mikebv

So given the BSPA's many previous examples in devising and implementing plans, we know that this is exactly what will happen!!!

Correct.....! The irony is that Speedway will not allow any independent body or person to run the sport and adjudicate on decisions yet it has an MC that does exactly the same.... Except of course by their very own position within the sport they will (and can never be) seen as strictly impartial Simply any vested interest that they invariably have in the outcome will render their decision (no matter how honestly made) appear made for their own agenda... And on the circus goes.....

I would also imagine having the riders as 'assets' with some value added to them will also provide leverage to the 'parent company' when negotiating money from lenders...? Possibly why the asset system is still in place..? Not sure any bank manager would know a speedway riders market value so presume some 'licence' is there in any riders valuation..

I once presumed that the 'Tamil Tigers' must be a sub continent Speedway team.....!!!

Agree, but if it does end up appearing 'dodgy' then it means no one can then really complain when 'certain others' do things that bend rather than break those 'bendable' rules....!

Same could be said for so, so many others too Steve... For a sport that invariably has just one team, and no other allowed, within around 30 miles or so it really does under sell itself A virtual monopoly of the local conurbations in many areas around the country yet 0.1%, or even much less, of those people who dwell there attend... Still, on the positive side, it means clubs have a huge potential market on their doorsteps should they ever get the sport marketed right and their own teams brand in the consciousness of the locals.

Just tell them... "It's in the interests of Speedway"... That seems to fix everything...

Around 2000-2200 ish I would say... The Grandstand holds 2k and looked around half full, about 100 on the west terrace and a decent number on the back straight (between 800 and 1000 I would say).. For a run of the mill 'play off qualifier'!!!®😉 I would say about 1000 more than the old place would have had... Lots of kids tonight too which can only be good long term... The match itself was not as good as the Cov one, but that was special, however it was much better than your 'average' meeting.. Great to see a track where a rider can make up several bike lengths of gap on the guy in front just by riding a different line... It means most races go down to the last bend of the last lap with chances remaining for position changes... And even if there is no passing in a race, at least you are not filling in the result of the race in your programme when the riders exit turn two, lap one...

Excellent meeting.... Must admit I have seen quite a few very good meetings over the years from Lakeside even though it is regarded as a 'trick track'... Shame that it appeared hardly anyone attended it.... Did I read recently that a hosting track gets 10k for a Sky meeting? At circa £20 admission thats 500 fans worth of revenue... Therefore I wonder why tracks dont invest that cash and reduce prices for a TV meeting to attract a larger crowd... With tonights racing being so good I am sure many in a 'Big Crowd' may have considered returning... And the sport would have come over better on the TV to the watching thousands... As it is it looked, sadly, very much like a sport watched by 'one man and his dog'.... Edit: just seen Hawk127's crowd description... same man and same dog probably?!!!

Sensible approach.. Either choose your ticket pre meeting on line or over the phone or take 'pot luck' (like at a cinema).... The Aces are trying to bring the sport into the 21st Century using its ticketing system however this will I would suggest take time as some many fans are used to just rocking up and paying at the gate when attending the sport (even at National finals).. And for many of the Speedway Fan demographic, 'cash is still king' so some work needs to be done to influence their chosen method of payment (maybe a discount for pre booking would help?) Planning to have just three ticket booths open was a bit embarrassing as with a big crowd expected (and delivered) processing circa 900 people per booth was always going to take an inordinate amount of time. Processing three people per minute, and that is going some, would still take 300 mins per booth to get the 900 through, (five hours of actual time!).. They did react by opening extra areas where you could pay so they will know the issues and respond accordingly I am sure. Maybe also the fans will now react by pre booking more...? All in all though, what a great day at the Speedway.. A massive crowd for a League match, with plenty of away fans to add to the atmosphere, good weather, a well maintained racetrack and a match that delivered a close scoreline and several 'worth the admission fee alone' races... Not said that for a long, long time....

Wow.... Great to see a Speedway race where if all four riders are of similar ability, all four ride into the last bend of the last lap in touch with each other thinking they still have a chance of improving their position... Saw plenty of that today.... Some fantastic racing... All on a warm sunny day... Well done to the track team... Cannot wait for a cooler day/night where the moisture remains in the track longer... Dare I say, when entertainment like today is served up, £17 Speedway is value for money....

More a comment on him riding in a position that was originally set aside to bring on British riders, many of whom have been, and still are around the country, National League level.. I am sure riding twice at reserve against the likes of Chris Widman will be beneficial financially and give his confidence a boost but it is wrong that he gets that chance. If British Speedway wants to continue with the EDR system then it should be ran as originally set up... If it doesn't, then scrap it all together, and let teams build up to a strength that allows experienced Danish riders to ride at reserve level as it tactically benefits the team.. At least the crowds (the ones still going anyway) will understand the rationale behind it...

A Polish lad not allowed to ride in a match because his team in Poland won't allow it? A 27 year old Dane top scores riding at reserve against National League riders? And a Belle Vue/Peterborough heat leader wins the meeting for Lakeside so they move higher up the table further away from his own team? British Speedway 2016... Can't understand why it's not packing the crowds in, I really can't...

The basket case that is British Speedway.. Leicester just a microcosm of the general malaise.... Guess what? You sign Polish riders they get called back at a moment's notice. Who knew? Guess what? Riding on a Saturday night means youre going to restrict yourself in the number of riders that want to ride on that night for your team. Who knew? Guess what? Saturday nights have lots of GP and U21 and Euro Championships and Best Pairs events which attract the better riders. Who knew? Guess what? The EL launched this season with a hugely obvious disparate level of capability between the teams from top to bottom resulting in the farce we have now. Who knew? Well everyone on here for a start...

I believe tonights match has been retrospectively called off.... The result wasnt "in the interests of speedway" apparently!!!!!! Tee Hee..... Well done Scotty and the boys.....

Confused? You will be.... Anyone else remember the USA sitcom SOAP? Every episode began with a voiceover update with tried in vain to give you an overview what had previously gone on and why, trying desperately to explain an impossibly complicated situation... Oh how British Speedway could do with a 'Benson' to sort everything out.☺

Just an observation but the NL at BV may possibly have an impact on the EL team crowds such is the value for money that exists watching the NL.. The racing in the NL is very good with plenty of passing and close racing due in the main to the similar standard (and maybe attitude) of the riders.. If someone who knew nothing about Speedway attended an NL meeting with their teenage kid and then both attended an EL meeting, they would find it hard to understand the £23 quid difference in admission that exists between the two leagues for sitting in the 'comfy seats'.. Or indeed the £18 and £14 differential that exists for the 'non comfy seating' in the Grandstand and Standing areas respectively... Can see me getting my 'fix' more at the Colts than the EL team this year as it's a very good night's entertainment for not a lot of cash...

Great post.... A load of contrived team building and race format bollox put together year in year in out to ultimately deliver a winner of a National Sporting Championship that hardly anyone in the country gives a toss about.... A tiny, tiny sport and getting smaller each passing year... Well done the BSPA, Great job.... They must be so proud....

The width of the bends is one of the track's key attributes.... Riders are starting to slide as soon as they cross the finishing line so the straights are not too long in comparison to the track's overall size.... Given the room available into the entry to the bends, I can see many riders, when behind, taking the opportunity to stay longer in a straight line than the guy in front and blasting around the boards with more momentum and speed... Jon Armstrong last night showed how it can be done on a slick track, more dirt (as will be created I am sure) and the racing could be superb..

To be fair, it was quicker than usual... ('Usual' being never)... Good to see someone from the MC actually made a public comment explaining a ruling! As always though, given no independent body you will always have 'vested interest' accusations thrown about... As it appears Promoter's wont accomodate a notion of 'someone else' running 'their' sport, then none should really complain when an MC decision doesnt go their way.. Made your bed so lie in it.....

Can see why MC has not allowed this... Enough clashes already scheduled with no doubt more to come... Peterborough "happy to run with guests".... I bet they are... Probably the No1 rider jn the league so they can have the pick of the League to replace him on a 'horses for courses' basis when he isnt available... Fair play to Rob Godfrey too for explaining the reasons for the decision...

The 'free'/£10 meetings should be the 'loss leader' for the many who don't know what the sport is or have drifted away... When they are there that is the time to get mobile numbers, email addresses, give away car stickers, face painting/photos with riders for the kids etc etc to target their return... Unfortunately, it seems very little pro active marketing is done at these events and I would suggest circa £18 entrance fees won't entice too many back.... So why is admission so high for a tiny minority sport? An example is my club who allegedly pay £3k to a rider which means a £6k bill for both the home and away meetings against any team.... I would suggest that their crowds over the past three years have been around 1000 paying adults a week with an average admission of £17... Not paying just that one rider would mean they could cut admission by £6 and still maintain their income/outgoing ratio... I would suggest an £11 admission would attract more of the 'ex fans', occasional fans and potential newbies than £17...? An increase of just a couple of hundred a week would put £40k or so into the business over a season... Maybe six man teams with the high earners going for a while until Speedway sorts itself out is the short term solution to facilitate a longer term strategy? Giving the Promoters less costs to invest more in the local and national marketing..? As many have said ad nauseam on here, the best meetings we remember were the ones where a big crowd generated the atmosphere. The racing at these events then take on a mythology all of its own regardless of whether it was actually any good or not... Speedway somehow needs to find that price point that generates that crowd level that will deliver that atmosphere consistently... Currently it seems a long way off and sadly, if the last ten to fifteen years or so are a barometer, devoid of ideas in how to do it....

GP qualifiers this Saturday...

I think that is the 'old' rule... The 'new' rule states.... Well, to be honest I haven't a clue as it will only get written sometime between now and Wednesday evening, depending on whether the meeting tonight goes ahead or not.... All done 'in the interest of Speedway' obviously!

Maybe next season the sport may be run properly and not allow such ludicrous nonsense to be actively encouraged and allowed any more?