mikebv

I thought his full name was... Justin Elkins EF..... Given it was written so many times in the Speedway Star...

I can't help thinking that Matt's vision was for every team to run a squad system... Rather than UK Speedway itself running a huge one!!! Just think, this was TEN years ago, therefore, given Matt's thoughts wouldn't have been a knee jerk one to a sudden issue, you can only presume it was several years of issues leading up to his thoughts... Which shows, there was obviously an acknowledgment by (at least some), promoters, that the sport needed a better strategy and operating model... Instead, Doubling Up became the game changer that allowed tier two teams to keep riders they had developed, as the riders remained affordable as they got subsidised by tier one teams.. What started out as a laudable development tool, (and had been used for decades successfully in developing UK talent), then became the "go to" strategy for the sport... One rider, two teams, both sharing his salary... Resulting in. Two places for some riders, meaning no places for others.. The even bigger result? Even more Double Up riders being needed, one, due to the lack of riders caused by the lack of development opportunities, particularly in the second tier, and two, an even greater need to share costs due to the ever dwindling fanbase their strategies created... A quite brilliant plan and one that is now fully being felt in all its glory!!

Is it a seven or a twenty eight day ban he gets...? It does show how fragile everything is when an experienced DU rider steps away from the sport given two teams now have the difficulty of finding replacements of a "decent" level... Best Wishes to the lad, one of those 100% "triers" who keep you watching the sport...

And all promoters know they will need to use all the "ahhh but what if?', regulations put together, up to, and including, "in the interests of Speedway" at some stage of the season... There will be over 200 guests used this season in tiers one and two, with a large percentage down to fixture clashes, and "illness", and not injuries... A truly incredible way to run what is supposed to be considered (by themselves at least), a professional team sport... Edit. As an ironic footnote to this, I have just read a Speedway Star from a few weeks ago and in the "10 years ago" section if quotes Matt Ford as saying.. "Its only a matter of time when" (a squad system should be introduced), to avoid meetings packed with guests.. "The one absolute certainty I can give you is that it is going to happen, its just when people finally don't feel frightened by it, for want of a better word, and understand how it would work".. "We are limiting and strangling ourselves by sticking to the old format of using the same seven men, it can't continue".. "At no point has it ever been as bad as it is now, and at no point have people being talking so negatively about the sport, the biggest reason for that is the lack of fixtures and continuity"... Remember this was TEN YEARS AGO!... It could have been written today...

Do you think this would have been better for their business? "Well, that's it! After this weekend we clearly have bugger all chance of making the play offs, so it is hardly worth even bothering coming to watch us now"... If so, the BSP could use you... Plymouth are one of the "good news" stories this season and have made loads of positive moves, not least moving from the "graveyard night" for the entertainment sector, (Tuesday), and moving to Saturday's, which is the biggest night for it... They are obviously trying to maintain that positive message, which, in this social media era is absolutely paramount to engage punters to attend... The "truth" is often largely irrelevant these days in communication to those watching, and putting a positive spin in everything you put out into the public domain, is 100% the way to go...

It is 100% down to the promoters, not the riders... They are the ones who agree the meeting criteria to be followed, and also are the ones who sign riders knowing clashes are inevitable, eg Zack Cook... Lawson is following the criteria laid down... And, without using riders who will inevitably have clashes abroad, who actually would fill the team places?...

Having watched him for many years I don't think he ever gives less than 100%... Proper Box Office....

He would be assessed as a GP rider now wouldn't he?.. Be great to watch around Ipswich... Stand well back though...

Uber around five/six quid... Plenty of regular buses too, at £2 from the city centre.. Five mins in a taxi, around ten on a bus...

Certainly adds to the atmosphere....

Wouldn't he be banned if he doesn't go?... It was mentioned that he should be asked on BSN last night about why he is in Denmark and not the UK.. Maybe the promoters of Poole should have explained why when informing everyone that they had booked Sam Masters to replace him... It is hardly the fault of the riders that such situations occur is it?..

To get 8 teams in the top tier I am sure some work will be done on averages... Bringing 8 competitive teams to the tapes will be the aim... Maybe even less riders per team to deliver that "wider difference" between the leagues, that Richard Coleman has mentioned needs to happen.. If UK Speedway is having to go head to head next season with Denmark and Sweden for the same Polish contracted riders, then maybe less riders per team would mean higher payments to them?.. Denmark have five rider teams, and riders have five and six rides... I thought that Doubling Up would be a key advantage for the UK, when attracting those riding in Poland, given the number of total meetings would far outweigh Sweden and Denmark... Stopping DU'ing for these riders no longer gives the UK this advantage... Possibly they will go home and away twice to raise the number of meetings higher than Denmark and Sweden?...

Makes a big difference to any meeting when a decent amount of away fans turn up.. In Football the Premier League cap away fans at £30.. Speedway should do some similar reduced cost prices for away fans...

He also had a very serious injury when in the USA in the close season... Maybe the NSS being so wide and safe suits him more currently...?? He will certainly be someone to get next season on whatever his average ends up as..

Depending on what Poland decide... For the Championship, it could be next season... You would think the top tier are pushing for eight teams, to sell to TV, and also ensuring a fair shareout of any top talent that decide to ride over here to encourage two teams to move up.. With fixed race nights not being needed anymore to accommodate the DUers, meaning the likes of Poole and Glasgow for example, could keep their key race nights and move up... Maybe adhoc Friday or Saturdays as required for Glasgow depending on Polish commitments of any of the 14 riders?.. The Championship without the many HL's who ride in Poland could be a very different landscape... And, if the top tier get a TV deal, they can offer the current shared riders more of a guarantee...

You would end up with the NDL racing you describe.. If (when), Poland bring in their "Poland plus one league" stipulation then many who double up now won't be able to, even if they choose the UK over Sweden and Denmark as their "other league".. I can see Poole going tier one on Wednesdays next season given the standard of teams the Championship may end up with without the HL's who double up and have Polish contracts..

I agree. . I remember some of the Aces teams post 1993 to 2000+... Six of us used to go, and we all ensured we got there as late as possible just in case any of us got given a team place!!!

And the reason why they didn't get Doyle as No1 was down to their previous owner selling up, and the time it took... Which also then impacted every other track as fixtures couldn't be published, and season tickets couldn't be sold...

Blimey... One average season in the last what? Five?... An "average season" where they will still make the play offs, and can still win the KO Cup...

Difficult these days to get a "technical track" spot on.. The more "Elite" riders can handle it, but the next levels down can struggle on them...

Then don't run on Wednesdays....

Lawson doesn't make the criteria for fixed race nights... The promoters agree them with the FIM... He will just be following the rules as agreed by the four main countries..... I wouldn't be surprised if he would much prefer to travel to Poole rather than Denmark... Particularly as he also has a "day job" over here...

On social media, anyone can be a "speedway fan"... Just like a crap restaurant can have great reviews... Those sitting in judgement won't consider any personal comments made on some SM platform,, both positive or negative..

How soon fixtures are out isn't relevant with fixed race nights... (Unless rearranged dates).. Denmark use Wednesday so using any rider with a Danish contract will always carry a fixture clash threat... The difference with this situation is that usually teams are happy to arrange meetings away from home without their best riders, but, on this occasion, the home team has their best rider missing..... Denmark will also see their league as being more important than either of the UK ones given the riders they have on their books this season...

I don't disagree, but the "authorities" are the promoters themselves... And the "authorities" have allowed teams (Poole being one with Zach Cook), to sign riders who already had Polish contracts before they sgned in the UK, so knew they would miss weekend meetings...