g13webb

Hearing some of the figures being branded about the cost of star riders. we seriuosly need to rethink the sport and where it's going. If these figures are correct then most clubs can't afford them. Everybody needs to be realistic, The Promoters, The Supporters, The Workers, but most all, so does the Riders. The Elite league is not big enough to sustain this massive financial drain. Either riders drop their demands or give this country a miss . This is facing the reality of the situation....

Not ever wanting to give up hope of ever winning the League , but I too would be satisfied with that.

I agree, it don't look any better then this year. Olly Allen and Szczepaniak are gate merchants, who struggle to make up places once behind. Apart from Roo Boy, this side is not as good as last year.

I'm no doubt your right about the cost of the said three. But I mentioned these as examples rather then specifics. There are quite a few good riders that go well at Lynn around the 7 half mark..

It would be sad to see the Panthers fold. I always felt when running on Fridays the crowds was always better and therfore more fiable. If it means the future is without the GP stars then so be it and revert back to them good ole days. At Lynn last Monday we had a terrific meeting with racing of the highest order. There was nothing at stake and only 1 GP rider on show. It proved to me me you don't need those top rider stars to put on an attractive meeting. The supporters will follow the team, not the rider. I'm sure there is a future for Speedway in this country, but like you say, a major rethink is needed......

The reserves in a team are not expected to win races, they are expected to beat the opposition reserves. I agree with you that Howe, Szczepaniak and Wolbert have scored well at reserves this year, but this was because the likes of Mads and Magic wasn't that consistant. With a top five, like I have said above, the reserves would only have cover 2 heats, and I'm sure Kozza and Linus could do that.....

It is sad to hear that Frost is considering pulling out of the sport, but how long will it be before the BSPA realise the sport in this country needs a major rethink to secure the future. We have to cut the material to fit the cloth and the days of spending silly money on top riders have gone. We need to understand if the sport cannot be run profitably then there’s little point in running at all.

I’m still of the impression, we need to be strong at the top end and therefore need 3 good heat leaders. It all very well having a decent middle order but when teams come to NA we need good top end riders to win heats because we lose too many points at home. If we can’t be solid at home we will finish up again, where we did this year. To me Niels should be the first name on the list and make him Captain. 1. Neils K Iversen. 8.79 2. K. Wolbert:. 5.03 3. Rory Schlein:. 7.23 eg./ or similar 4 D. Nermark . 5.20 5. C. Harris. . 7.55 eg./ or similar (S. Nicholls) 6. K. Smith: . 3.73 7. L. Eklof: 3.00 Total: 40.60 This team offers 3 leaders to win races, we then have 2 good solid middle order, and 2 reserves that will only get better. I would always choose Nermark over Szczepaniak, both are on a similar average, but feel Dan battles for places more and would produce better on away tracks..

Totally agree with that.......

Personally I don’t see the logic of Rider Assets in its present form. In a sport where finance is a premium, the current rule, on asset base riders, only creates problems. It offers no benefit to the sport whatsoever. A rider should be able to choose who he rides for and negotiate his own contract. Scenarios like Swindon, Poole and Miedzinski should never happen. The accusation aimed at Bjarne Pedersen performance against his owners is wrong, but the current ruling will always create these problems. The scheme of Rider Assets needs a major overhaul, to bring it in line with modern times. Until that happens, I agree with the Chapman’s, in that its ridiculous to spend vast amount of money on a rider, without having total availability commitment for the foreseeable future, and also, the co-operation of the BSPA to enable the club to facilitate that asset.

Having seen many talented riders through the years, I rate Janowski with the best of them. He has the world at his feet and will one day be regarded as a top five rider in the world. We at Lynn have seen the best and the worst of him. On his day he is capable of beating anybody, but on another he can't beat a sole. I feel something is missing, whether, it's his machinery, His mind set, His attitude, His physical condition. i don't know.... But a world class rider should be able to go out and perform every race, ( like Holder, Ward, Neils, Lindgren Etc) . Going through the motions and being beaten by opposing reserve riders is not the attitude of a class rider.....

I'm still of the belief that we need 3 decent heat leaders to ensure we win at home. Its all very well having a strong middle order to picks up points away from home, but if we keep losing at home we defeat the purpose. Because our track is fair and teams like to perform here, we have to have strong heat leaders just to compete. We need to win our home matches first, then worry about the results away after.

To me Neils epitomises everything that is good about Speedway. He’s a gentleman, he tries to win every race, he doesn’t endanger other riders and he’s a great ambassador for the sport. He’s a top man. For the Danish authorities to name MJJ for second wild card entry is a travesty. What more could Neils have done to warrant inclusion. He led the team in the SWC, he’s top Danish scorer in all the leagues and on top of that he’s the current Danish Champion. One has to question the sanity of the Danish authorities. . … Pathetic decision…..

B for Bomber Harris, It should've said : Chris Harris...... Cheers

Thinking we need a team with three decent heat leaders to be more competitive at home, I wasted a bit of time thinking about the possible scenario and came up with: 1. Neils K Iversen. 8.79 2. K. Wolbert:. 5.03 3. Rory Schlein:. 7.23 4 M. Janowski . 6.37 5. B. Harris. . 7.55 6. K. Smith: . 3.73 7. L. Eklof: 3.00 Total: 41.70 Assuming the points limit this year wil be raised to 42 pts.. This would give us the 3 good heat leaders, plus 2 experienced 2nd strings, and 2 reserves who will increase their averages... Edited for typo error.......

I'm not that bothered who we get as long as they are committed to the cause. I don't mind losing provided they show conviction and have respect for the supporters.. Just turning up and going though the motions is not acceptable, at any level.....

Even without the inconsistant factor, I feel this year, we were never strong enough to be in with a shout of winning anything. Even, had the likes of Magic, Mads and Nermark performed at the level we expected from them, we were still a long way off the standards set by Poole and Swindon. I for one, like the play-off scenario. I feel it gives all clubs the opportunity to win the league on a one to one basis. So aiming to finish in the top four should be a priority. To do that, we need a team that, at least wins at home and then hoping to get the odd point on our travels. Because our track is so well liked by all riders, this therefore, becomes very difficult unless we have three decent heat leader who are all capable of scoring 12pts at each home meeting we have no chance. So when discussing next years team, it would be better to go for 3 top men to lead and the rest made up to suit the points limit when known.

Your spoiling our dreams...... will have to wake up now..

Batch said he would love to ride our track every week. Who knows, we'll probably have to fit him in as well...

I like that one much better....

Have nothing against kenneth Bjerre, but the first person in my team would be Niels and I would also make him captain. This year he has led by example and NEVER let us down. Nobody else comes even close to him........

I trully don't get all this. What was so wrong with what Nicky Pedersen done. It has been happening for years. It's part and parcel of speedway. Why all this fuss now. If that's all you want to remember about the meeting, then I feel sorry for you. I shall remember the brilliant riding from some and the wonderful overtaking that was on show. I don't think this is about what he done, more about peoples dislike of Nicky Pedersen..

I remember back in 1981 at White City, Bruce Penhall had 4 unbeaten rides to lead the Continental Final. In his last ride he was grouped with 3 other Amercians who all wanted to qualify for the world final in LA and Penhall duly obliged by cruising around in last place, giving his compatriots the chance to score the points required. So it's nothing new, been happening for years.............

I can't see what all the fuss is about. So what , if Nicky Pedersen slowed to gift a point to the Aussies to manipulate to usage of the Joker. This sort of thing has been happening for years, going back to the time of the 60's and 70's . The rules are stupid, but thats not the fault of the riders. they just have to abide by them and what Nicky done last last was in keeping with those 'rules'. People on here have said it was dangerous, but he was aware of everything and danger was not an issue I was entertained, The track weren't that good, the crowd was disappointing, Some riders were sub-standard, some didn't want to know. But others including all the Danes wanted this so badly and were victorious in the end. All in all not a bad week. There was more pluses then minuses. Some fantastic Speedway racing with briliant overtaking, Some riders have come to the fore on the world stage, non more so then the young Danes. But if I had to pick out the best rider of the whole week I would have to say CHRIS HOLDER. ( Pity about that spate at the camera. though!!!)

To me, I would like Niels to be rewarded for the effort he's applied this year with a class performance in a World Event. Probably then he will be assured of a return to the SGP next year, as either, a wild card or as a qualifier. As for a fav team to win, I'm not that bothered who wins as long as the meeting is exciting with a fitting climax to the weeks tournament. A last heat decider, where the team won on merit and not for the use of a Joker, would be wonderful. Keeping my fingers crossed the rain stays away............