BWitcher

We used to see it every week with Sam Ermolenko at Wolves. Big difference between 'team riding' with two fast riders riding side by side and 'team riding' where the better rider slows down/controls the race so a lesser rider can win. Decent-ish example of the latter but doesn't strike me as fantastic team riding.

Nice edit, you've got it right now. Steve, in this case, does know. I notice you don't mention Auty's mighty 3pts when Scunthorpe rode at Sheffield. Howarth scored 12. Anyone can pick one race and decide that race makes a rider better than another. As Steve has said, Howarth has averaged higher than Auty in both 2016 and 2017 in both leagues. Not only that but riding on completely different types of track in each league. Whether Auty should get a chance or not in the top league is a completely different topic. Auty is still only 27, although he has been around for a long time. It's not too late to make something more of his career if he can dedicate himself and stay injury free.

Staggering how often this nonsense is trotted out on this forum. You are deeming a snooker player 'lining up a shot' as 'action'? Seriously? But you dismiss 'gardening' as not action. Where's the difference? Answer, there is none. And no, rugby is not two halves of over 40 minutes with near continuous action. Not even close. Average time of ball in play is around 34-35 mins. I bet you deem a player taking up to a minute to 'line up' a penalty kick as 'action'.

To be fair, the football comms team has the information supplied to them. Or you would see a lot more cock ups. Hence, in the past, before it was so easy to present commentators with data, there were a lot more mistakes made in live commentary. Yes, Pearson and Tatum were wrong, but surely they should have someone on hand to provide them with the correct information and point out any errors they have made regarding scoring.

So that's twice you've decided to use the term 'anorak' which clearly you are doing in an insulting fashion. THAT is the point I am referring to and hardly an attitude that will encourage speedway fans to sponsor. What has criticising rules got to do with it? The original post pointed out a rule was being broken. Completely different situation. And yes, I stand by my comment, it is and was a pathetic statement to make.

It's an excuse. The sport has been declining since the 80's, long before the 'digital age'. Over and over it has pointed at external factors being to blame.. and continues to do so. External factors of course have an influence, but they aren't the primary reason.

And you wonder why sponsors aren't rushing to sponsor the sport. Absolutely pathetic comment from a father of someone involved in the sport. Rules and regulations are there to be adhered too. They would be in other sports. Yet another reason why speedway is not taken seriously by many.

Is that the new excuse being given? Once again speedway in it's own little bubble... meanwhile other sports take advantage of the 'digital age'.

Precisely.

I was also quite specific. The topic is ensuring a meeting goes to the wire, or as close to for TV purposes. The joker was the system used in the World Cup to try and achieve that. There were massive complaints regarding it. Besides, you wouldn't get 'complaints' regarding run away meetings, just simply people turning off.

He has a very valid point though. Young riders, as shown in 2014, shouldn't be jumping straight into the top flight. It is at the Championship level there should be a minimum of British riders in a team to give them a position to progress too.

Closed, along with most other teams.

I once saw Andy Phillips beat Hans Nielsen. Guess he's now elevated to an all time great on that basis. Howarth is already better than Auty has EVER been and will likely improve further in the future.

Why is is a disaster for TV? Yet again.. only in speedway. It's a TEAM event so the first TEAM to finish wins. Not a difficult concept. I understand the arguments regarding the final however not those bleating 'only speedway' does it... as that is far from the case as has been discussed multiple times over. I agree, no need for the semi and final in this event. I note you mentioning no complaints in the World Cup.. well, there were plenty.. the Joker, which was designed to keep the event as close as possible to maintain interest.

If Lindback shows up surely Sweden are contenders? Of course he could be utterly abysmal as well.

Fair enough, the usual suspects whinging and moaning seem to be doing so, proclaiming it would never be seen in any other sport.. Interesting information you've provided. Similar to Mark Loram being World Champion without winning a GP.

But that Team won every race they were in. It's meant to be a PAIRS, i.e a TEAM. Your team finishes when your last rider crosses the line. If one of your pair comes last, the other team has finished before you. Totally correct that should take precedence. It's not an alien concept and one used in other sports. What is lacking these days is team riding sadly.

Some seem to have very short memories, there were many 'qualifying' events in the World Cup in years gone by that were similarly poor with out of depth teams. It was always the race off and Final where things stepped up a notch and I daresay that will be the case in the Final of this event. Also, why are people moaning so much about the team being 2nd and 3rd going through? You might bleat they won the race... they also came last in the race. It's a pairs event. Come last, you're out. I can remember many, many occasions in the past when Wolves needed a 4-2 in the final heat.. if Ermolenko was in it for example, he wouldn't just clear off if he made the gate, he'd do everything he could to slow the race down, change lines and get his partner through.. and many times was successful.

Ford has wrote the junk. As per usual, you are just making it multiple times worse. Who needs enemies when they have a friend like Starman!

Sometimes it might be best to simply not post at all Starman. There is no possible sensible defence of what Ford is complaining about here so best to simply remain quiet.

Seems the track covers can't be done expert has gone quiet and not answered this one....

What covers do you want then? There are countless sports that can cover tracks, surfaces within minutes. Once again, speedway seems to exist in it's own bubble where every problem is insurmountable.

Last Greyhound race at Monmore on a Monday is after 6pm.. Track is covered well before meeting starts at 7:30pm.

To be fair, with Wolves having choice of gates a 5-1 was highly likely in that last race, Kurtz had to make a special gate to have any chance. Level, Schlein would have run him wide and Thorssell cut back.

Although radio commentator, stood looking down the straight said there was contact.. where were you stood?