mikebv

One of the major stumbling blocks to rider development has been the amount of experienced Double Uppers/Downers who have filled two places and not one... Particularly taking up so many places which should have been set aside for development in the 2nd tier...

Hopefully the NSS gets the GP Challenge.... No need for £70 plus prices, and no need for the considerable six figure outlay for the extra stand...

If that happens I am not sure the Aces will be too unhappy, given the impact to their crowds in the lead up, and just after, the event... Plus, the huge costs and time put in to organise it .. The sport itself though would be the main loser given the NSS is clearly one of the best circuits in the world...

Last seasons league was so successful the sport couldn't even get a decent TV deal for this season off the back of it.... Now The Aces are back on top this year, it looks like even ITV want to get involved again!!!!

UK Speedway is contrived and cobbled together every season.... Therefore. No one season has less, or more, meaning than any other.... Hopefully, that ends this season and it gets the complete reset it needs... That way, it may become relevant, and more notice will be taken of it...

This seasons "tin pot" league, of just six teams, certainly doesn't stack up against last seasons magnificently auspicious league of seven teams.. A league where the bottom two teams scored an excellent 17 points (combined), from their 48 matches, with seven tremendous victories in those forty eight matches being attained, four of those victories coming by one of them beating the other, meaning, therefore, that 10 of the 17 points they scored together came in those four matches.. And their combined total was just 13 points behind the fifth placed team, and just 26 behind the team who topped the league... A hugely impressive, prestigious league to win last season without any doubt, and one which will go down, I am sure, in the annals of history as one of the greatest ever, as the sport nears its centenary...

Didn't a helmet that got cracked, mean the concussion protocol needed to be observed?...

Great night of racing... Enjoyed that... Good to see a proper heat advantage needed to win..

Great night of racing... Enjoyed that... Good to see a proper heat advantage needed to win..

Some big decisions re wild cards next year given the injuries to "regulars"... And, as we know, there is the political angle too, to ensure more "eyeballs" are on the series.. If Poland allow "Sweden plus one" then it could be a bun fight for Freddie... Denmark, logistically, will have the advantage, but maybe double the meetings over here would sway his decision?...

When he rode for the Aces, I always had a "Steve Worrall" feeling to Tom.. ie There is a very good rider in there, but "something" will prevent him consistently reaching that international level... The pressure to perform when he has to step up seems to be the challenge for him... Birmingham had pretty much zero pressure given they were so poor, which I think reflected in his riding.... And at both the Aces and at Ipswich he has had two genuine World Class riders keeping pressure off him.. I watched him in Sweden last season against the larger number of top riders over there, and he definitely started to look more aggressive on the bike, and in one race pushed Zmarzlik out of contention in a race with a very robust manoeuvre.. Then he got badly injured pre season which I think has (as you could expect), dropped him back a bit this year... A big season for him next I would suggest as an indicator as to how his career will progress.. Will he just end up a solid UK rider, with maybe a 2nd or 3rd tier contract in Poland? Or will he become a consistent SEC or even GP performer over the next few years, with a top tier Polish contract..?. I think any team would want him if they can get two top level riders at One and Five, and Ipswich should be in the box seat for that, given they will want to take advantage of this seasons average..

I saw some of the action from the Sheffield meeting in Luke Killeen's Vlog, and it was clear you couldn't just "howl" into the bends at full gas, sideways blocking the track, meaning the rider behind couldn't pass, but just did the same thing... Meaning, as often happens at most tracks, four riders in procession, equidistant apart... From the action I watched in the Sheffield match, the riders had to go around the bends more circumspect given the level of grip they were getting, hence more mistakes and opportunities were available to be had... Hence, the racing was decent... With so little actually riding on the outcome of a any UK Speedway meeting, you would think the promoters would 100% focus on ensuring that the actual entertainment level, both on and off track, encourages people to keep attending wouldn't you...?

And Kurtz did his usual.... Happy with paid ten off four and didn't do heat 15..

The whole thing was summed up by Mark Lemon being the manager to do some "damage limitation" in Heat 15, and not using his GP stars to deliver another 1-5....

The comeback is on!!!!! Another 5-1 in Ht 15 needed... Chase the Ace and Mark Lemon should go out in it... The Aces may need to do a "Special Offer" for the 2nd leg..

Embarrassing this...

Again?...

They did say that to get a GP there that they needed to sort the track out first.... A lot to do....

Scores are close though... Hopefully the Witches will take a lead to the NSS to keep the tie interesting and hopefully, it will also mean a decent crowd will attend...

Game Over????? Lambert looking good for Saturday., Kurtz not so...

Wroclaw throwing points away by riding too wide.. And Torun seem more agresssive...

I bet that deflated her...

Guests are 100% not a necessary evil, as, if they were, then all leagues would have to use them.. The very fact they don't shows the sport can be ran without them... The issue is that now it has become part and parcel of the operating model in the UK, and fundamentally ingrained in the way the sport is ran... Providing promoters with lazy, easy to implement options, (and even a chance to improve their team), and it gives riders a chance to earn some decent money, (sometimes more than their own teams guarantee and points money)... In short, everyone is happy... If there are not enough riders then reduce the number of riders per team, (Denmark seem to run well with five per team, and eight teams)... If implemented this could free up 12 riders for next season's current six teams, with these riders, as you suggest, riding in tier two but coming in on short term replacement contracts... Or just implement a fit for purpose RR system which doesn't involve your No1 being replaced by two second strings, (or reserves if the manager chooses).. Riders 5 and 3 should be allowed to cover all the missing No1's rides, (f the manager chooses), and for the rest of the team, then the riders above and below the missing rider can take two each.. With a number eight coming in for a missing number seven.. You still then win or lose as a "proper team" and credibility is maintained.. The way UK runs its Speedway is just lazy and contrived, as they can plan in fixtures, with known clashes, and then just use Guests to cover the missing riders... Removing the Guest "Get out of jail free card" would mean a far more disciplined, and much better thought out, and organised approach, to the whole running of the sport.. Which can only be a good thing... NB. Tier two can still do "whatever they want", but the top tier should always be seen as a credible bona fide, professional, sporting league...

The way the sport is ran (in the UK), would be laughable... If only it didn't do it so much damage...

Every tier one and two meeting should have one of these events... Four extra races for the fans, and plenty of track time for developing riders... Expenses covered only, eg fuel, tyres, travel, with the track time being "free"...