mikebv

The sport in the UK will never be successful without making it worth watching by those unaware of it... And to do that you need a focal point to create interest.. And that is hyoe and money... Darts for example came from nowhere due to the money being put up.. The big prize creates interest, and sponsorship off the back of it.. Seven clubs in the Prem, averaging say 1200 a night, at £20 a pop, for 12 matches a season each, would bring in collectively over 2 million quid in income.. Meaning that clubs must pay out an extraordinary amount if they struggle to keep heads above water with that level of income.. Maybe spending some of that incredible output and making a few "big prize" comps would help the whole league structure be more visited off the back of them? It seems folly to spend so much, and all we have is what we have today to show for it... Edit. And the 2nd tier must take in and pay out over a million collectively.. Over 3 million quid is an incredible amount to deliver the current situation..

It's a (yet another), "one off", no doubt...

It"s because of all the lack of rain we get in Manchester... Unfair advantage....

Not bothering with all those ring fenced, priority night, Poland not interested in using them, Mondays then?

Who tunes his engines?

Can they not just share Bomber? In the interests of Speedway and all that.... I believe that a fair few don't take this UK version of Speedway too seriously... Cannot think why....

Six numbers please mate...

You're the Daddie....

Their 3rd Premiership meeting was the 15tth of June.. 3 Premiership meetings in 12 weeks... They ran two KO Cup meetings in that time as the plan was to complete it early in the season... That seems to have gone well...

They ran 3 meetings from the 23rd of March to the 25th of May.. One of them a KO Cup match, so only two Premiership matches in 9 weeks... Not a great plan...

He won't ride for anyone except Sheffield...

Or make THREE team changes rather than the TWO allowed like one team did last season... I take it Sheffield have used up their TWO this year so couldn't keep Woffy when Jack comes back, if the averages work, as that would be THREE changes...

Surely riders not earning any money by being last keeps "meetings alive" though? Some of the best racing is in heat 15 of meetings that have "nothing to race for".. Old ground I know, but... It costs too much to get in for what you get... There is more atmosphere on the moon than in the stands. And that is down to crowd levels, crowd age, and many in the crowd not emotionally engaged (all due to the operating model), in who wins.. Do what you want with points scoring, playing jokers, helmet cover colours, double points for riding on Pancake Tuesday, triple points for April Fools Day, etc etc etc. None of that will make a jot of difference to how many turn up each evening.. Not knowing you actually exist, and not knowing what you actually do, does make a difference who turns up each evening... As does not racing on nights that could deliver your best crowds, And never underestimate how many "followers of the sport" actually stay away due to its frankly ludicrous operating model... There will be more Speedway fans not attending, or not attending regularly, than those that do attend this season, once again.. Get those people back into the stadiums by listening to their feedback, and then giving them what they want for their money, and you would turn the sport around in a moment, given the low base it starts from...

The best time to do it...

Sad to see a team bringing in a World Class rider to replace an injured other World Class rider... Doesnt seem fair.....

I have never seen so much Speedway coverage as I do now... However. The major companies wont get involved with it in the UK as it cannot be taken seriously... And you don't ever want to potentially damage your own brand by association with something that can be open to ridicule... If the sport went out to a wider audience not aware of the sport, via the BBC or ITV,, their first impression after watching it for a few weeks would be how coincidentally amazing it was that most teams seemed to have someone called Chris Harris rwpresenting them...

No guests... Four best riders per team so no "make weights".. Four sets of fans in attendance usially meant a very decent crowd.. Used to be one of the best meetings of the season at Kirky Lane given the level of rider on show.. With a great day out at Peterborough for the final.. Obviously if they ran it now there would be hardly any of the above blueprint applied... And doing it with seven teams might be a struggle...

I believe we should have had Richard Lawson... I mean Steve(ie):Worrall... Or Pete Smith.. Or naybe even Neil Middleditch... If we were truly serious about winning the SWC we would have.... I never actually realised until tonight on here,, that Championship HL's were as good as genuine World Class Speedway riders... Truly amazed every World Class rider doesn't make it his ambition to ride at Poole in the 2nd Division... A seamless transition to the GPs apparently... I would imagine that Magic tonight is so grateful he rode there...

A fantastic nights Speedway.. Let's be honest... If GB had won it would make sod all difference to GB speedway as those who run it are clueless in promoting the achievement. . So let's just celebrate the fact we have 3 World Class riders....

Brilliant effort from all the lads.. Tom and Adam gave it everything and can hold their heads up high.. Track, at last, worthy of the event.. And. Great to see Phil on TV so much.. Welll done Poland...

See. You get it... Richard Lawson too, I have heard, would have guaranteed GB the Gold..

Man of the Match for me... Deservedly so.... Seen more of him than the Polish team..

Kelvin getting angry.... Who? Who? Who?

Poland have an enormous advantage given their structure... GB did great...