mikebv

100%.. To make it work though, and evenly spread out the "big hitters", a maximum average for the top 2 or 3 should have happened.. Every team with "money" are always going to build "top down" with their first two riders being their top two HL's.. They cover up to 8 races, not including any TS rides, so having a potential race winner 8/15 times (with HT 13 and 15 potentially being a 10-2 in your favour), is the common sense decision and you would always go with two top HL's if you can afford them.. Even more so in a weakened league.. The idea is good, the delivery of it not so...

I think maybe it was written to encourage some of the responses..? Surely even the most myopic person sitting within the Speedway Bubble, wouldnt fail to see the main reason for the crowd level, given it was so glaringly obvious... Got a fair few responses.... Anyone mentioned yet that a GP at Wembley, with its 20 odd thousand attendance, would be a major boost for the sport?

Indeed... It is a shame that the actual product (which is a good as at anytime I have watched it), is so undermined by such nonsense as having 4 out of 10 riders not there, (in this instance)... It wont change though sadly, any time soon...

Having only 10, out of the 14 riders who should have been there riding, was never going to stimulate much interest.. Add in the score from the first leg and an off night for BV and the crowd was always going to be lower than usual.. Bottom line is of course that if the Promoter's themselves dont see their competition's relevant enough to have their own riders there, then the fans understandably can feel the same, and be "elsewhere" too...

Why did he organise to run a meeting with two of his own team missing...? I think that alone answers your question..

One of them had trouble signing on here for a few days as they had forgotten their password.. .......

Maybe with it being an "off night" for the Aces it was agreed to let them use Rew just to get the meeting on.. Meaning they can then continue the cup rounds and get it out of the way... All in the interests of Speedway obviously...

And you get a massive free horse as well it appears...

Maybe not running meetings when so many riders are missing might be "in the best interests of the sport"...

And maybe those who run the sport could stop planning in fixtures when the global FIM calendar clearly states that their meetings are taking place.. When they organise meetings on those dates, inevitably using RR and Guests, then it sends out two messages.. One being that even the promoters dont take their own competitions seriously.. And two, the over riding priority of the sport in the UK is simply to provide riders with as much chance to earn as much money as they can, regardless of impact to its credibility.. The only other sports I can think off that have their competitors elsewhere when clubs compete is RU and Cricket, however, they run large squads, rather than share employees, and have large sponsorship to afford those squards.. So much of UK Speedeay's issues are "self inflicted" which is baffling given so many of them could so easily be avoided with just a bit of planning, organisation, discipline and leadership.. .

Not sure why he isnt in the top league in Poland.. Much better than several Poles, and non Poles, who are.. Always been a bit of box office about this lad.. Love watching him ride...

Not too decent I hope.. They might blow the gate open...

Jeremy Vine "Which World Famous South Coast team are known as the "Manchester United of Speedway?".. Contestant: "Ivan Mauger"...

Speedway was mentioned on The Chase... (They got the answer wrong).. Speedway was mentioned on Tipping Point... (They got the answer wrong)... Speedway was mentioned on Fifteen to One... (They got the answer wrong).. Speedway was mentioned on Eggheads.. (They got the etc etc etc..)

I admire Phil's optimism...

Fifteen 3-2's .. No bonus.....

I think Dan's serious injury of a few years ago could play on his mind a bit.. He often leaves "the door open" underneath him and gets passed by those who basically dont turn until they hit the bend... The 3 riders you mention, and Madsen, are particularly good at that.. Ruthlessly "shutting that door" is what the top riders do as they "turn left" to clamp their opponents on the line, make them lock up and lose all momentum.. Woofy too nowadays often gets rode under, where he used to be very good at leaning across an opponent, lock up accordingly, stoppjng the run of his opponent, but keep moving himself forward.... GP Speedway certainly isnt for the faint hearted and is great to watch. . Laguta and Emil would be great additions to the series.... Hopefuly both back next year, as they are also riders who go full pelt in every situation..

The only criticism I have of the Star is the "continued on page x"... When there is plenty of room on the first page to have included it, as invariably there is another piece, or two, alongside it... Still a quality publication though which does the sport great service...

Even the Golden Heat will be a draw...

El Bustico.... Take a bow.. I bet they both lose....

Having stepped into the "speedway bubble" once, it was truly staggering the amount of delusion they had about what they offered, and even more staggering was how these people were "successful businessmen" outside the sport, if they ran their own businesses in the same "head in the sand" way... The sport is still ran by so many middle aged men in an "analogue way", which was no doubt fine when some of the ludicrous decisions made didnt hit the public domain instantly... Like it does today.. Same old. Same old. Doesnt cut it nowadays, and if you dont have a growth mindset, seeking constant evolution through innovation, trying new ideas, and driving improvements, then you simply have no chance.

Or revenge is a dish best served cold?

Noticeable that he tried it a few times, however, on such a small track he wasnt able to generate the speed he usually does on the bigger circuits for him to line up his "signature move"... The "bend three dive bomb" where he basically rides his opponents (who lift their leg up out of the way), up the track deep into bend four.. Doyle, Lindgren and Madsen are the three riders who seem to he able to stay strong and prevent him forcing them out... The rest all take evasive action and surrender position... Holder tonight showed some steel of his own, so maybe he too will now be less intimidated..

Not even a racing line that Zmarzlik was taking... Far too narrow up the back straight meaning as soon as he threw the back wheel out he was going to make contact with Doyle.. Amazed Doyle didnt lamp him when he walked back... Bewley and Woffy both had chances to clamp their opponent on the line by coming across him, and didnt do it so got passed up the inside (again)... You dont win all GP's by just gating and going fast when in front... Interesting that when "chaos" was occurring the "veterans" that are always "full gas" ie Doyle and Lindgren come out of it in the best positions because they still go into potential dicey situations full pelt... Zmarzlik is certainly pushing his luck with his own health as for the past couple of years he has trodden a fine line between "genius" and "reckless".. One "unlucky" moment could have serious consequences for him...

Baffled by Lambert and Bewleys last two rides... Riding on the inside at the back which isnt the usual style for either of them.. It is obviously a track where lap by lap momentum is key... Trying to burrow under your opponents wont do that...