Splatty

Hans is not my favourite rider by a long way but i'm stunned by this decision - he should have got in ahead of all 3 riders - without doubt he was heading towards being a future world champion (dark side or no dark side)....time will tell as to whether this will affect him adversely or not On the flip side I am pleased that two of the younger guns have got a chance and Pepe is a very likeable rider but the token gesture by BSI is too late in the day and it is time that a proper qualifying system was brought back (ie one where everyone has to qualify except for the world champion) p.s. in defence of Scott no one can tell me that he wasn't one of the most entertaining, fastest and most consistent in the second half of the season - he may never be world champion but he will remain on the cusp for quite a while yet and if he sorts out his gating and self belief who knows?

Ben how about instead of that the riders are paid mileage in line with what inflation should have boosted it to, as by all accounts the mileage rate has hardly increased in years but more importantly.......that a radical drive is brought in to standardise machinery to parts at the lower end of the market - there would no longer be the struggle to raise funds for such and such overpriced carbs or forks - racing would be closer - skill would come back into fashion but more importantly the sport's main overhead would be reduced beware of the TRick - the above situation has already become an important situation - what now happens when the GP riders realise they will have to go down the very expensive route of custom made parts to keep up with Tony - the GP wannabees do the same to be picked as wildcards - theoretically it could eventually filter down into the leagues and create even higher prices for machinery which riders already can't afford....paid by promoters who can't afford the wages if a sensible approach is given to the finances in the sport at a time when clubs are apparently in trouble I wouldn't care if a team got quadruple points for a TR

I have to agree with trees - the fact that it has been cut short for Tennis highlights - which was also the reason it started late does not reflect the viewing figures and consequently the standing within the Sky listings.......very poor for the finale - i'm sure Ch4 will cover it in a couple of week's time though

re: commentary I think the standard is generally quite high for our growing sport - Kelvin is a decent 'colourman' and which would you prefer Pearson's shouting or Millard's commentary consisting of just repeating the leading rider's name throughout the race? what I have noticed though this season is that even though the racecard does not make it easy for them to instantly know who is making the semi, who has a chance and which gates are working...they have consistently been 'off the ball' - do they not know what a spreadsheet is?

I take it all back.....didn't do him any favours at all

and no dioubt they will try it in the final too to allow Lerigh 3rd overall

or contrary to worldwide opinion we do like to have fun

I reckon maybe you should pay a visit before expressing the opinion then........ and if you a true speedway connoisuer (ie one that likes tracks of all sizes and setups) you may well be wondering where the reputation came from as on the whole the racing has been of a high standard this season

when did you last go to Rye?

time is ticking on Nicki - he is not changing his style one bit and it will only end up in tears one day...I just hope they are not someone elses

thats the way to deal with Nicki and Hans

did Jason Crump just make the hand gesture it looked like on the TV?!!

I think you are right! lol ...thats what happens when you join the coverage late!

yeah 1st heat was 11 6 9 15 instead of 1 2 3 4

im confused...........why have we had 6 gp's with the same gate format and then all the gates change for this one?!

I like this one Kevin! Can I put the 'splatty slant' on it as well and also introduce far more substantial rewards for having a Brit than 2.5% reduction and.................after all the ridiculous signings made this year purely to stack up some extra contracts the sport should definitely be looking at limiting the amount of changes a team can make in a season - I was thinking that 2 would be a fair figure (+ replacements for injury of course)

some amazing opinions in here! that quite honestly was the worst decision in the meeting - the ref was provided with replay after replay after replay and by the delay was quite obviously in two minds as to what to do - another poor refereeing decision in front of the Sky cameras jeez! a forearm smash is a forearm smash! theres no all 4 back - theres no excluding another rider .........quite simply it is an exclusion for the rider who did it regardless of the scores, the teams involved or the riders involved - I wouldn't care if it was the Queen sitting on that bike - if she kicked someone, punched someone or generally crossed the line with unsportsmaam ( ) like behaviour i'd have her out of the race and possibly the meeting! time to discuss giving yellow and red cards to the refs as well

I did send a PM to the 'admin' account in the hope that someone would reply - preferably the moderator who edited my post but I really don't understand why it was - my post was based on historical facts - i.e. that one rider in particular in the GP field has a habit of reminding Nicki (and usually only Nicki) that two can play the same game - I do not condone overly aggresive on track behaviour as I don't with Nicki's catalogue of incidents and I was not simply plucking a name from nowhere The topic title asks 'who will sort out Nicki Pedersen' - and assuming that it will not be himself or the speedway authorities I was discussing the very real possibilities that one rider in particular could take things a little further in the future I will omit to mention the rider's name again in case I hurt your sensibilities

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totally agree Andy while so many of them are positively wetting themselves over who they can bring over for 8 matches at a time - but who has got the guts to lay it on the line?

I'm not sure I agree but if that is the case why? better backed? better sponsored? better trained? This is exactly why we are discussing these things - I personally remember an age when our riders thrived in a setup which only allowed top quality overseas riders in the old British League - there were very few '2nd rate' overseas riders and as such didn't clog up the natural path to progress for our guys - riders like Steve Bastable would have struggled to make the squad for a world team cup yet he had a 9 point average compare that to now where reserve slots in Premier League teams are clogged and it is easy to see where the problem is - consider the chicken and the egg It can be argued (with ease) that if young Europeans are better than the Brits that it is because their leagues take care of their grass roots - they don't clog up the path to progress like us, not to mention that they are given opportunities to ride in a different country over here to gain more experience - and in the case of the Aussies there is no doubting the quality of the initial grass roots training that goes on over there but the riders are also taken better care of over here - they are a responsibility and an investment.....not to take anything away from the independant and single minded attitude that many of them seem to have dodgy british riders??? very poor and you obviously need to get yourself to a few CL and U15 matches to see the quality that is out there

which is why riders like Chris Harris, Simon Stead, Ed Kennett, James Wright, Dumps and Neathy need to be given ultimate support NOW - that could involve pairing them off with past legends, financial support, someone appointed to find sponsorship etc etc but I see no reason why these guys can't make it (and possibly others at similar levels)

ok so what would be everyone's 5/10 point plan to turn things around? mine would be something like this (and probably very illegal ): 1) overseas riders would come in on an 8+ average (until it was contested in the european courts) in PL and would not be allowed to move from 1,3 or 5 2) 2/3 years later the same would happen in the EL (although the transition to this would need to be well worked out and as gentle as possible) 2) contracts for overseas riders would be 'owned' by the BSPA and money earned would be ploughed into U15's and those on the U21 and GP trail 3) travelling expenses would be brought more in line to reality to encourage riders to more distant locations 4) The CL which would instantly grow because of the changes (no money in overseas flights anymore so the money goes into bringing through prospects) would be split into Northern and Southern leagues 5) until point 2 is implemented clubs need to be given incentives to take the leap with a young brit in the EL - scrap the 2.5% reduction...don't even think about 10%..... - instead go for either a 2.00 point average for reserves and/or a 20% reduction for Brits - they are the commodity we would like to become the focus and there is no better way of doing it - i'm sure attitudes would change very quickly edit: oh yeah and absolutely zero tolerance in the CL - commonwealth included shoot me down

and that is in their top league.....let alone their 2nd and junior class it has been obvious for many years that there is little regard for anything other than short term gains and much has been played on in PR about 'exciting overseas riders' when they are no more exciting than ours - now I feel things have reached such a pitch that every generation that comes along will find it harder and harder to crack the top level

In our own country - what's other countries excuses? USA, Oz, NZ, even Denmark - where are their thriving leagues? we will be fine for another world champion if the current push at U15 level continues right up through the ranks but while promoters and fans alike think the structure is fine and dandy (and that rider from timbuctoo looks good as an asset to replace our improving Brit) we will wait longer than the 12 years between Michael Lee and Gary Havelock we have complicated rules enough in British speedway but extra restrictions have to start being seen when it comes to teambuilding