BWitcher

Home track specialists were a lot more pronounced in the past in my belief. Some riders were superb on their home track and garbage at others. You still get that to an extent now but nowhere near to the levels that you used too.

Because there were more teams and the top riders were racing against each other less. Thus they lost less races and you perceive they were all great. Plus as has been said by a few other posters, 2nd string riders are of a much higher calibre now than they used to be, so the top riders don't have it as easy anymore. I found it interesting reading an article about Chris Pusey in a recent Speedway Star (tail end of last year). Chris Morton was quoted as saying he saw Pusey in a race where he forgot to turn his fuel taps on, had to reach down and do it on the back straight by which time he was half a lap behind. Morton raved about his immense talent as he still managed to get up and win the race... There is absolutely no way in hell that would happen now. Even against the NL riders that will be riding in the EL this year.

Firstly he hasn't encountered anything. The situation was entirely of his own making. He had a choice to make, he's made it. Why are you talking about hanging? He's going to ride for Sheffield which will be good for him in the long run. There were other riders who had the foresight to decline a place in the draft precisely for the kind of reason Bates has withdrawn from his place at Swindon. As far as I am aware they won't be on the list of replacements, so why should Bates be?

Is there? The rider predicted to be 15th last year won the World Title.. Spot on. The other significant factor was that there wasn't a Heat 15. This gave the impression that the top riders of yesteryear were somehow more dominant or better than the riders of today. You would always have your top riders of course, but there were a lot running high averages who in todays format would be 8pt men.

Some of you Poles really are brainwashed aren't you. BSI have absolutely nothing to do with British riders competing or not competing in the One Sport Pairs Challenge meeting.

The number of heat leaders is governed by one thing alone, the number of teams in the league. The more teams, the more heat leaders. I and I am sure most others agree with you Sidney that league speedway isn't as 'exciting' now as it was. That's mainly due to the crowds and atmosphere, they play a big part in our perception. An average race in front of a loud crowd will be more enjoyable than a great race in front of a sprinkling of quiet fans.

So there were 'no hold ups' in the old days? Oh dear.

Nothing wrong with that, except where a rider has turned down an opportunity elsewhere.

Nobody is stirring anything. Just stating reality. Well done though, I knew it wouldn't be long before you posted your 'did you go' crap. The answer is yes I did. I went in late 70's when very young, throughout 80's, 90's, 00's. Like yourself, GRW and indeed many others I have GREAT memories of the racing. Attending Monmore in the late 80's through the 90's my memory tells me the racing was unbelievable every week. We had Ermolenko, Correy, Karlsson etc. Monday nights were the best night of the week, the crowds were good, the atmosphere was great. However... I also have every single one of those meetings on DVD (Mike Bennet kindly put all the old seasons onto DVD's for me) and watching them the racing was quite honestly MORE strung out then than it ever is now. There were riders literally half a lap behind in a number of races. The point is our memories are selective. We will remember the great races and forget the mundane. The mundane races we will have enjoyed anyway if the atmosphere was good. The actual racing was no better.

Also if you have a league with 15 teams, you will appear to have more 'star riders'. Likewise people have an impression riders were better back then because bonus pts were included in the averages. You see so many people commenting how many '10pt' riders there used to be and only a couple now.. barmy. There were of course more of the worlds top riders racing here then, before anyone jumps on it.

It's a rose tinted post from GRW, particularly the 'brilliant speedway' part. The actual racing wasn't much different to what we see now, the difference is that there were bigger crowds so even mundane meetings would have 'felt' to be far better than they actually were.

I've been told they have a mini-track behind their house back home. So tight turns aren't a problem.

We don't need to wait, we are fully aware of this 'slavery' issue you have brought up. As it originated in Poland.

Maybe so yes, I was answering someone who was saying too much was paid though.

Yep, no profit. Most World Champions are broke.

More laps being done this morning it seems, so if Joe didn't get on track last night, he should do today. Sudden Sam on track this morning according to Twitter also.

Exactly, what it shouldn't be is riders phoning around to 'offer their services' to particular clubs. Word would soon spread that a better way to do things is to not take part in the draft and 'offer your services' after it. If your services weren't available at the start or you renege/forfeit/decline to ride for the club who draft you then quite simply your services are not required for that season.

Don't tell me you're upset? Are you?

No it isn't. What is up for debate is what should happen. What isn't up for debate is the attempt to deny he reneged on his deal with Swindon. There are different schools of thought on whether he should be allowed back in the draft or not, that's fair enough.

It's all about the Tactical Zone WK. You're going to love it.

That backs up what Phil and it seems Darcy Ward were suggesting.. so not quite sure why it's a BIG might.

Which was what? Poole wanted him?

I don't think any normal Polish fans are in the slightest bit concerned with how much Warsaw have paid to host the GP. Don't forget that figure is in Zlotys, not pounds. So its about £296,000 to £390,000

Stop winding folk up now Skidder

That may be the case, but nothing out of order there is there?