bringbackHalifax

I have to be honest and say I am glad people on here are not promotors as they live in cloud cuckoo land. If you read through the posts there is no agreement on which is the best way forward for the sport. There is no agreement on what makes good speedway. There is no agreement on whether we should accommodate the superstars. There is no agreement on league structures. The only agreement is on the fact it is up to yourself whether you pay your money or not. This is normal when you get a cross section of people with their own opinions. No different in my book to the group of people meeting at the AGM. They too have a choice what to do with their money The truth is I have many more options on what to do with my money and my leisure time than I had 20 years ago but I still choose to go to the speedway. All I want is to see some good close racing and feel as though I have had a good evening out with some like minded people. The rest of the rubbish in speedway has always been around in one form or another. Reality is we didn't have social media to publicize it, so loads of people didn't know about the politics.

the sky deal ran out at the end of October, it was never going to run for a calendar year in a sport that finishes it's season on the 31st October.

Think the point has been missed. Ritchie is riding Prem and Elite league next year if the two leagues still exist. He will not be riding for a weekend track which will give him some opportunities to do open meetings on the continent and get himself noticed. So the only difference at the moment from this season is that it rules out Newcastle as his prem league team. Right thought process and best wishes on the next chapter in his career.

I think you will find that the picture in the chronicle is the heat (3) prior to the first corner that Christian got excluded from not ht 14.

5 Brits at Newcastle.

Always got a good m block seat between start and 1st bend from ticket office on the day.

I believe when guys up sticks and leave home they come here with a rubbish or bust attitude. Their priority is to make it work. A lot of Brits see it as a lifestyle alternative to work, and seem content to plod along with a bit of money, living for the here and now and don't seem to have a long term game plan. They then end up on the treadmill of getting by. Craig Cook and Ritchie Worrall are seen as two great hopes for the future of British Speedway, and the backbone of Belle Vue for years to come. That is great for Belle Vue. If Cook and Worrall want to make it big in the sport, they should up sticks, move to Poland together, get on the circuit out there, live the rubbish or bust attitude and become a world great not a British speedway great. When they reach the dizzy heights fit in the British speedway if they want, only if it will make them better. This will turn off some Brit fans but ultimately it is the only way we will mix it at the top of world speedway. If we get to that point and other youngsters follow suit the sports profile will lift and then the leagues will become attractive again to top riders. In the meantime run the leagues with riders of the same calibre and provide entertainment in preparation for the next generation of riders arriving.

I think you will find if we start afresh with those pay rates speedway will find a level it can operate at. Saying a rider won't ride for those figures is not true. I accept that some superstars won't hang around, but we cannot afford them, so let them go. The alternative is that the so called names who are unwittingly bleeding the sport dry will hang around until the pot is empty then clear off anyway, leaving nothing for the none superstars. The top riders in the prem would have to move up to the elite. those professional national league riders would step up to the prem and the national league would be for the novices. The top to bottom gap in rider skill and ability would be closer, racing closer, entertainment better. I know of some, (can think of a dozen ) riders who have not had a job outside speedway all winter and they are racing in the premier league, so let's not kid ourselves, that all riders are skint. The premier league was never meant for the pro to make enough to money to race 8 months a yr and then 4 months off. I do know how much engines cost ( just paid for 2 ). But if we take out the top end and the rest of the riders find a level the sport can be entertaining, create new names and engage the public which may create the attachment that people need to keep coming back. Or we can do nothing............ But hope

Don't post too often but here goes 47 years old - going to speedway since 2 yr old. I am one of the anoraks.To get kids - and others engaged they need to be involved and feel attached. Have a timetable in programme for each heat Have a 2 min countdown clock on centre green All meetings start on time Track grading built into timetable All meetings completed in two hours Use planned track grading gaps to interview riders. Scrap the interval Compulsory lap of honour for race winner 7 riders in a team - bottom 2 reserves - top 5 any order. ht 15 at team manager discretion - no restrictions fixed pay per point for everyone in each league. elite 100 quid prem 55 quid national 30 quid Don't like it don't ride as need to cut the cloth accordingly If you need more money get a day job as well. This will lead to riders of similar standard earning equally and racing should be closer = entertainment. Offer average discount to riders staying with club for the next year. 2nd consecutive year -5%, 3rd consecutive year 6%, 4th year 7%. This will create " local names " which will drive attachment with the teams and therefore the fans. Let the stars chase the dollar elsewhere as a gp rider racing a prem league number 7 in the elite ( look back it happens in a lot of meetings ) is not going to be spectacular even for us anoraks.

Don't give up just yet. It's been a long season and despite the blips against Somerset, the lads have all worked hard, come up with the goods to finish top, maybe, just maybe they can hold out on Saturday for a chance to take on ipswich

I reckon that as the meetings have started the precedent this season is Belle Vue v Birmingham. At the time of abandoning the second meeting the current score was used and Birmingham went through. Peterboro v Swindon never got to race so they drew it out of a hat. Based on this the BSPA, if consistent, should allow Ipswich to progress to the final. Would also favour the team who can win the first leg of the final in case the second leg gets rained off, whilst historically everyone wanted the second leg at home.

Who is guesting tonight ?