mikebv

And the beauty is you can both book a table for one...

He needs to be careful... Too much racing might impact his Sheffield scoring potential.. ..

Speedway does (or maybe has) actually "punch/punched above its weight" when it comes to TV viewers since Sky started covering the domestic competitions.. 40,000 or so as a lower end of the viewing audience suggests many still follow the sport, but simply don't see the "live" product as worth attending.. 40,000 is possibly double an average weekly "live" following in the UK? Cardiff also shows how many "followers" the sport has with circa 45,000 there each year, with the vast majority UK based.. And it isn't the same circa 45,000 either as many dont attend every single year, yet the crowd levels remain pretty constant, suggesting that there are plenty more followers of the sport out there in total, with, I presume, many being "ex regulars" to domestic Speedway.. Obviously there will be those who attend simply because of the size of the event and their partner, family etc are going, however it does show how many know about Speedway.. It's just getting them to attend a local speedway meeting every week, or even semi regularly, remains the biggest issue to overcome...

By "protecting" the RS the danger is you will build "flat track bullies" who get used to beating their peer group only, and also some teams will end up with riders well in advance of the average RS rider, so getting all the advantages of having him ride in protected heats.. Wasnt that why the last "system" tried failed? Jordan Palin the other night showed a simple fact.. If you are good enough then you will compete, if you are not good enough then you wont... That is sport.. The perfect obvious stepping stone scenario would be to only run the RS system in the 2nd Division, but as 90% of all 1st Division riders ride in it, many will be found just as wanting in that league too if not of the required capability.. However, again, that is sport.. And the aim of the RS scheme isn't dont forget to make "World Class Superstars", but it is in place to make "decent riders" who can hold down team places in the top two leagues, thus meaning less reliance on "journeymen foreign" riders, especially post Brexit..

But APART from ALL that Barry..... What promoting are you doing???

And I bet his equipment was 'gleaming' as well... Something my lad said on Monday was "how good do his bikes look?" He rode on Sunday at Newcastle too... A true professional...

But they all ride in the 2nd Division too so are getting plenty of rides to develop against... (Oh hang on).... Exactly the same riders.... Bottom line is if they are good enough they will develop to a first or second division level, if they are not, they won't... And there is always the 3rd Division to go back to if some need to drop the top two leagues and 'start again'....

To be fair, the top two leagues don't carry any real kudos so the developmemt league cannot mean too much either.. As the BSP's have shown this year it is all about development of riders and "going back to its roots" so these lads who travel 100's of miles, and spend lots of money on equipment, really do deserve a full compliment of races, regardless of the match result...

All 'local lads' so get cut far too much slack in my opinion.. If they were not 'local' then they would be getting far more 'feedback'.. Criticise any of them though and the "dribblers" will come out with "have you ever ridden a Speedway bike?" etc..... You can carry one of the twins but not both and whenever both have rode for the Aces it seems to always have been the same.. Wright and the Worralls seem to get a fair few bonus points and not always for being second, hence they will be doing 'ok' from a points money perspective but invariably not positively impacting the scorecard.. And in their "key races" where they are the main Ace they seem to rarely win them.. But to fair to all three, it hasnt ever been much different all their careers.. Very inconsistent and every time you think they will make a breakthrough to a higher level they dont... Both Wolves and Peterborough seem to have more of a team unit, with a much higher desire to win than the Aces having watched them both race at the NSS this year, with their riders heavily involved in encouraging each other in and around the piits. And in Jordan Palin, Peterborough have a kid who can truly go places. Having watched him since his Colts debut he is certainly one who could reach the very top.. His Ht 13 win last night reminded me of a 17 year old Joe Screen riding against the best the league had to offer at that time.. Totally fearless and confident in his own ability, and never putting a wheel wrong. So much so, even Dan with his "Polish Speed", didnt make much of a dent in his lead... His style is very much suited to larger, wider tracks at the moment as he doesnt seem to turn the bike tight enough (and maintain enough speed), on the tighter circuits, but I am sure this will come, and as most of the major competitions are on the bigger Euro circuits this wont hold him back.. A shame the Aces let him go as he was always 'box office' with the Colts... Going back to the Aces, (and all teams). Changing riders at this late stage is hardly worth it to be honest, these lads have spent fortunes on equipment so need to race in both leagues. Be a bit unfair to take earnings potential off them now especially given the amount of meetings ridden so far with Covid and weather issues... And isn't there a transfer window or something that may have passed?

And of course you nowadays have the Internet to dissect such nonsense and spread it far and wide...

I am sure Mark will say that "of course myself and the riders are disappointed" and that "certain riders obviously know they can do better", but that "it certainly isn't through any lack of trying that they are struggling" and that they "will come back from this setback much stronger I am sure" and that "we all look forward to the next meeting" as there is still "lots to ride for this season"... One thing noticeable.about last night was the amount of young kids in attendance which must be a positive going forward. Many seemed to have 'noisy fan shape type things' which make noise when shook, with the Aces emblem on them which I presume were given away? Another thing noticeable (again as it was the same the other time I have been this year) is the lady on the centre green talking whilst music is still being constantly played in the background, meaning you can't hear what she is saying... £41 for me and my student lad to sit in the seats last night, £27 two weeks ago to stand at Poole.. (£37 to stand at BV).. Basically £14 to watch Dan Bewley given the similar levels of all the riders in both meetings (some are the same rider so you can't get more similar than that)!! Dan's good, but not sure fourteen quid worth of 'good'...

How many points do you get for winning by 31 or more away from home?...

They will no doubt correct it..... To 'Ben' Bewley.....

To be honest I never took the hype of Kurtz when he first broke through as whenever I saw him he wasnt the rider who came with the "big write up" and Jack Holder always seemed to outperform him when I saw them in meetings together.. However, his scores generally seemed to suggest a big future so I put it down to him just not performing on the odd occasion I watched him.. From what I have seen this year at the NSS, Sheffield, and on TV he can be "very quick" when in front but really poor when trying to pass riders from the back.. As in, he doesnt seem to have any plan of attack at all... And when in front he often wins by miles but leaves his team mate to fend for himself, never once looking behind him at any stage of the race.. He has reached his level for me.. Unfortunately for the Aces, so have too many of his team mates.. .

The Aces' two, three, four and five scored 22 paid 24 between them off 17 rides.. Dan got 17 off six...

30 seconds applause at BV.. 30 seconds?

Enjoyed that tonight.. Much better racing than the Wolves match.. Seemed a decent crowd (ish), in the stand from where I was sat, back straight didnt have that many though.. Dads Army deservingly triumphed with "Young Pike" sensational.. Take a bow Jordan Palin... MPT with some great moves and Hans with some "proper team riding" and showing how to still get places through track craft when your opponents behind you have faster machinery.. Bjarne showed in glimpses what a class act he always has been. And Bomber and Scott picked up places when needed.. As for the Aces? Riders at Two, Three and Four, once again, failed to win the 'clutch heats' that make the difference as seems to happen year in and year out with the Aces.. Those races when they are the "main man" are the ones against the better teams that they invariably wilt under the pressure.. Wells did as expected.. Brennan will be cheesed off he got eclipsed by Palin I am sure, but will come back.. Kurtz seems to have had his career peak and his trying to pass Anderson (with a much faster bike), was truly awful and without any thought or strategy.. And as for Dan? I think he is starting to understand how Crumpy must have felt for a good many years riding for the Aces . Truly a one man band... Well done the Panthers...

Ouch....

Given the great unknown potential who does know? The style, the quality and the price would have such a major bearing on any success.. What I am saying is that every track doing its own thing will never unleash the potential that can exist if properly organised at national level, rather than provincial. ..

Even if it is, (and hopefully you are correct), the PR is appalling... And shows the lack of emotional intelligence that exists within those who "make decsions" on behalf of the sport... Do they not have a Press Officer to sanction any "public messages"?

Absolutely... However, there is a far greater chance of a 'collective' making something work and sharing the burden of costs than any single individual. . It's the same with the marketing of the sport... Many tracks will do their own individual things to the best of their abilities, and have various degrees of success... Instead of budgeting collectively a certain amount to run a "British Speedway" marketing campaign from which the clubs can then work off the back of.. Considering they all need each other it does amaze me how insular looking so many are....

It really does beggar belief doesn't it? A man who for many years delivered a publication, the quality of which belied the sport it covered and showcased it at a far higher level than many other more mainstream sports get coverage.. This alone speaks volumes as to the level of leadership quality at the top of the sport in the UK.. No mention of any minutes silences either at the tracks...? Disgraceful..

Hopefully a minutes silence at all meetings this week...

Max Fricke rode for the Aces against Poole one BHM morning, then went and rode for Poole at Leicester that evening...

RIP Phil.... A very sad day for British Speedway.. Condolences to all his family and friends... He will certainly be missed by many..