topsoil

Another excellent piece this week was the training schools at Belle Vue. What was so noticeable for me was that your average man in the street could have a go, as the cost of a bike and spares was manageable for somebody with an ordinary job. This is where the sport needs to get back to. Whether or not it is just for the beginners, or the sport in general, is another debate. But as Poland is now pushing for the big "stars" to ride in their league alone, could this be the right time to bring in standard / cheaper machinery? It would also be a great time to see clubs step up their games bringing in young riders by giving them as much track time as possible with rider schools / second halves. Or how about the BSPA making use of somewhere central like Buxton (open to other alternatives) where facilities could be used at any weekend / all weekend and there are no restrictions on time and usage? Been some seriously good articles in the Speedway Star this year. Actually been more interesting reading about riders / events of the past and debates about the sport rather than standard match reports.

Good luck getting this past the Ekstraliga. NOTHING stops the Ekstraliga. Well, except rain.

To be fair to the Berwick promotion, they have always kept the fans informed (and I am in exactly the same position as you). But how the hell are promoters supposed to predict the future when situations change almost daily. They have every sympathy from me.

His Scunthorpe obsession lives on

Lot of things to consider here. The full story was in the Speedway Star last week, the extract linked just seems to pick and choose items. Firstly he would be separated from his family for a time. Hasn't he just got a young child? Jason Doyle says in this weeks Star he and Troy Batchelor really struggled living in Poland this year as well. Then if Craig Cook didn't have any machinery out there, that could be another expense. Plus I'm sure he's had some bad experiences out there before about signing, then not being used after lying out money on transport and equipment. Maybe once bitten...? Easy to sit back and just blame a lack of ambition, but often more to it than that.

I doubt you will see any Polish riders in Britain in the future, if the Polish leagues insist on riders signing for only one team, which is on the horizon the way things are going. I think because of cost cutting, British clubs will need to look for home grown riders.

Why don't the BSPA insert a clause into the contracts of all British riders that if a Polish club wants to sign them in the future, there is a buyout clause. If Poland want to sign British riders in the future, British clubs should be compensated.

Really enjoying the sections on the KO Cup finals of years gone by. Any idea of there will be a similar series for the second level i.e. National / Premier League?

This question has been answered on other threads. The government pay out was to assist sports that take place between November and March. Speedway doesn't. Plus the payout, I've read, was in the form of loans that have to be paid back, not a hand out.

Polish clubs have the luxury of access to their facilities seven days a week, most British clubs have three hours a week and that's it. All it takes is a hold up for an accident and bang, there goes your second half. Can you imagine the reaction of local councils and residents if you applied to use tracks seven days a week over here? You only have to look at the trouble Kent have to tell you the answer.

It's a way of compensating clubs for bringing on young riders. Otherwise Polish clubs can just continually take away riders they want. You have to have some reward for developing talent if that's the way to go.

If Poland wants to do that, then I would look to adopt a policy where you concentrate on bringing through young home grown riders. I would then insist that it is a league wide policy that these riders sign a contract that says if they wanted to ride in Poland in the future the Polish club would have to pay a high buy out fee. Two can play that game.

Any racecard download available?

unfortunately somewhere in the small print there will be the phrase "we reserve the right to change our minds"

That's because there was very little other sport on during the league season. Now football, rugby union and other sports have returned, Polish speedway, which is a niche market within a niche sport, is bottom of the tank.

Is this yoda?

pardon

Of course, if you believe other parts of this forum, it could be part of David Icke's conspiracy theory?

PMSL

the truth and nothing but. czestochowa have made an absolute mess of track preparation for the second week in a row and as a punishment the fixture has been reversed. no need for a cover up.

Absolute embarrassment

Money will talk I suspect

That's just this year. There has been instances in the past and there will be in the future. Ekstraliga bosses want riders to commit to Polish clubs and nobody else.

Poland couldn't give a idiot about any other country, they are just a nuisance. Same as the GPs. It won't be too far off where they insist riders commit solely to the Ekstraliga.

£35 each or 2 for £75? Okay Arkwright