mikebv

There can be no excuses on a track not big enough for the "throttle jockeys" to have an advantage...

You wouldn't need a squad system... As an example, if the six teams currently in the top tier lost two riders each then 12 riders would be available to cover absences/poor performance... They can bring in "usage rules", (and I am sure they will be as usual, ambiguous and convoluted)!!.. In short, just create a situation, (unlike now), where there are more riders than places.... Meaning cover, and competition, for those places...

Always left me non plussed that, as the number of teams reduced by around one per year, then subsequently, the number of riders wanting to ride over here dropped significantly, those in charge never dropped the number of riders per team... This would have created plenty of "subs on the bench"... The Danish five rider set up would have been ideal for the UK...

014.8.2 We will then ask all the riders if they want to ride, and see who can be bothered to turn up...

100%... Gorzow have brought in Charles Wright to replace Jack Holder . Now, he isn't obviously a LIke For Like replacement but if there had been some World Class riders not riding in Poland they could have, and would have, brought one in.. Like a proper team sport would allow...

Robert Lambert would be a great addition to the play offs .. Considering the sport uses Mickey Mouse rules all season, (often to its detriment), it seems ridiculous that at the business end of the season they don't do the same to improve the spectacle...

On his Vlog, Dan T said these meetings can actually cost you money if you don't end up in the top few... Can't blame riders for not taking up that "great opportunity" can you?..

According to Dan T in a recent Vlog, the winner of the British Final got £1750, and 16th got £200... I would presume neither of the meetings mentioned will be getting more...

Great to see the "feel good factor" from the sport being on ITV has kept momentum...😝

Always is... BSP pay rates...

I would say for the NDL "anything should go"... As bike time is the priority of any Development League... Unfortunately, the top two leagues also run an "anything goes" system...

They do, however, it is a team sport... Which means there needs to be some emotional connection to "their team".. Otherwise no point in keeping the team sport concept... UK Speedway runs some kind of hybrid system which, sadly, doesn't do it any favours as it ends up as neither here nor there..

Will Tom now make that dinner in Poland?...

Certainly, and quite correctly, riders are covering all bases... Just like many have for a long time given they compete in a sport where you can get sacked for doing too well!!! I think the 2nd tier average will be slashed for several reasons.. One. To give clear demarcation between the top two tiers, meaning the league that gets sold to TV is truly a "flagship" one.. Two. The hoped for TV contract should encourage at least two teams to go into tier one, particularly as some tier two teams will be concerned what impact the much lower limit will have on their decent attendance numbers, (given tier two fans are used to watching tier one HL's, so might not see a lesser standard as worth regular attending)... Three. A lower points limit will mean more two and three pont riders needed so development opportunities for more UK riders in a league that doesn't include World Class talent, but is a step up from NDL. You can foresee one decent level No1, who won't ride in Poland, but Double Up, and maybe ride somewhere else in Europe, with, at least two riders, three points and under, in most teams.. Four. The Polish one league rule will pretty much remove most Europeans and Scandinavians from tier two, and remove the doubling up Aussies riding in Poland, who will stay in tier one if they choose the UK, which, given many live here with families will be their clear first choice due to visa requirements... In short. A great opportunity for the desperately needed reset, a huge opportunity to give more development opportunities to young UK riders, and something well, well overdue. With the 2nd tier becoming that bridge, (that it used to be), between the NDL to the Premiership, rather than being "too strong"... And ticks plenty of boxes many on here have suggested for well over a decade!!!

If that is the mean average of all the teams then why not?... That means the league doesn't get watered down.. Personally, as 14 heats, times 3 points, is 42, then that should be the average used... All seven riders, csn have had four rides each, so its up to the owners to build the best team...

But! But! But! I saw a photo of a "Blue Groove!!!! That's the important thing to mention, not the crowd of well over 2,000!!!! "Ahh! But how many of them of them will be back next time with the track looking like that?" Will no doubt be the question asked by some... "Pretty much most if not all of them, and maybe even more" will be the answer..

A suggestion which seems to be made every single year, to aspire to something and stimulate growth... Yet, instead, we dumb down every single year... Maybe using the mean average of all the teams would be a compromise?.. Meaning the lowest teams have head room, (but not unreachable head room), to improve, and the top teams don't have to decimate their septet by reducing loads of points...

GB, Sweden and Denmark ran full programmes, with the obvious risk of injuries... I would have thought that the organisers would have had the riders out in Poland for the week doing publicity for the meeting, and being in a "team camp" together... Adding a bit of "gravitas" to the event, particularly as it now isn't every season.. It looks just like another run of the mill meeting when nothing is done differently...

I would suggest for the riders below the top tier, those not on the top contracts, then whoever pays the most will determine that decision..

The Silver Jubilee of 1977??.

You would think the lead up week to the World Cup Final would be blank wouldn't you? Strange some leagues still run... Maybe not that important?...

Jonathan Chapman and Alex Brady also seemed to know what was needed in a modern day entertainment environment... "Modern thinkers? No thank you! We don't need them"...

Plus the likes of Silver and Thomas, and probably more... These were "Promoters" who genuinely reflected the definition of the word... Rather than nowadays where "Owners" would be a much more suitable name.. The real "Promoters" knew that getting locals to attend regularly wasn't always the major priority, (if they did then great), instead fhey wanted volume every week, even if some fans only visited once... The logic being that that even that one visit meant that person knew that the sport existed, and keeping the team in the local public awareness meant more chance of more visits further down the line.. In short, the more who read about you, the more who know about you, and therefore, the more likely they are to take a look at what you do... Todays Social Media world would be seen as perfect by some of the "old school" operators of yesteryear.... (If they avoided getting banned!!!)...

No, you only get banned for not turning up... Plus... Any ban for Bomber would mean about five teams short of a rider...

Saving a good few quid on a jet washer...