Hackett

Swindon have stated they have every intention of using there own assets. So Doyle was a no brainer.

Swindon have already stated in the SS they would look at the option of using as many assets as possible. I would imagine Doyle and PK are nailed on.

The play-offs are here to stay whether you like it or not. Although initially implemented to please television they are now the only Elite-meetings with a decent crowds.

R/R has been a loyal servant to Eastbourne. The Dugards are the only reason there is speedway at Eastbourne. If you were losing £70,000 on a business would you significantly improve the facilities. The track is important of good racing but currently riders don't like tracks with grip and majority always say the track is well prepared albeit some gates may be favored .. Usually the red and blue ..

Doyle has been excellent for the Brummies but noted that with the financial losses Swindon look to be considering using as many assets as possible. Plus they have always said they wanted to get Doyle back in the team.

In sales ; you need combine looking after your existing clients, as well as targeting new clients. Speedway on the most part has failed to do both. The product is getting worse yet more expensive and people are voting with their feet - hence the declining numbers. Targeting a new audience is mostly forgotten. Speedway cant afford to neglect its current audience - as word of mouth is and always will be its most cost effective sales tool.

Congratulations to Poole Pirates - hit form at just the right time. The end of the season and the play-offs.

Had a lot of time for Zorro but I found his antics a disgrace on Saturday night - poodling around at the back like a junior wobbler. Pathetic. Admittedly there wasn't many but there was a paying public and it was the end of the season but he could of at least looked like he was trying. Attwood should of sent him out as r/r just to p+++ him off. If he is on a set wage then more fool Belle Vue for agreeing to that deal, what would you expect.

With TV dictating sport, it is the modern way in most sports, bar Premier League football. For the tv networks it guarantees an increased interest and audience. The clubs like them because it draws in the crowds in droves. Poole have relatively decent crowds in comparison to most if not all EL teams but I am sure the Play-offs were up in numbers to the usual Wimborne Road attendance.. Its actually good to see a crowd on televised British Speedway. In general the only team that dislikes the play-offs if unsuccessful is the winners of the league (Birmingham Brummies). Although I believe in Rugby League now they award a League Winners Shield/Trophy.

In the Brighton Argus it claimed that each club will lose £100,000 if Sky don't continue sponsorship. For the love of god I can't understand why the BSPA / SCB weren't heavily touting other companies or TV networks. Simple rule of the business .. If a main sponsor looks to be stalling or not willing to communicate look elsewhere. If SKY contract up in Oct after Grand Final why wait until now. If SKY refused to talk then negotiations or initial talks or feelers should of been directed to BT Sport , Eurosport or terrestrial tv already - it is now a case of a last minute deal. The sport is a minority sport in terms of facilities, sponsorship and audience. The Sport needs a proper strategy and direction. Swindon and Birmingham in financial difficulties. Eastbourne lost at least 70,000 .. Something needs to be done to cut the costs. The greatest expense has to be the riders demands. The Argus mentioned that the EL in whatever format it takes could consist of each clubs meeting twice home and away thus giving the fans more meetings and clubs continuity and a regular race meetings but the riders will have to look at lower demands but with extra meetings in UK have opportunity to make money with regular rides. Personally nothing will change significantly until an independent Chairman oversees the sport. Too many looking after their own business rather than the good of the sport. In truth if they don't look at long term development of the speedway rather than simply being reactive and papering over the cracks the sport will die a death.

Definite sell out ALL 700 tickets have gone. Eagles will win this easily. Neither team has anything to ride for but pride and in truth a needless fixture. Eagles by 16+

Whether Sky Sports are involved or not some significant changes to the sport need to be made. Will be interesting to see if the Promoters stick there head in the sand again (or pint) come the AGM ...

No he's going to strip it of all dirt , get it slicker than a strippers bikini line so it rides like Lakeside. ;-)

Brummies defeated Poole by 14 at Perry Barr earlier this season but with Ward, Hancock and Janowski who scored 14pts think the Pirates have it in the bag.

“If we can keep the same team this year then we’ll be fine. Mikkel Michelsen is such a talent, he’s a star for the future and he’ll be scoring at most tracks next year. Cameron Woodward has upped his game and it’s really paid off. Bjarne Petersen has been a fantastic leader and he loves Eastbourne so hopefully he is going to come back as well, hopefully there will be no changes in the rules and I’m really hopeful we can keep the same team.”.... Trevor Geer in the Eastbourne Herald. Eastbourne has struggled to attract supporters this season. Certainly been a number of meetings where there has been barely 700 people. Next season there has to be changes or more fans will slip away. Woodward has been excellent this season. He is the heartbeat of the club so can see him returning. Michelsen looks a decent signing, can gate and will only get better. He is a must signing for next year. With Lahti and Gustaffson on such low averages I can see one returning as a senior reserve but if the promotion wants to be forward thinking , one needs to go. Personally I would let Gustaffson go out on loan for a season he flattered to deceive this season and much was expected of him. Pedersen has done a steady job and been the only rider who has been regularly competitive out of Sussex. Mikkel Bech Jensen was targeted but preferred the number of meetings in the PL. In his only visit to Arlington for Poole Pirates Select he was superb and beat most Eagles for fun. Another exciting rider for the future. Nilsson has got better with each meeting and at the Sussex Championship looked quick his average is to high for reserve but Arlington needs change. So as much as Dryml is popular at Eastie , I would go for Nilsson for 2014. Lastly I imagine with averages, a 3 or 4pt to partner Lahti at reserve. Can't think of many 3pts that have done a job this season but Alex Davies as a guest for Brummies rode well. Most importantly ensure michelsen signs.

Last years television figures were always going to be artificially low , with the Olympics and the Euro 2012 taking place and would naturally see an upturn this year. Next year the promoters and Sky will have the same problem with it being World Cup year. Be interesting to see what the AGM throws up this year because once again the season is too sporadic , can't remember when the last meeting was on a Sat at Eastbourne. Then this Sat its a double header and then season over again with a whimper. Swindon , Birmingham in financial difficulties , I can't believe Eastbourne have made much profit with the poor season on the track + sporadic race calendar once again.

Worrall has impressed me this season on the couple of occasions that he has been to Arlington. Birks can hold his head up high following his season in the Elite League. There is certainly the talent there , it is just a case of whether they can attract enough finance and sponsors. Remember reading an interview with Lewis Bridger in SS when he was at Coventry and he said when they reached the Grand Final , Kasprzak was offering engines ,equipment etc to a number of the riders and that KKs backing was unbelievable. Sponsorship seems to be a major hurdle. Woffinden has knuckled down with fitness and nutrition and deserves the recognition this year but his kevlars still lack advertisers. He seems very professional with the way he handles his sponsors following his feature in the SS but no doubt could do with more. Whether the Young Brits can get the funding to make the step up to international level , time will tell but certainly Worrall, Ellis, Garrity , Howarth , Birks and the likes can certainly look to a future in the sport.

Last nights meeting was not too bad. I feared the worst after heats 1 and 2 but despite the scoreline a couple of Hammers rode their nuts off trying to get a point. The SEC has been slightly disappointing and the last meeting was average but then again how bad was the Italian SGP dull as dish water. Certainly the best meetings on TV this season were the Premier League meetings at somerset and Scunthorpe even berwick was better than the majority of Elite League race meets.

Kennett will ride in the GP Challenge even if he gets 0,0,0,0,0 .... The FIM have decided that a GB rider will get a wildcard for the GP Challenge at Poole.

Shambolic ... switched it off after 3 heats. Having waited from over an hour from 6pm to 7.20pm because of Polish Eurosport covering a two bob tennis match and then jumping into the speedway at heat 5/6 was a complete shambles. This was only enhanced when they broke for ads only to come back halfway through ht 9 .. From those few heats the meeting didnt look great so I switched off. Generally been fairly impressed with Eurosport coverage but last night was utter gash.

Harris must be gutted he would of had a decent chance at Poole as he can ride Wimborne road well on occasions. Great effort by Dakota North to progress to the next round.

Jeff Scott's books are an excellent read. Most of the autobiographies are a decent read. It's just good to be able to get some insight into the sport and riders : Crump, Hamill, Ermolenko, Wiggo, Simmo, and tommy Jansson all are decent reads. Normally Cardiff is the time of new launches , any planned this year ???

It makes no sense to prevent riders earning a living from the European Championship or Pairs meeting unless the BSPA is in cahoots with BSI / IMG. Simple negotiation with British riders for this season would of been as long as it doesn't coincide with your Elite League fixtures you can ride. Speedway on tv can only be good for the sport and the for riders in terms of sponsorship. The article in the speedway star from Nicholls seems as though there is a lot of bad feeling bubbling between the riders and the BSPA. Perhaps the likes of Kennett, Harris, Stead etc should of done the same as Nicholls and withheld there services too.

Why don't the BSPA ballot all British riders which track they think is best for racing, entertainment apart from there home track and then decide on the track for the British Final. Most riders like Kings Lynn, Somerset and Scunthorpe are great racetracks ... As for fans , corporate hospitality is the key and Wolverhampton only looks busy because there is one stand ..

Congratulations to Tai. Head and shoulders above the other riders on the night and fully deserved to be British Champion. Nicholls rode some clever corners and showed some track craft to get himself into the final and digging himself out of a hole. Was impressed with the Craig Cook last night rode really well to get to the final. Garrity and Schramm did themselves proud considering the competition and deserved there moments in the spotlight.