mikebv

Getting 14 riders (whereby the vast majority can collectively represent every single team in the top two leagues), together at the same time? Not to mention their foreign clubs.. Must be a logistical nightmare.. Guests really undermine any credibility the sport has but so many are caused by riders getting injured and needing to be required somewhere else the day or two later.. If clubs just ran once every week then the number of guests would drop significantly as riders would have time to get fit.. Fixture planning must need a degree in logistics..

If it's factual... (?) I would suggest it's down to the riders racing in much closer proximity to each other due to having more confidence in the track surface (which proves my point that it delivers better racing) and also because they get paid much more so that risk v reward is much more enticing, resulting again in much closer racing... And then of course you have the pressure on them to perform each week to keep those fantastic contracts, as well as ultimately a fanbase that expects and demands you to deliver (and let's you know in no uncertain terms if you don't).. Seem to remember Scott Nicholls mentioning how he hoped racing would improve the other week at the GP once 'the riders could trust the track'... It didn't really improve much as they remained strung out, suggesting they never really trusted it to take any undue risks.. If the NSS was full of bumps and hollows you can 1000% be sure the racing wouldn't be as close, and therefore, as good to watch..

Steradentski? Polygripski?

They are sometimes a bit poor aren't they with their coverage.. It just appears that the later in the day things happen the less their timings are maintained.. And as you say, even if they join an event later than the start, they still only show the same action in the later broadcasts, almost as if what they didnt show didn't happen.. Do a great job with TDF and Superbikes but this might be due to the morning/mid afternoon times in which they run..? Lets hope there's not a second round match that goes to five sets late afternoon from the Lapland Open scheduled in before the Speedway...

Riders don't like unpredictable tracks.. They race much closer together on tracks when they feel it's conducive to do so.. Overtaking through mistakes isn't really too exciting to watch as invariably it means most races over the whole meeting will be strung out as riders reduce their chances of injury. Particularly injury caused by mistakes from anyone in front who then collect them.. Poole's (or anywheres) bumps and hollows won't encourage riders to take the risks that sometimes are needed to deliver great entertainment..

Great reactions from Bomber... Although to be fair he was on one of the 'uphill' parts of the track so that would have slowed him down a bit.. If he had been on one of the 'down slopes' then maybe he wouldn't have had time to react...

The tides I believe have been given as a reason previously..

Kelvin having a bit of a dig there about the AGM priorities...?

I would suggest the biggest % drop off in fans was from around 1995 to 2005.. Anecdotal evidence as it is but.. I stopped around 1995 and started again ten years later and was amazed at how crowds had dropped off.. And in that time Britain had a World Champ and all the world's best still rode here which suggests the level of rider isn't such a huge fan attraction.. I would suggest that the % drop in the past five years to ten years is way lower than the one for the timeline I mentioned.. Admittedly it is because crowds have been generally crap but it shows that the weakened product still attracts the die hards in reasonable numbers which can only be a positive for the sport if it wants to reduce costs by weakening again.. Bottom line is, you can't spend what you haven't got and most tracks look like they don't have much spare from what they pay out now. Therefore finding six grand a night (or maybe even more given they will have an expectation based on earnings elsewhere?) for two World Class No1 riders would be a 'tad' difficult I reckon..

Bet 365 used to stream the matches didn't they? Therefore maybe getting a betting company involved will help with production costs through sponsorship of the whole process? Link say a £10 access charge with a free bet on the match, winnings paid as they usually do in other free bets by another free bet which this time could generate cash winnings.. Maybe the bet could be on the +/- handicap team score? (Or how many guests will be riding)? And as always, as they do with free bets, it will be seen as their investment/ hook to get you chasing the dream long term. A decent big name in the betting industry aligned to the sport will help the sports brand reputation standing too.

For me its purely down to the lack of crowd shown on TV, and where they do exist the demographic of them, as well as the often Mickey Mouse nonsense that is allowed to happen, as that can never persuade a major sponsor to come on board.. Perception is so much part of the modern psyche when it comes to deciding what is 'current' and what isn't, and sadly Speedway (in Britain) isn't seen as 'current' enough to get investors on board.. Ironically the same sport, often featuring the same riders, is very much 'current' with a much younger average fan base of males and females in Poland.. Thus, the advertisers are actually queuing up to come on board.. When you watch the Polish league the adverts actually feature the riders as they have public recognition, and the products they help advertise are often aimed at the younger market. Beer and Energy drink producers being two in particular that sees Speedway as something they need to be associated with for growth and success.. Sadly in the UK there isn't that youthful vibrancy that generates the interest that might stimulate major companies to join in.. And as I have said previously, should a major player come to support the sport and invest plenty, they definitely wouldn't want to be associated with swapping riders in a final, or be aligned with any team that can let their best rider effectively ruin his own chances of success, and that of his own team by putting in a rider of the night performance for a rival team.. What you could get away with years ago, you simply cannot now in the modern media era where any tweet can go viral within seconds.. (And if Poland allowed such nonsense does anyone really think they would have the following they do?) Filling the TV matches with fans would 100% help, especially if you filled the stadiums with a clear mixed demographic of the population.. Giving 1000's of tickets away if you have to as it would be all about the 'long game' Doing that might get any major potential sponsor to at least take notice and see if they could get any mileage out of associating with the sport given it will look like its fan base is something more than a SAGA get together which it does look like far too often.. As Poland proves, there is potential there, so all hope isn't lost. The sport is still exciting, adrenaline fuelled, and fast and furious.... It just needs its fan base to reflect the same to bring in some corporate interest..

Will Kenny be fit for the 2ng Leg? What did the World Class Medical team at Brussels' Airport diagnose?.. Strange place, and a long way to go with an injury to an Airport but he must trust the Doctors there I suppose.. And got the chance to take some photos of planes too, so all in all not a bad afternoon for KB..

Too open to subjectivity. A major inherent problem in UK Speedway's rules.. (a perfect example of this is your opinion of Lamberts reasons).. Make the rules clear.. You don't turn up, you get banned for 28 days You produce a sick note, you miss 14 days to help you convalesce. (A caring organisation).. You produce a 2nd sick note in a season, you miss 28 days (a very caring organisation).. Poland seem to have all their riders arriving in time, from all parts of Europe every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.. I presume they just must be lucky mustn't they? Or are those (consequential) contracts they make the riders sign making Poland 'lucky'?

?? So it's ok for the sport to be nothing more than contrived nonsense? In a Final too? Fair enough if so, but no one can moan when crowds then reflect this nonsense.. (Like they appear to do each week of the season).. I wonder if anyone in authority has actually ever given serious thought to running Speedway in the UK properly? You never know. It might be worth a go... As let's be honest, it looks like they have tried just about everything else..

He was at Brussels Airport and his flight got delayed to post 7pm... Nice photo of the runway from Kenny as he waited.. No mention of injury.... Until it was obvious he wasn't going to make the meeting. .

I believe Kenny went from Denmark to Brussels Airport specifically to get diagnosed by their world famous medical team...... Such is there popularity though it took him four hours before he got seen... Bloody Belgian NHS...

Had none for years Steve. Complete, Mickey Mouse, contrived nonsense.. (But given the operating model they have devised, that's the best they can offer)...

Due to how long Kenny was sat waiting at Brussels Airport for his flight, it gave him time to remember he was injured....

Is there time for a flood? Kennys condition must have deteriorated significantly after taking that photo at Brussels airport this afternoon.. To be honest, GB Speedway should start using those airlines that Poland use... Amazingly given the UK problems, all the riders seem to land in plenty of time over there....

In my role I do quite a few appeals on disciplinary matters which involve dismissal, and spend quite a lot of my time reviewing the process followed before either over turning or up holding the decision made.. It does appear something quite obvious may have happened/been missed, for him to a) not get banned soon after the incident like the others and b) not get banned after the appeal hearing when all the facts had been reviewed.. What obviously appeared to be an 'open and shut case' in the 'trial by social media' looks like it wasn't quite what it seemed.. As you say, maybe someone should be now getting some 'feedback'...

Agreed,. I haven't been to an Aces meeting all season as given up Mickey Mouse domestic top two leagues Speedway, (been to a few Colts matches though and they have been spot on), however if I had been attending all year then I would have gone tonight.. Just because it would seem a bit OTT to make a stand against the promoters, and decide not to go to the last match of the season, when you've been all year.. I reckon 1200 to 1400 or so will still be in attendance especially as Swindon are taking a good few.. And if they get that many it won't be a bad crowd I would suggest.. Edit : just read the info re Kenny... If he doesn't make it then maybe s few might get knocked off the attendance..

For one so young and still very early in his career, he does seem to have more than his fair share of "issues" when it comes to attending all his scheduled Speedway meetings in the UK doesn't he? Must be just unlucky...

I think most will not really be bothered either way.. British Speedway can get you like that.. Good luck to Craig, if the system allows it then fair play to him for escaping a ban.. It certainly won't resonate outside of the tiny GB Speedway bubble so no harm done to the Sport..

At last... Justice has been done... Everyone move along please, there's nothing to see here, mind you don't trip on that carpet we've lifted up to brush under on your way out.. Hope Craig sets up a 'just giving' page to help with the fine.. British Speedway

Or short circuit bike racing people...?