mikebv

Just enough grip on this track.. Looks like a few 'spinning up' too depending on which part of the track they hit, so those behind never feel out of the race... Superb sport when done well isn't it?

Sadly no, but to be fair the domestic shared events and the international events, do seem to attract more fans (many of which from around the country) at the NSS than would be the case if held anywhere else... Bar maybe Glasgow as they do a great job promoting such occasions.. Sadly it would appear that too many years of 'Mickey Mouse/Guestfest' Speedway has taken a rather large toll on the levels of support the sport now has, by eroding the enthusiasm of many followers to 'buy into' what's on offer as a legitimate sporting contest with real meaning.. Hopefully the NSS can build back some of that support base with such exceptional racing, and the sport can do its bit by making what's on offer a credible sporting experience to help deliver this much needed crowd growth..

I watch the Colts at the NSS and the racing is around 2 - 3 seconds slower than the Premiership.. The racing is great and only by the announcer telling you the times of the heats do you realise the time difference... Stick four lads of a similar ability level on a race track that is conducive to deliver decent racing and you will be entertained... Stick four lads of a similar ability level on a race track that has too tight bends and too long narrow straights, and you invariably will not be as entertained.... And those lads could all be the best four riders in the World providing the low level of entertainment, whilst four 'juniors' could be the four lads providing the great racing.. Even teams, with close racing ran on tracks that allow passing opportunities, has to be the overall objective to deliver 'the good night's racing' that a Speedway promoter should be offering up as his or her minimum aim.. That 'good night's racing' should then get supported by a wider evening of off track entertainment to keep the punters engaged.. Do that well and no one will notice, or even care, that any of the riders on show are not GP stars, or even that many of them are not even international class.... Fans would just go away from the venue pleased with what they had seen and, more than likely ,be willing to return to get more of the same. .

Spot on.. The story behind the story is invariably always more interesting..

I've run several retail businesses for over 30 years.. And the customer is always right.. Even when he or she is a complete and utter first class f***wit of the highest order!!! If they pay you money, then look after them and they will probably come back...

Could be very good this... Heres hoping..

Looks like a cracking crowd and atmosphere in Lublin.. Do the clubs provide the T shirts free or do the fans have to buy them? Certainly looks impactful having so many thousands of fans in club colours..

Lindback always seems to be a liability when it comes to the crunch.. Both, team and Individual meetings..

Yes, on a warning and only moved a fraction.. But moved... He watched the replay in the pits and turned to the camera and tapped his head several times with his pointing finger and shouted.. "What a f*^%ing idiot!"... Gave the impression he didn't agree with the refs decision..

In such a holiday destination it makes perfect business sense to run weekly especially through the school hols.. They also seem to focus on making the Speedway just one part of the overall nights entertainment package rather than the only thing on offer.. You get out of it what you put in, in most things in life.. More power to the IOW's elbow..

Nicki not impressed by that exclusion..

That would surely have to be the standard Steve.. I would go as far as five man teams.. No 1 - A current Prem/Champ Heat Leader No 2 - A current Prem Second String/Champ Heat Leader No3 - A current Prem Reserve/Champ Second String No4 - A current Champ Reserve/ NL Heat Leader No5 - A current NL Heat Leader/Second String.. Circa £3.5k the lot per night max.. £300, £500, £700, £900, £1100 per night per rider.. 16 teams, regional split, race home and away twice in your region and once in the other region, and you get 21 home matches ex play offs.. Just 80 riders needed would free up plenty for replacements for poor performance/injury cover.. Maybe the other clubs not in the 16 then run as NL standard alongside some 'second teams' like BV Colts, and run with six or seven man teams to increase opportunities for development..?

I think you would be surprised just how important EVERY sponsor is to balance the books... Attendances alone at the vast majority of tracks simply don't cover the costs.. And good crowds sometimes only go to offset the poor ones (how much did Poole lose in the Ipswich match alone, was it over £20k that was quoted..).. Hopefully all recouped last night, but it shows that getting weekly (guaranteed) sponsors money, means a constant income stream, which supports the club when the fanbase can fluctuate so wildly week on week..

Things are going so well down on the South Coast now, it looks like Poole will 'Hoover up' another title... Unless of course, something pulls the rug from under them.. I'll get me coat..

Got to hand it to the Poles... NOTHING gets in the way of their Leagues.. They know who holds the real power in the sport.... He who pays the piper calls the tune.... The FIM look quite spineless against them don't they?

The car is currently parked outside Tescos... He's setting off as soon as he can find 50p to put in the slot... Bit of a decision to be made though whether to drive the Postman Pat one or the Fireman Sam one.. The Postman Pat one has the better accompanying song but the Fireman Sam one has a big bell... (Which is more appropriate maybe?)...

Wow.. Didn't know Bruce was such a cricket fan..

Now I don't believe you are being quite honest with everyone on here with this posting JCF are you? Personally I am quite happy to give you the benefit of any doubt that you could make it at 'close of play' from Birmingham to Poole for the start of the meeting at the required 'light speed'... However... Your travelling through the required 'wormholes' of deeper Space to reach your destination, I can accept... But a girlfriend? Really? Come on JCF, what do you take me for?

Spot on... When riders rode in both of the top divisions it was to give them a chance to develop their ability against better riders, to see if they could make the leap into the top league permanently, and then further into international class, once they became established top division standard riders.. Now it's simply done to allow riders without Polish and Swedish contracts to make money, and all it has done is result in some clubs racing on nights they would prefer not to, to accomodate these riders' earning potential and deliver a fixture list driven by when the riders are available to ride rather than when the customers will be available to attend. .

Finals now are contested without a track grade in the GP's, as those who run it finally realised that most finals when given a track grade before they are ran, became a gate and go non event on a smooth one inside line track.. And we hear time and time again on commentary that "racing will improve" as a dirt line appears... Therefore, as you suggest, make that dirt line appear from heat one..

My lad plays in a Lesgue One Academy and plays his home games on a Vanarama North Team's 4G pitch.. The pitch is used every day from around 10am to 10pm by various sporting teams from the local area, and this morning was home to a 'holiday club' for primary school boys and girls who were on the pitch before we arrived.. The pitch cost £400k and within five years has paid for itself and more... The non League team is doing 'well' and pays its players what it can afford to and not a penny more.. My point? The investment in the playing surface guaranteed not only the survival of the club but also means the football played on it is very much along the floor and not hoof and hope, thus the fans appreciate it and crowds stay decent even though the team is lower mid table every year with pretty much zero expectation of promotion. The players they attract know the rate for the job well in advance and therefore the level is pretty much bang average for the bang average money they pay out.. The NSS (and some others) show that, even with modern machinery, a fit for purpose 'playing surface' can still deliver great entertainment, particularly when combined with riders of relatively the same ability level each race.. I am sure many tracks even with the confines of a greyhound track could improve their track shape with wider entrances and exits to bends and a more overall circular design if they wished.. No point just keeping paying out hundreds and thousands to riders, who may or may not be at your club next week/month/season to positively effect the clubs long term development, and to be frank, don't attract any extra punters through the turnstiles by their personal attendance... Better I would suggest to invest in the tracks future by spending thousands on providing a great shape which delivers great racing..

Interesting to see the new BSI Boss at the NSS on Monday... Maybe with Cardiff running in September, if a success, then could there be another GP in the UK? Maybe the first one so a large gap between them and it would set the series off with a cracking start as we know the racing will be "out of the top drawer"... With the additional seating I would think around 8000 -10000 would be possible, wasn't it 7000 at the SWC?, and I am sure more seating or standing could be added to that.. I think September might actually benefit Cardiff given school holidays have finished and it's the penultimate one so, hopefully, everything to race for.. Be good to see two GP's in the UK to raise the profile of the Sport further, and the NSS and Cardiff would give a perfect balance between one delivering superb racing and the other providing the 'flagship event'...

Saw him ride at the NSS against the Colts against Bewley, Smith, Bickley.. Great to watch and also a great showman... Just simply one of those 'old school' riders unfortunately the sport is now devoid of.. Still plenty of years ahead of him too, even given his age..

Charles Wright reminds me a bit of David Norris.. Both obviously talented from an early age but both seemed to drift along doing 'OK' without breaking sweat.. Norris ended his career as a true top level rider when, by his own admission, he started to focus more, so let's hope Wright can have a similar leap forward to the higher levels now he has the confidence brought on by being National Champion. Always frustrating when a 'natural talent' doesn't reach its full potential, and Wright definitely has that..

Wow! Stockport's finest.... Well done lad...