BWitcher

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?

Oh look, Poole don't need to fiddle their averages anymore

I don't disagree in terms of on track racing.

You're operating on data that is well out of date as there are stringent FFP rules for Championship clubs now. You see, football sees a problem and takes steps to fix it. Speedway just plods along making the same mistake over and over and over. Who mentioned pensioners? Increasing age doesn't mean pensioners. Rapidly heading in that direction, but not always pensioners.

Wouldn't call it backward thinking, would be highly sensible.. harsh, but sensible. I can't see much happening tbh. They made their bed when they went with Thorssell over Lindgren. It's a team built to win at home and try and pick up a pt or two away and maybe get lucky and catch a team on an off night. They had the chance at Rye and blew it.

The damage was done before the season even started. Although the league isn't actually any weaker than last season, it's impossible to tell most speedway fans that. As soon as they announced the one over 8 rule speedway groups on social media were full of fans blasting it many saying they'd had enough. Seems they have been true to their word.

Championship clubs are generally chasing the dream, to get into the Premier League and reap the rewards of the TV money. There is no such dream or opportunity in speedway. Speedway's issue is fans walking away and not being replaced, a continual process that gets worse each and every year. Every year new excuses are looked for.. and some of them such as constant weakening of the league, race nights etc can play a part but the issue that simply can't be escaped is the age of speedway fans continues to rise and through sheer natural wastage the sport has no future.. unless it can generate a healthy supply of younger supporters to take their place.

Not the most up to date figures HT http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43820603 2016/17 saw Premier League clubs record a profit of £500 million. All 20 clubs made an operating profit, 18 made pre-tax profit. Premier League clubs have made a profit in three of the last four years.

Agree, the argument was simply over whether football provides value for money. Clearly it does. West Ham has it's own individual problems with their owners but that is a separate issue, but even TMC has stated that tickets would be bought by others if available anyway.

You really shouldn't talk about yourself that way. You're airing your opinion, others are airing theirs. It's discussion.

In other words, you've had a bad season. Happens with every football club. When things go bad the owners are the devil etc. Then fans trot out the lines of 'plastic' as if nobody else is allowed to attend if they weren't at Roker Park on a cold Tuesday night in January in 1974 . Your argument was value for money. Yet now you are telling me that folk who aren't even West Ham fans are quite happy to turn up and fork out for this product that is not 'Value for Money'.

Totally agree. Year after year they have 'cut costs'. Year after year more fans have walked away. They never, ever, ever learn. The meeting from Belle Vue last night once again did nothing but damage to the sport. I doubt if anyone bar speedway fans even saw Heat 9.. folk flick on, see tonnes of empty seats and think, this isn't worth my attention. Had they seen a full stadium with vibrant atmosphere they might stick around a bit longer.. then get hooked on the superb on track action.

Spot on. I gave up my season ticket at Wolves when I moved to Portugal. I wish I hadn't now. I was considering buying one for next season even though would only be able to attend a few games (would lend it out to family for others).. but chances are next to none with the demand. Not until they expand the stadium up towards 50,000 anyway. As for the kit.. the anticipation for the new kit at Wolves is at a fever pitch. It's now been announced it will be made by Adidas which has increased the level of excitement even more. It's going to sell in bucket loads when released.

It really does destroy any semblance of an argument when you try and take a pop at football when discussing speedway's ills. If you think West Ham are worth watching, think again! you say.. With a POOR side they averaged 56,885 this season!!!