foamfence

There is no excuse for violence and in some cases it reflects a deeper issue that is in need of attention. This prides itself on being a family sport.

However long the suspension ends up being, it doesn't start until the fine has been paid (£3000).

It used to be quite common for a team to do a full season with the same seven riders, fans could often reel off any other teams 1-7, these days that seems to be becoming a rarity.

Good meeting, pity the stadium was less than half full.

Hope so!

So where are you going to site these tracks and the get the finance to buy the land and develop it? Most current tracks are in rented and shared arenas with little or no scope for alteration. You certainly could standardise machinery, you don't have to follow the herd.

Totally agree.

It's all down to the accents.

The fact is that the majority of tracks can't be significantly changed or replaced, so the only answer is to change the bikes. Slower bikes with better tyres would be safer. The silencers are another thing that needs looking at, they are better than a few years ago but there's still room for improvement. The sport here seems that it would rather go bankrupt than introduce radical changes to reduce costs and aid safety, all to allow riders to use the same equipment as GP riders and those who ride in wealthier leagues. If we are going to continue with a two league set-up, maybe the top league could continue as now and the lower one introduce something different, safer and cheaper? Personally I'd prefer to see us going for a cheaper and safer option, even though it will upset some riders and possibly drive some away initially.

Not exactly a big crowd was it?

Are you really this short of something to do?

But why then did Cook mention it himself?

http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/5963/nine-month-uk-ban-for-holder

It might just prove to be a good thing, less financial outlay and less absences.

Then again, a lot of people support what he did.

The referee told the riders before the start, that they should not return to the pits in the event of a re-start. Cook chose to ignore that and he rode into the official and fell off his bike.

And presumably allowed to assault track officials.

Sounds a bit like Kings Lynn is now.

Isn't that what he was trying to do while he was there?

There's always a silver lining.

No, but neither is it a case of the grass always being greener.

And some clubs in both countries have a history of not always paying.

No, representing your country is OK but at the start of the season promoters were signing riders who they knew would be absent because of league requirements abroad and other commitments and as the season progresses the Poles and others alter their schedules and riders are unexpectedly called away. As it is, Poland is starting to have a lot more meetings other than Sunday and Sweden is considering radical changes to it's league set-up, so changing to one or two race nights might not be as beneficial as imagined. I can't see it happening anyway. What we need is seven riders ready willing and able and one big league but the guys who own the clubs and put their money where their mouth is, will go the way they want to go, irrespective of what your or I might say.

Or maybe we should staff our teams with riders who are prepared to make themselves available, we can't afford the big stars so the better option is to find seven willing and available riders for each team, even if that means a reduction in the averages.

So you would throw teams out of the league and promote others who have shown no desire to be promoted previously? I would rather say 'clubs should ride on whatever day they feel will be the most attractive for their fans (including Tuesday nights and Sunday afternoons) and any riders who can't/wont commit to that shouldn't be considered because they are obviously not in need of the work'.