pvm

Just out curiosity, what is the timescale for building? I believe League racing is planned for the 2016 season, but I was wondering if the track would be usable, say for the Riders Championship in October 2015? or is 9 months to soon.

Steve Wilcock, Middlesbrough legend..

Sorry, I thought this was the Speedway section of a Speedway forum, doesn't Politics normally get discussed in the General Discussions section? The whole point of starting this thread was to get people's opinion as to how best the sport could make use of Boris' new found knowledge of Speedway. The fact that he mentioned the sport of Speedway would suggest that he was left with a positive impression of the fans, and hopefully gained a little bit of knowledge about the sport. It's something that the sport could build on, and get a bit of positive PR from. It never hurts to have friends in high places.

That was the thing that struck me too. I do hope that some of those 300 speedways fans took the chance to bend his ear a little.

Lakeside at Swindon

Just watching Boris giving a speech on Europe, and his opening comments were about his recent flight back from Poland sat with a group of British Speedway fans coming back from the SWC. He then mentioned about not knowing what the sport of speedway was until that point, and the fact Team GB came last . Now that he knows about the sport of speedway, and it's fresh in the mind, might it not be a good idea to remind him of former London Teams, and maybe someone from the BSPA to invite him to Cardiff.

So, What night would it be? and How many teams can race on that night?

Sadly the forecast is Hot & Dry, so expect to see Gate & Go on a dry, slick & dusty track. But then again, you might get a surprise

I would think that "if" Peterborough are not in the top 8, then the qualifying criteria will be announced as the top 7 + 1 wildcard entry selected by the BSPA. That's used to be the criteria, but most host teams qualified without the need of a "wildcard" entry, so the published qualifying criteria seams to have quietly disappeared. I would imagine the reason the criteria isn't published is because of the controversy and discussion that would take place on forums like this one.

I would be interested to know what the long term plans are. If memory serves me right, the initial lease from the council was for 10 years, so an extension to that lease or a new lease will have to be negotiated by the end of 2015. The way the crowds are disappearing, would there be a willingness to negotiate a longer lease or would the present promotion "cut & run". I can see next season being fraught with uncertainty.

Why? What's been said now.

Is it a straight forward Top 8 in the averages, or 7 plus "wildcard" or is that information not in the public domain.

I'd be quite happy to keep Rafal, he's only going to get better, the signs are there.

Fans.........Sport Promoters.....Entertainment and that's the problem...

In light of the thread title, I thought the reference to " -Teams race 24 meetings (12 home, 12 away)." would be the more relevant part.

Well according to the B.S.P.A website:- PLAY-OFF PICTURE - HOW IT WORKS - Teams race 24 meetings (12 home, 12 away). The top six then go forward to the play-offs. - The play-offs are split into two groups of three teams. Teams finishing 1st and 2nd after the initial 24 meetings get to choose the two teams they wish to have in their play-off group. A total of a further 4 meetings are then raced in each group (2 home, 2 away). - The winner of each group then race off over two legs in the Grand Final. Winners of the Grand Final are crowned Premier League Champions.

For those who don't think facilities make a difference, I would refer back to Middlesbrough (Cleveland Park)in the mid 80's. The crowd levels in the seasons before and after the main stand burnt down(the stand burnt down mid 85)are a good example of the differences . The main stand provided cover, had a Bar, Café and toilet facilities that were of good(not great, just good) standard, The back straight had a stand that provided cover, there was a Bar, Café and toilets though not of the same standard as the Main stand. The team was relatively the same, and successful, top three each year, yet the crowd levels still dropped because of the poorer standard of facilities after the stand burnt down. Losing the main stand cost 1000-1500+ on the gate. To lose so many off the gate was down to the loss of facilities, not much else changed in that time. So I would say facilities do make a difference, experience tells me that.

I think it's a brilliant idea, but one thing I learnt about speedway over the years, promoters are reluctant to pay upfront costs that don't come will a guaranteed return on those cost's. The most obvious excuse would be that it would reduce crowds because people would just watch from home, I'm not sure that would be true, but that would be the argument.

I think Redcar need to win by 36 (eg 63-27), Somerset just need to lose by less than 19 (eg 55-36). (corrected a typo)

An hour or two late, but the rain has finally arrived....

How will that work? If it is announced "officially" that he has left, can he be replaced? (don't think he can), Can R/R be used?(not sure), or will he just remain "injured" until after the play-offs? and then the "official" announcement made? I'm guessing he will just remain injured till the end of the season. By making your un-official announcement you may well have opened up a can of worms.

And you haven't mentioned alphabetically as well......

Well so far today it's been sunny, But, it you believe this, it doesn't look good http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast-video/21416748 Sorry I can't help, it's one of those things, if it was happening now, it would be T-shirt and sunglasses, at 7.30 tonight ?????

And that stupid comment is based on what exactly?? Since Redcar started, You've missed more home meetings than I have, I might be many things, but a part-timer I'm not. With stupid comments and opinions like that like the one above, I could be persuaded not only become a part-timer, but a non-go'er, and leave Redcar to the self proclaimed "hard-core".

And each person that doesn't bother to go, has voted 100% with their feet.