mikebv

Did I just hear Nigel say that Lindback was a "better rider than that" when discussing his last place..? Wow.. Not been watching him ride for the past few years obviously. ..

Seem to remember it's between 3000 to 3500... The capacity is just under 1800 in the Grandstand and (I think), now 1200, maybe a couple of hundred more, (?) on the back straight.. They reduced the size of the back straight stand a couple of year ago.. Not sure if they planned to build the stand on the third bend that they had for the SWC or use the car park that is there for spectators at ground level..

Bartosz Zmarzlik won their version of the Sports Personality of the Year award last year.. And the President of Poland visited him at Zmarzlik's own place for a photo call this year.. I would suggest 'quite a few' Poles are aware of the sport..

Did he mention 'gating gloves'...?

Is it the reduced money? Many of the riders when riding away seem to be going through the motions at times but doing ok at home.. Earn a few quid at home and not take too many risks away?

One of those nights for Pepe.. Looked as fast as anyone, been in every race to the flag and only got 6 to show for his efforts..

The sliver lining for the forum though is that the loon who used to come on here banging on about him no longer does so.. Seemed to stop posting on here altogether... Wonder what happened to them?..

A bit like MJJ... Edit : And ZG's league winning chances..

Yet another defeat for Woffinden there.. Almost like he didnt want to win it... MJJ should have been charged to get in given he is watching most of the racing..

Looks like they are..

Well MJJ certainly wasnt...

Yet another block pass... Dont these riders watch racing in between their heats, or indeed other meetings?..

Understand the comment.. But truly, KK has/had it all.. Also ruthless when he needed to be where Lindback wasnt the same.. On his day a top ten rider without doubt.. The next day..? A top 100.... Very strange..

Another totally different rider when not under pressure.. Could be a real 'spoiler' this year now he has a guaranteed place in 2021.. It shows what fine margins seperate those who ride at the highest level night in, night out, to those who ride better relaxed and look 'world class' for a period of time but can't do it when the pressure truly is on.. All riders at the top level have natural ability based on the very fact they can ride a speedway bike at a level that only 20 to 25 or so in the whole world can truly emulate.. However, only five or so, year in year out, can do it when everything is on the line.. Very similar capabilty at technically and machinery level, but a huge difference mentally..

The Polish 'Bomber'.... Crump, Zagar, Kasprzak.. Riders who truly would 'howl' into the tight bends at Kirky Lane faster than anyone else I ever saw.. Yet KK the night after could ride like it was his first week on a Speedway bike. . A superb rider when he feels like it.. A dreadful one when he doesn't. . Not sure I've ever seen a rider with such a huge differential margin of capability depending on how he feels mentally on any given night..

Best wishes..

Hope Adam is ok.. Just missed the air fence sadly. Did incredibly well to get off the bike in the time he had..

So similar, I think he is the one whose been riding for Gorzow this season..

Another night off for Dave no doubt cancelled again too...

Looking at that dry track I presume they have phoned Noah and told him to not bother bringing his Ark to take the riders home. ..?

Is that where Moley lIves that used to work Kelvin's Moleycam camera... Edit: Just been informed it's his East European cousin. .. 'Poley'.... I'll get me coat. .

Madsen Sayfutdinov Zmarzlik Vaculik Dudek In that order...

I attended the SWC at the NSS a few years ago and originally had standing tickets for the first bend, however, upon arrival at the turnstiles we were offered seats on the fourth turn.. Me and many, many others took up the offer... The reason? Well it wasn't the organisers being charitable, it was simply that this section would be more in view than any other part of the stadium, as they showed every start from that camera (positioned directly above our original standing place focusing down the home straight).. They understood how important having a "full stadium" looks to the casual viewer, and the event's sponsors, if you want to grow your product in the ensuing years.. Quite often when the Aces are at home the camera angle at the starting gate (hand held from the centre green just in front of the tapes), shows rows and rows of empty seats interspersed with the odd one or two fans.. The circa 1800 seats are usually around 40 to 50% full on a TV match so there is still approx 700+ fans sat there, yet if you looked at the TV "plenty of empty red seats" would be your over riding view of the place.. Putting these 700+ fans together (for one night only) in line with the camera angles would only improve the overall positive view of the sport from those watching at home.. And any seats left empty would all be together so perfect for being totally covered with large advertising banners for their sponsors, or large adverts for the next meeting at the place with contact details etc.. I am sure for the 'odd time' fans would understand getting moved 'a bit' for the good of their club's long term marketing plan.. It doesnt take much to make something look far more popular than it actually is.. It often just takes a little bit of positive creativity..

Sky were always "very pleased" with the viewing figures they got, particularly in the first ten years or so.. Often they would easily hit well over 100,000 for the GP's and high 80's and 90,000's (and more sometimes) for domestic racing.. BT delivered circa 50 to 60000+ last time I looked at their figs on BARB which, for them, was also more than a reasonable return, and often would beat their round the world sports and non Premier League football.. I think with Sky it was just the cost of the OB to show Speedway, especially at a time when they had paid out zillions for football, that made them decide to pay up the contract and move on to other sports like Netball which I presume is cheaper to produce and definitely has no weather threats to it taking place.. Speedway's following on the TV though certainly punches well above its weight in relation to its 'live' following I would suggest... Which does make it all the more frustrating to he honest when you see hardly any effort to sell itself when the TV cameras come to town. There is obviously an interested and curious market out there for the sport, sat in their armchairs, so maybe doing more to hide the huge swathes of empty stadia that take 'centre stage' most weeks at the live meeting, and fill the space with fans or advertising, would be worth considering..?

Maybe they could raffle off season tickets every month between now and the new season? At say £2.50 a ticket, (5 for a Tenner), surely most clubs could get 500 fans or so to spend a tenner a month on tickets? That would be £5k a month coming in and between now and March, start now and that's seven months worth of money.. Clubs have their own websites and many have their own social media pages that have considerably more than 500 followers, as well as many having unofficial fans pages set up by loyal supporters so getting the message out wouldn't be too difficult.. And those who are forward thinking will already have plenty of email info of their fans to contact directly.. Obviously there will need to be some elemant of trust and belief that next season takes place but if nothing else the clubs will be able to see if such a dynamic would work for other years even if they have to pay money back or offer a roll over of the tickets.. It keeps the fans in regular contact with the club too so also affords the opportunity to sell merchandise direct etc.. And with Xmas looming winning a season ticket could get a very healthy take up in Decenber as it would make a great present for the Speedway fan in your life!!!