mikebv

Condolences to you and your family, mate... Always enjoyed your Dads' contributions.... All the best....

And then flood it....

Surprised PTA hasn't mentioned it yet.... "Needless to say, I had the last laugh" - Alan Partridge. Bouncing Back..

Patryk Dudek not too impressed with Phil's track preparation, in the Speedway Star.. "We spoke to Phil Morris before the event to make sure he was careful about watering. The track is so loose and the hosts added some shale to it. It was a complete disaster. We fought throughout the race to get Phil to stop watering. When he finally did, the track was safer and the final races were actually enjoyable. We were flagging up the issues but we don't have the power to make a difference".. Not just us watching then that have the same opinion..?.. A good article from Peter Oakes too, re Northampton and the NKI coverage issue... He certainly has become more challenging of those in charge more recently, (in a constructive way).... He must come on here....

Their track is now "shocking" when once it suited "proper Speedway riders, not throttle jockeys".... Good to see Will Cairns' score last night, there does seem to be a bit of a "pile on" for the kid, now and again, from some, for some reason... As with all the young UK lads, just let them develop and see where they end up... The sport is desperate for more supply than demand so if these lads only reach tier two second string status they are playing their part....

The FIM pretty much let all disciplines market themselves, and don't have much involvement in the day to day running of each discipline... The FIA do a similar job in car racing... Give the event their official licence, then sit back, and count the money paid in to them...

I thought so to, and also thought it would be a great idea... World No2, pretty much guaranteed to hit you 12 and over at home, so would "protect" races, thus keeping the score close at worst, and do it from the back if needed... A "new hero", for the kids in particular, to latch onto... I thought, given it was a "collective", who made it clear how important it was to launch a sixth team, that they would have sorted them out a very competitive team.. They seem to have settled on two number 3's, three second strings, and two reserves...

Track shape looks good, just more of an outside run needed, and I am sure that will develop.. They could do with a couple of "racers" in the team I think to utilise the whole of the track... I thought maybe Kurtz or Bewley would have been allocated to them... Two riders happy to use the boards, and two of the best three in the world, so something to sell to the locals if either had ended up there...

I would suggest most fans in the country support a "losing team" given the same teams, in both leagues, seem to reach the play offs each season now... "Winning at Home" being the priority for most promoters, and is the key to their tracks being able to ensure their "die hards" come back regularly... Enjoying the racing, and the social interaction... Northampton have only really been seen to have been beaten "once" in the eyes of most of those attending that first meeting so far, given their away following will have been minimal at those defeats... They will also be paying out lots of points money from their one income so far to pay for the several away meetings the imbalanced fixture list set them up with, so will need a decent few consecutive crowds at home to help balance the books... The next few meetings will be very important to the success of the venture... Opening a new team in a sport with such a small national following, with minimal public and media awareness, and making it work, is a massive challenge... So, best of luck to all involved, let's hope most of their opening night crowd (the locals within it at least), stick with them.. Edit. And as for needing 10 wins for it to not be a "one season wonder", even if the crowds settle to around not too many below 1000, that would run a decent level Championship team next year.. The landscape of UK Speedway could be very different next season.. The success of the long term venture is very much linked to the next few home meetings...

I wouldn't get too focused on the winning or losing given it is UK Speedway... You will spend the season, by the looks of things, using the other five teams' riders most meetings, so "success" or "failure" (on track) is a moot point... Success off track is key..... Looking at the opening night crowd, history of openings suggest crowds will settle down to around 700 - 1000, which, for a top tier team is going to maybe not be break even, however, that opening night income will offset what is only a short season, so hopefully it "wipes its face" and puts in strong foundations for many years of Speedway... Those who already have followed the sport will be vital in supporting the venture regularly until a local fan base is built of those who are new to it ..

Good meeting that.... Swedish Speedway delivers the closest and best racing for me... Some very good, well shaped, tracks,

Is the 2nd reserve race a cost cutting measure? Saves paying out for four HL's in Heat 14...

In the Speedway Star NKI said it could be up to 12 weeks before the doctors give him the all clear to fly... Possibly 3 months of not even a six month season?... Ridiculous... They need some support given its a brand new venture with zero "recent" history... Luke Becker doing well in Sweden tonight...

Don't be modest Dave, I was very impressed ..

Dave speaking fluent Swedish!!!!!