Animal

Definitely MX numbers. Bridger #11

Available here http://www.universalautographs.co.uk/lewis-bridger-merchandise-15-c.asp

Don't you have to have a licence to ride abroad? I though that if you were British, this was only issued to you if you rode in the Elite League?

IF Tai does not ride in the Elite League next season, would that not prevent him getting a licence to ride in Poland and/or Sweden?

So the Team GB riders still haven't even been paid their costs for the SWC, it's no surprise that certain riders make themselves unavailable!

From Lewis's website http://www.lewisbridger.com/news

I'm sorry, nothing against Tai but how did he get "approval" to ride in the European Championship, when at least three (that I know of) British riders were not permitted to take part? It does sound a bit like one rule for one, one for the rest!

How many riders would have taken part in the Semi Finals IF they had known beforehand that there was no opportunity for them to have a chance of qualifying for Cardiff? How many riders will even bother with the British Final next year?

Having seen the results, I'm sure that the top 3 or 4 Brits (excluding GP rider Woffinden) would have been competitive in this field and some of the younger riders (maybe not Harris or Nicholls) would have benefited from the experience.

I appreciate that this is a GP thread, but if you look at Lewis Bridger's website (www.lewisbridger.com), kevlars and bike covers, you will see that he has 20 sponsors for 2013. This was due to a lot of effort by Lewis and his team over the winter, but it just goes to show that if you make the effort, you get the reward!

I'm stunned to read that Rosco has been appointed the Australian U21 Team Manager! In my view Rosco is the best Team Manger in the country, his passion for the sport and how he gets the best out of his riders is second to none. I cannot believe that the BSPA have allowed this to happen. How long will it be until he is managing the full Aussie team?

Very interesting! The next step will be that either the BSPA will prevent English riders riding for Polish clubs or quite simply the Polish clubs will not employ British riders. This is one "war" the BSPA is not going to win! And could you blame them?

I understand that the British riders are "being withdrawn". Should we not be encouraging our riders to compete as much possible? It's begining to sound a lot like the UK Speedway Series to me!

How do you convert an EL average to a PL average?

Really surprised at the lack of bids, both items end tomorrow night. #backthebrits

Lewis Bridger is selling his 2011 British Final and 2007 World U21 Final race jackets on Ebay. Bidding ends on 25th March. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Speedway-Race-Jacket-2011-British-Final-Lewis-Bridger-/230949139872?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item35c5a435a0 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Speedway-Race-Jacket-2007-World-U21-Final-Lewis-Bridger-/230949142190?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item35c5a43eae

You were going so well bringback, some really good ideas, until you got to the financial bit!!! Nobody will ride for the figures you propose, they would be riding at a loss. Do you know how much a bike actually costs to build and maintain, assuming you don't crash and need to repair it? That's before you add on all the other costs, like licences, insurance, travel costs, mechanic etc. Outside of the very top GP riders, most of the other riders are currently struggling to even make speedway pay. And find an employer who is willing to be very flexible on the hours you work! Many riders are already doing day jobs, just to be able to ride speedway. There are a lot of complaints about admission prices, promoters are generally running at a loss, most riders aren't making any money, fans aren't coming because they have less disposable income, speedway has to compete for every pound it brings in. You make some great points about the running of a meeting, it just takes too long and most people (including some anoraks), get bored. Although the youngsters will identify more with the riders they see on tv, exciting racing and a slick presentation is what will bring them (and newbies) back to a meeting. As has been said elsewhere, speedway is an extreme sport and needs to promote itself as such!

So how do you think that Darcy will be received by the crowd when he rides in Freddie's meeting at Wolves tomorrow?

is surely reflected in the fact rthat there are only 15 British riders in this years Elite League. The 15 are Cook, Harris, King, Barker, Auty, Nicholls, Roynon, Stead, Bridger, Mear, R Worrall, Howarth, Kennett, Birks and Woffinden. How can we encourage more British riders to compete at the top level?

100% Agree, Middledtch has to resign and if not he should be relieved of his National team Manager duties with immediate effect.

I went along to Paradise Park this morning, was good to see Simmo there. Well done to The Peterborough promotion, who were surprisingly the only team who had a stand at the show. I would have thought that more teams would have been represented.

Thanks bluejam.

Does anyone know where I can find a Fixture List for the Polish Leagues?

As I see it, here's the For and Against of the proposed series; FOR the UK Speedway Series…………… More opportunities for self-employed riders to get more race time and earn more money. More experience for riders who do not compete in the GP's or leagues outside the UK. A chance for track/stadium owners to rent out their facilities for additional income. The possibility of new promotional ideas. An opportunity to further spread the speedway message. AGAINST the UK Speedway Series…………… .

Why is the general consensus on this thread that the series will only be staged at PL tracks?