Halifaxtiger

No, I can't prove it.............but equally you can't prove it was legitimate other than by saying that it was approved by the 'powers that be' - the same powers, incidentally, who said that Cook couldn't double up for two teams on the same night but Bewley could, who stated that Hall had to come into the NL on an NL average when Bowen came in on a PL one and who said that Davey could guest for Bewley but not Ayres. Not that we ever know who the 'powers that be' are, because no-one is ever named and therefore no-one ever is responsible. I make my judgement here - as in most things - on what I know of the circumstances and what I know of the people involved. Hence, I say it was crooked and, believe me, outside of the south coast I suspect the overwhelming majority agree with me. An opinion was made that derided the view that people walk away because of bent decisions made at the heart of the sport. They most certainly do.

True. That's why I don't blame Poole. That doesn't mean the decision wasn't crooked.

So what we do is ignore by far and away the best stadium in the country and hold meetings at Rye House or Leicester instead ? That's positively Two words : average reduction. Woffinden didn't have one, Lindback did.

It doesn't surprise me that a council has no issues with a building project coming in two months late or continues to award contracts to firms who do not deliver on time. My own council (Calderdale) has one (the Halifax Piece Hall) that is 6 months behind. In my view, in any such case there should be a penalty clause for late delivery and there is no question about the fact that Belle Vue's financial difficulties were exacerbated by the stadium not being ready on time. It wasn't. To start with it was indifferent at best although there's no doubt that it improved significantly as the season went on culminating in a stunning play off match. I am not quite sure how you can term speedway finally having its own National Stadium (and a fantastic facility with a superb track to boot) as an 'absolute failure'. It remains a 'magnificent achievement' and will remain so for as long as speedway is held there. In my view, the decision to allow Lindback to ride was crooked as hell and should never have been permitted. People can and indeed do walk away from the sport as a result of such decisions and will continue to do so as long as they are made. Ask SCB why he no longer attends. The only thing is to blame Poole is wrong as it wasn't their decision that Lindback could come into their team. Phil has a point, Humph (although I accept that it is merely a side issue). Both of these stadiums were built at public expense. One cost far more than the other but costs significantly less to rent. Of course the Olympic Stadium shouldn't be left to rot, but its hard to justify such a facility not being subject to a market rent when NSS is.

You're right, it isn't. Andy Grahame in 1979 is a very good example : he rode the entire season for Birmingham & Milton Keynes. However, as Brian has said its now 'out of control'. You can stomach it with one or maybe two riders, but many have no less than four. Belle Vue : Worrall brothers, Cook, Jacobs. Glasgow : Lawson, Summers, Worrall, Ayres. Somerset : Tungate, Grajczonek, Wright, Starke, Wajtknecht. That's simply too many and means that the use of guests and rider replacement has exploded.

The problem is Steve what do you do ? I find there are a huge number of people on this forum who are nothing but critical but never come up with any alternative solutions. We have seen both Belle Vue and Leicester almost go to the wall this season. Berwick were up for sale, Workington are in by the skin of their teeth and Plymouth are out. That suggests that what we had last season simply has to change - the one thing we can't do is stand still. In the top flight, we could go all out to attract the big riders. One home meeting a fortnight, all on the same night (if that's possible). But its clear that would be a massive financial gamble with the possibility of breaking top flight speedway in this country for good. I'd accept some might walk away because teams become weaker. Better that than take the huge risk getting the big riders in.

That's precisely it. I know Somerset hold boot sales on their car park. Peanuts you might say, but 100 cars at £5 is £500 a week and over the winter months that's probably £10k. Its very easy to be critical of holding small events at the stadium but doing something week in, week out will generate significant revenue - revenue that wouldn't be there otherwise.

Fine post I think Phil is right, though, the PC meeting was really the straw that broke the camels back rather than the start of the matter. I also don't think its unreasonable to sell tickets for a meeting on the understanding that the stadium will be finished on time. Having said that, I agree that the fault for actually running the meeting must lie with the promotion.

Not at all, simply responding to a comment that no-one wants to get married in a speedway stadium. I sincerely believe that every single revenue stream should be explored, as just using this fantastic facility twice a week for half the year is a total waste and utterly ignores the potential it has aside from speedway. I could make a fair argument that the failure of the previous promotion on the Isle of Wight to make full use of Smallbrook contributed to the end of the speedway team, and that the present promotions furious attempts to ensure that it is used are far more likely to guarantee the presence of the sport there.

Brilliant news Saw some brilliant speedway at Derwent Park in 2016 and aim to see a lot more in 2017.

Somerset have weddings at the Oak Tree. Isle of Wight have arranged a firework display and a pop concert at Smallbrook (and that's in November only). Its possible.

Personally, I'd say that the loss of a National Stadium after one season when speedway has waited for it since its conception would be one of the biggest disasters that the sport has ever had to deal with. As you rightly say, it is a superb facility with an excellent track. I went over about 3 weeks before the opening meeting and they were still building the back straight terracing and access for the machinery was via the third and fourth bends. It was pretty clear at that time that it wouldn't be ready for the opening meeting and the delay after that date in actually staging speedway says it all. Whether the construction company are to blame for the opening night fiasco is open to debate but they most certainly are to blame for the stadium not being ready on time. I believe that the key to making the stadium pay is not speedway but ensuring that it is used for other events. Speedway takes up at most 2 nights per week and, as Ian Thomas once told Newport's Tim Stone, you don't own a corner shop and open it up once a week. Isle of Wight have certainly taken steps in that direction by attracting events to Smallbrook that bring in additional revenue.

I also think you are wrong to refuse to attend simply because of who the promotion are unless they have given you specific and personal cause not to. To me, it doesn't matter that much who the promotion are (although some maybe preferable to others) but what the product is like. Under both Bowden and the last promotion, I have seen some cracking racing at SBA and that, to me, is what counts.

They have said there will be speedway at Purfleet next season so it must be NL. I am just very pleased that one of my favourite tracks will still have speedway - and that isn't a pop at the NL. All we need now is Plymouth to confirm.

From Workington Comets facebook page : 'We have a few things that need to fall in place before we can fully commit to running in 2017, work is going on behind the scenes constantly and we are hopeful of making a formal announcement over the weekend or early next week. Overall the BSPA AGM was very positive and the re-camp of the leagues makes British speedway a more sellable product as well as more stable and viable. We would like to thank the BSPA and particularly Rob Godfrey (BSPA Vice Chairman) and Buster Chapman (BSPA Chairman) for their support and understanding

I think it would be hard to term the changes 'radical'. However, I do like the 2 point average, the top flight race format being the same as the rest and the possibility of a major cut in the cost of engine maintenance.

Actually, the situation with the clubs is a lot more positive than I had expected, particularly given the earlier statement about Belle Vue. It says that both the Aces and Leicester will be in the top flight and I'd be surprised if they would be so bold if there was a 'real possibility' that they won't be there. Furthermore, it says that Workington are 'expected' to take their place in the new Championship. That's a lot better than it was a week or a month ago. Furthermore, its likely that both Plymouth and Lakeside will be competing in the NL so we haven't lost a track.

Looks like the Comets are back in 2017. Brilliant news

Got anything to say on the subject now ?

Good question. Riders not paid, rent not paid................

Come on, Richard. That would be to suggest that they actually read and take notice of what we say

Must admit I have never had a problem getting there (I, too, come from the North and have the benefit of a shortcut (thanks again E I Addio)). The problem has always been those coming through the tunnel. I think its the way forward but for one thing : we would need about 40 new riders of PL/upper NL standard.

Dead right. The problem with paying out more than you can afford is not exclusive to the EL. Very surprised at this one......but delighted that there will be speedway at one of my favourite tracks next season.

Its clear that Eastbourne did not say anything and I retract my previous statements. I suspect my informant jumped to an all too obvious conclusion and its also clear that he was far from the only one. Lets give Eastbourne a bit of credit, then. Apparently they had an 'inkling' that the Brummies team was illegal but would have gone ahead anyway. To me, that makes them far from the win at all costs club they have been made out to be on occasion. Seen him ride several times this season and was always impressed. Sunday night, though, was by far the best of the lot. You have got be kidding. Which part of that rule isn't clear ? Even if it has been broken 5 times - and no-one can say when - breaking it for a 6th time still isn't right and the referee was correct to enforce it, and a precedent is when there is a lack of clarity exists -which it doesn't here. The pity is enforcing it came far too late.

Not at all. I got told that before the riders even went out on parade. Clearly, Graham Drury doesn't know it either : 'So with that in mind, to then be approached just 30 minutes before the scheduled start time and told that James Shanes wouldn’t be allowed to ride in the meeting due to Eastbourne’s objection absolutely astonished me'. ​It would surprise me that someone would be so blatantly untruthful (because unless Drury didn't know it wasn't Eastbourne - which would be astonishing - either he or Connor Dugard most certainly is), but several Eastbourne supporters were most unhappy that Shanes could not ride and blamed their promotion. Furthermore, I am struggling to think of an occasion when an independent 'power that be' has intervened in a team line up so late, especially when a rule has apparently been broken several times during the season. I'll await a statement from Drury in response to Dugard's remarks ( I doubt I'll get one, because that passes the blame to the person actually responsible). Its in the rulebook and is crystal clear : 19.13.3 A rider may ride as a Guest (in an Official Meeting) at a Track only once in an 8-day period unless he is either replacing the Home Teams #1. Shanes could not ride. The problem is they never are because no-one is ever found to be responsible. In this case its 'powers that be' apparently, whoever they maybe. I think there is case for finger pointing for the sake of those who attended and the good name of the sport. Until we do so, farces like this, bent decisions and rule breaking will continue.