iwright71

Eventually the F.I.M will decree the World Team Cup / SON will consist of 1 rider per team along with an u21 reserve. Will do away with this nonsense of drawn heats in the last few novelty run offs and will include a field of 24 / 32 teams . Final to be held in Azerbaijan , on Christmas Day.

Its difficult to cut the people involved with this project much slack when all we have heard from them for the last 3 years is, failed promises, unmet deadlines, deafening silence, misleading stories and downright lies.

So the racing at Kings Lynn is now as good as it always was ? Not what I see on the TV. Used to be one of my favourite tracks. Can't remember the last great meeting I saw their on the TV

It seems we have a brilliant product that nobody wants to pay to watch. The mystery deepens

Why aren't people turning up in their droves like they used to then ?

Got no problem with transponders being used just not this Mickey Mouse qualifying system which some weeks some riders won't even be there to participate in

So you would plump for 2 outside gates at Krsko ? obviously with stats being worthless. At some tracks there are grave yard gates. All the riders know them

Pretty much agree with this. I don't agree with his assessment that racing is better than ever. It might be at Scunthorpe, Belle Vue and Somerset but unfortunately that is not enough to prop up the sport in this country. Fans have got eyes, so have those who watch the TV coverage on BT sport. As much as they bull it up how many classics have you seen from Swindon, Leicester, Wolves, Poole, Kings Lynn recently.

Surely this is a joke ! It just seems a quirky change just for changes sake. How is this going to provide better / fairer racing when there is statistical data available for most tracks as to what are the best and most importantly worst gates at each venue. Is the open draw now not sexy enough, at least it was fair and over a season you took the rough with the smooth. An early tip for all the riders, after going to Krsko last year do not pick a start number which includes 2 outside gates.

A good 5 page in depth interview with Rob Godfrey in this weeks Speedway Star. Did any posters read it and have any comments / opinions on the thoughts of the BSPA Vice Chairman

Unfortunately this is speedways " elephant in the room " that a lot of meetings these days are boring. And at the same time observers are scratching their heads why an army of kids are not flooding through the turnstiles . They normally blame society or there's more things to do or the internet, Its not rocket science to deduce that if adults are bored then the kids will be too.

That's your 2nd post in a row which has started with "you know nothing" Its probably right, I'm just making observations on what I see and read. Including a local councillor in the Man Evening News quoted as saying " I absolutely support the principle of ensuring a thriving local business economy but unfortunately this has proved to be a failing initiative on more than one occasion. There are no viable plans for this money to be returned and we cannot afford to sink any more money into a business that shows no sign of growth despite public injections of nearly 9 million " I think reading the last few pages of this topic that most non protectionist Belle Vue fans realise the ongoing financial issues at the NSS

It makes you wonder if its ever going to work at Belle Vue. Great stadium, great racing, great facilities, in a big city with a big catchment area, relatively successful teams ( last 4 years in the play offs and a KO Cup) but no more council subsidies and losing money year on year. Its questionable how Belle Vue can significantly increase their turnover while reducing costs with their team and remaining successful on the track. Success in speedway more than most sports is shared around, what happens should Belle Vue have a couple of barren years on track ?

Sam Ermolenko, Bruce Penhall, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill, Bobby Ott, Ronnie Correy, Dennis Sigalos,, Bobby Schwartz, Josh Larsen, Shawn Moran

Sounds very similar to Matt Ford. 2 long term speedway dyed in the wool speedway promoters who know the game is nearly up and want to sell their club before it is worth nothing

I dare say that's why every day at this years Ashes will be sold out at 100 pound a pop because alternatively you have to pay to watch it on Sky or those who went to every sold out session of this years World Championship darts don't have Sky. Most sports fans watch live sport and have Sky , BT. If Satellite TV is a cost issue why are fans not flocking to watch speedway live ?

The youngsters who go are bored by what their watching, the 50's-60's go because they always have and its more a social than anything else.

Surely this has always been the same through recent history, even when speedway was flourishing. 15 minutes of action ,nobody seems put off going to Cardiff for 23 minutes of action. People go to watch sport for the core action not the bells and whistles in between . How many fans watch the half time entertainment at Premier League football, during the Masters snooker final interval fans could stare at an empty table, it doesn't put people off going ,they go for the main event. The first port of call must be to attract supporters on the back of the core product.

That's a cop out. More money is being spent on watching live sport than anytime in history. Most sports our flourishing , The reason speedway is not is not because of society.

Spot on post. Unfortunately this is the elephant in the room with speedway that nobody must talk about.. Most speedway matches you watch these days are not great. Take the matches on TV this year, how many classics have you seen from Leicester , Swindon , Kings Lynn, Wolverhampton or Poole last year ? This is the reason the fans are not turning up anymore

This is speedway's great mystery . If the racing is better today than was then why are people not packing the stadiums to watch it like they used to do ?

Speedways demise is all the more galling when we are told by promoters and pundits alike that the product ie the racing is better than ever.

I wouldn't put too much trust in auntie beebs "editorial policy " aside from Woffinden, Mauger and Moore to blank the first Women's British Open in 16 years was disgraceful. Sums up the integrity of the BBC

Plenty of positives for the Polish league. I think riders should be given the proper preparation time for a GP which gives them the option to practise or relax on a Friday. Not dashing from airports to GP venues on a Saturday afternoon. The riders talk about burnout, this won't make it any better. As with Sunday fixtures in Poland not been cancelled after a GP rain off well I wouldn't guarantee it. Rules can be changed as per practise and the Polish League now know the FIM is in a weak position , they effectively now control the riders and the schedule.

Just for interest what time of day / night are the Friday fixtures going to start. Seems a bit of a push to have 2 matches on a Friday night