Aces51

I don't doubt they are doing the best they can, nobody wants to lose money and I am sure they all want the sport to prosper. However, it is obvious that their best is not good enough. They have had ample opportunity to get things right and failed. Not everything they do is bad, the proposed fixed nights is a move in the right direction but too often they fail to see the big picture. To me every idea, every proposed change, should be tested by asking not only is it affordable, is it practical, is it credible, but most importantly, will it bring in more fans. No matter what they do it won't help unless it increases attendances. It is time now to acknowledge that they don't collectively have the vision and skills required to rejuvenate the sport and need to to bring in someone who can. The trick is finding that person with the limited funds available, no easy task.

I think the point is that he might have been "nothing short of dreadful" but even so has virtually the same average as BWD. We know he is capable of doing much better whereas BWD is doing as expected for a rider of his experience and ability but he is still improving and next year may be a different story. "Sound like" better get help now if you're hearing voices when you read posts.

Yes, for the reasons I set out in my post that you quoted. Riders like BWD occasionally perform exceptionally but the operative word is occasionally. His form has dipped and in my opinion a repeat of that paid maximum or even anything approaching that performance is extremely unlikely.THJ has been in poor form but as is often said, form is temporary but class is permanent. In my opinion it is more likely that THJ will score more points than BWD would have done. He may have a terrible night, I hope he does but I believe that most knowledgeable fans given an option to choose between the two would choose THJ.

It's the luck of the draw. But for the weather he would have made his comeback for Belle Vue on Monday in a semi final. In fact Belle Vue's remaining matches are semi finals and hopefully, finals. At least his 5 rides tonight will have helped his race fitness for tomorrow.

Don't be silly!! Wan is from the Chinese side of the family.

Of course they are. All of the semi finalists and the BSPA share some responsibility. Considering all of the weeks without meetings that most clubs seem to have suffered it is madness to now be in this position. Having said that and knowing the number of guests used this year, the probability is that none of the teams would have had their full 1-7 whenever the meetings were arranged but surely they could have avoided Wolves having to put out a side with so many guests. They devalue the competition by not themselves treating it with any respect and then wonder why the fans do the same. The facts are that all of the semi finalists were known by the 26 June and they and the BSPA should have ensured that the draw and the dates were sorted out soon afterwards.

Doyle is going through a lean spell/ keeping safe for the GP's and I think the chances of BWD repeating his previous score were pretty remote, his form has dipped since then, in fact I'd have bet your house on it. Fricke is a big loss on his current form but I think that Andersen and Kurtz will even things out with neither scoring as many as the riders they replace. Jonasson is potentially a plus for BWD but even so I think we will win but struggle to win on aggregate.

What is disgraceful is that Somerset qualified for the semi final on the 15 April and Wolverhampton on the 26 June and yet they have been unable to sort out a date until now, resulting in the present farce. I have little sympathy for either of them.

You could be right. The number of matches could fit into a programmee of fortnightly home matches. Not sure that's what I want. I preferred the days of a home match every week or 3 and out of every 4 if there are stock cars. However, it does fit nicely if you also have a NL team because then you can have a meeting at home almost every week. As you point out though it is vital that someone with a modicum of sense sorts out the fixture lists.

That fits with what I have heard. Top division of as many as 12 teams but only one league match home and away against each team plus KO cup and play offs.

Should be an entertaining meeting. Kurtz rides well at the NSS and scored the same as Doyle in the PRC and two good reserves. Carr was impressive in a recent NL meeting against the Colts. If Fricke doesn't ride then neither Andersen as a guest or r/r will score as many as he would have done. We shall need to be at our best

You could draw the same conclusion if you compared any other type of meeting, league, cup and individual using the same time frame. Using the logic of your argument it is time to scrap speedway. Speedway has to reinvent itself as a credible sport and in such a way as to increase the fan base. I doubt we shall ever again have the crowds we had in the late forties or the 70's, there are now many more options for the leisure pound. However, with the right leadership I see no reason why it can't grow significantly from the current levels.

I can't recall him riding at the NSS but most riders seem able to adapt to the track. In the Premiership and Championship he and Bewley have similar averages but providing Bewley is match fit I expect (hope) his home track knowledge will give him the edge.

Have you ever seen Shuttleworth ride or seen Smith at the NSS the last few weeks, he has noticeably improved? I agree that neither may score points at Monmore but Smith is undoubtedly the better of the two at the NSS. When Wolves last visited the NSS Smith and Greaves beat each other once. My guess is that Smith is worth 2-5 points on recent form. I shall be pleasantly surprised if Shuttleworth matches that.

Good to see that Lambert recovered sufficiently to take 6 rides in Poland today after aggravating his knee injury in Germany on a Friday and having to miss the PRC. I understand there was someone somewhere who doubted he'd make such a speedy recovery.

Missing Jack Smith is likely to cost us a couple of points, with his recent improved form I think he had the beating of Greaves but with Bjerre back we now have a chance to build up a a lead to take to Monmore. Going to be tight though and we need Bewley to hit the ground running.

We don't need that anymore. Using the newly imposed Chapman criteria I gather it's now acceptable to have a wind off. Just need to trawl through every forecast to find one that forecasts anything stronger than a mild breeze. Other than that apparently a blown fuse will do.

We can always use the Poole precedent and postpone the meeting now on the basis that it wouldn't be fair on the paying public to expect them to pay to watch an understrength team. That would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

I'm not sure of your reasoning for r/r but not a guest. He's our number 1 so when a facility is available we could use either. However, the reality is that there is nobody available tomorrow who would remotely cover for him at the NSS, so r/r would be our best option.

It may be that Bjerre would put his club first but he hasn't got that option if the DMU ban him for doing so. We shall just have to wait and see what the authorities decide.

There have been many instances over the years where results have later been amended because of some illegality during the meeting.

Lambert needs to face disciplinary action. If he races in Poland tomorrow having raced on Germany yesterday, is this any different than the situation Batchelor was in when he was sacked? I seem to remember talk of it being put in riders contracts that they had to appear in this meeting. I don't know if it was but regardless riders can't be allowed to miss it without genuine excuse.

I'm sure Swindon could compensate them and they'll be happy.

According to the Instagram message Johansson is booked, not provisionally booked. Either, Rosco hasn't told him that it depends on BWD being fit or Rosco has been looking at his crystal ball again.

If I were Rosco I would wait and see who performs well tonight from the eligible riders before deciding a replacement for Doyle.