Aces51

Belle Vue screen the post meeting Aces and Colts press conferences live on Facebook. It gives fans who don't want to or, can't stay after the meetings the opportunity to watch them whenever it suits them.

A 6 point CL rider would probably have scored more than Batchelor managed. Could hardly have done much worse.

I thought he hasn't got a visa for the UK at the moment which is why he went to Poland.

Your do realise that both comments were made today? You were referring to Mondays meeting at the NSS when you said firstly that he would score 3 when replacing Worrall and when a few hours later you said we were carrying him. Not to an away meeting. Saying if a guest rider scores 2 that the absent team member would have scored 13 is a valid comment to make if it is supported by similar scoring and exactly the sort of comment you would make.

That would be the same Tungate you now say we're carrying that you claimed in the Aces v Poole thread, when trying again to claim r/r wouldn't weaken us, would win his race when taking a r/r for Worrall on Monday. You can't even be consistent in your opinions made on the same day. Any speedway fan capable of being objective would have anticipated Cook and Worrall scoring a combined total of at least 15 to 20.

I don't know. He had his operation on Tuesday so I would expect there is now more definite news on which to base an assessment. In this week's Speedway Star there are mentions of anything from 6-12 weeks but they could well have been made before the results of the operation were known. For anyone interested Paul Suggitt is trying to raise £5000 to help Steve get the best treatment to recover from his injuries. So far over £3300 has been raised. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stevieworrall

I don't see Eric Riss or Wozniak as being as good as and certainly no better than Garriitty or Lasse Bjerre. Madsen did well in Poland last year but no guarantee he could transfer that form to the UK as a temporary replacement. Maybe worth a punt if he was prepared to come and bring good machinery.

Worrall has been on fire at the NSS this year. 13 from 5 rides in the Peter Craven meeting and 13+1 from 5 rides against Swindon. That is why r/r makes us weaker and Tungate is not guaranteed 3 points on his current form. So far as a replacement the choices in the UK are limited with Garriitty or Lasse Bjerre being the best options but neither of those are as good as Worrall.

I think Wolves will be in real trouble if Schlein turns out to be your best rider. He's a good rider but will do well to maintain his current average. I hope Howarth does have a good season. He has been a steady improver during his career and has the ability to continue to do so.

Well done to Poole on their victory. Those who thought we were not weaker with a Lawson or r/r for Worrall can now see how wrong they were. In the circumstances, a remarkable away performance against the team predicted to top the league. We only needed 6 more points for a win and I can't see that Cook and Worrall wouldn't have achieved that.

The only PL teams not riding on Monday are Kings Lynn and Swindon, which means the best riders available would be Ellis or Jorgensen. Neither would be an adequate replacement for Worrall at the NSS just as Lawson wasn't tonight. I would think that we shall therefore go with r/r but again it makes us weaker. Another slice of good fortune for Poole but that's the way it sometimes goes. A closer match than it might otherwise be but an Aces win by 4/6 points.

Congratulations to Craig and Charlotte on the birth of their daughter. Batchelor weakens us still further now we have lost our two best Wimborne Road performers. I always thought this would be a home win but that we may have got something out of it. Now I think we shall struggle to keep within 10 points.

I've never before heard anyone blame riders as the sole reason for the decline of crowds. Having followed speedway since the mid 50's I can't say that I've ever thought that riders take fewer chances in any era. What I do think is that riders are no longer allowed to be characters, to react to on track incidents or to refereeing decisions and that has certainly had a detrimental affect on the overall entertainment.

We sometimes go on about the good old days, the big crowds, the best riders in the world riding here, a home meeting virtually every week etc., but the promoters of the 70's do have much to answer for in not investing in the sport when most clubs were making healthy profits.

Sense of humour bypass.

Drozdz now on 8 the same as Woryna. Not bad considering he is riding injured.. Shame we have a 28 day facility

I hear that Eric Broadbelt went to Bury market last week. He didn't buy anything but got home in time for tea (that's dinner to those who don't know the correct terminology). Just thought it might be of interest to Poole fans. No wonder they get decent crowds if life in Dorset is that boring.

Interesting tweet from Torben Olsen this morning. On my way to the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester to test something very exciting together with a new partner of SGP...

I accept that many speedway stadia and tracks no longer provide the facilities and good racing required if we are to attract significant numbers of new fans, let alone retain those we already have. What I don't accept is that it is impossible to get new stadia built. It was far from easy to get the NSS built and I accept that many councils will not contemplate doing what Manchester Council has done. However, I don't believe that Manchester are the only council that can be persuaded to provide a modern facility for a sport which has an important place in the history of its town or city and brings revenue and provides jobs for the local community. What is needed is the determination and ability required to persuade councils and local businesses to get behind such projects. Include whatever community facilities may encourage and enable councils to justify the project to their constituents and to help sell the proposal. However, a new stadium is no guarantee of success. It is a slow process to convince people that Speedway is a sport they will enjoy and want to support but a modern stadium and good race track is an excellent base from which to start. At the NSS we have much of what they have in Poland. A new modern stadium, not on the scale of some in Poland but nonetheless a stadium with modern facilities and a brilliant race track. Riders give 100% because the track is wide with many racing lines and because they feel confident and safe. Racing is generally of the highest standard and meetings usually completed in under 2 hours but despite all of that the crowds have not come flocking back. The numbers are up compared to the dog track but last year we averaged 1500, less than the numbers required to break even. There is no magic potion that will increase the crowds overnight but as more people see the quality of the product on offer and enjoy their night out they will in turn encourage others to attend and the more fans you have the more the atmosphere improves and fans enjoy it more. It's a cycle of getting new fans, they enjoy it, they sell it to their friends and it mushrooms. Clearly, many other things also need to be done to improve the overall speedway experience and vital to that is presenting a credible and professionally run sport. The BSPA have failed miserably and must have the courage and foresight to see that the current management model doesn't now work. Some had hopes that the Chapman era might change things for the better but unfortunately we still have no openness or transparency, rules which are not applied consistently and new back of a fag packet rules which last no longer than a pack of cigarettes. We shall never attract and retain new fans so long as the too obvious incompetence of the BSPA to regulate the sport sensibly and consistently continues.

The BBC forecast was wrong, forecasting no rain until 9pm and the Met Office got it right. The management made the correct call. Covers would save some meetings but would have been no help at all tonight. I can see why you say that because of Auty's performance at the NSS but he is inconsistent and Wright is a better rider overall and certainly so at PL level. I don't think there is anyone on Worrall's average who is likely to get close to his current scoring at Belle Vue but personally I would choose Wright over Auty because although Auty might do better if it's one of his good days Wright will more often score more.

I think you might want the BV v King's Lynn thread but the weather is ok at the moment but rain forecast from 6, 8 or 9 o'clock depending on which forecast you look at. The track usually holds up so long as it's not too heavy and doesn't affect visibility too much so maybe worth taking a chance.

It's nice to see the children playing. I can almost hear Shovlar giggling as he types. Might even keep him quiet for a bit whilst he tries to think of his next gem.

That seems to refer only to the initial team declaration.

Poole's own Comical Ali. It was only recently you were predicting an away win at the NSS and now it's a tough home meeting after we've lost Worrall, who has been showing he has moved up another step this year and has arguably been our best rider. If Poole are as good as you and some others have been claiming this should now be a relatively easy home win. Anything less and the spectre of another disappointing season may be looming on the horizon.

I think Shanes has the potential and his grass track background shouldn't be a disadvantage. Many youngsters progressed from the grass to the shale in the 60's, 70's and 80's. If he is prepared to listen and learn he would benefit from an experienced rider taking him under his wing in the way that Steve Lawson mentors Bewley.