New Science

So far I think Wolves , Poole and Kings Lynn are the stand out sides. Can see all 3 going through the qualifying fixtures well . Be interesting to see what the promoters cook up for the play offs thou, I would be surprised if they don't have something in mind to beef up their teams for the play offs.

Speedway may have been in decline since the height of the roaring 30's and 40's . But speedway's decline has been noticeably rapid since 2011 when the new silencers came in. Our heavy clay based tracks in Britain particularly the smaller ones where its not flat out all the way round simply aren't compliant with today's machines, to produce good enough racing often enough to keep fans attending regularly.

They didn't that much

2016 Jonas Kylmalkorpi 15 matches 120 points at 7.27 Tai Woffinden 10 matches 107 points at 9,11 That's quite a difference in my opinion . Wolves signed a rider on a similar rolling average who in real terms was 2 points better a match than the rider he was replacing. I'ts unlikely Wolves would have won the league this year without making that change.

It used to be even better when there was more noise and some smell

The abandonment of the Warsaw GP was the biggest wake up call possible for BSI and Ole Olsen. Thankfully the days of rutted up unsafe tracks seem to be a thing of the past, I say fair play to the riders for standing up. Since that day we have seen a dramatic increase in the quality of temporary tracks and the series is far richer for it. A watershed moment

Agree. As long as its within the 2 minutes whats the problem ?

Maybe Dave Gordon should sue the riders who got the opening meeting at Belle Vue called off. If the track is not fit, which was backed up by the F.I.M jury then the riders can carry no blame. The crux of this matter is Ole Olsen curated a temporary track which was not fit for purpose. Whatever the reasons for this his company is the one at fault. How can Olsen sue anyone, he was simply given a contract to fulfil a task which he failed which was the cause of the abandonment.

The semi finals around the GP is about as truthful as the testimonial is not about money ! or do you just automatically believe everything he says

You have forgotten to defend him over dropping the British Final !

Not you thou Steve

Is this story real ? Is there a link ?

To be fair if he did have a testimonial It would be his only scheduled appearance in the country next year. If you can't be bothered to ride in the British Final, refuse to ride for Team GB in the World Cup,,choose not to ride in the British League , pull the plug on your training schools , then to jet in for a testimonial when it suits you is the ultimate mickey take. A truly exiled World Champion who gives nothing to British speedway because he couldn't get his own way but now wants to take something out ! Unbelievable

Unless they change their mind mid season

In Poland the bottom team get automatically relegated and the top club from tier 2 get promoted. The play offs are contested by the 2nd top and 2nd bottom team. Nothing like the system we will have in Britain. Teams out of the Premiership do not play teams from the championship for promotion

No discovered speedway through my parents who started going when they were teenagers and took me for the first time in my pushchair. Continued to go with them until I was 16 . got a job, paid for myself and have been going every week since for 30 years. Interest is starting to wain now thou, missed more home meetings this year than in any of the last 30. Not afraid to say that the racing is nowhere near the quality of pre 2011 , very sad ,

Whatever happened to talking / chatting with your mates / family about how good the heat was that you have just seen and whats coming up next. That's what we used to do ! What with fetching a drink or food, a visit to the track shop or using the facilities there always seemed to be something to do between heats , it used to be a rush back before the next heat started.Unfortunately the racing isn't much to talk about these days and most of the friends have stopped going for this reason, League champions or not ! As for youngsters I was hooked at an early age by the speed, the smell and the noise. Unfortunately only the speed remains as it was, so If I had my time again I probably wouldn't be hooked for the last 30 years, Although in my 30th season of watching speedway I have watched less this year domestically then any of the last 29.

Then clubs end up with a poor team and we know these days that fans won't come to watch a team losing every week. Promoters probably try a fraction to speculate to accumulate. As we know from experience this doesn't work every time, If only supporters could except their promotions limitations and turn out to watch their team regardless of results. I think if the quality of speedway was good they would but as we know that's not always the case.

If he does that in the referee's opinion then the race doesn't get pulled back So a rolling start is ok then ?

Which other sports are ten pound sports ? I watch non league football 3 divisions below league football and that's eleven quid

Speedway firstly needs to lure back the thousands of fans that have stopped going for whatever reason,, most I know because the product is not good enough rather than the issue of rules. You can attract as many new fans as you want , if the product is not good enough people wont stay on board for long.

Unfortunately its not as noisy as it was. Surely jumping the start is gaining an unfair advantage

Spot on post

Have you any idea how much magazines cost for other sports ? £2.90 is excellent value in today's market. Still enjoy reading the Star particularly articles on yesteryear but still stand by my criticism that the Star has too closer a relationship to its subjects namely B.S.I , the F.I.M and certain promoters in Britain that they regard as personal friends .

This was the same argument made about Leicester last year ,good reserves etc and they finished flat last. You cant afford to have your top 5 dominated week after week and you also need away wins to get to the playoffs ,where are they going to come from with that top 5