TheReturn

So we have given the credibility of our league title winners for a few quid from Sky? Is that what you're saying? Like I said, we have a GP system where to find the most consistent world champion, should be the same for the league title.

I am sure 99% of you will say that, but doesn't mean I am actually wrong. Leicester finished the Premier League top of the table in football last season, didn't need a gimmick of play off to keep that entertaining.

Philip Rising informed us earlier that speedway gets thousands of casual viewers from Sky, which is great. But how stupid does our sport now seem tonight after we heard about Rider X is guesting for team B tomorrow and then Rider Y guesting for team C Friday. It really does sound stupid that riders involved in the play-off's are allowed to go and guest for other teams.

Call me old school, but for me the team that finishes top of the table at the end of the season are the rightly and worthy League Champions. So congratulations Belle Vue on a fantastic season. The Play-off's are a gimmick for Sky. Clearly every season most of you say that you love the play-off's but to me it means the team that's worked the hardest all season long could lose out because of bad luck in the final matches. Effectively the league title is decided across four matches, how is that championship worthy? Surely the point of a league season is to find the most consistent team? After all, that's why we now have the GP's, to find the best rider over the entire season.

Wow, you're a lovely person.

He will tweak it and be injured again the following day... not that I am cynical about Poole's ability to replace riders for the play offs.

Explain it once in a meeting is fine, not constantly . I wonder if the casual viewer will be enticed to come back for future broadcasts with all the shouting and screaming?

It wasn't really Kelvin, it was Pearson screaming like an idiot, and in the following race.

The guy is an idiot, shouting and screaming at top of his voice for a move that didn't even come off.

And not helped by a certain speedway commentator blaming ref's for riders jumping by constantly banging on about ref's holding tapes. They're not, riders are just jumping too much.

Agreed. A description that could have also been applied to Ward if his off track antics were anything to go by.

If only that was true... on both accounts!

I thought the same all season, in fact since last season and when Hancock made his cowardly assault and petty website tantrum last season. But yeah, the Nicki we have is not the same, and frankly, boring. Much of what Nicki used to be blamed for was just hard riding, it was no more dirty than what other riders get away with.

Agreed. The new breed are coming through, and Dudek in 2017. If we get Emil back too then it will be a fantastic 2017.

Apparently Pearson does, every race, every GP, every season. How many GP's has he ridden in again? Sssh, all criticism of the worlds best commentator is not allowed on this forum.

Interesting that Nicholls calls it a tactical fall... he often seems to think every rider takes tactical falls. I also seem to recall he and his other half had a go at Harris for that at the British final a few years ago.

Was I watching a different race? Pearson didn't think he had even touched him, comments on here he went down far too easy. I watched it in real time thinking Harris had really gone in hard and gave his leg a good whack. Right call to exclude Harris.

You're trying to be a clever dick.. .but just come across a dick.

Oh that old chestnut. We pay a premium for Sky Sports so should be able to get commentary that is not OTT shouty or trying to convince us that we are watching the worlds best riders in an embarrassment of an Elite League. But in my case I have just cancelled Sky Sports anyway. If next season it is back without Pearson I will be back to watch.

To answer your question an average meeting without incident is over in 2 hours generally. But finish times can vary, as mentioned above all it takes is an accident in heat 1 and then heat 2 and the track is left without an ambulance or Dr the show gets put on hold until they get back from the hospital. My advice is just go along, you will enjoy it hopefully. If an incident occurs and you have to leave before the finish so be it, but hopefully you will enjoy what you see before then

And people wonder why referee's are stepping down! It's a really hard job and in my opinion referee's need more help, more support and more respect. If you think referee's get it wrong is bad. Watch Sky and see some of the rubbish some of the managers come out with when their riders are excluded (I am mainly thinking about the managers of two west midlands clubs here). One of those is an ex international rider too!

For those interested, she's doing much better by the sounds of it. She tweeted this:

and full of 'bullrubbish'. Listening to him most Elite League weeks try and convince us it was a great meeting, when it was really woeful is starting to grate too. You watch Sky football and if it was a dire woeful 0-0 match the pundits and commentators generally have the balls to say so.

Oh get real.. You're someone who doesn't do much physical exercise then? Sometimes you might feel fit, but until you get out there and push yourself, only then do you realise you're not quite where you thought you were. Instead why not question why Kings Lynn's own rider was not there... surely British CLubs should not take any rider on where another league takes priority. How this dire product can be still called 'Elite League' is beyond me. Cancelled Sky 2 weeks ago, speedway was the only thing keeping me on Sky but so bored with Elite League I see no reason to keep it.

Well anyone that can call the wrong GP winner a few seasons back would be worthy of the moron tag! And it wasn't Kelvin (who I like for the record).