TheReturn

Is that because there's rarely a decent field of riders, or just a general lack of interest?

It'a shame the money can't be found to pay decent money (rider expenses and promotion) for a speedway equivalent of Ashes series every two seasons alternating between down under (after the SGP) and the UK. I mean lets be honest, we would all love to stuff the whinging Aussies... (sadly I suspect they would stuff us right now), but I think could still be of interest.

I saw Doyle's tweet and all the Twitter sychophants seem to be blaming the BSPA/AGM, but from what I can tell it was Swindon's choice. Could it be more to do with unrealistic wage demand or Swindon choosing to save money

Think someone's got their knickers in bit of a twist about the golden boy. This thread really wasn't a Pearson bashing thread (compared to others).

Only one tac sub per meeting? Ridiculous, why bother then? The play-off's were designed to keep interest until the end of the season, surely the tac sub rule can be used to keep interest in meetings. Let teams use it as often as they want... 1. it may keep some meetings interesting. 2. It is a test of team managers skills. Reserve races are protected so I don't see the fuss of not allowing more than one tac sub.

I see a fair few riders having their say on Twitter. Ward, Cook, Woffinden, Doyle... none of whom are being complimentary about the fact only one rider over 8 allowed.

I actually thought it was a good idea so the BSPA deserve credit for trying something different to reach the fans. Perhaps delivery could have been done with the backdrop of a bike or a track rather than a pub chair with some other sport on in the background, but hopefully they will achieve that as they move forward. The idea is good, but need to work on the delivery. Is Pearson still the BSPA press officer then?

But this time they seem to have got them in the right place. Not sure we need to be negative.

If it's like the old days then yes they can use more than one tac sub whilst 6pts behind, but only use each rider once in tac sub position. I applaud all the changes, seems common sense to me. My only remaining concern is that we still have the problem of riders representing more than one club in a week, which when trying to explain to non speedway fans sounds farcical.

Is moving to a fixed race night the answer? Maybe, but I hope it's done for the right reasons, for the good of British speedway, not for the benefit of mercenary overseas riders who have used and abused British speedway for the last few years. Will fixed race night attract more fans? That is the real question, and to be fair we may not know until we try it. ​But something that seems to get overlooked is 'fixing the product'... what I mean by that is when the ingredients all mix well, our sport is fantastic, great thrilling action and mixed with team rivalry can be good as any other sport. But sometimes the product isn't right, long drawn out meetings, crap racing (do we need to look at some tracks?), stupid rules, a different 1-7 each week, no real feeling of a 'team', poor atmosphere. Maybe that's an area that needs addressing in addition to fixed race nights.

Is this the chap who used to run the track shop at Long Eaton? If it's the guy I am thinking of, a lovely chap. Thoughts with his family.

Then they should have done more to qualify in the previous season. This issue about preparing for the season is a piss poor pathetic excuse to defend the stupid status quo situation. Like I said, I have some sympathy with injured riders, but if riders want to rely on being picked rather than putting their skill and talent to the test then they don't deserve to be in the series anyway.

Excuse. Where there is a will there is a way, and with the exception of the Aussie GP which is at the end of the season anyway all the other GPs are across Europe where the top riders race throughout the season anyway. The fact is, for the likes of the non-injured riders they should have done better to earn their spot, so tough make them qualify at the start of the following season! I do have some sympathy with injured riders, but that's life, just as in any sport sometimes sportsmen/women are injured and have to miss world championships, Olympics, world cups.

It's more ridiculous to pick out of form and undeserving riders randomly as in Holders case for a world championship event because their face fits, or they might be sponsored by the right people. If the race off is the start of the following season most injured riders will be fit, so they're given a second chance to qualify by right in a sporting spectacle. It's meant to be a sport after all.

But his form all season in the GP and leagues is patchy. It's meant to be a bloody sporting competition, we shouldn't be living off past glories to decide who gets the coveted spot. What is that saying, you're only good as your next game.

Instead of wildcards... what about at the start of the following season all those riders injured and not in the top 8 go through to a a final GP challenge shoot out with the first 8 that didnt make the cut from the GP challenge the previous season... a shoot out for those final 4 places. Maybe some sponsorship issues for those 4 that make it in terms of not having much time to plan for a GP season, but that's a far better sporting way to decide.

Ward as always been a vile little moron off track. His posts are very much slanted towards riders he likes and riders he dislikes, this is another example. But on Holder, some 24 hours later I am still yet to see any valid justification ideas from anyone for his inclusion other than the fact he's sponsored by that green crap. If he comes back to British speedway next season, based on the last few months I feel sorry for the club that gets him.

and not had to worry about riding in the UK in the last few weeks

I am just astounded he looked so disinterested in Melbourne. It was his home GP, in front of a big crowd, was he just not bothered or was it a performance knowing he was safe next season, I am not sure which.

This season his GP form was poor, his showing in his home GP of Melbourne was lacklustre. He doesn't deserve the pick and I don't see him setting the world alight next season.

it shouldn't be about nationality. I would have put Iversen and Kildemand both above Holder.

I questioned Hancock being offered one earlier in the thread, but I am willing to accept others views the justification for offering him is the fact he is reigning world champion and because of injury, so that wildcard is perhaps acceptable. But I don't see any justification for Holder being given one.

I guess we now know why Holder's Melbourne form was lacklustre.

Another lovely tweet from that vile prat Ward. Short memory does Mr Ward. He wasn't saying that when Nicki offered to auction a race suit for his fund.

Holder being given a wildcard would be a travesty. His GP form was average at best this season, poor in fact. Last night he looked totally disinterested.