foamfence

I've seen just as good matches in the EL. Balance your comments with the dross that we watched on Monday evening. The top level will always attract the media, you don't watch pub darts matches or England B or C teams in anything (no matter how bad the top lot get).

I think it will end up being about costs, top riders spend a fortune and a lot on the next step down, spend a great deal just trying to get to the very top. The difference is that the 'very top' guys get more money and more generous sponsorships. Our league can't really afford them and the two main continental leagues have had finance problems over recent years. They would need something that offers more racing than the current GP and WC, or the European and pairs championships. So a travelling circus with more meetings would be the answer but would it attract enough spectators and worldwide TV coverage to attract the really big sponsors? No matter what happens in that direction, most folks over here will travel to team events on poorly prepared tracks and frequently find them rained off at the last minute.

That all looks good until you look at their recent record at international level. Harris= second only to Woffinden. King= out of his depth. Nicholls= reasonable commentator.

I don't blame him, he needed to cut down and most of the accidents that he'd had were on tracks in GB (his words), plus he probably gets paid several times as much by his overseas clubs. What has happened to cut short other careers could happen to him or anyone riding, so getting what you can is a sensible idea.

You'd think so but track conditions were (hopefully) very different from what they'll be like for the World Cup. He'll get a chance to impress at squad practice (assuming they are actually having one, or hopefully several).

I was the accuser and your 'position' doesn't really make any difference. Having said that, it does make a nice change to converse with someone who has a decent standard of literacy and manners.

It needs more than just good scores, I suspect Rosco has had a word and Chris is out to impress. His form at BV hasn't been brilliant but that can change. You might be right but they are outstanding candidates for a team place.

And based on his upsurge in form, as we saw this week in the EL and GP. He needs to keep it up though.

One big league is the only answer, with any cup, pairs or fours competitions being available to any clubs that wish to volunteer to be in them, that way you can have as many or few meetings as you like.

I would have gone for Tigers if both sides had their full line-up, but you never know what you'll get with guests. Could be close, I think either a Bears win or a draw.

I see. Actually I hope for at least a Bears point or two but I fail to understand the annual logic of getting hammered everywhere and then improving the team, you are obviously aware that I'm not alone in that.

Davey doesn't have an NL average and was never better than no.7 in the PL. So it isn't exactly like for like.

You'll be the expert on chocolate, the amount of ass licking you do around the Redcar promotion and management.

Massive home win, followed by slightly less massive away win.

You might, but if they lost would you go next season to watch them against Redcar and other such ****?

Bates got 12.

People have got wise to the terrible track.

The richer clubs will still get the up and coming riders who are guaranteed to improve, so not a great deal will change. Is this just an exercise in papering over the cracks? Even if all the teams were built to the same averages, you can't imagine such as Redcar being competitive against the Poole's of this world.

Then there'd be nothing.

'Better themselves' and actually make a living. For a current double up rider this would actually mean less racing and the probable need to do an off track job, which might create availability problems.

Quite a number of the listed tracks actually have their future in doubt for a variety of reasons, they need to be able to guarantee being able to compete, otherwise the balance of the two divisions could be wrecked. What happens to all the doubling-up riders? If they are confined to one division (it'll be a farce if they're not), then many will need off-track jobs and that in itself presents problems.

It has all been suggested and even trialled before but most lower clubs didn't want to go up because it would cost more and most upper clubs didn't want to go down and probably lose some of their riders and some of their fans, so it all fell through. The reason MOST clubs are in their current leagues is down to cost, obviously a couple of premier league clubs could afford to move up, but they don't seem to want to.

We aren't discussing Rugby or Cricket and I did say "adds to" not 'creates.'

It all adds to the 'circus side show' image that a good number of the public have. Tart it up anyway you like but it just gives the impression of last knockings.

Harris used BOTH engines, funny how Lindgren's career has been rescued by the GTR and he reckons Harris is his own problem.