mikebv

??? But don't Poland have the answer already?..... I.e. Don't have them... Do you really think that Gollob riding for seven different teams each year week in week out as Rory for example does, would deliver the credibility to the sport that the sponsors of speedway in Poland would want? Would it bollox.. Quite simply, if something can be done, then by definition it is achievable, so there, again by definition, can be no debate that the 'skill' is already there.... It then simply boils down to whether the 'will' is there too.. Invariably a No1 rider is replaced with a similar standard Guest in this country, but does it need to be? Tonight for example, BV who to be fair ran RR, could have had Nicholls (as the second heat leader) to take two of Zagar's rides and Stead as the teams third heat leader (allegedly?) could be allowed to take the other two. In fact, any BV riders should be allowed to take an extra two rides to cover him so the Manager can tactically place a rider 'on fire' whatever his level.. Another possibility could be, Michael Palm Toft and Richie Worrall rode for the Aces last year at second string level, so they could be 'stand by' for the Aces this year to replace the Aces second strings as and when required (or even better be included at the start of the season in a seven man 'one to five' squad which would also mean competition for places). Instead tonight Richie rode as a 'Guest'.... The above two scenarios would be far more acceptable to a watching wider sporting public than the 'to you, to me' chuckle brothers swapping of riders.. I actually thought that the fast track idea would see the Guests diminish as with two spaces in the teams being 'ring fenced' it would mean those riders (often foreign journeymen) who previously got these roles, would then be 'looking for work'. Thus they could form part of the seven man/five places squad system to be used as and when.. Still... Far better to carry one with the 'there is no alternative /head in the sand' option of Guests, Guests and more Guests, and let the sport continue onwards and downwards with it's proven level of 'success'.....

Agreed, its a big step up in class from being a heat leader PL to heat leader EL.. And to be fair to Stead in his whole career he has struggled big time with making that jump...

Yet Poland have 'discovered' a way round it?....... What next for Poland? A quest for fire? Never ever should any speedway fan in this country complain about lack of mainstream media coverage when they accept the way the sport in Britain allows this 'swapping' of riders week in week in out as and when it pleases....

Then change the way the teams are built then...... If you want any credibility and kudos in winning the elite or premier league then using guests left, right and centre renders both attainments as absolutely bollox.... The issue nowadays is that 'guests are a must' has become the mantra, and the easy, lazy 'get out of jail free card' to be played, rather than the bspa coming to their senses and realising that their very existence will never allow the sport in this country to be accepted as a 'major player' by the mainstream media and wider sporting public.. If you cannot build a credible team structure that allows seven riders to represent the team they are affiliated to week in week out, then don't try and do it.... Do something different...

Just heard from someone there that the crowd is a bit sparse... Hope many have stayed away deliberately given the disdain those who organised this meeting showed the supporters... However, that said, if they hadn't put together such a ridiculous situation I would have been there spending lots of cash rather than being at home in the warm as I am now, watching some good speedway racing from Germany whilst enjoying a couple of bottles of ice cold chardonnay... For considerably less cash than I would have spent at Leicester too.... Cheers....

beat me to it mate...! this very situation sums up British Speedway's self inflicted death of a thousand cuts perfectly... I presume the Slovenian championship was already on the FIM list pre the Elite Leagues fixtures so it was there for all to see so why did one promoter suggest the date and the other (even worse) agree to it!?. And even if it wasn't already scheduled pre the Elite fixtures, I am sure there are 'one or two' Elite League teams without a Slovenian No1 in their ranks that could have rode instead when the issue was eventually spotted, (and the Aces then race on another Saturday when Slovenia (and Edinburgh) don't need 'their men'..!! So instead of an attractive fixture between two full strength teams we get a 'watered down' pale imitation of what the meeting should have been.. Speedway is a dangerous sport so 'guests' and 'RR' impact far too many meetings already through injuries, so what a great idea it is to prevent a full team taking to the track by simply planning a meeting on a night that 100% means riders missing!! The most annoying thing is that I was going to go over to Leicester with my lad and his mate because this meeting ticked a lot of boxes.. Early season fans 'optimism' and rejuvenated interest following a winter of no speedway. Saturday meeting so no mad post work rush to get there. No school the next day so getting back late not an issue for the kids. Two (on paper) evenly matched teams both of whom touted for the Play Offs with GP riders on display (oops).... It should have been a potential 'must see' for many neutral fans in the midlands area, never mind Leicester and BV supporters. And the best of it is, any promoters reading this (if any do come on here) will think I am mad for now saying 'sod it' and giving it a miss and deciding not to part with the best part of £100 inc petrol!!!! What they will also fail to understand is that this kind of nonsense then defines your thinking for the rest of the season, and you quickly then lose that 'optimism' and start to say 'sod it' to many other meetings as you become more and more disaffected by the ludicrous decisions which seem to get made in ever increasing numbers as the season moves on.......... British Speedway eh? Bloody Hell.....! .

So many comment on here that Promoter's seem to forget that they are in the entertainment business... In truth, a great number of Promoters don't think they are in the entertainment business, to many, they are simply running a professional sporting organisation with the 100% priority of putting together a team that wins at home regardless of what the racing is like... The reason is a very simple one, and that is that all the entertaining racing in the world wont deliver the crowds needed to meet its costs if the team loses its home matches regularly. Speedway fans do always seem to want utopia when it comes to watching their sport in so much that they want a successful team but this seemingly must be allied at all times, to great racing each week... We don't ask for too much from a Promoter really do we??!!!

A great publication, portrays the sport in an ultra professional light, any potential sponsors cannot fail to be impressed by the picture the Star paints of the sport..... Well done to all... (And I have just started stocking it in my own shop so don't need to go anywhere else to buy it)!!!

A Guest in every meeting... It was a good effort from the bspa last year however a few meetings did 'slip through the net' and took place with both teams using their own riders.. A bit more focus and effort this season and I am sure the farce of having 'no guests' can be avoided....

was it Father Jack???

Longtrack racing on the Sundays was a big earner back in the day... All the top speedway riders went over to Germany in the main usually a couple of times a month at least.. When PC got his ban in, I think 78, for being late back for the season start due to a cancelled flight from America it was said to cost him well over 20k in earnings (that was just a one month ban)! Such was the state of the lucrative LT circuit... As can be seen nowadays the riders are mainly Poland bound every Sunday, hence since this country took over the speedway world, Longtrack in particular has suffered as the big names no longer need to do it to supplement their income...

he'd only be able to afford to give 'em a ten yard head start....

Peter Collins... He made it look so effortless... On a saturday afternoon, World of Sport, you couldnt fail to want to give the sport a visit at your local track after seeing what he could do.... Honestly do feel a bit sorry for those who never got the chance to see him 'live'.... Could give some of the best riders to have ever ridden 20 - 30 yards head start and win by the same margin time and time again.... Very lucky I grew up 10 mins from Hyde Rd so got to see him at his 'pomp' every week...

I for one, have never been to Leicester so as its early in the season and I will still have some enthusiasm (no doubt steadily eroded over the following weeks) for the sport, I will definitely attend.... Hopefully Zagar and Nicholls will be in it so I will have someone to support... Then I can come on here that evening and moan in detail about how crap the track and racing was, and whilst agreeing that the facilities were good I will then be able to ask why the track wasn't built along the lines of hyde rd, bydgoszcz etc etc etc .... (Sometimes feel a bit left out on threads about Leicester)... Bottom line is these events need a crowd to put the money into the coffers, Leicester seem to be one of the better attended tracks and is in the midlands... Seems fair enough, as you say hopefully they put on a good show....

I pay out a lot of money to two people to ensure my store does not suffer the same fate... They carry out weekly checks on all my employees files to ensure they are up to date should we receive a visit from the immigration agency.. My company can get fined up to 20k per person found either without the right to work in the uk or not following the rules of their visa... And I can face six months inside!!! You really should take the criteria laid down very seriously and like any law 'ignorance is no defence' when you fall foul of it... Not being up to speed when you know you employ people needing visas is not very bright is it?

Far too deceptively clear and comprehensive.... You can see where so many sponsors could get a bit confused can't you?!!! (Where's the bit at the end that states 'NB. Ignore all the bollox above, this is speedway mate, we just make it up as we go along)!!

hard to see what they can do 'if' the bspa have been knowingly flouting the employment laws over the past few years... looks like the 'aaaah, but this is speedway' catch all excuse for any farce that occurs, doesnt cut any ice with government agencies trying to uphold the law of the land! maybe we should ask them to review the guest rider rule!!! given british speedway's slavish following of averages wouldnt it be ironic if grading these riders in such a haphazard way over the years has delivered this scenario? maybe that is why other sports highly reliant on non europeans such as both rugby codes, ice hockey and basketball have not been challenged ie they dont grade them against british competitors performance levels..? chickens coming home time for the sport... (for the umpteenth time)

anyone know if basketball and ice hockey have similar issues?? presume they must as the law is the law...?? they do all seem to have Yanks and Canadians, however they are certainly not 'elite' as they would be playing in their own countries surely?? to be honest its a shame that the same doesn't apply for many European riders, ie the many journeymen who arrive through a revolving door and apply their trade in the PL taking the opportunity away for a Brit to improve his career whilst never getting any better themselves.... still 'rules are rules' let's hope that promoters look to fill any void with British lads rather than more 5 point (at best) European non entities...

burn him!!! burn him!!! buuuuuurrrrrrrrnnnnn hiiiiimmmmmmmm! or at least put him on a ducking stool to see if he weighs the same as a duck..... seriously, let him get a job but not a 'nice one', that would be 'ok' and will let lots of people sleep better in their beds, feeling justice has been done (again in his case)and we can all self righteously move on..... no maybe not, changed my mind, because he's a 'role model' his actions could warp the fragile minds of the yoof of today, yes that makes sense, if my son behaves the same it is down to evans not me as his dad who has brought him up so..... let's buuuuuuurrrrrrrrrnnnnnn hiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmm

F1 is mobile advertising build boards for major companies, nothing more, nothing less.. A Global demographic is their target market and they do a great job in connecting with it... Speedway has no comparison whatsoever... 'Use Eric's Garage on the High St.' is the average speedway advert.... Speedway is a very tiny minority sport with participants who deserve a much wider recognition (and re-numeration) for their talent... In the main it doesn't happen because those who run it cannot see the potential of a joined up, collective, national, one voice, marketing campaign.. And on we go, with the ever decreasing circle....

As the band play on, the Captain of the Titanic orders his men to (once more) rearrange the deckchairs....

lets be honest, most of the changes are to situations that should never have existed in the first place..... sorting the tac rule, not using guests from already qualified teams in the play offs, replacing injured riders for the play offs, all should have had clear 'common sense' rules in place already.. the biggest disappointment for me is the bowing down to the GP riders, 'ride when you want lads' is now the message,... 'don't bother attending an EL meeting in a GP week fans' could also be the message.....

the yellow and black helmet cover is back..... if that doesn't bring thousands back to the sport nothing will....

always worth a read, plenty of content that is relevant (even with t'internet to contend with) ... as professionally presented, if not more so, as any sports magazine available.... in fact, the irony, sadly, is that the professional standard it delivers isn't reflected the same in the sport it covers.....

a great website,....