mikebv

Dan really doesnt have that "ruthlessness" to ever be World Champ... Doyle on Monday showed him what you need to be in Ht 15, and that was only in UK Speedway..

I love the way him and Dan conduct interviews as if English was their second language...

In 50m to make up 20m takes some special kit...

I bet he won't be taking Phil's methanol tonight...

Incredible speed differential over such a short distance... On pretty much the same equipment...

I would suggest it has quite a lot do with the way the sport is, and has been, ran.. Ice Hockey crowds as an example of a "small sport", averaged over 3100 a match last season.. Sheffield almost 7000.. A similar 3100 average crowd for Speedway and each meeting would generate £65k to £70k or so... If landlords had been getting £20k a night in rent, say 20 times a year, then I would suggest a lot more would have kept the sport at their venue.. As many mention on here, a lot of fans now go simply to watch the racing, rather than bother about the result too much, as, win or lose, you cannot help come away feeling many events are contrived in either a small way, or unfortunately at times, a much bigger way... Big sponsors too will never be engaged to join in if one of their riders are allowed to help a business rival"s team try to win the title, and, at the same time, reduce his own teams chances.. The play offs get "decent crowds" as so many "Speedway Fans" come out of the woodwork to watch them, however, many of these fans who will attend the play offs, wont regularly attend the weekly meetings at their local track, due to that unavoidable feeling that lots of those meetings do, more times than they should, feel "a bit Mickey Mouse"... The big positive though, which should be taken on board, is that the sport can still attract "decent crowds", on these occasions... They just need to find a way to get these people there more regularly.. And "if" the operating model is part of the problem, then a) find out the truth of if it is or not, and b) if so, change it..

Sometimes it is probably best that the sport gets hardly any mainstream coverage... And you can add Jack Smith riding against his parent club, and ultimately making a key difference for a team who he doesnt ride for, to the mix... As for Guests, a proper RR facility would cover a No1. The next two riders could take all his rides and still do their own and Ht 15.. Years ago a No1 scored a large % of the teams points, particularly in the 13 Ht era, meaning they were a big miss, now it is more shared around the team so less differential between HL's.. Still, we get to another season end, and this year two more have gone by the way side... Same old, same old, rinse and repeat... Works so well doesnt it?

Memo to Wolves... Ride the inside....

Another winners and losers medal for Bomber...? On the podium, off the podium, back on the podium...

It's been required since the world moved into the 21st Century, (at least)... Football, Rugby Union, and Cricket, all got themselves "proper" leadership and strategists over the past quarter of a century or so, and took control from those local business people who ran clubs as some kind of personal fiefdom.. Rugby League is another example that kept the "tail wagging the dog" and even though they had fantastic Sky coverage for decades, it remains provincial and parochial. Even though it rregularly delivers a fantastic product... And RL has also seen lots of league structure changes with promotion and relegation, then not, then started again, then not etc etc.... Lots of short term strategy that does no one any favours, and all down to having no long term strategy that all were able to agree on... UK Speedway won't change, regardless of whether Cov stays st Brandon or not, as I simply cannot see the neccesary skill set around long term planning for growth amongst enough of those who run it... Another five year plan anyone? Fingers crossed for Cov....

Rock, paper, scissors anyone? Best out of three obviously... Be a farce just dong it once...

Sadly I feel you are correct... As with so much in life.. What got passed up, and accepted as "OK", in the pre internet days is impossible to get away with nowadays.... Where once "dozens" may have shook their collective heads, and laughed at something they found out, (after already paying their money to get in), it is now potentially many thousand who know well in advance what is going to be served up, so will make the call to atrend based on whether they find it acceptable or not... A "difficult sell" sometimes I would think...

Perfectly acceptable.... And the fans, if they win, won't care one jot... We do get the sport (domestic UK), that we deserve...

How did Sheffield end up with 3 guests? Thought it was one HL and then RR for the other..? Let's hope a "select team" don't win the final...

Cracking meeting... Well done Ippo and all the best for the final... Always liked Chris Louis and felt he is one of those that could really move the sport forwards.. Special mention to Captain Kurtz, absolutely gave everything over both legs and hammered the pit gate after Ht 15 he was so pissed off... Got to be back next season as the Aces No1... Ultimately I think Wright missing was the game changer as his will to win is always worth a couple of extra points at least, and he seems to avoid last places in those "big races"which the Aces had too many of over the two legs.. Emil and Doyle were brilliant at the end though, and that ultimately is what you pay the big bucks for, what a superb minute and a bit of Speedway... Well Done Ipswich, best of luck in getting the double...

Or Jack Smiths scores for Ippo!!

Is Doyle on a warning?

I want to buy an Hawaiian shirt and become a Private Investigator..

Great race from Rew again... Blodorn couldn't make his mind up where to ride and stick to it...

Missed chance then....

Yes....

As SAF would have said... Squeaky Bum time in Ipswich?

Sacked for the 15th time this season...

I think he means watching on TV...

Could say the same about Dan, didn't look for his team mate once till bend four last lap.. The Aces' need was greater than Ippo's.. No 5-1's will be their main plan...