G the Bee

I agree with that. The pressure is on Barker now big time. He needs to deliver. As far as I'm concerned, after what happened at the start of last season with the Brummies, I would not have been bothered if Ben never rode for Coventry again. However, what's done is done. I don't agree with the decision but it's happened. Should we get to the playoffs, Barker's performances will be under the spotlight big time. If he performs all will be forgiven. If he does not, then this decision made by the Bees promotion will give us all something to debate on here during the close season. Such is the nature of sport.

All those on here having a pop at Jepsen Jensen, take a detached view and look at the situation from his perspective and tell me then that you would not have made the same decision he did. I have total understanding that MJJ's first priority is with his Swedish club. He joined them before he joined us this season, and, in fact, he has ridden for Dackarna for years as opposed to the few months he has ridden for us. In making this decision he is probably also thinking about next year and making sure he maximises his chance of getting another contract for Dackarna which, to be honest, for a rider like MJJ is probably more important to him than getting a contract sorted with Coventry or any other EL club next season. We have to accept when we sign riders like MJJ half way through a season that their Swedish and Polish fixtures are going to be a priority for them. Whether this means that riders like MJJ should be signed at all is another debate for another day. You can call him a mercenary if you like but, the fact is, he's had to make a simple business decision. He was going to upset someone whatever decision he made. The question is, does he upset the British club he joined mid-season and probably will not be riding for next season anyway, or does he upset his longstanding Swedish employers? Like it or not, Bees fans, it's a no-brainer. Earlier this week, the Coventry promotion made a 'Business Decision' to move the home Kings Lynn fixture forward 24 hours. As is the case with MJJ's decision to miss the Belle Vue fixture, the repercussions of this are that the Bees team riding against Kings Lynn will be weakened as Garrity, Howarth and Hansen (will we get a facility for him?) are unavailable. This was to accommodate a football match! I have more understanding for a weakened Bees team riding at Belle Vue due to a rider riding in a Swedish playoff fixture than I do for a weakened Bees team riding on Thursday because there is a football match going on elsewhere.

Ever heard of the phrase 'Cutting off your nose to spite your face'? I actually have some sympathy for MJJ. The Swedish meeting is a playoff meeting and whilst it officially has no bearing on which club he should represent on Monday, the fact is he signed for Dackarna at the begining of the season but only signed for Bees mid season. Dackarna have injury problems and other absences. I'm not surprised he feels he should prioritise his Swedish fixture. So taking these factors into account, the lad was put in an impossible position. It is not ideal and Bees have every right to feel agrieved. However, Bees should have considered the bigger picture. What would you rather, be without MJJ for an away fixture at Belle Vue or have him replaced by Ben Barker for the whole of the play offs? A massive own goal by the Bees promotion in my opinion.

Personally, I feel that the amount of Bees fans who would have skipped what promised to be one of the meetings of the season to attend the Coventry City match would have been nowhere near enough to justify the moving of this fixture. I also believe that any potential benefit in avoiding the Coventry City match will be offset by other factors. Coventry do not get good crowds on off nights anyway and I suspect those who pick and choose their meetings will look at the patched up Bees team and may well stay away. A full strength Bees v Lynn promised to be a cracking meeting. To be robbed of the chance of watching that meeting by my own team's promotion is what I, and I suspect a great many other Bees fans who have no interest in Coventry City, find hugely disappointing.

Open question to Neil Watson or any other member of the Bees management team who read this forum from a season ticket holder. Assuming that the Bees team for the Thursday fixture will now be reliant on guests and/or RR, do you think your decision to rearrange this fixture from a date where the Bees would have been able to track a full team is treating the many Coventry fans who have no interest in football, or the season ticket holders who have paid for this meeting in advance, fairly?

It wasn't a classic, but you can only beat what's in front of you. Lakeside were really poor in the second half of the meeting and Bees put in a workmanlike performance despite most of them carrying injuries and generally not being at 100% fitness. A really good 3 points for Bees.

Not sure it makes much difference. King was going to ride instead of Watt and he is pretty good value at Brandon.

And that's the benefit of the fixed night system. If the EL was on fixed nights with no PL action on those nights, then the likes of Danny King, Ben Barker, Edward Kennett, Simon Stead etc. could also double up without anyone having to worry about fixture clashes. The fast track system would also work better because of the lack of doubling-up clashes. The riders who are able to get rides abroad can then get them and those who cannot, many of whom might argue that an EL with less fixtures would not give them enough earning opportunity, would be able to double up. Clubs who wish to go down the route of having two number 1 riders who job share, and can come to suitable agreements between themselves and those riders on the logistics of costings and how it would work, can do so. The higher averaged rider's average would be used for team building. Everyone's a winner.

Yet you back up your argument with no facts. Why would two riders cost more than one? I assume you are thinking about signing on fees, supplied vans, mechanics etc. But has the scenario even been approached with the riders. I always feel if there is a will, there is a way. It would be down to the clubs to manage the situation. You say the EL can't afford to fly in Greg or Nicki. Well I seem to recall Poole flew Greg in quite a lot last season and Nicki lives in Stevenage! Greg last year was dropped by Bydgoszcz to save them money so, I assume, he was on some type of meeting by meeting deal there. I think that the chance to race half the EL fixtures in what is still a competitive league could well appeal to many riders who have simply given up riding in GB because it's too many fixtures.

Why would we? Surely you are not making this assumption based upon a one season experience when Coventry finished rock bottom of the league. The poor crowds in 2004 were more influenced by the poor team and not the racenight. Sure, when Coventry race midweek at the moment, attendances are down but this is simply because it's not their regular race night. Plenty of other teams ride midweek and Wolves and Poole have both raced Mondays and Wednesdays for years with some success. If Bees went Premier League, with Robbo and Allen as their top two, as you suggest, we would, yet again, be looking at another swathe of fans lost to the sport. Another example of the sport weakening the product. If PL standard racing is the answer, why are so many PL tracks also struggling for attendances? One of the reasons the sport has lost so many fans at EL level is that many of the top riders have gone and fans, no longer excited by the product, have drifted away. No-one ever grew a business by watering down and weakening the product they offered to the customer. I think we all accept that the days of all of the top stars in the EL have gone but, as it stands, we'll be lucky to keep the ones we've got, and the ones coming through the system, unless drastic changes are made. Fixed race nights. Less EL fixtures. No PL riding on those nights so no doubling up clashes. And if clubs want a shared number 1, what's the problem? Not all clubs would need one, but the ones that do (Ward and Holder at Poole, Lindgren and Woffinden at Wolves) what's the problem? The riders would be given a 'pay as you play' deal and ride for the same points money as they get at the moment. That's the way forward.

I remember that now and stand corrected. However, it's still a joke. Unless the fixture is re-arranged, that rider's domestic league should always take priority as far as I'm concerned. All this rule does is penalise the paying customer.

What kind of absurd thinking is on the part of the BSPA for them to consider that a Danish rider should prioritise a scheduled British fixture ahead of a scheduled Danish one? It's an absolute farce that we are not allowed a guest for a Danish rider riding in a Danish fixture when a Polish rider riding in a Polish meeting is allowed a guest facility. Still, it's only the fans that miss out again. I'm sick to the back teeth of Coventry missing doubling up riders and constantly seeming to be having to face teams with the proverbial hand tied behind their back. If we are not having to field generally substandard riders for Garrity, then it's something else. I'm now thinking it will be RR for Howarth, with Hansen, Garrity and Sargeant available for his rides. Puts a lot of pressure on Garrity and means that Sargeant is going to have to have a good meeting too as Garrity will have no scope to cover his fourth ride. As for the farce of having to track Nielsen for MJJ, well, anything Stefan scores will have to be seen as a bonus.

Well Bech rode in the first round but Lakeside are at home against Poole anyway so that's a no go whatever the scenario. Not surprised. Gustafsson then perhaps. What's the betting it will be Ricky Wells now Wolves have released him? Who else is available and not riding in the Danish Championship? Batchelor would be a good shout. I thought Doyle would be a good guest for Hans but seem to recall he is not able to guest because of the work permit he is using. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Ok. Rather than get frustrated about what might or might not occur, perhaps we could all play a game of 'Guess The Team'. That way, should we end up with a team full of guests, at least we'll be able to see who's guess was closest. Just for fun of course... No prizes for the winner. After all, if a team with 4 or 5 guests out of 7 riders takes to the track, really there can be no winners. I predict (guest riders in Bold): Nicholls for Andersen Howarth (if fit) or Summers if Howarth is not fit Schlein for MJJ Stead for Hansen Harris Stefan Nielsen for Garrity Sargeant That's my attempt. All averages seem to fit according to the latest EL green sheets but Schlein and Stead seem to fit exactly. Perhaps new green sheets will scupper this.

You mean revenge for us coming to your place with a full team and beating your full team. In regards to this meeting, Andersen, Jepsen Jensen and Hansen all rode in the last round so it's reasonable to assume they will be riding in the second. However, perhaps the frustration I am currently feeling whilst reading this thread is a little premature. Perhaps we should wait for a statement from the Bees promotion. Perhaps the unexpected will occur and the riders I want to see riding for the Bees (Andersen, Hansen and Jepsen Jensen) will be in the UK not in Denmark. To be honest, I am starting to think that there are only so many straws that can be added to this camel's back before it breaks! We had the recent farce of us going to Kings Lynn with PL second strings riding for Jepsen Jensen and Andersen and now this potential issue. I wonder, how many times this season have we taken to the track with our full 1-7? Anyway, we've got over a week till this fixture takes place. I await the press release from Brandon with interest.

But British Speedway hasn't been run in a way that's best for British Speedway for years! If it had been, the sport would not be on its backside right now. And let's not paint a picture that all is rosy in the PL, because it certainly is not. One only has to read Mick Horton's comments this week in the Speedway Star to see that. The fact is, the sport at Elite League level should have moved to one race night years ago. Instead, they clung to an out-of-date league format which dates from the time when the British League was the only league for riders to race in. The EL promoters should have recognised the threat of Poland and Sweden years ago, accepted the system and worked within it. Instead, they dug their heads in the sand, constantly came up with reasons for a single race night not to work, rather than create a determination to make it work and, as a result, created the watered down, half-way-house of an Elite League we have at the moment. Something's got to change. The Elite League cannot keep going on the way it is. Farcical doubling up rules, fixture clashes, uneven and disjointed fixtures are killing the sport. The EL has either got to go one race night and get the top riders back or simply shut up shop. Every year, it seems to get worse, crowds are lower, the standard of rider is lower... If the promoters do not have a collective determination to do something radical then they are wasting their time and the sport, at least at Elite League level, will die a slow but inevitable death.

Howarth is a worry and certainly, on present form, you would say that Fisher is a better rider. However, I'm not sure I would look to replace him as I still see him as one for the future. He started the season really well and one would hope he is able to recapture that form. I think (as usual) the biggest issue facing this Coventry side is inconsistency. We can never be too sure what we are going to get from Hansen or Howarth and MJJ has also been hit and miss so far this year.

It just shows what a strange sport speedway can be. Last year Proctor was flying, was a huge reason why Wolves did so well for much of last season before he was injured and, after his injury, Wolves missed him big time. This year he really seems to be struggling. His score was heavily inflated by his last heat win over the pointless Howarth and Sargeant. Last year, Smolinski came to Brandon early in the season and inspired an otherwise lacklustre Birmingham team to an away victory (having 7 rides). If a team has a reserve racking up a cricket score its so hard to beat them. Well done also to Andersen and Harris. They ride together so well. And lets not forget Sarj did his job, beating both Perry and Jacobs once in his three rides.

True. But I think the point here is that if you are struggling with an injury and making a comeback, why do it on a track where you struggle? Just seems a bit strange. Nevertheless II take your point.

My thinking exactly. All that way to Wolves for, probably, three rides. I suspect Garrity will be a busy boy tonight.

Under my proposal, the riders still can ride in both leagues... Provided they prioritise their EL fixtures. To be honest, I often wonder just how hard it is for riders to find a ride in Sweden or Poland. I suspect that it's more to do with they get (in the short-term at least) a better financial deal which is far less risky and its far less hassle in terms of travelling, to ride PL instead. And once they are riding a full set of EL and PL fixtures, they don't need to ride in Sweden and Poland. Don't forget, if they ride in the PL it pretty much precludes them from riding in Poland due to Sunday fixture clashes.

Says the fan from the team who are pretty much guaranteed to finish top this season! I suspect there are many Coventry and Poole fans who do not agree with you. Despite the many problems in the EL, the play-offs are not one of them.

As far as I'm concerned, the doubling-up rule is a pain in the backside. What started out ten-or-so years ago as a scheme with the intention of, for a limited amount of time, giving up-and-coming British riders the chance to gain experience in the top league without taking the hit of losing their income in the Premier League, has turned into a bloated, out of control monster which is playing havoc with EL fixtures. Of course, no-one knows what the make-up of the EL will be next season. But, assuming the status quo is roughly maintained (another debate for another day) something has to be done about the doubling-up rule. The simple solution, and one I would prefer, would be to scrap the rule pretty much completely. Only FTD reserves would be allowed to double up. However, if that is not possible, drastic changes are needed. We can't have the farcical situation maintained where a team in the lower division has priority over a rider in the event of a fixture clash. Asset or not, that situation is a nonsense. And now there is no limit on the amount of time a rider can double up, the situation is worse. Theoretically, a rider progressing in the Premier League, such as Craig Cook, Richard Lawson, Richie Worrall, Kyle Howarth or many of the new FTD riders, will never need to move-up to the EL full time. So, in the case of Cook or Howarth, for example, they can continue to ply their trade in both leagues pretty much indefinitely (perhaps even, in the case of Cook, as a heat leader in both) but at a continued detriment to their Elite League clubs as both are assets of Premier League clubs. In the past, a PL club, realising their rider wanted to take the natural progression from PL to EL, would have been content to sell their rider, but this is no longer the case. Assuming the rider in question is happy at his PL club, why, for example, would Workington sell Kyle Howarth to Coventry knowing that as soon as they do so, they lose priority over his fixtures even though Howarth would be able to represent Workington for many seasons to come. It's time for the EL to get tough. The fact is, many of these riders are not PL riders propping up the EL, but EL riders providing the PL with its heat leaders. Despite this, at the moment, the deck seems unfairly stacked in favour of the Premier League. The situation needs reversing. Next season, the EL promoters should decide at the AGM that any rider (with the exception of a 'Fast Track' reserve) who wishes to double up will only be allowed to do so if they prioritise their EL fixtures. This will, essentially make the riders (who up to now have had the luxury of 'having their cake and eating it') decide what type of rider they wish to be. If riders like Cook, Howarth, Lawson, etc are content to just ply their trade in the PL, so be it. But, I suspect, if the riders were forced to make a decision, most (and certainly the up-and coming riders) would go with EL. Harsh but fair to all concerned. If a rider wishes to ride in the top division then he must ensure his EL fixtures take priority. If he doesn't, then he can stay in the PL.

I don't think it's a real problem. The fast track system was never going to turn every rider in it into one who is capable of making an impact in the EL. In the same vein, some riders were going to thrive and others were going to take a little time to get going. Next season, a batch of riders such as Garrity, Blackbird, Worrall, Newman, Blackbird and Kerr should be moved out of the fast-track system. They would be given the option of moving up into the 1-5 of the team they have represented this season. If they stay with the team they have represented this season, then they will be given an attractive average based on their FTD average (say between 3.5 and 4 points depending on the rider) and a pay guarantee. In order to stop the richer clubs snapping up the best newly promoted FTD riders on low averages, there needs to be an average conversion which is not so generous should a rider decide to move clubs (perhaps based on a conversion of their PL average or a less generous conversion of their FTD average from this season). Then the fast-track draft system would continue again, as it did this year, with new riders coming in to replace the XX amount of riders who have been removed from the system.

I for one fully sympathise with Hans Andersen and Michael Jepsen Jensen on this one. There is simply no way that a Danish rider, who rides on a Danish license should have to prioritise a fixture in a foreign league. The problem with the rule makers at the BSPA is that they want to have their cake and eat it. They expect British riders on British licenses to prioritise the British fixtures but also expect foreign riders on foreign licenses to put their UK fixtures first at the expense of their own domestic leagues. Hypocritical in the extreme. I suspect their argument is based upon some anachronistic and deluded opinion of where the UK stands in regards to its status as a speedway nation. I could understand the argument if these riders were riding in a Polish meeting but the fact is, they are riding in their own domestic league. So, who is at fault? Well, all the parties will pass the buck. But the fact is, if the sport was run properly, these mistakes would not happen. Even assuming that Bees had not signed Jepsen Jensen, they would still have faced going to Kings Lynn without Hans Andersen. The fact is, the fixture list is now a complete farce but the powers that be seem to be incapable of finding a solution to this problem. Problems such as missing doubling up riders (including fast-track reserves), riders riding in GP qualifiers, SEC championship meetings and clashes with other domestic leagues are not going to go away. We all know what the solution is. Like it or not, the EL has to move to single race nights next year. If that means a smaller fixture list, so be it. Other than that, the EL cannot survive and will simply thrash around as the watered down farce of a league which it has become until even that situation is unsustainable. For heavens sake, BSPA. Why don't you, for once, actually do something radical to try and save this sport before it's too late?