The White Knight

We must agree to differ BW.

No I haven't - at times Speedway, for some reason does go in to decline. However there is no way you can say that the GPs have slowed or reversed the decline. What they have done is to be, to a large extent, responsible for the really TOP Riders not racing here in Great Britain any more. As the top Riders have left, so crowds have dropped - it isn't rocket science. Now we are down to the hard core older demographic Supporters, like myself, who will continue to support the Sport until they 'die off'. With very few young Supporters coming along - Speedway will eventually do the same in this Country. So there you are - you are working from a false premise.

80,000 plus at Wembley. Same thing happened in the Fifties and early Sixties. What does that prove.

That's true actually - but crucially - BSI/GP Series certainly sped things up.

Probably not. once you have lost Supporters and Sponsors it is very, very difficult to get them back. But there is no way that the so called modernization of Speedway can be hailed as a success, sadly, because the regression continues Season on Season. Also - at least British Speedway picked up some revenue (badly needed nowadays) from the old World Final - as far as I understand it gets bugger all from BSI for the GPs. That is, at least in part, where the rot started.

Are they Horses?? 'Snicker'............................................. :rofl: :rofl:

Me too. Puzzled. Sunderland.

Very sad News. R.I.P. + Danny.

Now that sounds more like it.

I absolutely agree 100% with those comments. Well said.

Freeloaders have been a big gripe of mine for years. I simply can't understand why they are allowed to get away with it.

'Farmer' Grant the Father of Rob Grant (senior) and Grandfather of Rob Grant (Junior) only had one eye.

Have you seen it like?................................. :shock: :D

Very good point.

You can only ride where the Event is held. Fortunately for Freddie it was on his own Track. To me that doesn't lessen his achievements one little bit. A great World Champion and he was a great man too.

I would probably have to say Ivan Mauger, to answer the question as best, and as honestly, I can. However, my favourite World Champion would definitely be 'Briggo'.

But I thought all of this rubbish, including the GPs was meant to make Speedway more popular. That worked well - didn't it? Those things are largely responsible for increasing COSTS and driving even more people away from Speedway.

No they didn't. OR - the argument could be put from the other viewpoint. Crowds started dropping when a lot of this newfangled rubbish came in to the Sport. Think about it!!

Yes - one of the very best. Happy Birthday Briggo.

Fair comment Arson.

No - but he is a very decent Rider.

No - but Speedway is different - it is all about spectacle - different coloured Leathers added to the Sport. Team Suits are boring. I also liked the old 'Racejackets' better too - at least you didn't struggle, as a newcomer, to see who rode for who. Nowadays you have to search through all of the advertisements. SPOT ON!!! sidney.

Or then again - maybe it's harder. Mauger, Moore and Briggo et al had to QUALIFY through various Rounds to even get to the Final. Unlike today when the top eight are presumed to have qualified just because they finished in the top eight the PREVIOUS Season. They are then SELECTED for the following Seasons World Championship Competition. How the hell you justify that I don't know. You couldn't make it up. That doesn't detract from the fact that he won the World Championship as a Second Division Rider and that he did that because he was given the opportunity.

Yes - they were. BUT - how many bread and butter' Riders were? You conveniently forget about them. Everyone - from Elite League, Premier League and National League should have the chance to try to win the Sport's top honour. But no - it is up to BSI to select who they want. They don't even pay British Speedway for the privilege. Some World Championship that!!!!! Remember - Jack Young won his first World Championship as a Second Division Rider. Fat chance of that happening these days - he wouldn't get picked. Much less than that. :sad:

In the days of the 'one off' World Final - we did not have an outside Company taking all of the money out of British Speedway either.