New Science

Also the T20 product is good, its largely an entertaining night out, sadly that can't be said of speedway more often than not.

Agree, was at Zielona Gora a few weeks back, the crowd has a demographic and feel a lot similar to a football crowd in Britain. Those around me in Block K5 support their town / city and the winning is far more important than the quality of the speedway

This year I made a post on this topic that there were only 2 major markets left for the SGP, GB and Poland. You disagreed that GB was still a major market. That's why I made the comment. As for riders emerging from USA, America will never have a better rider in the series than they have now. You know it has nothing to do with riders, it all comes down to money and finding someone to finance it. GP's have readily gone to countries with no world class riders, New Zealand, Finland etc as long as the finance is forthcoming, nothing to do with emerging talent.

Agree, as the Speedway Star says this week regarding Bratislava , great idea but needs somebody wealthy to pay for it, can't see too many takers in the speedway backwaters of France and the Netherlands. Realistically, I know Phil Rising disagrees but there are only 2 major markets left for the SGP than can accommodate and retain a stadium GP, that being Poland and GB. Russia is interesting, there could have been a GP at Togliatti 7 years ago but for whatever reason it hasn't happened. BSI like to be in control of everything at the GP, not sure in Russia that would get that, seems there has always been a lack of trust in all things Russian

Why don't they make it easier and just have countries nominate any 3 riders they desire. It would make it more of a team event . The SON is a bit like the Davis Cup in tennis, one outstanding individual, Andy Murray, Tai Woffinden can win you, get you a medal without much backing. At least with your 3 best nominated riders strength in depth may be more of an advantage if one rider is under performing / injured. Just a thought !

A bit like WWE wrestling but with bikes

Back from a weekend in Slovenia , Firstly Ljubulana and Slovenia as a whole are beautiful , the run out to Krsko on the train is nothing but mountains, trees, lakes and rivers. Paid up for decent seats in the main stand, the view was great but the stand had absolutely no facilities, if you needed the toilets or a bite to eat or a beer you had to leave the stadium, then join the queue to get re admitted . As for the GP it wasn't great was it, it was probably a bit better if you were there. I hear the claims to drop this venue but realistically where can it go. With 6 of the 10 GP's in Poland, Sweden and GP we have to find at least 4 venues to hold GP speedway that are financially viable, if not Krsko then where ? Was it any worse than Prague most years, that's been on the calendar for 20 years. I thought the crowd was good particularly with Zagar missing. As for the exclusion, I was sitting 10 yards behind the tapes and I couldn't fathom what was going on, it seemed to me with the naked eye that all 4 were not ready to race. As it turned out don't think too much damage was done to Woffinden's title hopes, realistically I think Zmarslik needed a minimum podium finish to give himself a fighting chance, would still back Tai to have the one good night he needs to secure the title.

Now that would surprise me

Bit surprised the GP goes back to Wroclaw. Gorzow have put a lot of money into the BSI coffers including being one of their title sponsors . Add to this that Gorzow had already signed a deal to host next years World Cup, that might cost BSI a few quid to get out of that agreement. Wroclaw might be a nice city and easy to get to but the new stadium only has an eleven thousand capacity, much smaller than Torun, Gorzow and Warsaw.

Well done to the helpful Mojo who I believe is Maureen and a few young Polish translators on board the train who pointed out to us that the train was not in fact a direct train, but required a change in Krzyz and then a further change to a replacement bus in Santok. Must admit I was in the dark

How was your experience at Zielona Gora Dean ?

The track was exactly the same last year with little passing, and no rain

£19 for adults in advance u16 free, not much different to a night at the speedway

Bang on, Went to a T20 last night and didn't see anyone worse for wear, just enjoying a casual pint. Last night the attendance must have been made up of 50 % kids who all seemed to be enthusiastic and having a good time and their parents having no problem with a 9.45 pm finish.

The lumps and bumps at Poole have been there for years, its no secret that Matt Ford doesn't have the cash to fix it.

Pearson has been banging on all night about how good the crowd is, you both can't be right. Since your there can you have a word with the idiot in the main stand with that clowns horn, god its annoying watching at home. Maybe he / she should use a more up to date musical instrument such as a football rattle. Best meeting we have seen on BT for 5 weeks but that's not saying much

I think you can forget all these fancy ideas. The BSPA has shown in recent years that the want to go down the PC route. Only have to be on track within 2 minutes, not ready to start, no crossing of the centre green. They are not going to put the tapes up so you can ride round the wrong way, if you do that now and touch the centre green to get the right side of the tapes you are out. The starting system in the UK will only get slower and more pedantic than slicker and faster, all in the name of PC.

I read the reasons in Speedway Star and I'm on the same page as you "what rubbish" More locals will go, "really" accommodation more affordable "can we have that in writing" We all know whenever there is an event on at Cardiff that hotel prices go through the roof, Sept 21 will be no different. The business end of the season might cost fans at another GP that has that slot , Cardiff has a solid plus 40 thousand fanbase, other GP's do not.The few more that you might get will be dwarfed by those lost to the football season and even T20 cricket finals day. If the stadium is unavailable in June / July next year then there is no problem with just saying that. Personally I associate Cardiff with being a summer event.

Throw in another 100 quid for a visa, gets even better.

A bit like Gothenburg, Stockholm times 2, Copenhagen, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Tampere. All stadium GP's which failed to run the course. Only Poland an GB can sustain a stadium GP. Costs will determine that it will probably be tracks in a field in the back of beyond that will be the future.,

Make that 8 seasons. Don't see the reason for blind loyalty. Can't fool the public they are voting with their feet.

Don't see how a GP at Manchester will help the Cardiff attendance. With the September date clashing with the football season, T20 finals day at Edgbaston, plus a lack of accommodation, a GP in Manchester might give fans particularly in the north and Scotland a chance to do a GP without the considerable cost that goes along with Cardiff. If ever the Championship 4's isn't the night before Cardiff it could decimate the attendance at Cardiff.

Sure I've been to every GP at Cardiff. All I'm saying is keep it simple. Your introducing the riders to the crowd in attendance not the TV audience. Lets have it in the centre of the stadium with the lights on so we can all see it, not trying to 2nd guess what's happening like the last 2 years

Maybe you have no interest in football but there are some fans on here who probably spend upwards of 800 quid on a season ticket and probably wont want to miss a home match. The date next year is also the same day as T20 finals day in Birmingham, another clash . I do think the clashes , plus it not being in the height of summer will affect the attendance.

Another weekend gone at Cardiff, a few of my thoughts. Thought the fanzone was better this year, live music helps and there were no long gaps in the program of events. I didn't get the rider presentation, for the 2nd year running I had no idea what was going on in a pitch black arena. Keep it simple, Warsaw has the best, line the riders up on the ramp and introduce them onto the stage in the middle of the arena. Also thought there might have been a tribute to Ivan Mauger .As for the referee lets have the best, not just one that is seen as neutral, if the best referees are from Britain, Sweden, Poland then so be it. Who's idea was it to have the girl on the centre green screeching and shouting all day. As for the track ,excellent as it has been since we had the Warsaw abandonment .Honestly thought this was Tai Woffinden's best chance to win,with his current form and 2 inside gates.Not to be but he looks to have sown up this years championship, not sure what drinking champagne out of his boot was all about. On the whole a good weekend, only negative being the price of hotels, that will never change unfortunately.