The Dog

Having worked reasonably closely with Laurence for nearly a decade, the work he does for a club behind the scenes is nothing short of staggering. Yes, he'll get things wrong occasionally but I don't see anyone banging the door down to step into his shoes and do it better. Like Vatcher, one of the most loyal and undervalued men in speedway. Fair play to Tolley for trying to keep the fans happy but it feels like the tail is wagging the dog....

I can't imagine it's easy trying to run a business with 'predicted' costs. Your basically guessing from one week to another and this must be why it's so hard to be sustainable. Maybe riders demands outweigh income? But if you have no riders you have no income and no sport. Maybe it needs wage-capping and going back to amateur status to be sustainable and build from the ground up. Obviously some clubs don't seem to be suffering like Birmingham or Newcastle last season but you need more coming in than going out to survive. I know it's basic economics but I wonder how many clubs follow it?

I think the future of Birmingham depends on how deep Nigel Tolleys pockets are and how long his enthusiasm lasts, more than attendance numbers. I honestly thought Morris was a decent signing and should finish in the top 3 of the averages in this league, but it's just happening for whatever reason

Out of interest, what would be a clear-cut number 1 if it isn't someone who could easily rack up double figures a meeting in this league? Not sure you would get much better tbh

Great point. I guess the BSPA will just reduce the point limit further to accommodate the Championship HLs and anyone else from the NL. Personally, I'd go back to the days of the 49-53 point limit (late 80s I think) in an attempt to get the better riders back on higher averages. As we seem to be heading to an amateur type league, if promotion have deep pockets why not go out with a bang...!

KK can perform on any track on any day of the week, it's just whether he feels like it at the time. Have seen him several times as a number 1 run 2 lasts and then make everyone look like an amateur in the next 3 races. A very likeable chap but ultimately frustrating at times

The one rider who has shown loyalty in spades to British speedway despite being shat on from a great height at times, and you call him deluded for chasing a dream to be the best he can whilst trying to earn a living? I know who's deluded...

I get your point but I think a telling thing is that those names you mentioned are now no longer involved either, so didn't really do them any good...

Absolute nonsense. As usual.

Cradley been looking for land for decades without luck in roughly the same area, and yet CVS might have found somewhere within weeks of being told that their out of Monmore...??

Seemed strange to me that the camera by the start line couldn't focus on the leader at all, but could on 2nd and 3rd. A lot of gate and go from memory and bar a Harris pass and the last heat crash, I can't recall anything interesting tbh.

Depending on how long they think Nielsen will be out for, I'd expect Dan to be joining his brother very soon at Brum

Joe Thompson will replace Proctor

Joe be in for Proctor then

I thought it was announced at Leicester on Saturday that Pedersen had gone and Lindgren was in??

Can't name a rider but Swindon did it as a club...

Because I know where he would position himself and he's too professional to put this out there...

It should still be the photographers photo they use or theirs no point in having him there, official twitter page or not

This always annoys me, team looking at the official photographer whilst someone grabs a pic with a phone just to get it on social media first

Speedway has been around since 1928 and we still push the bikes to start them! Of course we can ignore the future.....

Tbh, your never going to get a worldbeater this late in the day and on this sort of average but it could be a lot worse than Proctor. Get behind the lad at least!

I know I'll get shot down in flames, but the times I have spoken to Nicki at length he is a really nice and engaging person. Obviously I wouldn't want to race against him tho....

Where do you think the photos all come from for the first programme of the year? The photos in the track shop? Photos in local papers and Speedway Star? All from press day. Personally I think press day should be limited to the club photographer and media team with the riders