Jonny the spud

yes, only finished putting it in a few hours before the meeting

Initial thought were good . It's a bit early to say really as he didn't have time to test any set ups etc before using it on Friday, it'll take a few meetings to get into the groove with it.

Yes. He got it on Friday. Bikes in Poland are set up for large polish tracks, uk setup is different.

8+1 from 4 rides

feel free to jump on and show him how it's done

Crazy robin, you've been slagging him off since he was signed, let alone before his injury. I take it you'll go and tell him that to his face in the pits afterwards?

As ready as you can be i suppose with a broken scaphoid

Dammit, I knew I should have christened Adam "Jean Pierre".

James has lots of grasstrack lined up I believe, this will help keep him sharp but will also rattle Matt Ford's nerves a little.

Which makes it all the more galling when you see the foreign riders plastered with British company names.

The riders have no say about the rules, It's like the uproar directed towards the Poles over trying to protect their product (BSPA take note), If the British set up was well organised, run for the benefit of the sport, properly promoted and stop bloody tinkering with the averages / points limits ( obviously a personal hate of mine this year), maybe the sport would be taken more seriously by the media. Crowds would return and the extra money coming into the sport would benefit all. I can't comment on Tai as he's blocked me on twitter for pointing out his "training schools" never appeared after he called out Rosco for being a liar on twitter. (almost Trump levels of paranoia going on there)

I think that was the one he used last year at the Blue Riband in Poole

Your anger should be with the BSPA, it's their years of mismanagement that have led to this situation. If we were the worlds strongest league pulling in massive crowds with big TV exposure, we'd try to protect it just the same. Where is the "big plan" that was going to drive us forward ? The draught riders scheme was a good idea, badly thought out. When last year draught riders had the chance to go into the main team, some floundered some didn't, what was the reward this year for all the effort / investment many put in ? As for tv coverage and a main league sponsor ???? Honestly, if the BSPA fell into a barrel of boobs they'd come out sucking their thumbs.

You can't be an entertainer if they won't let you onstage

I think your anger is being misplaced here, If the BSPA had actually promoted the sport, stopped tinkering with the rules and not blown the millions (yes millions) that SKY TV had put into speedway, we wouldn't be in this position as stadiums would be full and there'd be a lot more money so that riders wouldn't have to go abroad. As for Brits ??? I can only speak from personal experience, you improve one year beyond what anyone predicted and you end up nearly unemployable the following year. It's a numbers game with all the promotors looking after No 1 and no one looking out for the good of the sport. If you go as far as you can in the UK, (whether you're British or Aussie) and want to take the next step then unfortunately abroad is the only option.

Maybe instead of pouring money into foreign riders, how about investing it in British youngsters and infrastructure / social media? British riders improve on the world stage, the sport gets promoted to a wider audience encouraging yet more sponsors = more money No, lets bring over another Aussie / scandinavian for short term glory and then moan when they bugger off. And they wonder why riders go elsewhere.....

The axis of stupid manages to hijack yet another thread, this time one about satellite TV. Honestly, you couldn't make it up !

Tai is turning into Trump. Step away from twitter FGS.

BSPA statement reads ..."broadcast partners for the 2017 season" so only a 1 year deal then ?

"many fans gave it as their reason" Why do I have a Trump voice in my head saying "everybody says" ?

how long till the others come and spoil this thread too ?

Having re-discovered the UK scene again around 5 years ago after many years of riding and spectating in Europe, one of the main differences I've noticed is that English commentators stop talking the second the tapes drop . Is this normal at every track ? I've been inside several stadium bars where it's like a morgue once the race starts and I do feel that running commentary as in Europe (although not to the hysterical shouty brothers on sky) might be a good thing? With only 4 riders and 4 laps it shouldn't be too taxing on a centre green announcer / commentator to manage … Thoughts ?

And I know riders from the 80's, (one of them an England captain) who said exactly the same.

Never buy anything the first year it's released, too many teething problems……. Water-cooled GM anyone ? That one slipped quietly away.

Everyone who's switched on is keeping fit not just athletes, also the fitter you are the quicker injuries heal.