Aces51

MPT is a brilliant signing. Always gives 100%, never gives up and guaranteed to be a fans favourite. I hope he does really well, he's one of those riders who deserves to succeed.

According to this weeks Speedway Star, the rule hasn't changed, it is still as in 2014. Sound as if you were right SCB, they didn't listen.

You may be right in some instances but the reality of the TR is more likely that the promoters have heard what many fans say but are also aware of what Sky want. In effect they have compromised between the two demands and reduced it to one TR.

I can understand why teams can protect one asset, although I would prefer no protection but I certainly cannot understand why the rules were changed to allow protection of a rider who you chose in the draft last year. It means that a team finishing near the bottom last year and therefore getting an early pick in the draft, still gains from that this year, even if they finished near the top. The result of that, with the better riders available this year, is that next year nearly every tier one rider will be protected and the draft will be a nonsense. As I and others have said, the serious concern this year is the ridiculous ranking of some riders. I doubt any sane fan would have ranked Worrall at number 2 and the like of Newman and Blackbird so far down the list. To take just one factor into account, the PL averages, is plainly wrong and has created a situation which virtually everyone can see is wrong.

Quite pleased with the ftd. Worrall and Nielsen are good picks and look a strong pairing. I was surprised Nielsen wasn't chosen by one of the clubs who picked before us. As I have commented elsewhere the rankings in the first tier were ridiculous. Was that down to Neil Vatcher? I thought we would be left with the less fancied riders in the second pick but fortunately some strange decisions were made by some of the other clubs.

Absolutely ridiculous to base the tier one rankings on PL averages when a much truer comparison for those in the FTD last year is available. A combination of factors should have been taken into account. As I have said previously, anyone with an ounce of sense would, for example, take into account that Worral's PL average was inflated by a large number of rides at reserve. How many on here would rate him more highly than Garrity, Blackbird or Newman?

Lindgren signed as No.1

TNT, it would silly to base the rankings on PL averages alone and I would hope that Neil Vatcher would take into account a whole range of factors including how particular averages were obtained. For example, Worrall ride at reserve for Edinburgh for much of the season whereas others gained their average riding only in the 1-5. The EL average for those in the draft last year is a better guide because you can make truer comparisons. All factors, including how they progressed throughout the season and how they were ranked at the end of the season should be taken into account.

There doesn't have to have been anything wrong with Jason. Clubs replace riders with others they think may do a better job and the same applies to team managers. Jason put a lot of effort into the job and seemed to be a popular figure with the riders and fans. I would like to thank him for what he did and wish him well for the future. It will be interesting to see what changes Mark will make. Might we now see some of the more promising Aussie youngsters heading our way?

Apart from the unfairness of allowing a club to protect a ftd rider who is not their asset it also will lead to the inevitable collapse of the system. With the better quality riders available this year there is every chance that next year significantly more clubs will want to protect whoever they picked this year. Very quickly, all of the better riders will be protected or assets of an EL club and even the better category B riders will be tied up. We could end up with a farce of a draft where the only riders available to the bottom clubs will be the 8 that no-one thinks worth protecting. I see the argument about continuity and think that should be an aim for the 1-5 riders. For the FTD riders the more compelling argument to assist their development is for them to gain experience of different home tracks, to have the opportunity to see how different promotions operate and to learn from a range of top riders.

It seems ridiculous that a club can protect a rider who rode for them last year unless he is an asset of another EL club. The idea of the draft is that it gives clubs finishing in the bottom half of the league the benefit of having first picks. Fair enough that a club can protect one of their assets but why should a club who had an early pick in 2013 now be entitled to still gain from that benefit at the expense of clubs who finished below them this year.

The absence of the top riders doesn't necessarily make the product weaker and certainly not to newcomers. Conversely, some changes that will make a better and stronger product are; better track preparation and more races involving riders of comparable ability, which is more likely to produce better racing, more modern and dynamic meeting presentation with no unnecessary delays, simpler rules and consistent and transparent decision making by the BSPA and referees, better facilities that meet the expectations of newcomers, teams with local riders who develop and improve over time and teams which retain the a majority of same riders year on year to encourage fans to identify with them. What has to be achieved is that at the end of a meeting paying spectators feel that they have had a thoroughly enjoyable, value for money, time and can't wait to repeat the experience. The return of the top riders could be a contributory factor in achieving that experience but it is presently unaffordable, even if they wanted to return. It is a fallacy to think the product has to be weaker without them. The factors I have mentioned are affordable and achievable and will make the product much stronger than it has been for many years.

My recollection is that the riders had not been paid for two months and were owed in the region of £50,000. The main reason put forward at the time by the Swindon management for their problems was the late payment of Sky money, some £20,000. I have no idea if it is true but a number of Swindon fans posted on here that this was not a recent problem but that there had been problems relating to payments to riders dating back to Leigh Adams. The question of the late payment of the basic pay rate to away riders by the home club has arisen on other occasions at other clubs but sometimes it was a t*t for tat situation because the home club were still owed money for their visit to that club. Whatever the ins and outs the reality is that speedway will only survive in the long term if clubs live within their means. Crowd levels were dropping long before the top riders decided the grass was greener elsewhere and new fans will not be attracted in large numbers by the return of those riders, because they have never heard of them. The way forward is to get the sport onto a firm financial footing, get the product right, improve facilities for fans as much as is possible and then get the message out to as many potential fans as they can by promoting it far and wide through conventional and social media outlets.

Why? If they are the best options then yes but if there are better options or, if they would prefer to be elsewhere, then so be it.

All any of us know is what was reported in the press and I certainly wouldn't want to rely on that either being accurate or detailing all of the evidence given. The fact is that a jury convicted him having heard all of the evidence and perhaps, more importantly, having had the benefit of seeing the witnesses, which enables a much better assessment of their veracity. They also would have had clear directions from the Judge on the law relating to rape. That is not to say that juries do not make mistakes but the vast majority of jury verdicts are not overturned. At the moment we do not even know if the Criminal Cases Review Commission will refer his case. However, regardless of that, my view is that Evans has served his time and should now be free to pursue his chosen career with whichever club is prepared to employ him. With regard to Charlie Webster, she is perfectly entitled to express her views and should not be vilified for doing so.

Presumably, much depends on whether Garrity is still a FTD rider next year. If he is then, unless he becomes an asset of an EL club, he should go into the draft as this year and clubs choose starting with the bottom club. Chance are he could then end up at Leicester, depending on who else is in the draft. It would be entirely wrong for any club to have first call on a FTD rider just because they finished in the bottom half of the league this year and so had one of the first picks of the riders available.

Interesting that you don't see the smiley. I posted from my Google Nexus and whenever I insert a smiley it never appears when I first send the post and I have to edit it, reinsert the smiley and it does then appear in the post. However, having now looked at this particular post on my smartphone, there is a smiley but it is black and white, not yellow as shown when I look on my Nexus tablet. Anyone else have similar problems?

Look again at my post #15, did you not see the smiley? It was meant as humorous comment.

Obviously not a real fan 😉 . When the Aces were away I used to phone the away stadium after the match was over to get the result. Couldn't wait for the paper or teletext. Like many others I am just grateful for the service provided by Sue & Co. It is very much appreciated.

I'm not a believer in conspiracy theories but the authorities do not help their own credibility when events, which understandably cause suspicion and concern, remain unexplained. Any business needs to build trust with their customer base and a more open attitude would do much to improve the relationship they have with the fans.

Very disappointing news. Let's hope the situation changes before teams have to declare for next year. You have to feel for people like Brian Buck, who put so much time and effort into getting speedway back in Birmingham and for the many Brummie supporters.

An enjoyable final with some good racing. Congratulations to Poole on a deserved win. Coventry tried but never looked likely to pull off the win. You have to feel for Kings Lynn who led the table for most of the season only to lose out through injuries but it is good to see the team finishing top of the league table winning the play offs.

People in glass houses. It's difficult to accept criticism from a supporter of a club who that self same season called off a match for no other reason than that they would have had to field an understrength team.The The only difference was that Poole had more time to think up an excuse.

I'm sure there are still plenty of bricks available for those who really want to show their support. 🏁

So after 7 years of hard work and against all expectations Belle Vue achieve something which may just help to save this sport we love. It will provide modern facilities that might just encourage newcomers to return and properly structured training facilities to encourage British talent and you want the council to pull the plug. If everyone had that attitude the sport really would be doomed. As for the pathetic comment about fact finding missions, only a fool would embark on such a major project without doing as much research as possible.