mikebv

Bad crash fior Erik Riss.. Hit the fence just after the air bag, clipped the back wheel of the leader and went in legs first... Sat up but going in the ambulance after getting legs strapped...

It was always "a bit Mickey Mouse" from a long time back... The huge difference though of course is that in those days any "level of stupidity" was invariably only found out after you had paid your money and gone into the track... And you often still would have had several "superstars of the sport" to watch, which was often the main reason for going.. Now the teams are known on social media in advance, meaning fans then can decide to "give it a swerve" if they feel it is "too contrived".. It certainly won't be in the plan to run the sport "less contrived", so not informing anyone of changes would be easier to do, and wouldn't adversely impact the crowd numbers.. Maybe that is a scenario we could return to? Especially given how low crowd numbers are now in relation to the "olden days"... Meaning that even just double digit drops in numbers can be a problem for some tracks...

And then run R/R for Bomber....? Meaning he can ride at least one race instead of himself, and maybe take a Tac Sub ride instead of himself too...

Hans Christian Andersen wrote the press release...

100%... But. Dont forget Promoters love being associated with the "better riders" so will do whatever is needed to accommodate them.. As winning any of the leagues "really means something" doesnt it? Hence Div 2 clogs up a clear development pathway from Div 3 by using so many Div 1 HL's and SS's... And with only six teams in Div 1 then the tail will always wag the dog...

Sheffield running on the Sunday I think ultimately "did for Buxton"... As most of their fan base seemed to be Tigers and Aces fans when I went, (3 or 4 times a season).. Maybe it could have worked for them with Sheffield open the same day but it probably wouldnt have.. Saturdays could have been a possibility I suppose but plenty of 2nd Div meetings took place that day meaning NDL heat leaders already in action... The track certainly wasnt the best but it did bring through a fair few riders in their early development.. They still do the "skid days" there I believe... A bit of track reshaping (quite a bit of space still around the track for widening), and a big screen put up to stop quite a few people paying to watch the Stox and their Speedway for free and it could still be a decent NDL venue... A good way to spend a pleasant Sunday afternoon when the weather wasnt arctic... And when it was, sit in your car and enjoy the racing from there...

Where is Bomber this weekend? Seems a really strange idea to sign one of the most entertaining rides in the sport in the UK, and then run meetings without him... Given his LT commitments, and individual Speedway ambitions on the european and world stage, is a weekend track the best place for him and the sport in general? Bomber getting replaced by other teams' best riders does nothing for the sports reputation and of course he ends up missing meetings and another pay cheque.. (No wonder he guests so much)...

Finally realised he possessed so much talent and that if he applied himself a bit more he could definitely compete on the world stage.. Just a shame it wasnt a few years earlier given how good he actually ended up... Maybe "enjoyed himself" a bit too much for too long down at Eastie? A true character of the sport...

Was always good value on the TV too when on commentary... Pity he still doesnt do it..

£60 quid family ticket competitively priced? Really? I would suggest £40 nearer the mark to get a family of four there.. £20 each the adults and free for the kids... You are looking at circa £35 tops for the movies or ten pin bowling on a Monday night for a family of four...

I always think there is good racing at Monmore, but it is when the level of rider there is of a higher standard.. Ht 13, and 15 stand out often when I have been there, given four quality riders usually take part.. It's when the second strings and reserves ride that it becomes very spaced out and follow the leader . British Finals always seemed decent from there as an example given most races had three or more Div 1 heat leaders in them..

The unpalatable truth for some was that the level in those days was "the perfect one" for UK Speedway.. Hardly anyone really takes any of the competitions seriously anyway so watching young lads of a similar ability level, making their way in the sport, augmented by a few seasoned riders, at a price point that delivered excellent value for money, was an excellent product.. That level of Speedway, with a true "top league" being clearly of a significantly higher standard, would have been the model to follow.. That though would have had Championship promoters frothing at the mouth...

As, dont forget, every new club in whatever league is a threat to the teams already there.. They might even use some of the riders currently contracted to other teams.. And. Heaven forbid, they go on to win one of the leagues.. Leagues rendered almost worthless by the very operating model that those incumbent "custodians of the sport" utilise, but they will never see that... The phrase "you couldnt make it up" was never so apt as it is for UK Speedway.. Best of luck with your plans, the more teams out there "spreading the word" has to be more beneficial for the sport as a whole long term, than having old Speedway clubs with decades of running the sport successfully lying idle...

Shame it isnt on a Friday or Saturday night.. 3000 crowd I would think guaranteed on either of those nights, regardless of live TV... Must be a Friday when all the Polish lads are available, one where Dan rides on the Sunday?

Get to the NSS around an hour before the start to get a parking place on the street... Then use the excellent Burger Van outside the stadium on the same street.. Watch the bikes getting warmed up for a while then go in.. Usually get in about 10 mins before start time as always order tickets on line.. Liam Neeson to play me if a movie gets made of my night out at the Speedway escapades...

Fans of a fair few teams could say that about him....

Same could be said for Australia Sweden and Denmark's current situation.. None have too many outstanding youngsters coming through to usurp the old guard.. Some of the UK lads are getting exposure in the Polish U24 league which will help them hugely given how much importance and investment the Poles have given it.. The British Final should be a good meeting with many of the riders being of a similar level... Not a "top class" level granted, but a decent one...

R/R for Starke? Or a Guest?

Then change the operating model.. Arguably 3 out of the best 10 riders in the world for the first time in decades..? So use it.. Dont blame the players, blame the game..

They know only too well that the second Bartek dons a set of Wroclaw kevlars to stand in for a missing Majic then the sport is truly "Donald Ducked" ... Passionate Tribal Fans. National Media fighting each other for contracts to show the sport. And National Company Sponsors willing to be associated with a huge sport in Poland, will all be gone in a flash quicker than it took Bartek to put the Wroclaw colours on... Hence we have the U24 League... Protecting their asset and brand...

Next one on the rank... Level headed kid too... Glide path spot on at the moment. .. HL in the Prem next year the next phase,.. Needs to be a bit harder I would say... Lambert has learned that, Bewley slowly getting there the same but needs to speed it up a tad... The future looks good given the excellent talent of those three... Let's hope the UK Speedway promoters can utilise their talents to promote their own sector of the sport.. Bewley and Lambert now Ht 15 regulars in the toughest league in the world.. Not bad that is it?

Great meeting to watch... Atmosphere seemed brilliant. .. Riders giving absolutely everything. .. And a young Brit leading the charge regularly now for his team against world class opponents.. If only we could bottle some of that and bring it over here one day.... Speedway. ...

Maybe Ed should go and spend some time in Poland...? I believe the air over there can heal Speedway riders in particular very quickly...

Might be able to get Andrew to do it... His diary won't be too full I would think.... And in true Speedway fashion he could cry off and send some random Earl as a guest to replace him...

Who said that?