g13webb

There were many pluses in the FT system last year, and a few minuses. BSPA wants to retain the good ideas and eradicate the bad ones. One of the biggest plusses was that the riders stayed at reserve berth throughout the year and not promoted into the 1to 5. Could you imagine the scores of Milik/ Porsing had he been a placed there. In keeping both FTR as reserves it gives them more time to learn and progress. Two of the biggest minuses, were the PL wasn't involved in the FTR structuring, and secondly the 'Race Format' used never allowed the FTR to race against any heat leaders.... For the FTR to improve they have to compete against these riders to better themselves.....

I like any idea that makes things better. Grading seems a good option, as do squads. The problems could be in how riders are graded and who will have that responsibility. Years ago, when everything was set in stone, the riders average were a direct indication of their ability. Three heat leaders achieved scores from 6 to11; 2nd strings from 4 to 5 and the reserves were 3 and below. Each riders performance level could be seen just by looking at their score. Grading these riders would have been so simple..... Now it completely different and the margins between riders are very minimal, but with some, their quality is miles apart. When it was thought about using a new race format with protected heats, Averages as we know them were dead in the water and will mean nothing. Grading these riders will be far more difficult. Whatever system is used, I hope it can be done fairly and accurately without any interference from outside parties.......

Sidney, I agree when you say Lambert has done well this year riding in the full team, but to me Newman has made bigger strides riding in the FTR. I sure Lambert would have benefitted far more had he elected to have done the same. Following on from what I said in the previous post, I don't necessary agree with the current race program and feel the FTR should be competing with more accomplished riders as well. They need to compete against them as well as riding with them........ I don't believe we need TWO FTR races and heat nine could be the one to change.... I think it is wrong that the reserves have more winning powers than that of the heat leaders..

I'm surprised someone has not started a thread about the current way of rider averages. Because of the protected format used the Elite League last year, we now have riders of different ability but both on the similar averages. No one will argue the degree of difficult is far harder for Heat Leaders to attain decent scores, whereas 2nd string races are significantly easier. Unless rules are brought in and calculation made to give some sort of polarity in their performances, we will find the 2nd strings competing with heat leader for team spots, and therefore, they will be unable to attain a team position because there will be better riders on lower scores.....

I see your logic of what you say in the short term, but its creates a long term problems, in that next year there will be more FTR's going in the 1 to 6, and the following year even more. In 6 yrs time our teams will be full of FTR. and the exciting foreign talent will be gone forever.... Surely these riders would benefit more by continuing at reserve for longer than a year. (Probably 2 or even 3 would be better) I don't see any reason why all those riders listed above, can't be included into the FT system, The scheme should be aiming to acquire at least 2 decent young British riders for each team in the league . We want the FTR scheme to be the way forward of nourishing and educating these riders. By off loading them after a year is not the way to do it......

Major decisions need to be made about the constitution of the teams and the advantages gained from FTR scheme. If we aren't careful, we are gong to create a situation where there will not be enough vacancies for them all when they progress through the system. It is for this reason I believe these FTR's should not be moved on so quickly as some on here seem to think. In response to the above post, taking on board what it said about Rose and Stokes, when we add Robert Lambert and Lewis Kerr into the side we would then have 4 young Brits in an Elite team. That's fine by me but it looks more like a PL side. If we want to help and encourage these young riders to reach the top SGP stage, we have to have top quality riders over here, for them to race against.. So we need a fine balancing as to the constitution of the teams.. To me I think the FTR should be governed by age as well as standard, and once those riders are in the scheme they have the opportunity to persevere in it in the years to come.

Meaning What..?? He was elected into a position to see that the FTR rules were adhered too, not to manipulate them to suit whoever......

That's Good. As far as I'm concerned people are judged on performance. Be it a Promoter, a Rider, a Team Manager or someone involved in organisation. Having a ultra-responsible position of in charge of FTR grading, Morris had to be whiter than white. By allowing the indiscretions to happen, that should have been under his total control, and therefore he takes full responsibility. If that was not the case then he should have declared his position. By saying nothing and excepting the flack, he has ridiculed himself and everything he does in future. Having once thought, he was a decent fellow, I now, because of what has happened, think he's the lowest of the low and there should no place in sport for people who can manipulate like that. A man doesn't gain integrity by standing down from a position, to me his only salvation would be to come out with the truth. Only then would he gain back some of the respect he once had..........

I find it so annoying, that something so critical as the FTR system, wasn't given the importance it should have and all the problems and ideas given a full airing before being implemented. Britain is now looked upon as a poor nation in regards to nourishing young talent. and can see the issues our system generates. We have some decent young riders that need to be protected, taught and encouraged to fulfil their true potential. In another country ( Poland eg.) these young riders would be looked after, but here they're used as a stop gap for cheaper promotions. We are governed by load of rules and objections, because clubs are afraid another promoter will get one up, instead of concentrating on the improvement of the young rider. To have one man responsible for the grading of these riders is a travesty and clearly outlines the lack of importance the BSPA put into the system. Unless the FTR scheme is given the full backing of all Clubs, all Promotions and all leagues, it is destined to fail, and with it, any hope of Britain ever being considered a major speedway nation like we once were.

I'm with you Sidney, there were many riders who stepped up and Rose being one of them. He was so unlucky this year with injuries. Three times he was laid up for long periods. Always a good gater, having a good run between injuries 2 and 3, he really started to show his improvement, before that third and worst injury, finished his season 2 months early. I am sure given an injury free season he would improve out of all recognition.

That comment has a nasty taste to it . We all know the asset system is dead in the water and does nothing but complicate the existence of the riders. Appreciate some clubs have forked out big on certain riders, but there are many more who are assumed the property of just because they rode for them years back. Surely the BSPA should make a ruling on this so in the future both the Clubs, Supporter and Riders are free to ride for whoever. Obviously, any new ruling needs to be Date governed. Comments like above does no good for the sport..........purely giving self gratification for the individual, who undoubtedly has got all his facts wrong.............

To all the decent Poole Fans out there, I want to congratulate you for winning the championship. ( Mind you there are some I wouldn't give the time of day). We could always offer our injury list as an excuse for the Stars not winning, but that would only hide the truth, that as the season went on the Pirates became stronger. Even had we still ben at full strength we would have struggled to contain Poole last night. Pawlicki, Milik and Newman could all lay claims for the most improved rider, but without doubt Magic has been truly outstanding. I don't usually suffer jealousy but in Magic case, I will always wish he remained a Stars rider.........

If that's the quality of Poole fans integrity, As far As I'm concerned the forum respectability has died. I suggest you go and communicate with your own. That is totally unacceptable........

They're wasn't a lot to choose , For me the difference between the 2 teams was simply: Rory's E/F

Oh NO !! Not even more guests......

Buster has already stated he could've had the track racable inside an hour, had the right materials been available, But pleased you explained the problems of drainage being so close to the sea. Am I right in thinking that all properties close to the sea inherit this same problem or do they manage to find a solution.. Kings Lynn is situated in the flattest land in the country and the water level is higher than anywhere else, but that doesn't stop the Stars promotion of overcoming these issues of drainage. The answers are there, to solve these problems. They should have be sorted long ago, waiting till it rains is not the right time. There's posters of here, going on about the amount of rain that fell, but I've seen nothing on the tele about flooded roads in Poole/Dorset or properties under water, so one can only assume everyone else has managed to cope with the rain. Torrential may be, but nothing more that most people can deal with. The biggest problem here is that Poole's track is of bad design, with little or no drainage. Having to rely totally on the weather to run meetings is bad philosophy . We have heard so much from people praising Matt Ford as this wonderful promoter, but this situation has shown him up to be, not as good as those people try to paint...... I believe the BSPA should award this semi- final to Poole to put and end to the ridiculous shenanigans. At least it will save them all the excuses of getting their track sorted, and do away with all the bragging rights they believe is totally theirs.... A season that started out with new ideas, new format, plenty of excitement, has turned into a utter mess....... Can't wait for the season to end.............

We're splitting hairs here.,, Had the drainage been affective then the covers aren't so important. But for the 'Covers' to be affective, the drainage need to work efficiently to take the excess water away. Looking at 'Covers' to be the answer to everything is totally wrong... all they will ever do is to assist in track preparation.

Confucius says there are always excuses when looking for them........... Joking apart, I am sure the owners of the stadium, wouldn't object to the speedway promotions making the Venue / Track better. Properly planned with the right equipment, the whole operation could be completed in a week and I sure that could have been implemented if so desired........

Having seen the pictures taken of the flooded track last Thursday, shows without doubt the drainage at Poole track is virtually non-existent.. This will only compound any problems there may be when it rains and therefore meeting will always be suspect when the weather is such. To me this is a major surprise. Installing drainage for a speedway track is not a big problem and can be sorted with time and money. But when looking at the track itself, it is never the quality you would expect from a team, always wanting to be referred to as the best in the country. So when taking in a more realistic view of this so called top club, Instead of spending all on top riders, or bending rules to suit, Probably better in the future to sort out your home track for the benefit of the sport and your team, and hopefully problems like we now have will be something not seen again..... This is not an anti-Poole thing, just someone, so pissed off, how one club can dictate the proceedings of the season, because their track is not up to scratch

Conspiracy Rules..... Again, a meeting was spoilt by a useless referee going for the easy option. What a crap decision when everyone could see Nicki Pederson had done nothing wrong. He fact, he rode probably the best he's done all year, and deserved to win. The Ref chickened out the obvious conclusion of excluding a Polish ride in Poland. I can understand Nicki feeling aggrieved like he did. The fact that KK won, made it an even bigger travesty. It's not the first time this has happened but to be pillared for doing nothing wrong is totally unacceptable... And you wonder why he blows his top........ Well done to Greg for becoming World Champion again...., He has always been the fantastic ambassador that this sport desperately needs.

I believe it was, but for someone to think it was because of Lamberts birthday, is ridiculous.

PMPO posts an interesting and constructive comment, and you come back with such rubbish (above). Are you for real?? We are having a massive problem with the weather and fixtures, and when someone come in with a sensible comment, you base the whole logic on the birthday of a sixteen year old. FFS...... If starting the season earlier would have meant using AN.Other as a guest for a few weeks, then wonderful. I don't suppose it would have made much difference. If Buster had dictated his whole season to revolve round Robert Lambert, than god help us....

Brilliant Explanation: Even all those die-hard Poole fans should be able to comprehend that. All this reasoning of waterlogged track is just an excuse to move the blame................

Whenever there is a problem, why is it that POOLE is always the team creating it. ??? I wasn't a Poole hater, but Christ almighty there's only so much one can take......... You can understand why people have turned their backs on the sport. If it that important to them, to have their name paraded as champions, then let them do so, But don't lets have all this dirty washing in public. It makes the sport a Laughing stock .............

When the weather's good and the music stops, all guests can change round ........ If they want to . Who wants Killer???, Who wants Woffy?? What's the cost of Zagar LETS JUST TOSS THE COIN.............and get it over with...................