mikebv

100% agree.. So... Stop the race to the bottom.. Have some kind of salary cap control.. "Saving the promoters from themselves" should be a role profile for someone... Riders may demand "Elton John Money", but when you only get a " Chesney Hawkes" following you need to be realistic...

A perfect scenario for Div 2 Promoters.. Getting to use Div HL's and not having to have two developing UK riders at six and seven.. The long term failure that they cannot see though is the obviously ageing demographic of the Div 1 HL's that they use.. When they go, who replaces them? Hopefully next season we have one "Elite League" which has the top riders in it, and a Champ/NDL alamgam with each team having one Div 1 HL each and two RS's of a similar standard to the Current Div 3 HL's and SS's.. To sell any sport, you need demarcation between the top league and the rest, which then provides relevance to the top league and kudos in winning.. Plus it provides a clear development pathway for lower league clubs to aspire to and grow their clubs, which then organically grows the sport.. When you can pick and choose what league to ride in, and can "relegate yourself", whenever you feel like it, then getting punters to take either league seriously will be a real challenge..

Tail wagging the dog... Cannot ever move forward with that in place...

Guests are a fundamental "must have" at a majority of meetings anyway aren't they so what difference would it have made tonight? It doesn't really matter who wins anyway does it? Maybe this is (another) of those "one offs" and won't happen again...? (Again)....

Points deduction, thus destroying their play off hopes... Or.... They may not be allowed to relegate themselves into Div 2 next season, like Poole did a few years ago....

It was like an ice speedway bike the way it went straight wheeled into the dirt berm... Bruce Cribb used to blitz track records on the shale.. Dan's MX days of "riding the berm" would also have helped, foot forward not leg trailing...

Not my views.. The views of Mr R Worrall..

It is unfair having the BF at the NSS every year as the lightest riderx have a big advantage over the rest becssue it all about speed not track craft. They should have it around the country at different tracks instead.... You can only presume Leicester would be his choice, as that is the only track he can ride better than most it appears. His brother did a great job last night in conditions that you would usually think would have impacted him, given gating and doing well on slick tracks is his MO.. Maybe Steve has cut the carbs out for a fortnight...? Hope the meal was enjoyable, the racing in really testing conditions definitely was.. Not the names and level of rider that the flagship competition should have fighting for it, but those who accepted the call, did a superb job last night, and did the sport proud.. And some of those who had to pass up the chance to be the UK's No1, given the conditions, probably for the best, stayed away so the rest could get on with it... The way the sport is heading in this country, there could be a fair few more opportunities for riders to enjoy 3 course meals instead of racing in the not too distant future... Hope they enjoy them... Salads only on the menus though, obviously.....

Dan should be made to eat 20 Bowens Pies before each BF going forward... Waaaaahhh Waaaaaahhh It's not fair....

Or brought his gating gloves...

If Ben gates off one then heaven help the other 3...

Ben looks a bit heavier than Dan Bewley... I am confused...

Is he a lot heavier/lighter* than his twin? He seems to be doing alright.. * Delete as applicable to the excuse...

Look like a track where being a bit heavier is helping you to cut through the mud....!!!

Hope Bomber has a good night.. If he does, it should make for good viewing..

Indeed he would... A different level to many riding today.. Was it sixth in the world he got to? Most tracks didn't suit him given his lack of starting capability... Didn't pull out of meetings though, instead just used his talent to compete...

Say hello to Phil... He could be in for a busy one...

You cynic you...

Looking at the TV meeting v Sheffield, and the Tigers last meeting.. Woffy alone put around 1000 combined at both meetings I reckon.. The 3 of them would get 1000 there I would think...

Is he light enough to ride at Cardiff?

Now Now... Play nice.... Its people like you who hold the sport back.. Several thousand who have never heard of Speedway would have come on here today, (all by random chance), and probably would have become regulars if they hadn't read the negative comments on here.. Or something like that...

All top level talent when the UK had plenty of it.. But, even then getting 3 in the top 8 like we did last year, and all in the top nine so far this, was not a regular event.. (Granted, the qualification process didn't favour such an embarrassment of riches).. And even less a regular event from the early 80s onwards... And back then the British Final sold itself with the riders on show.. Having 3 such world class riders in such a shallow pond of talent that we have nowadays, should mean they are being included in meetings like this.. If those 3 were in the BF, then another £25k minimum would be taken in attendance money I would say... No idea what having them there would cost collectively, but it would surely be an investment not a waste..?

A fair portion of the main stand tickets are gone so a decent (ish) crowd should be there.. Weather brightening up too...

What about a "Guest Queen" getting booked? Queen Silvia of Sweden is available.... Done 47 years too, so her average is lower, meaning she fits...

Hardly worth coming back if they are racing in Poland again this week... Maybe took a little mini break with their respective partners in one of Europe's more romantic cities? The done thing these days I believe...