mikebv

I think it is that those "involved" behind the scenes in some way, see it for what it is, ie mainly about riders making money, and sponsors having a hobby who maybe could get some reflected glory and/or satisfaction in helping riders.. And nothing more than that really.. For those who follow the sport it is often about frustration in seeing "what could be"... As I say, a shame given the on track raw material that the sport has to play with... You only have to look at Poland as to how exactly the same sport, featuring many of the same riders, has been developed to become "The place to be", and financially hugely successful for those who take the risks when they ride... I suppose though that the "make it up as you go along" operating model that the UK uses, is "good enough" for riders and personal and local company team sponsors to keep up their livelihoods and interest respectively... Which ultimately keeps the sport going in the UK at least...

100% get all that from the logistical angle... However... It is yet another situation where those who run the competitions completely devalue their own output... If anyone really took it seriously then Sheffield would not be happy that each other team had home advantage and they didn't... Instead we have another "make do and mend" which is absolutely fine, just as long as the promoters understand why many loyal fans of the sport then decide to give many meetings a season a miss... As. If those who organise competitions don't take them seriously, then why should the fans? Season on season the same nonsense is allowed to pervade... Which is a shame given the raw material to work with...

And if Sheffield (or any club with landlords) have issues with dates at any times of the season then surely they should have held their rounds when dates were available? If October was an issue then maybe they should have gone first? The Premiership Pairs which had the potential to be a good competition was heralded as "Giving fans what they want" via more variety... Maybe they should have added, "Giving fans what they want, but not necessarily at the tracks that they want it"... Eric Morecombe would have been proud...

Because Leicester isn't in the Premiership maybe? Using that logic. With Peterborough, KL and Ipswich in it maybe Mildenhall could have been used? Also.. The other five teams will have had home track advantage but Sheffield now wont.. Hardly making the competition a credible proposition really is it? And Sheffield fans who want to go and watch it now have to travel 'away' to another track to do so.. All season to plan in one of only three competitions, and one that needed just six nights over seven months, (with the added advantage of fixed race nights), to complete it... An amazing achievement...

Will Leicester enter with Morris and Howarth...? Or will they be needed for Wolves and Sheffield? All very confusing this UK Speedway isnt it?

I think I read that the remaining matches are not being included in the averages... Due to the obvious potential for some "surprising results"....

Amazingly well ran in the UK, this sport isnt it?...

In the early 90's Wolverhampton was like the 51st state.... Monmore had USA flags everywhere, and their fans were often in attendance when England rode against the USA in the Midlands, cheering on their stateside brothers... "Come un Sammoi, an Ronnoi, ya 'orrrll"

Any details as to which pub? Will go along....

And what makes it so frustrating is that it will quite likely happen again... If the promoters themselves dont see their own competitions as being important enough to be ran properly, and to be therefore taken seriously, then what chance are they giving themselves of convincing fans, media and sponsors, that these competitions are worth attending, covering and sponsoring? As often will be said.. There needs to be a strong hand on the tiller which ensures so much 'self inflicted nonsense' (which can only undermine the sport), is eradicated.. Be that an independent person, or party, or someone within the BSP who gets given total authority to make decisions for the good of the sport, and has the power to impose consequences to those who fail to comply..

Best of luck to the Aces.. Could "make or break" their title challenge..

Sheffield Heat Leaders.. 18 off 14 rides in leg one.. 25 off 14 rides in leg two.. 43 off 28 rides in total.. And that includes a gifted 5 points in Heat Fifteen of leg two which was a dead rubber.. A collective average of 6.14 for the three Sheffield HL's.. And some still suggest it was 100% the refs fault that the Tigers lost...

You do sometimes get the impression that "new teams" are seen by some as a threat rather than what they should be seen as... ie another asset towards the growth of the sport... Maybe, if new teams come in they should start at NDL level and link up with a Premiership or Championship team, who don't run a second team of their own... One. To create a potential rider development path into the higher leagues, but also, at the same time, support the "new team" in their dealings with some of those who may not see their existence in such a positive light, as well as giving advice as to the way the day to day dealings are done... A relationship that could continue on, or not, depending on how the new team develop as they become established.... You do sometimes suspect that "safety in numbers" could be a key strengtn to have in British Speedway..

Because those who run the sport have no vision, nor have any consequence for their actions... Instead it is a private members club with everything ran along the lines of an expensive hobby, rather than bona fide professional sporting leagues...

So sad... Best wishes and prayers to Phil and his family...

And if Musielak had just fell on his own but it meant the race to be stopped, and then Kurtz's engine blew after the red light had come on, therefore meaning he didnt cross the line, the race would have been awarded to Brady as he was leading (under power) at the time of the stoppage... As with all awarded races... You dont have to cross the line to win it...

Not with those two teams... I would have hoped they'd both lose....

As Elsa from Frozen may have sang.. "Let it Go! Let it Go!....

You have forgotten "Hi Ho Silver Lining"....

Maybe paying for three meetings from one home leg is the issue? Especially for Glasgow as not many Poole or Leicester fans will be in attendance I would think.. Especially given the way the competition has been devalued by the way it has been allowed to drift on without the clear priority and focus any "Final" of a competition should have been given..

That would be his catalytic converter.... Smells like sulphur when it goes...

"Good, hard riding, just what we want to see"... Would have been the comment a few years ago...

Maybe THREE trophies could be given out...? The team that "wins the league" BEFORE the play offs gets one... The team that actually "wins the league" in the play offs obviously will get one.. And the team that "wins the league" AFTER the league has already been won (twice), gets one... Would make a great end to the season and mean potentially 50% of all the teams can become "Champions".. A 'Win/Win' if you like... Or a 'Win/Win/Win' in UK Speedways case. They could even run a special 3 way "Ultimate Champions" play off before November with a leg of the final held at each track... I am sure there wouldnt be an issue fitting the dates in as one team will obviously pull out, like seems to happen in 3 way finals....

Bloody Rules!!!..

The other side of the debate though is the crowd level that attended last night... Must have been 3000+ there and getting that many there for a non play off match, regardless of "winning the league that night" would be highly unlikely I would say.. Again. The counter augment to that is how many stay away in the weeks leading up to the play offs knowing your team are through? The play offs do provide for some teams the opportunity to keep their season going when, if the system wasnt used, you could have your season "over" by the end of June due to being miles behind the top team in the league.. I think for the theatre and publicity alone they are definitely worth doing, however, as has been said often on here, some recognition (like Super League do in RL), should be forthcoming for the team that tops the table.. Ideally, of course, the league being completed BEFORE the play offs...