Tsunami

And if they didn't shove something out straight away, you would be one of the first to moan about not informing the fans. Never been hidden it was also to help with the costs. So what alternative would you want :- Op 1 - Same again not doing their job, no idea what to do, not promoting,etc. Teams go bust mid season and "I told you so". Op 2 - Reduce the points limit to say 35 and which reduces the standard of racing. "Do they think we are fools" Op 3 - Maintain top riders and introduce some form of progression, the same as two of the biggest and successful nations are doing. Better attraction to SKY to keep them on board. "Cheap option" Very difficult to win either way isn't it. So they have copied a system popular, that works in Poland and Sweden, maintains the stars and gives youngsters a bit of a step up in addition to all the other paths available now. Moan Moan.

I have already agreed that it is also a means helping to control EL costs, whilst at the same time they have managed to maintain a decent standard of riders and racing, which the EL supporters were worried about. They could have just dropped the team points average to say 35 and then there would have been real moans.. Unfortunately the press statement is all wrong and it will not be NL riders versus EL riders. The 20 will be hand picked and the best NL, together with the emerging young PL riders, will be used to share the stage with the top riders. That does not stop riders like Kerr staying and riding their way through the PL. Every eventuality covered so whats the problem. As others have said, 5 months to go to sort things out. My only problem is that there may not be enough riders to cover once the season and the injuries start.

Well I have followed it since 1961, but i try to give things a chance, rather than being cynical about any change every year. If you don't do anything, you get criticised. If you try things new, you get criticised. If you copy what other more successful nations do, you are criticised. There's a trend here, OK. Whilst all the details on the rules are not being broadcast yet, or even made at the moment, all we have to do surely is to copy what say Poland do. If the BSPA tried to do it different, I know what the critics would say. "Why reinvent it, why not just copy the Poles as it works for them, typical BSPA". BTW, we are not just talking NL riders, that has already been clarified by John Cook in his interview on the SGP site, so it won't be wobblies, but capable riders in the midst of the better riders. Think kids at a football club going with to matches, or training with the first team, same principles. How did Richie W get on so well at Newcastle. He worshiped Robbo, and was advised how to ride and set up by the likes of both Robbo and Mark. In the case of the Darren and Sharron Boocock Sponsorship trip to OZ. Young riders who want to go, make it known and from that list those who understand the committment, and can help pay their way with flights, get invited to go. Obviously riders over a certain age, or past their best, would not get the nod. Notice the ones that have gone have been usually the best of the best that want to go. Yes, the point would be to go NL to PL then EL, but there has to be allied parallel events to help riders along the way. Bridger went from CL to EL so it can be done depending on attitude, ability and sponsorship. As you know I am heavily involved, both financially and with my time, in youth development. I regularly attend training schools with my riders that I take, and I see many others who are trying to make their way. It gives great pleasure to see the committment that folks like you don't see, seeing riders getting better every time I see them. Liam Carr, Max Clegg, Josh Bates, Danny Phillips, Luke Crang, Kyle Bickley, and Josh, making great strides and in all the cases, except Kyle, all riding for teams in either PL, NL or NDL. It is going on funnelling them into the British Youth Championships and starting to produce plenty of riders to stock British teams in the near future. Now the BSPA are trying something new to supplement all this private enterprise, we need to get behind things instead of criticising everything that they do. Agreed, but it would have been a greater crime if either of them had stayed as reserves, as their development was way above anybodies expectations, so it was scrapped mid season. Common sense decision.

Would be helpful to start on the same point. And as you say "let's see how it pans out". We aren't in 'a few years ago', and things have been happening which you obviously have not seen or heard about. The BSPA have been supporting youth development for a few years now, appointed a couple of officers to run the U21's, running a well supported multiround British Championship for 125, 250 and 500 machines around the country, and part sponsor the Darren and Sharron Boocock trip of Brits to OZ in the winter months. This new arrangement is an additional attempt, trying to imitate both Sweden and Poland in bringing through youth development. More can be done of course, but for you to say "they weren't interested in the future' is just all wrong.

Quite agree. The conference usually ends about mid afternoon/teatime, and the Press Officer knocks up an interim statement whilst the delegates drive/fly home. Obviously the actual minutes are drafted and then agreed, before being issued with the full clarification of how things will work and what was agreed. It's the detail that is important not the first headline, always has been and always will be.

Yep, already been said.

Can't agree with you there Arson. It of course does save money, but Poland and Sweden who we are copying, surely did not bring the measures in for that purpose. There has been a bit of a further explanation of how it will work, and yes there will be problems with it's implimentation however riders will not be placed way out of their immediate area. They won't be wobblers, but riders who are very capable and who are deemed to be worthy of fast tracking, to see if they can be brought on quicker. It's worth a try, but I really don't see better suggestions from the floor to improve on it. At least it can help many problems at the same time, which must be a first.

They will probably never know if they are last picked IMO. I think there will be offers to ride declined, and I think there will be a fair amount of turmoil until it is all sorted. Then of course it will all be back on, when riders get injured and need to be replaced. Sods law would suggest the spare riders will be in the South and the new vacancy will be in the North.

The riders in question will stay at reserve all season, but I don't think they will get new averages based on these equal ability races.

Not really, more of an imbalance between the perceived strength of the EL over the getting stronger PL.

Explain how either Richie Worrall or Lewis Kerr were manipulated.

Sorry for all you Panthers fans. Rick and Julie have seemed not to be in the right sport and this announcement, especially with the rotten timing of it, just shows how true that was. Even with their wealth and losses, they could not make it to pay and getting regular and spaced meetings at the show ground must be frustrating to both owners and fans alike. I hope there is a potential buyer in the background to ensure that the tremendous track and facilities are not lost to the sport.

..and Hoggy on the MC.

Don't forget you always need to have extra riders not in the opening teams to cover for early injured riders. One would hope that all the Brits of reasonable ability and attitude, got places first and the remainder in the teams and on the reserve injury list are foreigners.

Very true, but I would still not get enough to beat Tiger Woods Incidently, you also get a handicap of 70% of the difference in game averages in Ten Pin Bowling league bowling.

That would take about 6 months IMO.

So true, top post on this thread. No matter what happens, it has to be affordable, which will mean less top riders and probably more competitive racing. There will still be those who complain about anything that is agreed, and that's when promotions need to do what they think is good for them and the sport. You will NEVER EVER get ALL fans to agree on everything.(specially BSF fans)

Simon can't ride our track as he just locks up on the 2nd and 4th bends and loses speed. We used him as a guest at our place about 3 to 4 years ago and he was abysmal.

Last time I saw it was at Edinburgh for Peter Carr's Testimonial meeting. Interesting as a one off spectacle, but it does only have a novelty value.

Or as others call them …injuries.

Not really workable in either case. If there was to be a governing body it would have to be a truly independent body but who would finance it. Self governance can work if there is an unselfish will for it, but recourse to the ACU to resolve big issues between promotions and for interpretation/application of rules.

I think it is unlikely that they will be able to come to many decisions at this stage, due to the uncertainty of the SKY TV money. Whilst the PL teams don't get a big enough share for it mean much to their business, no TV money to the EL teams means the PL teams will have to change to accomodate the EL's decisions. I am sure there will be several options down to 'if this and then that', but it's likely be late December before most things can be definate. Biggest AGM for years IMO.

Yes, unfortunately. Collateral damage of the Cov/Pet AGM dispute. All wrong.

Yes, Rene is a Peterborough asset. Rene still lives with the family who own and run Sapphire Engineering(Newcastle's main sponsor), and is usually at Brough most Sunday nights, so we could have as good a chance as anyone if he left Worky. Most exciting rider to have ever ridden for Newcastle ever, IMO.

Hope Phil Morris gets the job, but still to combine it with control of the U21's and the Youth development programmes. Neil Vatcher, plus one other, to run the development programmes and report to Phil. Phil to be a salaried employee of the BSPA on a year to year contract.