Pinny

In my opinion promoters in general are just as much to blame for the sport going on such a huge decline as anyone. Its their product to sell each week and very few do a good enough job. Admittedly I have never been a speedway promoter and never will be, but I wouldn't invest in a speedway club and expect handouts to keep the club going. What I have seen recently is a couple of Championship clubs having the begging bowl out for money to help them through the season as well as threatening to close down because the fans aren't packing into the stadiums. And those clubs are clubs with new promoters over the last couple of years who have never promoted before. The value for money just isn't there. On average around two hours stood around watching 15 heats of speedway, overpriced food and drink, barely anything going on between the heats and more often than not being stood in freezing cold conditions listening to completely out dated music. Add that with poor stadiums that look older than the average pensioner and processional racing on track and its clear to see why there are no fans coming through the gate. I absolutely love speedway, admittedly no where near as much as when I attended Newport regular before we shut down and I moved to Aus, so I am not one that wants to see the sport fail and cease to exist. But I really do think that the sport has been driven that far into the ground (in Britain) that it is beyond a state of repair. It would take a miracle of epic proportions to revive the sport in the UK, IMO. I remember the beginning of the end being when Rickardsson quit Poole after a few meetings one season, I think it was the season they brought the grading system into the Elite League. Ever since, the quality has got weaker and weaker, prices have gone up and up and ultimately, crowds have gone down and down.

Sums up whats wrong with the sport IMO. Watch him race into form now.

You have a good point. I just find it wrong that so many races will now be worthless where as before every point was crucial. Also your point about seeing two GPs in one weekend is definitely understandable, I just preferred it with a bigger variation of tracks and countries but I suppose with COVID that isn't possible. You would hope, though, things will return to usual when and if this virus blows over.

The points system is an absolute farce and I have no idea why they changed it on what it was before. Why do the powers that be constantly tinker with things that need not be changed? That said, I agree with all the comments about the racing. The last few years have IMO seen the best racing for a long time, any newcomers watching that would surely "come back for more" to use a Tony Millardism. Its just a shame they keep tinkering with the point system. Not sure I like the two GPs at one track over a weekend either.

Woffinden certainly doesn't look the rider he was and it is hard to see him reaching those heights again but all top riders have their day. It just makes you appreciate just how good the likes of Crump were - was it ten successive seasons in the top 3 of the world standings including three world titles for Crump?

I would suggest the likes of Brennan, Palin, Flint etc would of been used as 3.00 reserves regardless of the rising star system. Just seems farcical to call such a set up "Rising Star's" and then include riders in their late twenties in it. How Josh Bates was ever included in such a list is beyond me. They would of been far better off just insisting each side had to have two British riders at reserve, regardless of their age and save the embarrassment this system has seen so far.

Think we just need to accept that most rules and common sense has completely gone out of the window now. The rising star scheme had potential to be one of the best things to happen to UK speedway for some time but was poorly written and certain riders were allowed in when they shouldn't have been. It reminds me of the last time the grading system was brought in and then certain riders, some of who shouldn't of even been graded in the first place, were stopped from riding at reserve.

A 30 year old rising star, you couldn't make it up.

I pretty much remember Werner, admittedly only from 1998 until he retired, as being a right gating tart. Superb style and like lightening whilst out in front but if he missed the gate, forget it. I never realized he was classed as a racer.

Sorry if this has been asked already, but is there anyway I can watch this online anywhere? Thanks!

Wasnt it brought in because of Berwicks antics one year?

Fancy Berwick to beat Glasgow at Berwick to be fair.

Ostergaard will be a massive miss , was always going to be an absolute steal on that average on good equipment. Wells and Sedgmen way past their best and need replacing but there probably isnt anyone out there to replace them with .

Yawn yawn yawn… maybe next time I will try and travel across three continents during a pandemic before voicing my opinion because some mediocre riders dad thinks I cant comment without being there .

Well you didnt seem to like my original post did you, as said a rubbish performance from team GB. Gloss it over all you like. Do you now have to attend a meeting to be able to comment on it? Lol! I guess thats what happens when you send two riders who aren't even in their country's top five riders though. Assuming all our decent riders were tied up elsewhere?

The embarrassment was finishing in the bottom half with even Italy only a couple of points behind. Rubbish. Pass my opinion on to whoever you like , I am sure I will still sleep tonight regardless. Or have I hit a nerve because your boy was riding for GB?

Embarrassing from GB, what a load of rubbish.

Surely you go for your best two riders on the night if trying to win the meeting??? If your taking part and not trying to win every match, whats the point??

So your saying Poole are throwing meetings? Wouldnt be the first time i guess

Which given how strong Pooles top end is, is a bit of a concern.

Plymouth have to be very happy with their top 2 - looks like Pedersen is going to top the averages at this rate. usual anti opposition bias from shovlar

Do the same as Berwick have done with the useless Garcia ?

20 years ago the sport in the UK was absolutely streets ahead of what it is now. It is dying a slow death , whether it is gone completely in 20 years is another matter but it is in an absolutely woeful state at the moment.

Summers way past his best now , barely a third heatleader.

If you cant see how poor the sport is in Britain now from 20 years ago you are just as deluded as the people running the show.