BWitcher

Business is picking up... one of the 'lesser' nations right in the mix.

The SWC improved in the qualifiers after some tweaking. If you remember back to when there were three qualifying rounds they were pretty much non events in the main.

You likely know better than me

It has on the BT Sport thread.

It doesn't really qualify for either. Watt was never a threat in the race. For the brief time he was, Laguta shut the door, Gollob had no involvement.

What?? Firstly Watt is dropping further and further behind with each passing lap. Secondly Gollob is off in front.. It's Laguta who is the one who blocked Watt off on lap one. There must be better examples?

Can't help but look clever when arguing against you, especially when you trot out that line of argument insulting yourself.. have a think it might dawn on you. I'm not getting upset, just pointing out how out of touch you are. You might think it's somehow 'clever' to call people 'anoraks'. It isn't. It simply speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. Trying to hide behind 'other' people think that re-affirms that. If you can't grasp that a father of a rider calling fans of the sport he participates in 'names' doesn't really help in any quest for sponsorship then.... You're quite right, the sport of speedway hasn't moved on, on that we very much do agree.

You really haven't seen much team riding if you think that was anywhere close to being 'the best' team riding.

Not sure that makes any difference when it's done right? Again, great team riding isn't two riders riding flat out side by side, like Ermolenko/Correy, Hancock/Hamill etc.. it's about the better rider slowing the race down. Agree it is a dying art. Perhaps the bikes themselves make it more difficult these days?

I've got one thanks. No, your second use didn't apply to you as you stated "If i was an anorak".. suggesting that you aren't and that there is something wrong with being an 'anorak'. Times have long moved on and being an 'anorak' or a 'geek' is no longer seen as being uncool in the mainstream. Speedway needs to be embracing the statistical side of it, not mocking those who do.

Good post. Not only that, they would control the race from the first turn. Time and again Ermolenko would tell a rider such as Wayne Carter exactly where to go in the first two turns, he would handle the rest. Usually moving a rider wide so Carter could come underneath. Woffinden has shown he can team ride on many occasions in the past and as you say, hopefully he will have chance to demonstrate that ability again tonight and perhaps more importantly at the weekend.

No it isn't 'bollox'. What is 'bollox' is your incessant, non stop rambling, year after year. TV commentators in the events you keep referring too, i.e. big events, ALL have people there to correct them if they are wrong. They are fed much of the information by resident statisticians. In days gone by when they were not, many more mistakes were made.

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.