mikebv

Indeed... A waste of a true natural talent on a speedway bike...

A shame re Bird as he looked like he could go somewhere in the sport... Good to watch too...

Shawn Moran once literally fell out of the taxi that took him to a meeting. In Germany I think it was, maybe Long Track.. They tested him... Can't think what made them suspicious...

It honestly baffles me when you have clear historical data based evidence of the M.O. of any organisation doing similar in the past, that people still act so naive, subservient and gullible when faced with the same thing happening.. If Swindon fans want the sport back there then they need to close down the town centre in their thousands, by marching through it, making plenty of noise and gaining plenty of media coverage, calling out local and national government officials and the company involved... That "demonstration" the other week was, with all due respect to those who attended, frankly pathetic, given the "size of the prize", and will only have reinforced the belief in those who want to build houses that their opposition is "virtually non existent", and that those who do oppose them cannot organise or execute anything that will ultimately hurt them in the public conscience, and wider larger media.. Whilst the kids are off and the weather is nice, get out there and protest.. The media love kids protesting and pick the right one to get a lot of coverage about how his/her speedway has "been taken away" and they might start to get some ball rolling if not a bandwagon in gear... The apathy that currently appears to reign wont help the sport back into Swindon and will only help the cause of those who are trying to never allow it back..

A "non negative" result? Is that different from a "positive" one? Is it "a possible" rather than "a definite"..?

I am just amazed none of the names defaulted to "Chris Harris" when they pressed send...

Poland are only a Zmarzlik fall or ef from maybe going out!!

Somebody finally doesnt let Zmarzlik fly underneath him... The smaller straights wont help him do it either... Jack Holder obviously hasnt seen Bartek ride before...!!

A flagship world Speedway event and they get that crowd... Do you think that there may be more at Esbjerg wondering where all the riders are??

I have had a bet on them.. Well cheesed off... Thought it would be like Eurovision..... And they would just let them win...

But of the 40,000 who attend I would suggest the vast majority think there is plenty wrong with the sport in the UK, hence most wont attend each week... (Because if they did the sport would have circa 40,000 a week going to it, and it clearly doesnt).. Indeed, if they could get 40,000 a week, it would be classed as "incredibly successful"... I will be there with people who also dontt attend UK Speedway regularly but will happily spend plenty watching it abroad at FIM events, and in Poland.. Exactly the perfect people to seek some feedback from as to why that is.. Each track should be represented under a collective BSP banner, and questionnaires filled in.. Eg (Very, Very Basic).. Name/Adresss/Email/Mobile.. How often do you attend? Every Meeting. Often. Now and Again. Rarely.. Write down five things that would make domesttic British Speedway more successful in your opinion, and have you attending more (if you dont attend every meeting)... Then giveaway a club pen or a car sticker for someone taking the trouble.. Even 5,000 responses would give a clear indication of the opportunity that exists if they listen to their potential fanbase..

For me simply because the "sports followers" have dwindled away so much... If there is 40,000 at Cardiff this year then that is quite likely to be not too far off 4 times the amount who now attend UK speedway each week, if each team rode one meeting, (meaning 3 meetings in Div 1 and 5/6 in Div 2).... When Wembley could get 100,000 crowds, Belle Vue for example alone could deliver 23,000 fans for a home meeting... And there were over 30 other clubs around the country.. The biggest and most pertinent question to be asked should really be this... Why will so many of that 40,000 who attend this year (the vast majority being UK based and passionate Speedway fans), not attend domestic Speedway regularly, or even maybe at all, this season? Or next? Or the year after? etc etc etc? That question wont be asked though... Even though around 40,000 UK based, passionate Speedway fans will all be in the same location, and all at the same time.. What a perfect opportunity for a bit of market research and feedback for any forward thinking organisation to help them improve their own business...!!

17 paid 24.... Kerching....

There is "going through the tapes" and there is "GOING THROUGH THE TAPES"!!!...

But "in the interest of Speedway" Arnie?

Isnt that the operating plan they already follow?

Going to be a busy lad come the play offs is Bomber, in both Divisions... Just needs to ensure he avoids riding against himself..

Discovery +.... Taking the sport into a new era, widening its reach.....

They might see if Bomber has one somewhere...

Fair play to the lads for giving it a go... But it does show that we sometimes do get a bit carried away when we have young lads coming through the NDL as heat leaders.. To reach the top you clearly need to be around HL level in Div 1 after five or six years or so (tops), of riding. Eg Woffy, Bewley, Lambert (and Brennan wont be far away from that glidepath)... Rowe seems to be doing "ok" over there, so it will be interesting to see his development upon any return to the UK he may make in the future.. Lads who after four or five years of riding are still NDL HL's/Div 2 reserves, wont be hitting the top level of the sport, unless they uniquely completely break the mould.

Not sure much can be done given riders will be used to the money that two jobs bring, and Div 2 promoters wouldnt want to reduce their offer.. And. Lets be honest, it wont make much (any?) difference with regards to any of the league's kudos or status, given the operating model of sharing riders adhoc on a daily basis will always be in situ.. You can have 100 riders for 6 teams but they will still borrow and share the HL's around each evening when one is missing so will always therefore devalue the competitions... Therefore you might as well just keep things the way they are and let the riders earn as much as they can, which is ultimately the main benefit the sport delivers by being ran in the UK.. And of course. Bomber turning up here and there is never a bad thing when you are after a value for money night out at the Speedway..

So, in a way, fair play to Buster for adding to the wage bill. "He" will finish bottom and second bottom regardless...

Lawson strikes me as a bit similar to the Worrall twins when riding in Div 1... An asset when a second string and he has a couple of decent heat leaders to keep the 'scoreboard pressure' off... Meaning he can come up with a win or two, and do it against a higher level of riders But then can be an issue when being a HL himself, and needing to win races for his team... 100% on Jorgensen by the way, should have been a shoe in for double figures last night. Made the gate several times too with a good lead into turn one before not handling bends one and two.. Went "a bit early" in one race too...

They will have to... Riders have become accustomed to two salaries.. Div 2 promoters have become accustomed to using Div 1 HL's.. And Div 2 fans have become accustomed to watching Div 1 HL's, meaning they wont pay the same money (or maybe more), next season to not watch them.. And I cannot see too many Div 2 teams knocking 3 or 4 quid off the entrance fee should the Div 1 HL's be missing...

"We dont need another zero" Tina "Tiddler" Turner...