g13webb

In all do respect, it is not the fault of the BSPA why the top riders don't ride here, it is all down to finance. We have to accept we cannot afford the demands these top riders require, and cut our material to suit what we can afford.....

Two wrongs don't make a right. Any respect I had for the BSPA went long ago. If and when they treat the Fans, and the public with the openness and transparency we deserve, then probably I will feel differently. But until then I will blame them for all the problems associated with this sport...

Like you 'STEVEHOLS54' the BSPA don't fill me with a lot of confidence either.. So many years they come up with these new rules, not having thought out all of the consequences . Like you say Re-accessing riders averages should have been done way before an AGM, so when this '1over8' rule was levied all the members would all have known what the implications were.... No doubt teams want the opportunity to pick up a Woffy, or a Zagar, or a Pawlicki, or even a Lebedev on a ridiculous low average thinking it would be great. but they couldn't be more wrong. We want all teams to be treated the same and as wonderful it would be to see quality riders in our teams, it has to be done on a fair markings that represents their ability and not because of some ancient ruling... Seeing teams take advantage rigged averages, is the biggest turn off of all .....

To be fair to all those riders who supported our leagues last year, all riders who didn't ride in 2017, should have their average re-accessed in keeping with the easier format that exists at present. Failing to do that would be totally wrong and show a poor regard those who did achieved decent scores,,.,,

Taking on board the facts from JC it would seem unpractical to employ any big earner, until such time when running speedway becomes more sustainable... No way could anybody expect a company come on board to sponsor a rider when the sport its portrayed as bad as ours....

Doyle didn'rt get to be World Champion by taking notice of the likes of Holder and Batchelor. He is own man... and will do what he sees as right....

Come on, now your not being very proactive are we. ?? All them riders missing out because of this '1over8' rule will be allowed to guest if and when required. Surely you can see this as just another way to manipulate the rules to those who see fit....

All these references from assessments made in the past is complete 'pie in the sky' logic. Bearing in mind our league is probably the weakest it's ever been, and the format used is far easier now for riders to score more, any references used in the past is well out of context. All riders competing in the SGP, have to be regarding as the best in the world, and therefore anything less than accessed 9 would be an injustice. Those who are riding in the top Polish and Swedish leagues are also regarded as quality riders where an accessed 8 would be an accurate assessment of what they would bring to a team.... I've got no problems with teams signing quality riders, but for them to be allowed, using a unrealistic average, is insulting the integrity of the sport and fans... There is not a bigger turn off for fans than seeing some teams getting preferential treatment.....

Surely that should have been done , before they made that rule about '1 over 8'. Talk about shutting the door after the horse had bolted......

Disappointed the way the future has unfolded. Like others have said, I also thought he was like a breath of fresh air. He had this air of recklessness that I liked. But that was along time ago. All too often he flattered to deceive and inevitably he performed poorly. When we needed him to score more, all we got was excuses. No, unfortunately, he will not be missed. Each time I saw him riding around in that wonderful sponsored sporty Mercedes, I thought, how lucky he was, to live an exciting existence by apply such little effort. Its a good job he doesn't have to work for a living. He may be a lovely lad, but he has a lot to learn...

Please, I would have thought that was obvious. There are far better riders than Morris, who could come in on a crocked average and replace him. The reason Morris's average to so high was because he rode last year in a weak league. Riders such as Woffy, Zagar, PK, all better than Morris, still have a relative lower score because they didn't ride. Allowing them to compete on them old scores would be insult to the riders who did ride last year.......

If the BSPA were to allow any team now to field JD/PK or JD/MZ or JD/TW it would be total madness, But it would sure highlight the stupidity of that '1 over 8' rule....

So are we being blackmailed by Ipswich ? , who are dictating their preferences.... Surely the question here is why teams like Ipswich and Sheffield prefer to be a big fish in a little pond rather than compete with the best available. If the championship is so sought after, why not run the Premiership on the similar lines. The last thing the sport wants is to have 2 separate entities, each competing for their own importance. We argue the sport is not taken seriously, yet we continue to fuel the ideas that project this image. There is talk of a 5 yr plan but surely the first priority is to run the sport on a progressive structure. You cant allow teams to dictate their existence, It's like allowing Arsenal to compete in the 2nd division. We experienced this at Lynn and most of the success gained always had that hollow feel attached to it, knowing we were only playing in a small pond.... When those fixed race night were first mentioned, it was thought Thursday was a far better option than Wednesday's because of them clashing with Danish league. Now it seems the whole programme has had to be adjusted, because of 2 teams refused to comply.... This sport will never move forward, until all the teams are of one unanimous body...

Reading the SS, it appears Fat Maud was the instigator of having Wednesdays as a fixed race night, instead of Thursdays, and every team voted to comply. That's all except Swindon. They have been given permission to run half their meetings on Thursdays, but it was also suggested we will run Thursdays in 2018.... So in affect these fixed race nights are ' Do as you Like' I wonder , if we had the chance to sign Niels, but it meant moving our race night to Thursdays, so not to clash with the Danish league, would we be given the same compassion as Swindon. ???

I was told that the sponsorship was connected to the signing of Holder. No Holder, No 'Truck R Us'

If there was a grading system, there would be no need for riders averages. Riders would be graded by opinions of the representative committee. based on their performances. I have no conclusion as to what would be a league winning team. all I know is that in a league of eight team there would be one winner, decided the same way as the other 7 places. What it would do is illuminate teams bringing in top SGP riders for the season's climax, masquerading around on a 7 average, on the pretence that was their apparent average, years back....

Most supporters have a valid reference of each rider and can associate them within the team frame work. Imagine we have 5 grades: Grade 5 - SGP & Top notch riders ; Grade 4 - Decent heat leaders ie. Teams 1's & 2's ; Grade 3 - Lower heat leader / top second strings; Grade 2 - Lesser second strings/ top reserves; Grade 1 - Reserves / New riders Each riders to be graded by a representative committee made up from most teams; Most riders would fall into 2 categories, allowing the each riders to be graded accordingly. Team strength set at say 20. and leave teams to make their own choice. This would illuminate false averages, do away with Ringers, meaning everyone would sing from the same hymn sheet

I don't know what all the fuss about the 8 point rule. It not as if that will be the biggest issue of the coming season. I have always thought the way the averages work is as dated and manipulative as it can get. How riders, who haven't raced here last year, can retain the old CMA is ridiculous. When our format changes each year the riders degree of difficulty varied each season..... Now its far easier for HL to score their points than it was when they rode against other HL more often. For someone who is a SGP rider should be graded as such. In fact grading riders would be a far fairer way in achieving equality in teams, then the 8 point rule would be irrelevant.

I thought the main reason for fixed race nights was to encourage some of the top riders to return, and have more control on DU's, Guests and R/R. There was talk of making the two leagues equal in numbers, with the emphasis on the top division. but none of this has been achieved... Rather than investigate why clubs refuse to join the Premier league in an effort to make it stronger, the BSPA seem hell bent, on creating as many opportunities possible, for the riders to earn more pay cheques, at the expense of everything else. I sometimes think the riders are more important than the fans... Wouldn't surprise me if they create a third league soon so riders can join three clubs... Selecting Wednesdays as race nights has all but concluded any business we may have had with Danish riders,,, and this '1 over 8' is merely a deflector (stupid Rule) to hide some of the more obvious faults to come from the AGM... With no talk of restriction on the number of Double Uppers, it appear the championship sides have a free hand to pick who they like. I was hoping this was going to be a new beginning......... am wrong again......

From a seasoned supporter, whose interest has waned of late, I am having great difficulty finding anything positive to come from this years AGM. I was hoping for proactive ideas to recreate the excitement we once shared. The sport is in desperate need to bring in new fans, but I see nothing mentioned in the short notices that's been aired... The fact that teams would rather stop in the 2nd division speak volumes of what is wrong with the product.. Personally, as a Stars supporter, I would have been far happier if Lynn had gone in that division. Although the product is the same, it would been cheaper to attain, they would have move matches to watch, and the excitement generated at the local derbies with Peterborough and Ipswich would have been enough to rekindle those fans who use to go.. One question, Why was Monday's thought to be a good fixed night for racing, when there is no TV coverage? surely 2 consecutives would have been better ?. No, this AGM has done nothing for me

With teams like Sheffield and Ipswich riding Thursdays in was imperative they moved up to the top league. The fact they haven't meant Wednesday was the only option of a fixed night, but that will stop many Danish riders from competing here. The fact the championship have more teams and less restrictions, it would probably be wise for every club to drop down to the Championship. That league has come up again with all the benefits...... And there was me thinking the BSPA were on the ball and the sport was moving forward. but in truth, normal service has returned, showing the Promoters are just thinking of No 1.

If Ipswich have stayed in the championship, with their insistence to retain their Thursday race night . My guess then, assumes the two fixed race nights will be Mondays and Wednesdays..... It seems again, we have all the promoters, from both divisions working together to put the sport first.......... Yeah right...

I think the whole AGM scenario is utter nonsense. We get this every single year. Why cant we have all our rules set in stone, then they would only need tweaking every year . What's the betting, come next November, it will be all changed again.... ( back to square one)

That is precisely the reasons why speedway supporters are leaving. Everybody wants to be treated the same......

They also say 'Out of sight, Out of mind' or thewre are non so blind as those who don't want to see' We are talking very small numbers with season tickets, that would travel the distance to Rye House to watch speedway. But to those who did, they would still need a Programme, Car Parking, Food-drink. The chances are, the club would still benefit from the attendance of those Season Ticket holders... whereas if they didn't attend they wouldn't benefit nothing at all.. The issue here is to make Speedway more appealing by offering small handouts that cost little but benefits everyone...... Failing that we can continue in our small minded approach and make the sport too expensive. For 2 people travelling from Kings Lynn, to attend speedway at Rye House, would cost = £90.00 approx.. (Travel expen- £40; 2 admission £35, Programme £3; Food and Drink £10+) If the sport made the away attendances more affordable then probably more people would do so....