individually and collectively. As such, any promotion could do exactly the same. The pay off ? When I went to Isle of Wight in 2012 the gate at bank holiday time was about 300. This year, it had probably doubled.

I think you're right. If Bewley got injured in the first week of the season, pretty much the best rider they can replace him with is................Danny Ayres. Put Ayres in the 7 instead of Bewley and suddenly that team looks nowhere near as good. I think there is a case for some improvement from all the bottom four, Smith in particular. Without a doubt, though, by far and away the most important rider is Bewley.

I must admit I will be very surprised if the new promotion will be liable for the previous one's debts. Can't see Laurence Rogers and Mark Phillips taking on the £300k apparently owed by the previous Plymouth owners, for example. It won't be a case of writing off what was owed but pursuing it from Messrs Morton & Gordon.

Brilliant news One of my favourite tracks and the most under rated and over criticised in British Speedway.

I can say I never saw anything like that from Kurtz last season and while my visits to SBA were limited I saw a fair few away meetings. His performance at Peterborough was, indeed, one of the best away ones I saw anywhere in 2016. I also don't recall any of the boys I know from Plymouth - who travel everywhere - complaining about him on track (although there might have been the odd one about him off track).

I certainly think they are better than some might suggest. Cook can beat anyone, anywhere, Proctor can put a couple of points on his average and Williamson is one of the stronger reserves. Sheffield for me.

Won't argue with that. The amount of track grading when I was there was ridiculous.

​ Give the fans the track they want, not the riders. Since when do the needs of paid employees come above those of paying customers ? Sheffield gave the riders the track they wanted last season. On the Sheffield thread, fans have made it absolutely clear what they thought of it and that it has to change.

Actually, what I am saying is that if someone isn't getting paid I can accept that they won't turn up (although Steve's point above is dead right). If they do turn up and go out on the track I expect them to give it their best shot. People have paid to watch them and by sodding about they are affecting not just the promotion but the fans and, indeed, the very future existence of the club itself. They'd also attract a great deal of credit if they carried on in such circumstances. What you are saying is if Sheffield didn't get paid this year, they all turned up but pulled up after the first bend in every race you'd be quite happy (or at the very least you'd accept it). I suspect you would be in a very small minority indeed. That depends who you are. In speedway, there are few very worse sights than a rider who simply can't be a*sed when you have paid to watch him. There's an awful lot of crap talked about riders deliberately dropping their averages. If Bjerre deliberately did so last season, it would have cost him thousands. Lets hope so, because it was rubbish last season.

That's not the point he's making. The company is one thing, its customers are very much another. I could understand someone not turning up if they hadn't been paid, but speedway riders do almost without exception. The people they let down the most when they don't give it their best shot on the track is not the promotion, but the fans. No doubt that will affect a riders ability on track, but it most certainly does not prevent him giving it everything he can. Back to the team. For me, and so far, the strongest in the league. Superbly balanced and they just don't have a weak link.

Jumping the gun a bit but... Holder (Peterborough) Heeps (Ipswich) Bewley (Glasgow) Proctor (Workington) Bjerre (Sheffield) Mountain (Ipswich) Jenkins (Mildenhall)