foamfence

Possibly not, according to Philip Rising the latest idea is to increase the Premiership to twelve clubs by inviting Championship sides in, there was no mention as to what would happen to the remaining six Championship sides though.

You still have to be able to afford those names, otherwise it's pointless.

Beggars can't be choosers.

Nothing wrong with 'foreign talent' as long as it is available for the majority of fixtures, if it cuts down doubling-up- fine, if it increases the need for guests- not fine. It is greatly frustrating to fans when they buy a season ticket and discover that their promoter knew from the start that his foreign signing was going to miss x number of fixtures. A league full of lower grade but more available riders would be preferable to some.

Muddlo is Poole's biggest problem.

Pay day.

That's the one!

Even on borrowed bikes he'd be better than nothing.

Yes, he did have a fall and a retirement but finished with a second, maybe he's caught this 24hr injury bug that seems to be going the rounds (last seen at KL)?

Do you mean that the 'four' actually swap with current Premiership clubs, or do you mean that the Championship would be reduced to six clubs? Redcar is another 'Thursday' club. While this might partly address the problems associated with doubling-up (apart from rain-offs and other rearranged fixtures). Another problem is that Poland and Sweden seem to be having more meetings away from their usual days, while we can't do anything about that, it might still promote the need for absences and guests. The time when riders probably don't 'make enough money to make Speedway worthwhile' is probably here and to my mind the 'balancing act' you mention, is actually between clubs going under and riders accepting that they might need a second job (some already have one anyway). It may become inevitable that British Speedway is forced to dump it's delusions of grandeur and go for one big league with mostly part-time riders, unless a huge form of new funding is discovered.

I prefer the 13 heat format, if you added a nominated riders race at the end (making 14 heats) I think that would be OK.

I hate it, especially when they get off the bike. I'd prefer it if they had to assemble on a back line and then when the start marshal signals, they should ride straight into position and be under starters orders, no gardening or trying out various different grooves. In the 'good old days' some tracks had concrete starting grids.

You don't have to pay them double, they accept the terms or they don't, there are already some riders who work and some who keep going with one league.

The Premiership doesn't race on Tuesdays or Sundays, so in that respect it's already making as many concessions as Poland and Sweden, except that they are gradually moving the goalposts, so who is to say that they wont hijack whatever fixed race night is imposed? Your mention of a "weak argument" isn't weak at all, to those who support it.

There are some clubs in the top tier who don't want that, there might even be some who can't actually have access to their tracks on the selected night. There are other riders available from abroad and from the NL, that might mean a reduction in the averages but it does mean that it would be possible to eliminate doubling up between the top two tiers. Some say that the riders couldn't make a living but there ARE riders who do so in one league and there ARE riders who still work. Personally I would prefer one big league and no guests (other than from the NL) for riders absent because they're riding or practising elsewhere, some promoters might grumble but it would make them thing twice about overseas signings who think of this country as nothing more than a stepping stone.

The problem still occurs when fixtures have to be re-planned due to rain-offs etc. If the clubs don't want or can't have fixed race nights, they shouldn't be forced.

At the side of Speedway, synchronised farting and cowpat throwing are major sports.

There could be all sorts of factors involved, the majority opinion on here seems to be against the current levels of doubling up but not everyone going through the turnstiles is on here. I personally know people who don't currently attend because of doubling up and some of the rules in place.

They'd BOTH lose!

That has always been the case and many a good prospect has quit before achieving their potential because of financial struggles. F2 or any cheaper and simpler engines would help, even though it might be hard on some to change, the eventual savings would make it more worthwhile.

Do they? There have been some fairly poor crowds at some GPs in the last two years. Cardiff seemed to do well this year but some years it hasn't looked as full.

Well I've read several times that crowds in general are up.

I thought crowds were supposed to be up this year?

I would guess Swedish, with the initials JA.

Michael Lee was a top rider in the 80s