g13webb

You're right mate !!, We have been called, Chaparral Country, the Outback's as well as 'Out and beyond' ... always behind the times.... But what a relaxing and laid back way to live ...

No neither had I . Must be far easier than that long trip up north for every home meeting. Do hate that A1. Never without Road-works. I have wondered if this road was the reason why traffics cones were invented......

See that Robert has signed for Newcastle. Soon they will have a similar team as the Stars. 3 out of seven already.........

What make the Draft System and Protected Heats so ridiculous, is that now, we have 3 set of averages relating to various team positions, but also we are informed that after 4 meetings the drafts can be elevated into the team proper, according to their CMA's, and the reserves can be filled with poor foreign riders. Isn't that the complete opposite to the reason why the Draft was invented in the first place......... To do away with poor foreign imports and give the young British the opportunity..... What's going to happen next year???? Will Newman, Kerr, Auty, Garrity etc., still be classed as Draft riders?? Will they be adjudged on their PL aver or will it be BEL ?? God what a mess !!!!!

Just a thought !!!! Do the Premier League clubs use the BEL averages of riders, who raced in the Elite League, when they are assembling the team for the following year??? Idiotic I know, but It seems to be the norm.... :t:

Don't worry, You haven't missed anything, Same old ,,,,Same old..

Come on,, that's a brilliant ideas.... KB goes well at Wolves......

I respect your opinion also Sidney, but to me when the chips are down its Newman who you can count on. In each of the last two years when it get to the play-offs Newman has come to the fore, leaving others in his wake. Howarth is a good prospect and has done well, Garrity good to watch but is so erratic and drops silly points, Auty because of injury hasn't done much for a couple of years , all good riders but still someway behind Newman's consistency. If I had to choose it would be Newman everytime. Like you say, different people, different opinions.........

Over the years the differentials in the rides averages have made the CMA a complete joke. We now have Heatleaders; 2nd Strings and Reserves all on the similar scores. What a joke!!!!!! In my book, both Buck and Hans are heat leaders, and any criteria that make them anything else is fool hardy. Two quality riders....

You lot make me laugh. You don't give toss about the sport as long Poole win. We have a massive problem at the moment attracting top riders, but you want them all to ride for Poole When we have a points limit far in excess of the quality available, it always lends to unequal teams. That's common sense......... But please don't worry about that..

What would be the point of that team? Winning every match at a canter is a big put off for home and away fans. That's the last thing the sport needs. Regardless of the quality in the league we need Equality. We want a situation where every club can win and lost at home as well as away .

I agree with you it is sad that British Speedway finds itself in this situation, but it's no surprise. The writing been on the wall for many years and the 'Powers' do nothing about it. They bury their head in the sand, believing they can survive on their own, without a thought for the sport, the fans or the riders. All there concerned about is their own little existents', I've even read on here that some think the PL is the No.1 and should be hailed as such. That alone echo's ridiculous ideas shared by some Promoters and fans.... I also agree we need to concentrate on our own league, but saying that, we don't want to put up walls making it impossible for the top riders to compete here. We cant nurture our lads to the top without racing against quality. The British Promoter cant compete with the finances from aboard, so we need to make sure, what we do have is appealing to them. We once had it all. Every country was jealous of our speedway stature. But over the years, our league has stood still while others have moved with the times. We now need to change our whole approach of Speedway in this country to compete equally with those other countries. We cannot continue with this make-believe existents . We have to compete and comply with other countries and their schedules..........

I've always thought well of Bomber, a rider who always tries. Would be a catch for any team, but as Coventry is his spiritual home it is only right he continues in that vane....

There are many people who will and are missing Magic. Such a smooth, exciting, talented rider, that's a bonus to any team. But most of all he is well mannered and down to earth as well. What a pity all riders can't be like him........

Wasn't that done for a reason??? Talk about arse about face..... But that's typical of the BSPA , they cant do anything as per normal..... Buster has said, all the business had be sorted before he was elected, and therefore,had little input on the decisions made.... And a 6 pointer at Reserve.....

No ! No ! we cant have ideas like that........ They're far too much sense in those ideas, the BSPA wont be able to keep up ..........

You have stated that 'Howarth at reserve is a bit of a p***take' and I, for the life of me don't see it that way. As much as I think Howarth is a decent rider, he is not of the class of Newman. Newman is a great talent destined for a brilliant career. Already he has helped Poole secure successive Championships, a important factor of any winning team. He is without doubt the top Draft rider since the scheme began. Thinking about Drafts logically:......Even forgetting Poole won the League, because Newman is the best of the bunch, and was protected by Poole. No problem with that, then Poole should have had last choice of the tier2 riders. This is where the problems start. Whatever method they choose to use, if the riders are not in the correct order then the selection process is flawed. PL averages are being used this year, and like previously, it gives the wrong outcome. Like someone else says, why didn't they use Golf as an way of choosing, why not a Penalty competition , each are as relevant than the PL averages... Matt Ford has immense power generated just by the assets he holds. With them, he can pull in a lot of favours from other promoters, them wanting to use some.... Don't blame him for that either. but we are desperate for the sport to be open, and where, honesty rules all.... A massive issue with the way the sport is run is the secrecy of it all. We now had 3 AGM's and we still don't have the list of heat leaders, we don't know the no of clubs or about the fixture process yet. Why is every decision clouded in mystery as though it is of the upmost importance. Why can't the committee be open and stand up for their opinions? What are they ashamed of? Decisions like the above will always happen until we get an open and honest BSPA.

I find it useless trying to reason, the obvious problems of the Draft section, with most of Poole posters, they come across as 'clueless in the extreme', But I'm in no doubt, that if the shoe was on the other foot, they would be the first to understand the issues and voice concern. As always they come out smelling of 'Roses' while other teams are scrapping around, trying to find riders good enough to offer fair competition.

We could always use those in the NL

Once you hear that Niels did 98 meetings last year, it was obvious something had to give. I was hoping it would be the Swedish league he missed but realistically it's bound to be the BEL. What a pity the BSPA don't listen to riders like Niels and Woffy. It was always said that 36 meetings was too many and riding everyday, like we do, will only drive all the top boys away..... For what quality there is left, probably be best to run a North and South Premier League

Under the new ideas this year, where the draft can/will be promoted into the team on their CMA scores, probably Jason feels that the money from the extra rides he gained in the Draft will dry up and he could be out of pocket. Probably he is the only rider thinking about this. It will make a massive difference to the draft's earning potential Are we to believe the main reason of implementing the Draft system is now forgotten and we have experimented for nothing...... Yet again another IDEA the BSPA have drummed up without thinking it all the way through....

You're just coming out with the usual b/s without knowing the facts; Pot - Kettle !!!!!!! As with other clubs, we don't have no problem with Poole protecting Newman, its the false selection process that follows when going for the Tier 2 rider. I think you'll find Poole had the second choice instead of the 8th...... By the time Lynn choose, Ellis was long gone....

The crux of all the arguments about the selection process is the false position of the riders. Had Newman been positioned in his rightful place, then Poole would not have had the opportunity to select Ellis even with his fictitious score. Since the introduction of Draft riders, the quality of such has a massive bearing on the outcome of all matches and the final league positions. For anyteam to stand any chance of success, they need top riders in the draft positions. That's why it is so unfair, that Poole are given this preferential treatment.

Also, never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Makes a wonderful opportunity for comment like the above..... The idea of the 'Draft system' was first introduced as a leveller, where the lowest place team gets first choice, giving them the opportunity to straighten their side. The strongest team always gets the last pick. But the BSPA take on this, is to allow the top team to have first choice........ You couldn't make it up....... Surely even the die-hard fans of Poole can see this is totally wrong...... Probably not............

It was heartening to hear Buster talking about his new appointment last night. when ask what are his intentions for the future. He replied, 'I want to bring Honesty and Integrity to the table, but most of all I want there to be a connection with the fans.' ( To me that sentence speaks volumes, If he intend to bring these to the table then obviously they're not there at present........ The mind boggles) There are no air and graces with this man, he says it like it is. and that wonderful to see. I am in no doubt he will be a big success and make a big impression........ No doubt the deception of the draft selection process will become a distance memory.....